Canon of Truth
Christian Third Order Memories
Fractured Paradise: A Novel In Progress
by
Oliver Smith
OliverSmith@CyberPoet.com
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First Order Recitation - Matthew
A Valentinian Exposition
[...] enter [...] the abundance [...] those who [...] I will speak my
mystery to those who are mine and to those who will be mine. Moreover
it is these who have known him who is, the Father, that is, the Root of
the All, the Ineffable One who dwells in the Monad. He dwells alone in
silence, and silence is tranquility since, after all, he was a Monad
and no one was before him. He dwells in the Dyad and in the Pair, and
his Pair is Silence. And he possessed the All dwelling within him. And
as for Intention and Persistence, Love and Permanence, they are indeed
unbegotten. God came forth: the Son, Mind of the All, that is, it is
from the Root of the All that even his Thought stems, since he had this
one (the Son) in Mind. For on behalf of the All, he received an alien
Thought since there were nothing before him. From that place it is he
who moved [...] a gushing spring. Now this is the Root of the All and
Monad without any one before him. Now the second spring exists in
silence and speaks with him alone. And the Fourth accordingly is he who
restricted himself in the Fourth: while dwelling in the
Three-hundred-sixtieth, he first brought himself (forth), and in the
Second he revealed his will, and in the Fourth he spread himself out.
While these things are due to the Root of the All, let us for our part
enter his revelation and his goodness and his descent and the All, that
is, the Son, the Father of the All, and the Mind of the Spirit; for he
was possessing this one before [...]. He is a spring. He is one who
appears in Silence, and he is Mind of the All dwelling secondarily with
Life. For he is the projector of the All and the very hypostasis of the
Father, that is, he is the Thought and his descent below. When he
willed, the First Father revealed himself in him. Since, after all,
because of him the revelation is available to the All, I for my part
call the All 'the desire of the All'. And he took such a thought
concerning the All - I for my part call the thought 'Monogenes'. For
now God has brought Truth, the one who glorifies the Root of the All.
Thus it is he who revealed himself in Monogenes, and in him he revealed
the Ineffable One [...] the Truth. They saw him dwelling in the Monad
and in the Dyad and in the Tetrad. He first brought forth Monogenes and
Limit. And Limit is the separator of the All and the confirmation of
the All, since they are [...] the hundred [...]. He is the Mind [...]
the Son. He is completely ineffable to the All, and he is the
confirmation and the hypostasis of the All, the silent veil, the true
High Priest, the one who has the authority to enter the Holies of
Holies, revealing the glory of the Aeons and bringing forth the
abundance to . The East [...] that is in Him. He is the one
who revealed himself as the primal sanctuary and the treasury of the
All. And he encompassed the All, he who is higher than the All. These
for their part sent Christ forth to establish her just as they were
established before her descent. And they say concerning him: [...] He
is not manifest, but invisible to those remaining within Limit. And he
possesses four powers: a separator and a confirmor, a form-provider and
a substance-producer. Surely we alone would discern their presences and
the time and the places which the likenesses have confirmed because
they have [...] from these places [...] the Love [...] is emanated
[...] the entire Pleroma [...]. The persistence endures always, and
[...] for also [...] the time [...] more [...] that is, the proof of
his great love. So why a separator, and a confirmor and a
substance-producer and a form-provider as others have said? For they
say concerning Limit that he has two powers, a separator and a
confirmor, since it separates Depth from the Aeons, in order that
[...]. These, then [...] of Depth [...]. For [...] is the form [...]
the Father of the Truth [...] say that Christ [...] the Spirit [...]
Monogenes [...] has [...].It is a great and necessary thing for us to
seek with more diligence and perseverance after the scriptures and
those who proclaim the concepts. For about this the ancients say, "they
were proclaimed by God." So let us know his unfathomable richness! He
wanted [...] servitude. He did not become [...] of their life [...].
They look steadfastly at their book of knowledge and they regard one
another`s appearance. That Tetrad projected the Tetrad which is the one
consisting of Word and Life and Man and Church. Now the Uncreated One
projected Word and Life. Word is for the glory of the Ineffable One
while Life is for the glory of Silence, and Man is for his own glory,
while Church is for the glory of Truth. This, then, is the Tetrad
begotten according to the likeness of the Uncreated (Tetrad). And the
Tetrad is begotten [... ] the Decad from Word and Life, and the Dodecad
from Man, and Church became a Triacontad. Moreover, it is the one from
the Triacontad of the Aeons who bear fruit from the Triacontrad. They
enter jointly, but they come forth singly, fleeing from the Aeons and
the Uncontainable Ones. And the Uncontainable Ones, once they had
looked at him, glorified Mind since he is an Uncontainable One that
exists in the Pleroma. But the Decad from Word and Life brought forth
decads so as to make the Pleroma become a hundred, and the Dodecad from
Man and Church brought forth and made the Triacontad so as to make the
three hundred sixty become the Pleroma of the year. And the year of the
Lord [...perfect...] perfect [...] according to [...] Limit and [...]
Limit [...] the greatness which [...] the goodness [...] him. Life
[...] suffer [...] by the face [...] in the presence of the Pleroma
[...] which he wanted [...]. And he wanted to leave the Thirtieth -
being a szygy of Man and Church, that is, Sophia - to surpass the
Triacontad and bring the Pleroma [...] his [...] but [...] and she
[...] the All [...] but [...] who [...] the All [...]. He made [...]
the thoughts and [...] the Pleroma through the Word [...] his flesh.
These, then, are the Aeons that are like them. After the Word entered
it, just as I said before, also the one who comes to be with the
Uncontainable One brought forth [...] before they [...] forth [...]
hide him from [...] the syzygy and [...] the movement and [...] project
the Christ [...] and the seeds [...] of the cross since [...] the
imprints of the nail wound [...] perfection. Since it is a perfect form
that should ascend into the Pleroma, he did not at all want to consent
to the suffering, but he was detained [...] him by Limit, that is, by
the syzygy, since her correction will not occur through anyone except
her own Son, whose alone is the fullness of divinity. He willed within
himself bodily to leave the powers and he descended. And these things
(passions) Sophia suffered after her son ascended from her, for she
knew that she dwelt in a [...] in unity and restoration. They were
stopped [...] the brethren [...] these. A [...] did not [...]. I became
[...]. Who indeed are they? The [...], on the one hand, stopped her
[...], on the other hand, [...]. with the [...] her. These moreover are
those who were looking at me, these who, [...] these who considered
[...] the death. They were stopped [...] her and she repented and she
besought the Father of the truth, saying, "Granted that I have
renounced my consort. Therefore I am beyond confirmation as well. I
deserve the things (passions) I suffer. I used to dwell in the Pleroma
putting forth the Aeons and bearing fruit with my consort" And she knew
what she was and what had become of her. So they both suffered; they
said she laughs since she remained alone and imitated the Uncontainable
One, while he said she laughs since she cut herself off from her
consort. [...] Indeed Jesus and Sophia revealed the creature. Since,
after all, the seeds of Sophia are incomplete and formless, Jesus
contrived a creature of this sort and made it of the seeds while Sophia
worked with him. For since they are seeds and without form, he
descended and brought forth that pleroma of aeons which are in that
place, since even the uncreated ones of those Aeons are of the pattern
of the Pleroma and the uncontainable Father. The Uncreated One brought
forth the pattern of the uncreated, for it is from the uncreated that
the Father brings forth into form. But the creature is a shadow of
pre-existing things. Moreover, this Jesus created the creature, and he
worked from the passions surrounding the seeds. And he separated them
from one another, and the better passions he introduced into the spirit
and the worse ones into the carnal.
Now, first among all those passions [...] nor [...] him, since, after
all, Pronoia caused the correction to project shadows and images of
those who exist from the first and those who are and those who shall
be. This, then, is the dispensation of believing in Jesus for the sake
of him who inscribed the All with likenesses and images and shadows.
After Jesus brought forth further, he brought forth for the All those
of the Pleroma and of the syzygy, that is, the angels. For
simultaneously with the agreement of the Pleroma her consort projected
the angels, since he abides in the will of the Father. For this is the
will of the Father: not to allow anything to happen in the Pleroma
apart from a syzygy. Again, the will of the Father is: always produce
and bear fruit. That she should suffer, then, was not the will of the
Father, for she dwells in herself alone without her consort. Let us
[...] another one [...] the Second [...] the son of another [...] is
the Tetrad of the world. And that Tetrad put forth fruit as if the
Pleroma of the world were a Hebdomad. And it entered images and
likenesses and angels and archangels, divinities and ministers. When
all these things were brought to pass by Pronoia [...] of Jesus who
[...] the seeds [...] of Monogenes [...]. Indeed they are spiritual and
carnal, the heavenly and the earthly. He made them a place of this sort
and a school of this sort for doctrine and for form. Moreover the
Demiurge began to create a man according to his image on the one hand
and on the other according to the likeness of those who exist from the
first. It was this sort of dwelling place that she used for the seeds,
namely [... separate ...] God. When they [...] in behalf of man, since
indeed the Devil is one of the divine beings. He removed himself and
seized the entire plaza of the gates and he expelled his own root from
that place in the body and carcasses of flesh, for he is enveloped by
the man of God. And Adam sowed him. Therefore he acquired sons who
angered one another. And Cain killed Abel his brother, for the Demiurge
breathed into them his spirit. And there took place the struggle with
the apostasy of the angels and mankind, those of the right with those
of the left, those in heaven with those on earth, the spirits with the
carnal, and the Devil against God. Therefore the angels lusted after
the daughters of men and came down to flesh so that God would cause a
flood. And he almost regretted that he had created the world [...] the
consort and Sophia and her Son and the angels and the seeds. But the
syzygy is the complete one, and Sophia and Jesus and the angels and the
seeds are images of the Pleroma. Moreover, the Demiurge cast a shadow
over the syzygy and the Pleroma and Jesus and Sophia and the angels and
the seeds. The complete one glorifies Sophia; the image glorifies
Truth. And the glory of the seeds and Jesus are those of Silence and
Monogenes. And the angels of the males and the seminal ones of the
females are all Pleromas. Moreover whenever Sophia receives her consort
and Jesus receives the Christ and the seeds and the angels, then the
Pleroma will receive Sophia joyfully, and the All will come to be in
unity and reconciliation. For by this the Aeons have been increased;
for they knew that should they change, they are without change.
Eugnostos, the Blessed, to those who are his.
Rejoice in this, that you know. Greetings! I want you to know that all
men born from the foundation of the world until now are dust. While
they have inquired about God, who he is and what he is like, they have
not found him. The wisest among them have speculated about the truth
from the ordering of the world. And the speculation has not reached the
truth. For the ordering is spoken of in three (different) opinions by
all the philosophers; hence they do not agree. For some of them say
about the world that it was directed by itself. Others, that it is
providence (that directs it). Others, that it is fate. But it is none
of these. Again, of three voices that I have just mentioned, none is
true. For whatever is from itself is an empty life; it is self-made.
Providence is foolish. Fate is an undiscerning thing. Whoever, then, is
able to get free of these three voices I have just mentioned and come
by means of another voice to confess the God of truth and agree in
everything concerning him, he is immortal dwelling in the midst of
mortal men. He-Who-Is is ineffable. No principle knew him, no
authority, no subjection, nor any creature from the foundation of the
world, except he alone. For he is immortal and eternal, having no
birth; for everyone who has birth will perish. He is unbegotten, having
no beginning; for everyone who has a beginning has an end. No one rules
over him. He has no name; for whoever has a name is the creation of
another. He is unnameable. He has no human form; for whoever has human
form is the creation of another. He has his own semblance - not like
the semblance we have received and seen, but a strange semblance that
surpasses all things and is better than the totalities. It looks to
every side and sees itself from itself. He is infinite; he is
incomprehensible. He is ever imperishable (and) has no likeness (to
anything). He is unchanging good. He is faultless. He is everlasting.
He is blessed. He is unknowable, while he (nonetheless) knows himself.
He is immeasurable. He is untraceable. He is perfect, having no defect.
He is imperishably blessed. He is called 'Father of the Universe'.
