The texts of ancient Egyptian Wisdom, translated by Manetho (and whose translation has been lost), formed the basis of the texts attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. The same translation is not used, but it is transcribed in the Greek spirit, with terms that approach Greek philosophical thought. The texts we publish are recordings of the 2nd - 4th century AD. Their ideas contain elements of Platonism, Aristotelianism, and Stoicism, as well as strong elements from Jewish and Christian thought. They resemble Gnostic texts very much. They do not seem to have been influenced by official Christian thought and Neoplatonism. The only common element between the Hermetic texts and Christianity is piety, but this element can be found with some variations in all religions.