It was mentioned by Epiphanius as having been the work of the Cainites, who viewed Cain as the Messiah (since, in their view, the Old Testament God, whom they named Yaltabaoth, was evil.) The Gnostic text describes the ascent of Paul through various stages of Heaven, with Yaltabaoth (described as an old man on a throne) attempting to prevent further ascent. A soul that fails to have the knowledge (gnosis) required to defeat Yaltabaoth here, is sent back, in the vision, to be reincarnated. It was a text used by the Sethians.