Before anything is visible among those that are visible, the majesty
and the authorities that are in him, he embraces the totalities of the
totalities, and nothing embraces him. For he is all mind, thought and
reflecting, considering, rationality and power. They all are equal
powers. They are the sources of the totalities. And their whole race
to last is in the foreknowledge of the Unbegotten, for
they had not yet come to visibility. Now a difference existed among the
imperishable aeons. Let us, then, consider (it) this way: Everything
that came from the perishable will perish, since it came from the
perishable. Whatever came from imperishableness will not perish but
will become imperishable, since it came from imperishableness. So, many
men went astray because they had not known this difference; that is,
they died. But this much is enough, since it is impossible for anyone
to dispute the nature of the words I have just spoken about the
blessed, imperishable, true God. Now, if anyone wants to believe the
words set down (here), let him go from what is hidden to the end of
what is visible, and this Thought will instruct him how faith in those
things that are not visible was found in what is visible. This is a
principle of knowledge. The Lord of the Universe is not rightly called
'Father' but 'Forefather'. For the Father is the beginning (or
principle) of what is visible. For he (the Lord) is the beginningless
Forefather. He sees himself within himself, like a mirror, having
appeared in his likeness as Self-Father, that is, Self-Begetter, and as
Confronter, since he confronted Unbegotten First Existent. He is indeed
of equal age with the one who is before him, but he is not equal to him
in power. Afterward he revealed many confronting, self-begotten ones,
equal in age (and) power, being in glory and without number, who are
called 'The Generation over Whom There Is No Kingdom among the Kingdoms
That Exist'. And the whole multitude of the place over which there is
no kingdom is called 'Sons of Unbegotten Father.' Now the Unknowable is
ever full of imperishableness and ineffable joy. They are all at rest
in him, ever rejoicing in ineffable joy, over the unchanging glory and
the measureless jubilation that was never heard or known among all the
aeons and their worlds. But this much is enough, lest we go on
endlessly. This is another principle of knowledge from begotten.
The First who appeared before the universe in infinity is Self-grown,
Self-constructed Father, and is full of shining, ineffable light. In
the beginning, he decided to have his likeness become a great power.
Immediately, the principle (or beginning) of that Light appeared as
Immortal Androgynous Man. His male name is 'Begotten, Perfect Mind'.
And his female name is 'All-wise Begettress Sophia'. It is also said
that she resembles her brother and her consort. She is uncontested
truth; for here below, error, which exists with truth, contests it.
Through Immortal Man appeared the first designation, namely, divinity
and kingdom, for the Father, who is called 'Self-Father Man' revealed
this. He created a great aeon for his own majesty. He gave him great
authority, and he ruled over all creations. He created gods and
archangels and angels, myriads without number for retinue. Now through
that Man originated divinity and kingdom. Therefore he was called 'God
of gods', 'King of kings'. First Man is 'Faith' ('pistis') for those
who will come afterward. He has, within, a unique mind and thought -
just as he is it (thought) - reflecting and considering, rationality
and power. All the attributes that exist are perfect and immortal. In
respect to imperishableness, they are indeed equal. (But) in respect to
power, there is a difference, like the difference between father and
son, and son and thought, and the thought and the remainder. As I said
earlier, among the things that were created the monad is first, the
dyad follows it, and the triad, up to the tenths. Now the tenths rule
the hundredths; the hundredths rule the thousandths; the thousands rule
the ten thousands. This is the pattern immortals. First Man
is like this: His monad [...].Again it is this pattern that exists
among the immortals: the monad and the thought are those things that
belong to Immortal Man. The thinkings are for decads, and the
hundreds are the teachings, and the thousands are the counsels, and the
ten thousands are the powers. Now those who come from the [...] exist
with their [...] in every aeon [...]. [...] In the beginning, thought
and thinkings appeared from mind, then teachings from thinkings,
counsels from teachings, and power from counsels. And after all the
attributes, all that was revealed appeared from his powers. And from
what was created, what was fashioned appeared. And what was formed
appeared from what was fashioned. What was named appeared from what was
formed, while the difference among begotten things appeared from what
was named, from beginning to end, by power of all the aeons. Now
Immortal Man is full of every imperishable glory and ineffable joy. His
whole kingdom rejoices in everlasting rejoicing, those who never have
been heard of or known in any aeon that came after them and its worlds.
Afterward another principle came from Immortal Man, who is called
'Self-perfected Begetter.' When he received the consent of his consort,
Great Sophia, he revealed that first-begotten androgyne, who is called,
'First-begotten Son of God'. His female aspect is 'First-begotten
Sophia, Mother of the Universe,' whom some call 'Love'. Now,
First-begotten, since he has his authority from his father, created
angels, myriads without number, for retinue. The whole multitude of
those angels are called 'Assembly of the Holy Ones, the Shadowless
Lights.' Now when these greet each other, their embraces become like
angels like themselves. First Begetter Father is called 'Adam of the
Light.' And the kingdom of Son of Man is full of ineffable joy and
unchanging jubilation, ever rejoicing in ineffable joy over their
imperishable glory, which has never been heard nor has it been revealed
to all the aeons that came to be and their worlds.
Then Son of Man consented with Sophia, his consort, and revealed a
great androgynous Light. His masculine name is designated 'Savior,
Begetter of All things'. His feminine name is designated 'Sophia,
All-Begettress'. Some call her 'Pistis' (faith). Then Savior consented
with his consort, Pistis Sophia, and revealed six androgynous spiritual
beings who are the type of those who preceded them. Their male names
are these: first, 'Unbegotten'; second, 'Self-begotten'; third,
'Begetter'; fourth, 'First begetter'; fifth, 'All-begetter'; sixth,
'Arch-begetter'. Also the names of the females are these; first,
'All-wise Sophia'; second, 'All-Mother Sophia'; third, 'All-Begettress
Sophia'; fourth, 'First Begettress Sophia'; fifth, 'Love Sophia';
sixth, 'Pistis Sophia'.
From the consenting of those I have just mentioned, thoughts appeared
in the aeons that exist. From thoughts, reflectings; from reflectings,
considerings; from considerings, rationalities, from rationalities,
wills, from wills, words. Then the twelve powers, whom I have just
discussed, consented with each other. males (and) females (each)
were revealed, so that there are seventy-two powers. Each one of the
seventy-two revealed five spiritual (powers), which (together) are the
three hundred and sixty powers. The union of them all is the will.
Therefore our aeon came to be as the type of Immortal Man. Time came to
be as the type of First Begetter, his son. The year came to be as the
type of Savior. The twelve months came to be as the type of the twelve
powers. The three hundred and sixty days of the year came to be as the
three hundred and sixty powers who appeared from Savior. Their hours
and moments came to be as the type of the angels who came from them
(the powers), who are without number. And when those whom I have
discussed appeared, All-Begetter, their father, very soon created
twelve aeons for retinue for the twelve angels. And in each aeon there
were six (heavens), so there are seventy-two heavens of the seventy-two
powers who appeared from him. And in each of the heavens there were
five firmaments, so there are (altogether) three hundred sixty
firmaments of the three hundred sixty powers that appeared from them.
When the firmaments were complete, they were called 'The Three Hundred
Sixty Heavens', according to the name of the heavens that were before
them. And all these are perfect and good. And in this way the defect of
femaleness appeared. The first aeon, then, is that of Immortal Man. The
second aeon is that of Son of Man, who is called 'First Begetter' ("who
is called 'Savior'" added in Codex V). That which embraces these is the
aeon over which there is no kingdom, (the aeon) of the Eternal Infinite
God, the aeon of the aeon of the immortals who are in it, (the aeon)
above the Eighth that appeared in chaos. Now Immortal Man revealed
aeons and powers and kingdoms and gave authority to everyone who
appeared from him, to make whatever they desire until the days that are
above chaos. For these consented with each other and revealed every
magnificence, even from spirit, multitudinous lights that are glorious
and without number. These received names in the beginning, that is, the
first, the middle, the perfect; that is, the first aeon and the second
and the third. The first was called 'Unity and Rest'. Since each one
has its (own) name, the aeon was designated 'Assembly', from
the great multitude that appeared in the multitudinous one. Therefore,
when the multitude gathers and comes to a unity, they are called
'Assembly', from the Assembly that surpassed heaven. Therefore, the
Assembly of the Eighth was revealed as androgynous and was named partly
as male and partly as female. The male was called 'Assembly', the
female, 'Life', that it might be shown that from a female came the life
in all the aeons. Every name was received, starting from the beginning.
From his concurrence with his thought, the powers appeared who where
called 'gods'; and the gods from their considerings revealed divine
gods; and the gods from their considerings revealed lords; and the
lords of the lords from their words revealed lords; and the lords from
their powers revealed archangels; the archangels revealed angels; from
the semblance appeared, with structure and form for naming all
the aeons and their worlds. All the immortals, whom I have just
described, have authority - all of them - from the power of Immortal
Man and Sophia, his consort, who was called 'Silence', who was named
'Silence' because by reflecting without speech she perfected her own
majesty. Since the imperishabilities had the authority, each provided
great kingdoms in all the immortal heavens and their firmaments,
thrones (and) temples, for their own majesty. Some, Indeed, (who are)
in dwellings and in chariots, being in ineffable glory and not able to
be sent into any creature, provided for themselves hosts of angels,
myriads without number for retinue and glory, even virgin spirits, the
ineffable lights. They have no sickness nor weakness, but it is only
will: it comes to be in an instant. Thus were completed the aeons with
their heavens and firmaments for the glory of Immortal Man and Sophia,
his consort: the area which every aeon and
their worlds and those that came afterward, in order to provide the
types from there, their likenesses in the heavens of chaos and their
worlds. And all natures from the Immortal One, from Unbegotten to the
revelation of chaos, are in the light that shines without shadow and
(in) ineffable joy and unutterable jubilation. They ever delight
themselves on account of their glory that does not change, and the rest
that is not measured, which cannot be described or conceived among all
the aeons that came to be and their powers. But this much is enough.
All I have just said to you, I said in the way that you might accept,
until the one who need not be taught appears among you, and he will
speak all these things to you joyously and in pure knowledge.
On the Origin of the World
Seeing that everybody, gods of the world and mankind, says that nothing
existed prior to chaos, I, in distinction to them, shall demonstrate
that they are all mistaken, because they are not acquainted with the
origin of chaos, nor with its root. Here is the demonstration. How well
it suits all men, on the subject of chaos, to say that it is a kind of
darkness! But in fact it comes from a shadow, which has been called by
the name 'darkness'. And the shadow comes from a product that has
existed since the beginning. It is, moreover, clear that it existed
before chaos came into being, and that the latter is posterior to the
first product. Let us therefore concern ourselves with the facts of the
matter; and furthermore, with the first product, from which chaos was
projected. And in this way the truth will be clearly demonstrated.
After the natural structure of the immortal beings had completely
developed out of the infinite, a likeness then emanated from Pistis
(Faith); it is called Sophia (Wisdom). It exercised volition and became
a product resembling the primeval light. And immediately her will
manifested itself as a likeness of heaven, having an unimaginable
magnitude; it was between the immortal beings and those things that
came into being after them, like [...]: she (Sophia) functioned as a
veil dividing mankind from the things above. Now the eternal realm
(aeon) of truth has no shadow outside it, for the limitless light is
everywhere within it. But its exterior is shadow, which has been called
by the name 'darkness'. From it, there appeared a force, presiding over
the darkness. And the forces that came into being subsequent to them
called the shadow 'the limitless chaos'. From it, every kind of
divinity sprouted up [...] together with the entire place, so that
also, shadow is posterior to the first product. It was the abyss
that it (shadow) appeared, deriving from the aforementioned Pistis.
Then shadow perceived there was something mightier than it, and felt
envy; and when it had become pregnant of its own accord, suddenly it
engendered jealousy. Since that day, the principle of jealousy amongst
all the eternal realms and their worlds has been apparent. Now as for
that jealousy, it was found to be an abortion without any spirit in it.
Like a shadow, it came into existence in a vast watery substance. Then
the bile that had come into being out of the shadow was thrown into a
part of chaos. Since that day, a watery substance has been apparent.
And what sank within it flowed away, being visible in chaos: as with a
woman giving birth to a child - all her superfluities flow out; just
so, matter came into being out of shadow, and was projected apart. And
it did not depart from chaos; rather, matter was in chaos, being in a
part of it. And when these things had come to pass, then Pistis came
and appeared over the matter of chaos, which had been expelled like an
aborted fetus - since there was no spirit in it. For all of it (chaos)
was limitless darkness and bottomless water. Now when Pistis saw what
had resulted from her defect, she became disturbed. And the disturbance
appeared, as a fearful product; it rushed to her in the chaos. She
turned to it and blew into its face in the abyss, which is below all
the heavens. And when Pistis Sophia desired to cause the thing that had
no spirit to be formed into a likeness and to rule over matter and over
all her forces, there appeared for the first time a ruler, out of the
waters, lion-like in appearance, androgynous, having great authority
within him, and ignorant of whence he had come into being. Now when
Pistis Sophia saw him moving about in the depth of the waters, she said
to him, "Child, pass through to here," whose equivalent is 'yalda
baoth'. Since that day, there appeared the principle of verbal
expression, which reached the gods and the angels and mankind. And what
came into being as a result of verbal expression, the gods and the
angels and mankind finished. Now as for the ruler Yaltabaoth, he is
ignorant of the force of Pistis: he did not see her face, rather he saw
in the water the likeness that spoke with him. And because of that
voice, he called himself 'Yaldabaoth'. But 'Ariael' is what the perfect
call him, for he was like a lion. Now when he had come to have
authority over matter, Pistis Sophia withdrew up to her light. When the
ruler saw his magnitude - and it was only himself that he saw: he saw
nothing else, except for water and darkness - then he supposed that it
was he alone who existed. His [...] was completed by verbal expression:
it appeared as a spirit moving to and fro upon the waters. And when
that spirit appeared, the ruler set apart the watery substance. And
what was dry was divided into another place. And from matter, he made
for himself an abode, and he called it 'heaven'. And from matter, the
ruler made a footstool, and he called it 'earth'. Next, the ruler had a
thought - consistent with his nature - and by means of verbal
expression he created an androgyne. He opened his mouth and cooed to
him. When his eyes had been opened, he looked at his father, and he
said to him, "Eee!" Then his father called him Eee-a-o ('Yao'). Next he
created the second son. He cooed to him. And he opened his eyes and
said to his father, "Eh!" His father called him 'Eloai'. Next, he
created the third son. He cooed to him. And he opened his eyes and said
to his father, "Asss!" His father called him 'Astaphaios'. These are
the three sons of their father. Seven appeared in chaos, androgynous.
They have their masculine names and their feminine names. The feminine
name is Pronoia (Forethought) Sambathas, which is 'week'. And his son
is called Yao: his feminine name is Lordship. Sabaoth: his feminine
name is Deity. Adonaios: his feminine name is Kingship. Elaios: his
feminine name is Jealousy. Oraios: his feminine name is Wealth. And
Astaphaios: his feminine name is Sophia (Wisdom). These are the seven
forces of the seven heavens of chaos. And they were born androgynous,
consistent with the immortal pattern that existed before them,
according to the wish of Pistis: so that the likeness of what had
existed since the beginning might reign to the end. You will find the
effect of these names and the force of the male entities in the
Archangelic (Book) of the Prophet Moses, and the names of the female
entities in the first Book of Noraia. Now the prime parent Yaldabaoth,
since he possessed great authorities, created heavens for each of his
offspring through verbal expression - created them beautiful, as
dwelling places - and in each heaven he created great glories, seven
times excellent. Thrones and mansions and temples, and also chariots
and virgin spirits up to an invisible one and their glories, each one
has these in his heaven; mighty armies of gods and lords and angels and
archangels - countless myriads - so that they might serve. The account
of these matters you will find in a precise manner in the first Account
of Oraia. And they were completed from this heaven to as far up as the
sixth heaven, namely that of Sophia. The heaven and his earth were
destroyed by the troublemaker that was below them all. And the six
heavens shook violently; for the forces of chaos knew who it was that
had destroyed the heaven that was below them. And when Pistis knew
about the breakage resulting from the disturbance, she sent forth her
breath and bound him and cast him down into Tartaros. Since that day,
the heaven, along with its earth, has consolidated itself through
Sophia the daughter of Yaldabaoth, she who is below them all. Now when
the heavens had consolidated themselves along with their forces and all
their administration, the prime parent became insolent. And he was
honored by all the army of angels. And all the gods and their angels
gave blessing and honor to him. And for his part, he was delighted and
continually boasted, saying to them, "I have no need of anyone." He
said, "It is I who am God, and there is no other one that exists apart
from me." And when he said this, he sinned against all the immortal
beings who give answer. And they laid it to his charge. Then when
Pistis saw the impiety of the chief ruler, she was filled with anger.
She was invisible. She said, "You are mistaken, Samael," (that is,
"blind god"). "There is an immortal man of light who has been in
existence before you, and who will appear among your modelled forms; he
will trample you to scorn, just as potter's clay is pounded. And you
will descend to your mother, the abyss, along with those that belong to
you. For at the consummation of your (pl.) works, the entire defect
that has become visible out of the truth will be abolished, and it will
cease to be, and will be like what has never been." Saying this, Pistis
revealed her likeness of her greatness in the waters. And so doing, she
withdrew up to her light. Now when Sabaoth, the son of Yaldabaoth,
heard the voice of Pistis, he sang praises to her, and he condemned the
father [...] at the word of Pistis; and he praised her because she had
instructed them about the immortal man and his light. Then Pistis
Sophia stretched out her finger and poured upon him some light from her
light, to be a condemnation of his father. Then when Sabaoth was
illumined, he received great authority against all the forces of chaos.
Since that day he has been called "Lord of the Forces". He hated his
father, the darkness, and his mother, the abyss, and loathed his
sister, the thought of the prime parent, which moved to and fro upon
the waters. And because of his light, all the authorities of chaos were
jealous of him. And when they had become disturbed, they made a great
war in the seven heavens. Then when Pistis Sophia had seen the war, she
dispatched seven archangels to Sabaoth from her light. They snatched
him up to the seventh heaven. They stood before him as attendants.
Furthermore, she sent him three more archangels, and established the
kingdom for him over everyone, so that he might dwell above the twelve
gods of chaos. Now when Sabaoth had taken up the place of repose in
return for his repentance, Pistis also gave him her daughter Zoe
(Life), together with great authority, so that she might instruct him
about all things that exist in the eighth heaven. And as he had
authority, he made himself first of all a mansion. It is huge,
magnificent, seven times as great as all those that exist in the seven
heavens. And before his mansion he created a throne, which was huge and
was upon a four-faced chariot called "Cherubin". Now the Cherubin has
eight shapes per each of the four corners, lion forms and calf forms
and human forms and eagle forms, so that all the forms amount to
sixty-four forms - and seven archangels that stand before it; he is the
eighth, and has authority. All the forms amount to seventy-two.
Furthermore, from this chariot the seventy-two gods took shape; they
took shape so that they might rule over the seventy-two languages of
the peoples. And by that throne he created other, serpent-like angels,
called "Seraphin", which praise him at all times. Thereafter he created
a congregation of angels, thousands and myriads, numberless, which
resembled the congregation in the eighth heaven; and a firstborn called
Israel - which is, "the man that sees God"; and another being, called
Jesus Christ, who resembles the savior above in the eighth heaven, and
who sits at his right upon a revered throne. And at his left, there
sits the virgin of the holy spirit, upon a throne and glorifying him.
And the seven virgins stand before her, [...] possessing thirty harps,
and psalteries and trumpets, glorifying him. And all the armies of the
angels glorify him, and they bless him. Now where he sits is upon a
throne of light great cloud that covers him. And there was
no one with him in the cloud except Sophia Pistis,
instructing him about all the things that exist in the eighth heaven,
so that the likenesses of those things might be created, in order that
his reign might endure until the consummation of the heavens of chaos
and their forces. Now Pistis Sophia set him apart from the darkness and
summoned him to her right, and the prime parent she put at her left.
Since that day, right has been called justice, and left called
wickedness. Now because of this, they all received a realm in the
congregation of justice and wickedness, [...] stand [...] upon a
creature [...] all. Thus, when the prime parent of chaos saw his son
Sabaoth and the glory that he was in, and perceived that he was
greatest of all the authorities of chaos, he envied him. And having
become wrathful, he engendered Death out of his death: and he (viz.,
Death) was established over the sixth heaven, Sabaoth had been
snatched up from there. And thus the number of the six authorities of
chaos was achieved. Then Death, being androgynous, mingled with his
(own) nature and begot seven androgynous offspring. These are the names
of the male ones: Jealousy, Wrath, Tears, Sighing, Suffering,
Lamentation, Bitter Weeping. And these are the names of the female
ones: Wrath, Pain, Lust, Sighing, Curse, Bitterness, Quarrelsomeness.
They had intercourse with one another, and each one begot seven, so
that they amount to forty-nine androgynous demons. Their names and
their effects you will find in the Book of Solomon. And in the presence
of these, Zoe, who was with Sabaoth, created seven good androgynous
forces. These are the names of the male ones: the Unenvious, the
Blessed, the Joyful, the True, the Unbegrudging, the Beloved, the
Trustworthy. Also, as regards the female ones, these are their names:
Peace, Gladness, Rejoicing, Blessedness, Truth, Love, Faith (Pistis).
And from these are many good and innocent spirits. Their influences and
their effects you will find in the Configurations of the Fate of Heaven
That Is Beneath the Twelve. And having seen the likeness of Pistis in
the waters, the prime parent grieved very much, especially when he
heard her voice, like the first voice that had called to him out of the
waters. And when he knew that it was she who had given a name to him,
he sighed. He was ashamed on account of his transgression. And when he
had come to know in truth that an immortal man of light had been
existing before him, he was greatly disturbed; for he had previously
said to all the gods and their angels, "It is I who am god. No other
one exists apart from me." For he had been afraid they might know that
another had been in existence before him, and might condemn him. But
he, being devoid of understanding, scoffed at the condemnation and
acted recklessly. He said, "If anything has existed before me, let it
appear, so that we may see its light." And immediately, behold! Light
came out of the eighth heaven above and passed through all of the
heavens of the earth. When the prime parent saw that the light was
beautiful as it radiated, he was amazed. And he was greatly ashamed. As
that light appeared, a human likeness appeared within it, very
wonderful. And no one saw it except for the prime parent and Pronoia,
who was with him. Yet its light appeared to all the forces of the
heavens. Because of this they were all troubled by it. Then when
Pronoia saw that emissary, she became enamored of him. But he hated her
because she was on the darkness. But she desired to embrace him, and
she was not able to. When she was unable to assuage her love, she
poured out her light upon the earth. Since that day, that emissary has
been called "Adam of Light," whose rendering is "the luminous man of
blood," and the earth spread over him, holy Adaman, whose rendering is
"the Holy Land of Adamantine." Since that day, all the authorities have
honored the blood of the virgin. And the earth was purified on account
of the blood of the virgin. But most of all, the water was purified
through the likeness of Pistis Sophia, who had appeared to the prime
parent in the waters. Justly, then, it has been said: "through the
waters." The holy water, since it vivifies the all, purifies it. Out of
that first blood Eros appeared, being androgynous. His masculinity is
Himireris, being fire from the light. His femininity that is with him -
a soul of blood - is from the stuff of Pronoia. He is very lovely in
his beauty, having a charm beyond all the creatures of chaos. Then all
the gods and their angels, when they beheld Eros, became enamored of
him. And appearing in all of them, he set them afire: just as from a
single lamp many lamps are lit, and one and the same light is there,
but the lamp is not diminished. And in this way, Eros became dispersed
in all the created beings of chaos, and was not diminished. Just as
from the midpoint of light and darkness Eros appeared and at the
midpoint of the angels and mankind the sexual union of Eros was
consummated, so out of the earth the primal pleasure blossomed. The
woman followed earth. And marriage followed woman. Birth followed
marriage. Dissolution followed birth. After that Eros, the grapevine
sprouted up out of that blood, which had been shed over the earth.
Because of this, those who drink of it conceive the desire of sexual
union. After the grapevine, a fig tree and a pomegranate tree sprouted
up from the earth, together with the rest of the trees, all species,
having with them their seed from the seed of the authorities and their
angels. Then Justice created Paradise, being beautiful and being
outside the orbit of the moon and the orbit of the sun in the Land of
Wantonness, in the East in the midst of the stones. And desire is in
the midst of the beautiful, appetizing trees. And the tree of eternal
life is as it appeared by God's will, to the north of Paradise, so that
it might make eternal the souls of the pure, who shall come forth from
the modelled forms of poverty at the consummation of the age. Now the
color of the tree of life is like the sun. And its branches are
beautiful. Its leaves are like those of the cypress. Its fruit is like
a bunch of grapes when it is white. Its height goes as far as heaven.
And next to it (is) the tree of knowledge (gnosis), having the strength
of God. Its glory is like the moon when fully radiant. And its branches
are beautiful. Its leaves are like fig leaves. Its fruit is like a good
appetizing date. And this tree is to the north of Paradise, so that it
might arouse the souls from the torpor of the demons, in order that
they might approach the tree of life and eat of its fruit, and so
condemn the authorities and their angels. The effect of this tree is
described in the Sacred Book, to wit: "It is you who are the tree of
knowledge, which is in Paradise, from which the first man ate and which
opened his mind; and he loved his female counterpart and condemned the
other, alien likenesses and loathed them." Now after it, the olive tree
sprouted up, which was to purify the kings and the high priests of
righteousness, who were to appear in the last days, since the olive
tree appeared out of the light of the first Adam for the sake of the
unguent that they were to receive. And the first soul (psyche) loved
Eros, who was with her, and poured her blood upon him and upon the
earth. And out of that blood the rose first sprouted up, out of the
earth, out of the thorn bush, to be a source of joy for the light that
was to appear in the bush. Moreover, after this the beautiful,
good-smelling flowers sprouted up from the earth, different kinds, from
every single virgin of the daughters of Pronoia. And they, when they
had become enamored of Eros, poured out their blood upon him and upon
the earth. After these, every plant sprouted up from the earth,
different kinds, containing the seed of the authorities and their
angels. After these, the authorities created out of the waters all
species of beast, and the reptiles and birds - different kinds -
containing the seed of the authorities and their angels. But before all
these, when he had appeared on the first the first day, he remained
upon the earth, something like two days, and left the lower Pronoia in
heaven, and ascended towards his light. And immediately darkness
covered all the universe. Now when she wished, the Sophia who was in
the lower heaven received authority from Pistis, and fashioned great
luminous bodies and all the stars. And she put them in the sky to shine
upon the earth and to render temporal signs and seasons and years and
months and days and nights and moments and so forth. And in this way
the entire region upon the sky was adorned. Now when Adam of Light
conceived the wish to enter his light - i.e., the eighth heaven - he
was unable to do so because of the poverty that had mingled with his
light. Then he created for himself a vast eternal realm. And within
that eternal realm he created six eternal realms and their adornments,
six in number, that were seven times better than the heavens of chaos
and their adornments. Now all these eternal realms and their adornments
exist within the infinity that is between the eighth heaven and the
chaos below it, being counted with the universe that belongs to
poverty. If you want to know the arrangement of these, you will find it
written in the Seventh Universe of the Prophet Hieralias. And before
Adam of Light had withdrawn in the chaos, the authorities saw him and
laughed at the prime parent because he had lied when he said, "It is I
who am God. No one exists before me." When they came to him, they said,
"Is this not the god who ruined our work?" He answered and said, "Yes.
If you do not want him to be able to ruin our work, come let us create
a man out of earth, according to the image of our body and according to
the likeness of this being, to serve us; so that when he sees his
likeness, he might become enamored of it. No longer will he ruin our
work; rather,we shall make those who are born out of the light our
servants for all the duration of this eternal realm." Now all of this
came to pass according to the forethought of Pistis, in order that man
should appear after his likeness, and should condemn them because of
their modelled form. And their modelled form became an enclosure of the
light. Then the authorities received the knowledge (gnosis) necessary
to create man. Sophia Zoe - she who is with Sabaoth - had anticipated
them. And she laughed at their decision. For they are blind: against
their own interests they ignorantly created him. And they do not
realize what they are about to do. The reason she anticipated them and
made her own man first, was in order that he might instruct their
modelled form how to despise them, and thus to escape from them. Now
the production of the instructor came about as follows. When Sophia let
fall a droplet of light, it flowed onto the water, and immediately a
human being appeared, being androgynous. That droplet she molded first
as a female body. Afterwards, using the body she molded it in the
likeness of the mother, which had appeared. And he finished it in
twelve months. An androgynous human being was produced, whom the Greeks
call Hermaphrodites; and whose mother the Hebrews call Eve of Life
(Zoe), namely, the female instructor of life. Her offspring is the
creature that is lord. Afterwards, the authorities called it "Beast",
so that it might lead astray their modelled creatures. The
interpretation of "the beast" is "the instructor". For it was found to
be the wisest of all beings. Now, Eve is the first virgin, the one who
without a husband bore her first offspring. It is she who served as her
own midwife. For this reason she is held to have said: It is I who am
the part of my mother; and it is I who am the mother. It is I who am
the wife; it is I who am the virgin. It is I who am pregnant; it is I
who am the midwife. It is I who am the one that comforts pains of
travail. It is my husband who bore me; and it is I who am his mother.
And it is he who is my father and my lord. It is he who is my force;
What he desires, he says with reason. I am in the process of becoming;
yet I have borne a man as lord. Now these through the will <...> The
souls that were going to enter the modelled forms of the authorities
were manifested to Sabaoth and his Christ. And regarding these, the
holy voice said, "Multiply and improve! Be lord over all creatures."
And it is they who were taken captive, according to their destinies, by
the prime parent. And thus they were shut into the prisons of the
modelled forms until the consummation of the age. And at that time, the
prime parent then rendered an opinion concerning man to those who were
with him. Then each of them cast his sperm into the midst of the navel
of the earth. Since that day, the seven rulers have fashioned man with
his body resembling their body, but his likeness resembling the man
that had appeared to them. His modelling took place by parts, one at a
time. And their leader fashioned the brain and the nervous system.
Afterwards, he appeared as prior to him. He became a soul-endowed man.
And he was called Adam, that is, "father", according to the name of the
one that existed before him. And when they had finished Adam, he
abandoned him as an inanimate vessel, since he had taken form like an
abortion, in that no spirit was in him. Regarding this thing, when the
chief ruler remembered the saying of Pistis, he was afraid lest the
true man enter his modelled form and become its lord. For this reason
he left his modelled form forty days without soul, and he withdrew and
abandoned it. Now on the fortieth day, Sophia Zoe sent her breath into
Adam, who had no soul. He began to move upon the ground. And he could
not stand up. Then, when the seven rulers came, they saw him and were
greatly disturbed. They went up to him and seized him. And he (viz.,
the chief ruler) said to the breath within him, "Who are you? And
whence did you come hither?" It answered and said, "I have come from
the force of the man for the destruction of your work." When they
heard, they glorified him, since he gave them respite from the fear and
the anxiety in which they found themselves. Then they called that day
"Rest", in as much as they had rested from toil. And when they saw that
Adam could stand up, they were glad, and they took him and put him in
Paradise. And they withdrew up to their heavens. After the day of rest,
Sophia sent her daughter Zoe, being called Eve, as an instructor, in
order that she might make Adam, who had no soul, arise, so that those
whom he should engender might become containers of light. When Eve saw
her male counterpart prostrate, she had pity upon him, and she said,
"Adam! Become alive! Arise upon the earth!" Immediately her word became
accomplished fact. For Adam, having arisen, suddenly opened his eyes.
When he saw her, he said, "You shall be called 'Mother of the Living'.
For it is you who have given me life." Then the authorities were
informed that their modelled form was alive and had arisen, and they
were greatly troubled. They sent seven archangels to see what had
happened. They came to Adam. When they saw Eve talking to him, they
said to one another, "What sort of thing is this luminous woman? For
she resembles that likeness which appeared to us in the light. Now
come, let us lay hold of her and cast her seed into her, so that when
she becomes soiled she may not be able to ascend into her light.
Rather, those whom she bears will be under our charge. But let us not
tell Adam, for he is not one of us. Rather let us bring a deep sleep
over him. And let us instruct him in his sleep to the effect that she
came from his rib, in order that his wife may obey, and he may be lord
over her."
Then Eve, being a force, laughed at their decision. She put mist into
their eyes and secretly left her likeness with Adam. She entered the
tree of knowledge and remained there. And they pursued her, and she
revealed to them that she had gone into the tree and become a tree.
Then, entering a great state of fear, the blind creatures fled.
Afterwards, when they had recovered from the daze, they came to Adam;
and seeing the likeness of this woman with him, they were greatly
disturbed, thinking it was she that was the true Eve. And they acted
rashly; they came up to her and seized her and cast their seed upon
her. They did so wickedly, defiling not only in natural ways but also
in foul ways, defiling first the seal of her voice - that had spoken
with them, saying, "What is it that exists before you?" - intending to
defile those who might say at the consummation (of the age) that they
had been born of the true man through verbal expression. And they
erred, not knowing that it was their own body that they had defiled: it
was the likeness that the authorities and their angels defiled in every
way. First she was pregnant with Abel, by the first ruler. And it was
by the seven authorities and their angels that she bore the other
offspring. And all this came to pass according to the forethought of
the prime parent, so that the first mother might bear within her every
seed, being mixed and being fitted to the fate of the universe and its
configurations, and to Justice. A prearranged plan came into effect
regarding Eve, so that the modelled forms of the authorities might
become enclosures of the light, whereupon it would condemn them through
their modelled forms. Now the first Adam, (Adam) of Light, is
spirit-endowed and appeared on the first day. The second Adam is
soul-endowed and appeared on the sixth day, which is called Aphrodite.
The third Adam is a creature of the earth, that is, the man of the law,
and he appeared on the eighth day [...] the tranquility of poverty,
which is called "The Day of the Sun" (Sunday). And the progeny of the
earthly Adam became numerous and was completed, and produced within
itself every kind of scientific information of the soul-endowed Adam.
But all were in ignorance. Next, let me say that once the rulers had
seen him and the female creature who was with him erring ignorantly
like beasts, they were very glad. When they learned that the immortal
man was not going to neglect them, rather that they would even have to
fear the female creature that had turned into a tree, they were
disturbed, and said, "Perhaps this is the true man - this being who has
brought a fog upon us and has taught us that she who was soiled is like
him - and so we shall be conquered!" Then the seven of them together
laid plans. They came up to Adam and Eve timidly: they said to him,
"The fruit of all the trees created for you in Paradise shall be eaten;
but as for the tree of knowledge, control yourselves and do not eat
from it. If you eat, you will die." Having imparted great fear to them,
they withdrew up to their authorities. Then came the wisest of all
creatures, who was called Beast. And when he saw the likeness of their
mother Eve he said to her, "What did God say to you? Was it 'Do not eat
from the tree of knowledge'?" She said, "He said not only, 'Do not eat
from it', but, 'Do not touch it, lest you die.'" He said to her, "Do
not be afraid. In death you shall not die. For he knows that when you
eat from it, your intellect will become sober and you will come to be
like gods, recognizing the difference that obtains between evil men and
good ones. Indeed, it was in jealousy that he said this to you, so that
you would not eat from it." Now Eve had confidence in the words of the
instructor. She gazed at the tree and saw that it was beautiful and
appetizing, and liked it; she took some of its fruit and ate it; and
she gave some also to her husband, and he too ate it. Then their
intellect became open. For when they had eaten, the light of knowledge
had shone upon them. When they clothed themselves with shame, they knew
that they were naked of knowledge. When they became sober, they saw
that they were naked and became enamored of one another. When they saw
that the ones who had modelled them had the form of beasts, they
loathed them: they were very aware. Then when the rulers knew that they
had broken their commandments, they entered Paradise and came to Adam
and Eve with earthquake and great threatening, to see the effect of the
aid. Then Adam and Eve trembled greatly and hid under the trees in
Paradise. Then the rulers did not know where they were and said, "Adam,
where are you?" He said, "I am here, for through fear of you I hid,
being ashamed." And they said to him ignorantly, "Who told you about
the shame with which you clothed yourself? - unless you have eaten from
that tree!" He said, "The woman whom you gave me - it is she that gave
to me and I ate." Then they said to the latter, "What is this that you
have done?" She answered and said, "It is the instructor who urged me
on, and I ate." Then the rulers came up to the instructor. Their eyes
became misty because of him, and they could not do anything to him.
They cursed him, since they were powerless. Afterwards, they came up to
the woman and cursed her and her offspring. After the woman, they
cursed Adam, and the land because of him, and the crops; and all things
they had created, they cursed. They have no blessing. Good cannot
result from evil. From that day, the authorities knew that truly there
was something mightier than they: they recognized only that their
commandments had not been kept. Great jealousy was brought into the
world solely because of the immortal man. Now when the rulers saw that
their Adam had entered into an alien state of knowledge, they desired
to test him, and they gathered together all the domestic animals and
the wild beasts of the earth and the birds of heaven and brought them
to Adam to see what he would call them. When he saw them, he gave names
to their creatures. They became troubled because Adam had recovered
from all the trials. They assembled and laid plans, and they said,
"Behold Adam! He has come to be like one of us, so that he knows the
difference between the light and the darkness. Now perhaps he will be
deceived, as in the case of the Tree of Knowledge, and also will come
to the Tree of Life and eat from it, and become immortal, and become
lord, and despise us and disdain us and all our glory! Then he will
denounce us along with our universe. Come, let us expel him from
Paradise, down to the land from which he was taken, so that henceforth
he might not be able to recognize anything better than we can." And so
they expelled Adam from Paradise, along with his wife. And this deed
that they had done was not enough for them. Rather, they were afraid.
They went in to the Tree of Life and surrounded it with great fearful
things, fiery living creatures called "Cheroubin", and they put a
flaming sword in their midst, fearfully twirling at all times, so that
no earthly being might ever enter that place. Thereupon, since the
rulers were envious of Adam they wanted to diminish their (viz., Adam's
and Eve's) lifespans. They could not (, however,) because of fate,
which had been fixed since the beginning. For to each had been allotted
a lifespan of 1,000 years, according to the course of the luminous
bodies. But although the rulers could not do this, each of the
evildoers took away ten years. And all this lifespan (which remained)
amounted to 930 years: and these are in pain and weakness and evil
distraction. And so life has turned out to be, from that day until the
consummation of the age. Thus when Sophia Zoe saw that the rulers of
the darkness had laid a curse upon her counterparts, she was indignant.
And coming out of the first heaven with full power, she chased those
rulers out of their heavens, and cast them down into the sinful world,
so that there they should dwell, in the form of evil spirits (demons)
upon the earth. [...], so that in their world it might pass the
thousand years in Paradise - a soul-endowed living creature called
"phoenix". It kills itself and brings itself to life as a witness to
the judgment against them, for they did wrong to Adam and his
generation, unto the consummation of the age. There are [...] three
men, and also his posterities, unto the consummation of the world: the
spirit-endowed of eternity, and the soul-endowed, and the earthly.
Likewise, the three phoenixes Paradise - the first is immortal;
the second lives 1,000 years; as for the third, it is written in the
Sacred Book that it is consumed. So, too, there are three baptisms -
the first is the spiritual, the second is by fire, the third is by
water. Just as the phoenix appears as a witness concerning the angels,
so the case of the water hydri in Egypt, which has been a witness to
those going down into the baptism of a true man. The two bulls in Egypt
possess a mystery, the sun and the moon, being a witness to Sabaoth:
namely, that over them Sophia received the universe; from the day that
she made the sun and the moon, she put a seal upon her heaven, unto
eternity. And the worm that has been born out of the phoenix is a human
being as well. It is written (Ps 91:13 LXX) concerning it, "the just
man will blossom like a phoenix". And the phoenix first appears in a
living state, and dies, and rises again, being a sign of what has
become apparent at the consummation of the age. It was only in Egypt
that these great signs appeared - nowhere else - as an indication that
it is like God's Paradise. Let us return to the aforementioned rulers,
so that we may offer some explanation of them. Now, when the seven
rulers were cast down from their heavens onto the earth, they made for
themselves angels, numerous, demonic, to serve them. And the latter
instructed mankind in many kinds of error and magic and potions and
worship of idols and spilling of blood and altars and temples and
sacrifices and libations to all the spirits of the earth, having their
coworker fate, who came into existence by the concord between the gods
of injustice and justice. And thus when the world had come into being,
it distractedly erred at all times. For all men upon earth worshiped
the spirits (demons) from the creation to the consummation - both the
angels of righteousness and the men of unrighteousness. Thus did the
world come to exist in distraction, in ignorance, and in a stupor. They
all erred, until the appearance of the true man. Let this suffice so
far as the matter goes. Now we shall proceed to consideration of our
world, so that we may accurately finish the description of its
structure and management. Then it will become obvious how belief in the
unseen realm, which has been apparent from creation down to the
consummation of the age, was discovered. I come, therefore, to the main
points regarding the immortal man: I shall speak of all the beings that
belong to him, explaining how they happen to be here. When a multitude
of human beings had come into existence, through the parentage of the
Adam who had been fashioned, and out of matter, and when the world had
already become full, the rulers were master over it - that is, they
kept it restrained by ignorance. For what reason? For the following:
since the immortal father knows that a deficiency of truth came into
being amongst the eternal realms and their universe, when he wished to
bring to naught the rulers of perdition through the creatures they had
modelled, he sent your likenesses down into the world of perdition,
namely, the blessed little innocent spirits. They are not alien to
knowledge. For all knowledge is vested in one angel who appeared before
them; he is not without power in the company of the father. And
gave them knowledge. Whenever they appear in the world of perdition,
immediately and first of all they reveal the pattern of imperishability
as a condemnation of the rulers and their forces. Thus when the blessed
beings appeared in forms modelled by authorities, they were envied. And
out of envy the authorities mixed their seed with them, in hopes of
polluting them. They could not. Then when the blessed beings appeared
in luminous form, they appeared in various ways. And each one of them,
starting out in his land, revealed his (kind of) knowledge to the
visible church constituted of the modelled forms of perdition. It
(viz., the church) was found to contain all kinds of seed, because of
the seed of the authorities that had mixed with it. Then the Savior
created [...] of them all - and the spirits of these are manifestly
superior, being blessed and varying in election - and also (he created)
many other beings, which have no king and are superior to everyone that
was before them. Consequently, four races exist. There are three that
belong to the kings of the eighth heaven. But the fourth race is
kingless and perfect, being the highest of all. For these shall enter
the holy place of their father. And they will gain rest in repose and
eternal, unspeakable glory and unending joy. Moreover, they are kings
within the mortal domain, in that they are immortal. They will condemn
the gods of chaos and their forces. Now the Word that is superior to
all beings was sent for this purpose alone: that he might proclaim the
unknown. He said, "There is nothing hidden that is not apparent, and
what has not been recognized will be recognized." And these were sent
to make known what is hidden, and the seven authorities of chaos and
their impiety. And thus they were condemned to death. So when all the
perfect appeared in the forms modelled by the rulers, and when they
revealed the incomparable truth, they put to shame all the wisdom of
the gods. And their fate was found to be a condemnation. And their
force dried up. Their lordship was dissolved. Their forethought became
emptiness, along with their glory.
Before the consummation of the age, the whole place will shake with
great thundering. Then the rulers will be sad, [...] their death. The
angels will mourn for their mankind, and the demons will weep over
their seasons, and their mankind will wail and scream at their death.
Then the age will begin, and they will be disturbed. Their kings will
be intoxicated with the fiery sword, and they will wage war against one
another, so that the earth is intoxicated with bloodshed. And the seas
will be disturbed by those wars. Then the sun will become dark, and the
moon will cause its light to cease. The stars of the sky will cancel
their circuits. And a great clap of thunder will come out of a great
force that is above all the forces of chaos, where the firmament of the
woman is situated. Having created the first product, she will put away
the wise fire of intelligence and clothe herself with witless wrath.
Then she will pursue the gods of chaos, whom she created along with the
prime parent. She will cast them down into the abyss. They will be
obliterated because of their wickedness. For they will come to be like
volcanoes and consume one another until they perish at the hand of the
prime parent. When he has destroyed them, he will turn against himself
and destroy himself until he ceases to exist. And their heavens will
fall one upon the next and their forces will be consumed by fire. Their
eternal realms, too, will be overturned. And his heaven will fall and
break in two. His [...] will fall down upon the [...] support them;
they will fall into the abyss, and the abyss will be overturned. The
light will [...] the darkness and obliterate it: it will be like
something that has never been. And the product to which the darkness
had been posterior will dissolve. And the deficiency will be plucked
out by the root (and thrown) down into the darkness. And the light will
withdraw up to its root. And the glory of the unbegotten will appear.
And it will fill all the eternal realm. When the prophecy and the
account of those that are king becomes known and is fulfilled by those
who are called perfect, those who - in contrast - have not become
perfect in the unbegotten father will receive their glory in their
realms and in the kingdoms of the immortals: but they will never enter
the kingless realm. For everyone must go to the place from which he has
come. Indeed, by his acts and his knowledge, each person will make his
(own) nature known.
The (First) Apocalypse of James
It is the Lord who spoke with me: "See now the completion of my
redemption. I have given you a sign of these things, James, my brother.
For not without reason have I called you my brother, although you are
not my brother materially. And I am not ignorant concerning you; so
that when I give you a sign - know and hear." "Nothing existed except
Him-who-is. He is unnameable and ineffable. I myself am also
unnameable, from Him-who-is, just as I have been given a number of
names - two from Him-who-is. And I, I am before you. Since you have
asked concerning femaleness, femaleness existed, but femaleness was not
first. And it prepared for itself powers and gods. But it did not exist
when I came forth, since I am an image of Him-who-is. But I have
brought forth the image of him so that the sons of Him-who-is might
know what things are theirs and what things are alien (to them).
Behold, I shall reveal to you everything of this mystery. For they will
seize me the day after tomorrow. But my redemption will be near." James
said, "Rabbi, you have said, 'they will seize me.' But I, what can I
do?" He said to me, "Fear not, James. You too will they seize. But
leave Jerusalem. For it is she who always gives the cup of bitterness
to the sons of light. She is a dwelling place of a great number of
archons. But your redemption will be preserved from them. So that you
may understand who they are and what kinds they are, you will [...].
And listen. They are not [...] but archons [...]. These twelve [...]
down [...] archons [...] upon his own hebdomad."
James said, "Rabbi, are there then twelve hebdomads and not seven as
there are in the scriptures?" The Lord said, "James, he who spoke
concerning this scripture had a limited understanding. I, however,
shall reveal to you what has come forth from him who has no number. I
shall give a sign concerning their number. As for what has come forth
from him who has no measure, I shall give a sign concerning their
measure" James said, "Rabbi, behold then, I have received their number.
There are seventy-two measures!" The Lord said, "These are the
seventy-two heavens, which are their subordinates. These are the powers
of all their might; and they were established by them; and these are
they who were distributed everywhere, existing under the authority of
the twelve archons. The inferior power among them brought forth for
itself angels and unnumbered hosts. Him-who-is, however, has been given
[...] on account of [...] Him-who-is [...] they are unnumbered. If you
want to give them a number now, you will not be able to do so until you
cast away from your blind thought, this bond of flesh which encircles
you. And then you will reach Him-who-is. And you will no longer be
James; rather you are the One-who-is. And all those who are unnumbered
will all have been named." , "Rabbi, in what way shall I
reach Him-who-is, since all these powers and these hosts are armed
against me?" He said to me, "These powers are not armed against you
specifically, but are armed against another. It is against me that they
are armed. And they are armed with other powers. But they are armed
against me in judgment. They did not give [...] to me in it [...]
through them [...]. In this place [...] suffering, I shall [...]. He
will [...] and I shall not rebuke them. But there shall be within me a
silence and a hidden mystery. But I am fainthearted before their
anger." James said, "Rabbi, if they arm themselves against you, then is
there no blame?" You have come with knowledge, that you might rebuke
their forgetfulness. You have come with recollection, that you might
rebuke their ignorance. But I was concerned because of you. For you
descended into a great ignorance, but you have not been defiled by
anything in it. For you descended into a great mindlessness, and your
recollection remained. You walked in mud, and your garments were not
soiled, and you have not been buried in their filth, and you have not
been caught. And I was not like them, but I clothed myself with
everything of theirs. There is in me forgetfulness, yet I remember
things that are not theirs. There is in me [....],and I am in their
[...]. [...] knowledge [...] not in their sufferings [...]. But I have
become afraid before them, since they rule. For what will they do? What
will I be able to say? Or what word will I be able to say that I may
escape them?" The Lord said, "James, I praise your understanding and
your fear. If you continue to be distressed, do not be concerned for
anything else except your redemption. For behold, I shall complete this
destiny upon this earth as I have said from the heavens. And I shall
reveal to you your redemption."
James said, "Rabbi, how, after these things, will you appear to us
again? After they seize you, and you complete this destiny, you will go
up to Him-who-is." The Lord said, "James, after these things I shall
reveal to you everything, not for your sake alone but for the sake of
the unbelief of men, so that faith may exist in them. For a multitude
will attain to faith and they will increase in [...]. And after this I
shall appear for a reproof to the archons. And I shall reveal to them
that he cannot be seized. If they seize him, then he will overpower
each of them. But now I shall go. Remember the things I have spoken and
let them go up before you." James said,"Lord, I shall hasten as you
have said." The Lord said farewell to him and fulfilled what was
fitting.
When James heard of his suffering and was much distressed, they awaited
the sign of his coming. And he came after several days. And James was
walking upon the mountain which is called "Gaugelan", with his
disciples, who listened to him because they had been distressed, and he
was [...] a comforter, saying, "This is [...] second [...]" Then the
crowd dispersed, but James remained [...] prayer [...], as was his
custom.
And the Lord appeared to him. Then he stopped (his) prayer and embraced
him. He kissed him, saying, "Rabbi, I have found you! I have heard of
your sufferings, which you endured. And I have been much distressed. My
compassion you know. Therefore, on reflection, I was wishing that I
would not see this people. They must be judged for these things that
they have done. For these things that they have done are contrary to
what is fitting."
The Lord said, "James, do not be concerned for me or for this people. I
am he who was within me. Never have I suffered in any way, nor have I
been distressed. And this people has done me no harm. But this (people)
existed as a type of the archons, and it deserved to be destroyed
through them. But [...] the archons, [...] who has [...] but since it
[...] angry with [...] The just [...] is his servant. Therefore your
name is "James the Just". You see how you will become sober when you
see me. And you stopped this prayer. Now since you are a just man of
God, you have embraced me and kissed me. Truly I say to you that you
have stirred up great anger and wrath against yourself. But (this has
happened) so that these others might come to be."
But James was timid (and) wept. And he was very distressed. And they
both sat down upon a rock. The Lord said to him, "James, thus you will
undergo these sufferings. But do not be sad. For the flesh is weak. It
will receive what has been ordained for it. But as for you, do not be
timid or afraid". The Lord ceased.
Now when James heard these things, he wiped away the tears in his eyes
and very bitter [...] which is [...]. The Lord said to him, "James,
behold, I shall reveal to you your redemption. When you are seized, and
you undergo these sufferings, a multitude will arm themselves against
you that may seize you. And in particular three of them will
seize you - they who sit (there) as toll collectors. Not only do they
demand toll, but they also take away souls by theft. When you come into
their power, one of them who is their guard will say to you, 'Who are
you or where are you from?' You are to say to him, 'I am a son, and I
am from the Father.' He will say to you, 'What sort of son are you, and
to what father do you belong?' You are to say to him, 'I am from the
Pre-existent Father, and a son in the Pre-existent One.' When he says
to you, [...], you are to say to him [...] in the [...] that I might
[...]."
'[...] of alien things?' You are to say to him, 'They are not entirely
alien, but they are from Achamoth, who is the female. And these she
produced as she brought down the race from the Pre-existent One. So
then they are not alien, but they are ours. They are indeed ours
because she who is mistress of them is from the Pre-existent One. At
the same time they are alien because the Pre-existent One did not have
intercourse with her, when she produced them.' When he also says to
you, 'Where will you go?', you are to say to him, 'To the place from
which I have come, there shall I return.' And if you say these things,
you will escape their attacks.
"But when you come to these three detainers who take away souls by
theft in that place [...] these. You [...] a vessel [...] much more
than [...] of the one whom you [...] for [...] her root. You too will
be sober [...]. But I shall call upon the imperishable knowledge, which
is Sophia who is in the Father (and) who is the mother of Achamoth.
Achamoth had no father nor male consort, but she is female from a
female. She produced you without a male, since she was alone (and) in
ignorance as to what lives through her mother because she thought that
she alone existed. But I shall cry out to her mother. And then they
will fall into confusion (and) will blame their root and the race of
their mother. But you will go up to what is yours [...] you will [...]
the Pre-existent One."
"They are a type of the twelve disciples and the twelve pairs, [...]
Achamoth, which is translated 'Sophia'. And who I myself am, (and) who
the imperishable Sophia (is) through whom you will be redeemed, and
(who are) all the sons of Him-who-is - these things they have known and
have hidden within them. You are to hide within you, and
you are to keep silence. But you are to reveal them to Addai. When you
depart, immediately war will be made with this land. Weep, then, for
him who dwells in Jerusalem. But let Addai take these things to heart.
In the tenth year let Addai sit and write them down. And when he writes
them down [...] and they are to give them [...] he has the [...] he is
called Levi. Then he is to bring [...] word [...] from what I said
earlier [...] a woman [...] Jerusalem in her [...] and he begets two
sons through her. They are to inherit these things and the
understanding of him who [...] exalts. And they are to receive [...]
through him from his intellect. Now, the younger of them is greater.
And may these things remain hidden in him until he comes to the age of
seventeen years [...] beginning [...] through them. They will pursue
him exceedingly, since they are from his [...] companions. He will be
proclaimed through them, and they will proclaim this word. Then he will
become a seed of [...]."
James said, "I am satisfied [...] and they are [...] my soul. Yet
another thing I ask of you: who are the seven women who have been your
disciples? And behold all women bless you. I also am amazed how
powerless vessels have become strong by a perception which is in them."
The Lord said, "You [...] well [...] a spirit of [...], a spirit of
thought, a spirit of counsel of a [...], a spirit [...] a spirit of
knowledge [...] of their fear. [...] when we had passed through the
breath of this archon who is named Adonaios [...] him and [...] he was
ignorant [...] when I came forth from him, he remembered that I am a
son of his. He was gracious to me at that time as his son. And then,
before appeared here, cast them among this people. And from
the place of heaven the prophets [...]."
James said, "Rabbi, [...] I [...] all together [...] in them especially
[...]." The Lord said, "James, I praise you [...] walk upon the earth
[...] the words while he [...] on the [...]. For cast away from you the
cup which is bitterness. For some from [...] set themselves against
you. For you have begun to understand their roots from beginning to
end. Cast away from yourself all lawlessness. And beware lest they envy
you. When you speak these words of this perception, encourage these
four: Salome and Mariam and Martha and Arsinoe [...] since he takes
some [...] to me he is [...] burnt offerings and [...]. But I [...] not
in this way; but [...] first-fruits of the [...] upward [...] so that
the power of God might appear. The perishable has gone up to the
imperishable and the female element has attained to this male element."
James said, "Rabbi, into these three (things), then, has their [...]
been cast. For they have been reviled, and they have been persecuted
[...]. Behold [...] everything [...] from anyone [...]. For you have
received [...] of knowledge. And [...] that what is the [...] go [...]
you will find [...]. But I shall go forth and shall reveal that they
believed in you, that they may be content with their blessing and
salvation, and this revelation may come to pass."
And he went at that time immediately and rebuked the twelve and cast
out of them contentment concerning the way of knowledge [...].
[...]. And the majority of them [...] when they saw, the messenger took
in [...]. The others [...] said, "[...] him from this earth. For he is
not worthy of life." These, then, were afraid. They arose, saying, "We
have no part in this blood, for a just man will perish through
injustice" James departed so that [...] look [...] for we [...] him.
The (Second) Apocalypse of James
This is the discourse that James the Just spoke in Jerusalem, which
Mareim, one of the priests, wrote. He had told it to Theuda, the father
of the Just One, since he was a relative of his. He said, "Hasten! Come
with Mary, your wife, and your relatives [...] therefore [...] of this
[...] to him, he will understand. For behold, a multitude are disturbed
over his [...], and they are greatly angry at him. [...] and they pray
[...]. For he would often say these words and others also." "He used to
speak these words while the multitude of people were seated. But (on
this occasion) he entered and did sit down in the place, as was
his custom. Rather he sat above the fifth flight of steps, which is
(highly) esteemed, while all our people [...] the words [...]." "[...].
I am he who received revelation from the Pleroma of Imperishability. (I
am) he who was first summoned by him who is great, and who obeyed the
Lord - he who passed through the worlds [...], he who [...], he who
stripped himself and went about naked, he who was found in a perishable
(state), though he was about to be brought up into imperishability. -
This Lord who is present came as a son who sees, and as a brother was
he sought. He will come to [...] produced him because [...] and he
unites [...] make him free [...] in [...] he who came to [...].""Now
again am I rich in knowledge and I have a unique understanding, which
was produced only from above and the [...] comes from a [...]. I am the
[...] whom I knew. That which was revealed to me was hidden from
everyone and shall (only) be revealed through him. These two who see I
<...> (and) they have already proclaimed through these words: "He shall
be judged with the unrighteous". He who lived without blasphemy died by
means of blasphemy. He who was cast out, they [...].""[...] the flesh
and it is by knowledge that I shall come forth from the flesh. I am
surely dying, but it is in life that I shall be found. I entered in
order that they might judge [...] I shall come forth in [...] judge
[...] I do not bring blame against the servants of his [...]. I hasten
to make them free and want to take them above him who wants to rule
over them. If they are helped, I am the brother in secret, who prayed
to the Father until he [...] in [...] reign [...] imperishability [...]
first in [...]."I am the first son who was begotten. - He will destroy
the dominion of them all. - I am the beloved. I am the righteous one. I
am the son of the Father. I speak even as I heard. I command even as I
received the order. I show you even as I have found. Behold, I speak in
order that I may come forth. Pay attention to me in order that you may
see me! "If I have come into existence, who then am I? For I did
come as I am, nor would I have appeared as I am. For I used to exist
for a brief period of time [...].""Once when I was sitting
deliberating, he opened the door. That one whom you hated and
persecuted came in to me. He said to me, "Hail, my brother; my brother,
hail." As I raised my face to stare at him, (my) mother said to me, "Do
not be frightened, my son, because he said 'My brother' to you (sg.).
For you (pl.) were nourished with this same milk. Because of this he
calls me "My mother". For he is not a stranger to us. He is your
step-brother [...].""[...] these words [...] great [...] I shall find
them, and they shall come forth. However, I am the stranger, and they
have no knowledge of me in their thoughts, for they know me in this
place. But it was fitting that others know through you. " the
one to whom I say: Hear and understand - for a multitude, when they
hear, will be slow witted. But you, understand as I shall be able to
tell you. Your father is not my father. But my father has become a
father to you. "This virgin about whom you hear - this is how [...]
virgin [...] namely, the virgin. [...], how [...] to me for [...] to
know [...] not as [...] whom I [...]. For this one (masc.) [...] to
him, and this also is profitable for you. Your father, whom you
consider to be rich, shall grant that you inherit all these things that
you see. "I proclaim to you to tell you these (words) that I shall
speak. When you hear, therefore, open your ears and understand and walk
(accordingly)! It is because of you that they pass by, activated by
that one who is glorious. And if they want to make a disturbance and
(seize) possession [...] he began [...] not, nor those who are coming,
who were sent forth by him to make this present creation. After these
things, when he is ashamed, he shall be disturbed that his labor, which
is far from the aeons, is nothing. And his inheritance, which he
boasted to be great, shall appear small. And his gifts are not
blessings. His promises are evil schemes. For you are not an
(instrument) of his compassion, but it is through you that he does
violence. He wants to do injustice to us, and will exercise dominion
for a time allotted to him. "But understand and know the Father who has
compassion. He was not given an inheritance that was unlimited, nor
does it have a (limited) number of days, but it is as the eternal day
[...] it is [...] perceive [...]. And he used [...]. For in fact he is
not one (come) from them, (and) because of this, he is despised.
Because of this he boasts, so that he may not be reproved. For because
of this he is superior to those who are below, those by whom you were
looked down upon. After he imprisoned those from the Father, he seized
them and fashioned them to resemble himself. And it is with him that
they exist. "I saw from the height those things that happened, and I
have explained how they happened. They were visited while they were in
another form, and, while I was watching, they came to know as I
am, through those whom I know. "Now before those things have happened
they will make a [...]. I know how they attempted to come down to this
place that he might approach [...] the small children, but I wish to
reveal through you and the spirit of power, in order that he might
reveal to those who are yours. And those who wish to enter, and who
seek to walk in the way that is before the door, open the good door
through you. And they follow you; they enter and you escort them
inside, and give a reward to each one who is ready for it. For you are
not the redeemer nor a helper of strangers. You are an illuminator and
a redeemer of those who are mine, and now of those who are yours. You
shall reveal (to them); you shall bring good among them all. You they
shall admire because of every powerful (deed). You are he whom the
heavens bless. You he shall envy, he who has called himself your Lord.
I am the [...] those who are instructed in these things with you. For
your sake, they will be told these things, and will come to rest. For
your sake, they will reign, and will become kings. For your sake, they
will have pity on whomever they pity. For just as you are first having
clothed yourself, you are also the first who will strip himself, and
you shall become as you were before you were stripped." "And he kissed
my mouth. He took hold of me, saying, "My beloved! Behold, I shall
reveal to you those things that (neither) the heavens nor their archons
have known. Behold, I shall reveal to you those things that he did not
know, he who boasted, "[...] there is no other except me. Am I not
alive? Because I am a father, do I not have power for everything?"
Behold, I shall reveal to you everything, my beloved. Understand and
know them, that you may come forth just as I am. Behold, I shall reveal
to you him who is hidden. But now, stretch out your hand. Now, take
hold of me." "And then I stretched out my hands and I did not find him
as I thought (he would be). But afterward I heard him saying,
"Understand and take hold of me." Then I understood, and I was afraid.
And I was exceedingly joyful. "Therefore, I tell you judges, you have
been judged. And you did not spare, but you were spared. Be sober and
[...] you did not know. He was that one whom he who created the heaven
and the earth and dwelled in it, did not see. He was this one who is
the life. He was the light. He was that one who will come to be. And
again he shall provide an end for what has begun, and a beginning for
what is about to be ended. He was the Holy Spirit and the Invisible
One, who did not descend upon the earth. He was the virgin, and that
which he wishes, happens to him. I saw that he was naked, and there was
no garment clothing him. That which he wills, happens to him
[...]."Renounce this difficult way, which is (so) variable, and walk in
accordance with him who desires that you become free men with me, after
you have passed above every dominion. For he will not judge (you) for
those things that you did, but will have mercy on you. For (it is) not
you that did them, but it is your Lord (that did them). He was not a
wrathful one, but he was a kind Father. "But you have judged
yourselves, and because of this you will remain in their fetters. You
have oppressed yourselves, and you will repent, (but) you will not
profit at all. Behold him who speaks and seek him who is silent. Know
him who came to this place, and understand him who went forth (from
it). I am the Just One, and I do judge. I am not a master, then,
but I am a helper. He was cast out before he stretched out his hand. I
[...]."[...] and he allows me to hear. And play your trumpets, your
flutes and your harps of this house. The Lord has taken you captive
from the Lord, having closed your ears, that they may not hear the
sound of my word. Yet you will be able to pay heed in your hearts, and
you will call me 'the Just One.' Therefore, I tell you: Behold, I gave
you your house, which you say that God has made - that (house) in which
he promised to give you an inheritance through it. This (house) I shall
doom to destruction and derision of those who are in ignorance. For
behold, those who judge deliberarate [...]."On that day all the people
and the crowd were disturbed, and they showed that they had not been
persuaded. And he arose and went forth speaking in this manner. And he
entered (again) on that same day and spoke a few hours. And I was with
the priests and revealed nothing of the relationship, since all of them
were saying with one voice, 'Come, let us stone the Just One.' And they
arose, saying, 'Yes, let us kill this man, that he may be taken from
our midst. For he will be of no use to us.' And they were there and
found him standing beside the columns of the temple beside the mighty
corner stone. And they decided to throw him down from the height, and
they cast him down. And they [...] they [...]. They seized him and
struck him as they dragged him upon the ground. They stretched him out
and placed a stone on his abdomen. They all placed their feet on him,
saying 'You have erred!' Again they raised him up, since he was alive,
and made him dig a hole. They made him stand in it. After having
covered him up to his abdomen, they stoned him in this manner. And he
stretched out his hands and said this prayer - not that (one) which it
is his custom to say: 'My God and my father, who saved me from this
dead hope, who made me alive through a mystery of what he wills, Do not
let these days of this world be prolonged for me, but the day of your
light [...] remains in [...] salvation. Deliver me from this place of
sojourn! Do not let your grace be left behind in me, but may your grace
become pure! Save me from an evil death! Bring me from a tomb alive,
because your grace - love - is alive in me to accomplish a work of
fullness! Save me from sinful flesh, because l trusted in you with all
my strength, because you are the life of the life! Save me from a
humiliating enemy! Do not give me into the hand of a judge who is
severe with sin! Forgive me all my debts of the days (of my life)!
Because I am alive in you, your grace is alive in me. I have renounced
everyone, but you I have confessed. Save me from evil affliction! But
now is the time and the hour. O Holy Spirit, send me salvation [...]
the light [...]the light [...] in a power [...].' "After he spoke, he
fell silent [...] word [...] afterward [...] the discourse [...]."
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles
[...] which [...] purpose [... after ...] us [...] apostles [...]. We
sailed [...] of the body. Others were not anxious in their hearts. And
in our hearts, we were united. We agreed to fulfill the ministry to
which the Lord appointed us. And we made a covenant with each other.
We went down to the sea at an opportune moment, which came to us from
the Lord. We found a ship moored at the shore ready to embark, and we
spoke with the sailors of the ship about our coming aboard with them.
They showed great kindliness toward us as was ordained by the Lord. And
after we had embarked, we sailed a day and a night. After that, a wind
came up behind the ship and brought us to a small city in the midst of
the sea.
And I, Peter, inquired about the name of this city from residents who
were standing on the dock. A man among them answered, saying, "The name
of this city is Habitation, that is, Foundation [...] endurance." And
the leader among them holding the palm branch at the edge of the dock.
And after we had gone ashore with the baggage, I went into the city, to
seek advice about lodging.
A man came out wearing a cloth bound around his waist, and a gold belt
girded it. Also a napkin was tied over his chest, extending over his
shoulders and covering his head and his hands.
I was staring at the man, because he was beautiful in his form and
stature. There were four parts of his body that I saw: the soles of his
feet and a part of his chest and the palms of his hands and his visage.
These things I was able to see. A book cover like (those of) my books
was in his left hand. A staff of styrax wood was in his right hand. His
voice was resounding as he slowly spoke, crying out in the city,
"Pearlsl Pearlsl"
I, indeed, thought he was a man of that city. I said to him, "My
brother and my friend!" He answered me, then, saying, "Rightly did you
say, 'My brother and my friend.' What is it you seek from me?" I said
to him, "I ask you about lodging for me and the brothers also, because
we are strangers here." He said to me, "For this reason have I myself
just said, 'My brother and my friend,' because I also am a fellow
stranger like you." And having said these things, he cried out,
"Pearls! Pearls!" The rich men of that city heard his voice. They came
out of their hidden storerooms. And some were looking out from the
storerooms of their houses. Others looked out from their upper windows.
And they did not see (that they could gain) anything from him, because
there was no pouch on his back nor bundle inside his cloth and napkin.
And because of their disdain they did not even acknowledge him. He, for
his part, did not reveal himself to them. They returned to their
storerooms, saying, "This man is mocking us." And the poor of that city
heard his voice, and they came to the man who sells this pearl. They
said, "Please take the trouble to show us the pearl so that we may,
then, see it with our (own) eyes. For we are the poor. And we do not
have this [...] price to pay for it. But show us that we might say to
our friends that we saw a pearl with our (own) eyes." He answered,
saying to them, "If it is possible, come to my city, so that I may not
only show it before your (very) eyes, but give it to you for nothing."
And indeed they, the poor of that city, heard and said, "Since we are
beggars, we surely know that a man does not give a pearl to a beggar,
but (it is) bread and money that is usually received. Now then, the
kindness which we want to receive from you (is) that you show us the
pearl before our eyes. And we will say to our friends proudly that we
saw a pearl with our (own) eyes" - because it is not found among the
poor, especially such beggars (as these). He answered (and) said to
them, "If it is possible, you yourselves come to my city, so that I may
not only show you it, but give it to you for nothing." The poor and the
beggars rejoiced because of the man who gives for nothing. The men
asked Peter about the hardships. Peter answered and told those things
that he had heard about the hardships of the way. Because they are
interpreters of the hardships in their ministry. He said to the man who
sells this pearl, "I want to know your name and the hardships of the
way to your city because we are strangers and servants of God. It is
necessary for us to spread the word of God in every city harmoniously."
He answered and said, "If you seek my name, Lithargoel is my name, the
interpretation of which is, the light, gazelle-like stone. "And also
(concerning) the road to the city, which you asked me about, I will
tell you about it. No man is able to go on that road, except one who
has forsaken everything that he has and has fasted daily from stage to
stage. For many are the robbers and wild beasts on that road. The one
who carries bread with him on the road, the black dogs kill because of
the bread. The one who carries a costly garment of the world with him,
the robbers kill because of the garment. The one who carries water with
him, the wolves kill because of the water, since they were thirsty for
it. The one who is anxious about meat and green vegetables, the lions
eat because of the meat. If he evades the lions, the bulls devour him
because of the green vegetables." When he had said these things to me,
I sighed within myself, saying, "Great hardships are on the road! If
only Jesus would give us power to walk it!" He looked at me since my
face was sad, and I sighed. He said to me, "Why do you sigh, if you,
indeed, know this name "Jesus" and believe him? He is a great power for
giving strength. For I too believe in the Father who sent him." I
replied, asking him, "What is the name of the place to which you go,
your city?" He said to me, "This is the name of my city, 'Nine Gates.'
Let us praise God as we are mindful that the tenth is the head." After
this I went away from him in peace. As I was about to go and call my
friends, I saw waves and large high walls surrounding the bounds of the
city. I marveled at the great things I saw. I saw an old man sitting
and I asked him if the name of the city was really Habitation. He
[...], "Habitation [...]." He said to me, "You speak truly, for we
inhabit here because we endure." I responded, saying, "Justly [...]
have men named it [...], because (by) everyone who endures his trials,
cities are inhabited, and a precious kingdom comes from them, because
they endure in the midst of the apostasies and the difficulties of the
storms. So that in this way, the city of everyone who endures the
burden of his yoke of faith will be inhabited, and he will be included
in the kingdom of heaven." I hurried and went and called my friends so
that we might go to the city that he, Lithargoel, appointed for us. In
a bond of faith we forsook everything as he had said (to do). We evaded
the robbers, because they did not find their garments with us. We
evaded the wolves, because they did not find the water with us for
which they thirsted. We evaded the lions, because they did not find the
desire for meat with us. We evaded the bulls [...] they did not find
green vegetables. A great joy came upon us and a peaceful carefreeness
like that of our Lord. We rested ourselves in front of the gate, and we
talked with each other about that which is not a distraction of this
world. Rather we continued in contemplation of the faith. As we
discussed the robbers on the road, whom we evaded, behold Lithargoel,
having changed, came out to us. He had the appearance of a physician,
since an unguent box was under his arm, and a young disciple was
following him carrying a pouch full of medicine. We did not recognize
him. Peter responded and said to him, "We want you to do us a favor,
because we are strangers, and take us to the house of Lithargoel before
evening comes." He said, "In uprightness of heart I will show it to
you. But I am amazed at how you knew this good man. For he does not
reveal himself to every man, because he himself is the son of a great
king. Rest yourselves a little so that I may go and heal this man and
come (back)." He hurried and came (back) quickly. He said to Peter,
"Peter!" And Peter was frightened, for how did he know that his name
was Peter? Peter responded to the Savior, "How do you know me, for you
called my name?" Lithargoel answered, "I want to ask you who gave the
name Peter to you?" He said to him, "It was Jesus Christ, the son of
the living God. He gave this name to me." He answered and said, "It is
I! Recognize me, Peter." He loosened the garment, which clothed him -
the one into which he had changed himself because of us - revealing to
us in truth that it was he. We prostrated ourselves on the ground and
worshipped him. We comprised eleven disciples. He stretched forth his
hand and caused us to stand. We spoke with him humbly. Our heads were
bowed down in unworthiness as we said, "What you wish we will do. But
give us power to do what you wish at all times." He gave them the
unguent box and the pouch that was in the hand of the young disciple.
He commanded them like this, saying, "Go into the city from which you
came, which is called Habitation. Continue in endurance as you teach
all those who have believed in my name, because I have endured in
hardships of the faith. I will give you your reward. To the poor of
that city give what they need in order to live until I give them what
is better, which I told you that I will give you for nothing." Peter
answered and said to him, "Lord, you have taught us to forsake the
world and everything in it. We have renounced them for your sake. What
we are concerned about (now) is the food for a single day. Where will
we be able to find the needs that you ask us to provide for the poor?"
The Lord answered and said, "O Peter, it was necessary that you
understand the parable that I told you! Do you not understand that my
name, which you teach, surpasses all riches, and the wisdom of God
surpasses gold, and silver and precious stone(s)?" He gave them the
pouch of medicine and said, "Heal all the sick of the city who believe
in my name." Peter was afraid to reply to him for the second time. He
signaled to the one who was beside him, who was John: "You talk this
time." John answered and said, "Lord, before you we are afraid to say
many words. But it is you who asks us to practice this skill. We have
not been taught to be physicians. How then will we know how to heal
bodies as you have told us?" He answered them, "Rightly have you
spoken, John, for I know that the physicians of this world heal what
belongs to the world. The physicians of souls, however, heal the heart.
Heal the bodies first, therefore, so that through the real powers of
healing for their bodies, without medicine of the world, they may
believe in you, that you have power to heal the illnesses of the heart
also. "The rich men of the city, however, those who did not see fit
even to acknowledge me, but who reveled in their wealth and pride -
with such as these, therefore, do not dine in their houses nor be
friends with them, lest their partiality influence you. For many in the
churches have shown partiality to the rich, because they also are
sinful, and they give occasion for others to sin. But judge them with
uprightness, so that your ministry may be glorified, and that my name
also, may be glorified in the churches." The disciples answered and
said, "Yes, truly this is what is fitting to do."
The Apocalypse of Adam
The revelation which Adam taught his son Seth in the seven hundreth
year, saying: Listen to my words, my son Seth. When God had created me
out of the earth, along with Eve, your mother, I went about with her in
a glory which she had seen in the aeon from which we had come forth.
She taught me a word of knowledge of the eternal God. And we resembled
the great eternal angels, for we were higher than the god who had
created us and the powers with him, whom we did not know. Then God, the
ruler of the aeons and the powers, divided us in wrath. Then we became
two aeons. And the glory in our heart(s) left us, me and your mother
Eve, along with the first knowledge that breathed within us. And it
(glory) fled from us; it entered into [...] great [...] which had come
forth, not from this aeon from which we had come forth, I and Eve your
mother. But it (knowledge) entered into the seed of great aeons. For
this reason I myself have called you by the name of that man who is the
seed of the great generation or from whom (it comes). After those days,
the eternal knowledge of the God of truth withdrew from me and your
mother Eve. Since that time, we learned about dead things, like men.
Then we recognized the God who had created us. For we were not
strangers to his powers. And we served him in fear and slavery. And
after these things, we became darkened in our heart(s). Now I slept in
the thought of my heart. And I saw three men before me whose likeness I
was unable to recognize, since they were not the powers of the God who
had created us. They surpassed [...] glory, and [...] men [...] saying
to me, "Arise, Adam, from the sleep of death, and hear about the aeon
and the seed of that man to whom life has come, who came from you and
from Eve, your wife."
When I had heard these words from the great men who were standing
before me, then we sighed, I and Eve, in our heart(s). And the Lord,
the God who had created us, stood before us. He said to us, "Adam, why
were you (both) sighing in your hearts? Do you not know that I am the
God who created you? And I breathed into you a spirit of life as a
living soul." Then darkness came upon our eyes.
Then the God who created us, created a son from himself and Eve, your
mother. I knew sweet desire for your mother, for [...] in the thought
of my [...] I knew a sweet desire for your mother. Then the vigor of
our eternal knowledge was destroyed in us, and weakness pursued us.
Therefore the days of our life became few. For I knew that I had come
under the authority of death.
Now then, my son Seth, I will reveal to you the things which those men
whom I saw before me at first revealed to me: after I have completed
the times of this generation and the years of the generation have been
accomplished, then [...] slave [...]. (p.68 blank)
For rain-showers of God the almighty will be poured forth, so that he
might destroy all flesh [of God the almighty, so that he might destroy
all flesh] from the earth on account of the things that it seeks after,
along with those from the seed of the men to whom passed the life of
the knowledge which came from me and Eve, your mother. For they were
strangers to him. Afterwards, great angels will come on high clouds,
who will bring those men into the place where the spirit of life dwells
[...] glory [...] there, [...] come from heaven to earth. Then the
whole multitude of flesh will be left behind in the waters.
Then God will rest from his wrath. And he will cast his power upon the
waters, and he will give power to his sons and their wives by means of
the ark along with the animals, whichever he pleased, and the birds of
heaven, which he called and released upon the earth. And God will say
to Noah - whom the generations will call 'Deucalion' - "Behold, I have
protected in the ark, along with your wife and your sons and
their wives and their animals and the birds of heaven, which you called
and released upon the earth. Therefore I will give the earth to you -
you and your sons. In kingly fashion you will rule over it - you and
your sons. And no seed will come from you of the men who will not stand
in my presence in another glory."
Then they will become as the cloud of the great light. Those men will
come who have been cast forth from the knowledge of the great aeons and
the angels. They will stand before Noah and the aeons. And God will say
to Noah, "Why have you departed from what I told you? You have created
another generation so that you might scorn my power." Then Noah will
say, "I shall testify before your might that the generation of these
men did not come from me nor from my sons. [...] knowledge.
And he will [...] those men and bring them into their proper land, and
build them a holy dwelling place. And they will be called by that name
and dwell there six hundred years in a knowledge of imperishability.
And the angels of the great Light will dwell with them. No foul deed
will dwell in their heart(s), but only the knowledge of God.
Then Noah will divide the whole earth among his sons, Ham and Japheth
and Shem. He will say to them, "My sons, listen to my words. Behold, I
have divided the earth among you. But serve him in fear and slavery all
the days of your life. Let not your seed depart from the face of God
the Almighty. [...] I and your [...] son of Noah, "My seed will be
pleasing before you and before your power. Seal it by your strong hand,
with fear and commandment, so that the whole seed which came forth from
me may not be inclined away from you and God the Almighty, but it will
serve in humility and fear of its knowledge."
Then others from the seed of Ham and Japheth will come, four hundred
thousand men, and enter into another land and sojourn with those men
who came forth from the great eternal knowledge. For the shadow of
their power will protect those who have sojourned with them from every
evil thing and every unclean desire. Then the seed of Ham and Japheth
will form twelve kingdoms, and their seed also will enter into the
kingdom of another people.
Then [...] will take counsel [...] who are dead, of the great aeons of
imperishability. And they will go to Sakla, their God. They will go in
to the powers, accusing the great men who are in their glory.
They will say to Sakla, "What is the power of these men who stood in
your presence, who were taken from the seed of Ham and Japheth, who
will number four hundred men? They have been received into
another aeonfrom which they had come forth, and they have overturned
all the glory of your power and the dominion of your hand. For the seed
of Noah through his sons has done all your will, and (so have) all the
powers in the aeons over which your might rules, while both those men
and the ones who are sojourners in their glory have not done your will.
But they have turned (aside) your whole throng."
Then the god of the aeons will give them (some) of those who serve him
[...]. They will come upon that land where the great men will be who
have not been defiled, nor will be defiled, by any desire. For their
soul did not come from a defiled hand, but it came from a great
commandment of an eternal angel. Then fire and sulphur and asphalt will
be cast upon those men, and fire and (blinding) mist will come over
those aeons, and the eyes of the powers of the illuminators will be
darkened, and the aeons will not see them in those days. And great
clouds of light will descend, and other clouds of light will come down
upon them from the great aeons.
Abrasax and Sablo and Gamaliel will descend and bring those men out of
the fire and the wrath, and take them above the aeons and the rulers of
the powers, and take them away [...] of life [...] and take them away
[...] aeons [...] dwelling place of the great [...] there, with the
holy angels and the aeons. The men will be like those angels, for they
are not strangers to them. But they work in the imperishable seed.
Once again, for the third time, the illuminator of knowledge will pass
by in great glory, in order to leave (something) of the seed of Noah
and the sons of Ham and Japheth - to leave for himself fruit-bearing
trees. And he will redeem their souls from the day of death. For the
whole creation that came from the dead earth will be under the
authority of death. But those who reflect upon the knowledge of the
eternal God in their heart(s) will not perish. For they have not
received spirit from this kingdom alone, but they have received (it)
from a [...] eternal angel. [...] illuminator [...] will come upon
[...] that is dead [...] of Seth. And he will perform signs and wonders
in order to scorn the powers and their ruler.
Then the god of the powers will be disturbed, saying, "What is the
power of this man who is higher than we?" Then he will arouse a great
wrath against that man. And the glory will withdraw and dwell in holy
houses which it has chosen for itself. And the powers will not see it
with their eyes, nor will they see the illuminator either. Then they
will punish the flesh of the man upon whom the holy spirit came.
Then the angels and all the generations of the powers will use the name
in error, asking, "Where did it (the error) come from?" or "Where did
the words of deception, which all the powers have failed to discover,
come from?"
Now the first kingdom says of him that he came from [...]. A spirit
[...] to heaven. He was nourished in the heavens. He received the glory
of that one and the power. He came to the bosom of his mother. And thus
he came to the water.
And the second kingdom says about him that he came from a great
prophet. And a bird came, took the child who was born, and brought him
onto a high mountain. And he was nourished by the bird of heaven. An
angel came forth there. He said to him "Arise! God has given glory to
you." He received glory and strength. And thus he came to the water.
The third kingdom says of him that he came from a virgin womb. He was
cast out of his city, he and his mother. He was brought to a desert
place. He was nourished there. He came and received glory and strength.
And thus he came to the water.
The fourth kingdom says of him that he came from a virgin. [...]
Solomon sought her, he and Phersalo and Sauel and his armies, which had
been sent out. Solomon himself sent his army of demons to seek out the
virgin. And they did not find the one whom they sought, but the virgin
who was given them. It was she whom they fetched. Solomon took her. The
virgin became pregnant and gave birth to the child there. She nourished
him on a border of the desert. When he had been nourished, he received
glory and power from the seed from which he was begotten. And thus he
came to the water.
And the fifth kingdom says of him that he came from a drop from heaven.
He was thrown into the sea. The abyss received him, gave birth to him,
and brought him to heaven. He received glory and power. And thus he
came to the water.
And the sixth kingdom says that [...] down to the aeonwhich is below,
in order to gather flowers. She became pregnant from the desire of the
flowers. She gave birth to him in that place. The angels of the flower
garden nourished him. He received glory there, and power. And thus he
came to the water.
And the seventh kingdom says of him that he is a drop. It came from
heaven to earth. Dragons brought him down to caves. He became a child.
A spirit came upon him and brought him on high to the place where the
drop had come forth. He received glory and power there. And thus he
came to the water.
And the eighth kingdom says of him that a cloud came upon the earth and
enveloped a rock. He came from it. The angels who were above the cloud
nourished him. He received glory and power there. And thus he came to
the water.
And the ninth kingdom says of him that from the nine Muses one
separated away. She came to a high mountain and spent (some) time
seated there, so that she desired herself alone in order to become
androgynous. She fulfilled her desire and became pregnant from her
desire. He was born. The angels who were over the desire nourished him.
And he received glory there, and power. And thus he came to the water.
The tenth kingdom says of him that his god loved a cloud of desire. He
begot him in his hand and cast upon the cloud above him (some) of the
drop, and he was born. He received glory and power there. And thus he
came to the water.
And the eleventh kingdom says that the father desired his own daughter.
She herself became pregnant from her father. She cast [...] tomb out in
the desert. The angel nourished him there. And thus he came to the
water.
The twelfth kingdom says of him that he came from two illuminators. He
was nourished there. He received glory and power. And thus he came to
the water.
And the thirteenth kingdom says of him that every birth of their ruler
is a word. And this word received a mandate there. He received glory
and power. And thus he came to the water, in order that the desire of
those powers might be satisfied.
But the generation without a king over it says that God chose him from
all the aeons. He caused a knowledge of the undefiled one of truth to
come to be in him. He said, "Out of a foreign air, from a great aeon,
the great illuminator came forth. And he made the generation of those
men whom he had chosen for himself shine, so that they could shine upon
the whole aeon"
Then the seed, those who will receive his name upon the water and
(that) of them all, will fight against the power. And a cloud of
darkness will come upon them.
Then the peoples will cry out with a great voice, saying, "Blessed is
the soul of those men because they have known God with a knowledge of
the truth! They shall live forever, because they have not been
corrupted by their desire, along with the angels, nor have they
accomplished the works of the powers, but they have stood in his
presence in a knowledge of God like light that has come forth from fire
and blood.
"But we have done every deed of the powers senselessly. We have boasted
in the transgression of all our works. We have cried against the God of
truth because all his works [...] is eternal. These are against our
spirits. For now we have known that our souls will die the death."
Then a voice came to them, saying "Micheu and Michar and Mnesinous, who
are over the holy baptism and the living water, why were you crying out
against the living God with lawless voices and tongues without law over
them, and souls full of blood and foul deeds? You are full of works
that are not of the truth, but your ways are full of joy and rejoicing.
Having defiled the water of life, you have drawn it within the will of
the powers to whom you have been given to serve them.
"And your thought is not like that of those men whom you persecute
[...] desire [...]. Their fruit does not wither. But they will be known
up to the great aeons, because the words they have kept, of the God of
the aeons, were not committed to the book, nor were they written. But
angelic (beings) will bring them, whom all the generations of men will
not know. For they will be on a high mountain, upon a rock of truth.
Therefore they will be named "The Words of Imperishability and Truth,"
for those who know the eternal God in wisdom of knowledge and teaching
of angels forever, for he knows all things."
These are the revelations which Adam made known to Seth, his son, And
his son taught his seed about them. This is the hidden knowledge of
Adam, which he gave to Seth, which is the holy baptism of those who
know the eternal knowledge through those born of the word and the
imperishable illuminators, who came from the holy seed: Yesseus,
Mazareus, Yessedekeus, the Living Water.
The Apocalypse of Paul
[...] the road. And he spoke to him, saying, "By which road shall I go
up to Jerusalem?" The little child replied, saying, "Say your name, so
that I may show you the road". The little child knew who Paul was. He
wished to make conversation with him through his words in order that he
might find an excuse for speaking with him. The little child spoke,
saying, "I know who you are, Paul. You are he who was blessed from his
mother`s womb. For I have come to you that you may go up to Jerusalem
to your fellow apostles. And for this reason you were called. And I am
the Spirit who accompanies you. Let your mind awaken, Paul, with [...].
For [...] whole which [...] among the principalities and these
authorities and archangels and powers and the whole race of demons,
[...] the one that reveals bodies to a soul-seed."
And after he brought that speech to an end, he spoke, saying to me,
"Let your mind awaken, Paul, and see that this mountain upon which you
are standing is the mountain of Jericho, so that you may know the
hidden things in those that are visible. Now it is to the twelve
apostles that you shall go, for they are elect spirits, and they will
greet you." He raised his eyes and saw them greeting him.
Then the Holy Spirit who was speaking with him caught him up on high to
the third heaven, and he passed beyond to the fourth heaven. The Holy
Spirit spoke to him, saying, "Look and see your likeness upon the
earth." And he looked down and saw those who were upon the earth. He
stared and saw those who were upon the [...]. Then he gazed down and
saw the twelve apostles at his right and at his left in the creation;
and the Spirit was going before them.
But I saw in the fourth heaven according to class - I saw the angels
resembling gods, the angels bringing a soul out of the land of the
dead. They placed it at the gate of the fourth heaven. And the angels
were whipping it. The soul spoke, saying, "What sin was it that I
committed in the world?" The toll-collector who dwells in the fourth
heaven replied, saying, "It was not right to commit all those lawless
deeds that are in the world of the dead". The soul replied, saying,
"Bring witnesses! Let them show you in what body I committed lawless
deeds. Do you wish to bring a book to read from?"
And the three witnesses came. The first spoke, saying, "Was I not in
the body the second hour [...]? I rose up against you until you fell
into anger and rage and envy." And the second spoke, saying, "Was I not
in the world? And I entered at the fifth hour, and I saw you and
desired you. And behold, then, now I charge you with the murders you
committed." The third spoke, saying, "Did I not come to you at the
twelfth hour of the day when the sun was about to set? I gave you
darkness until you should accomplish your sins." When the soul heard
these things, it gazed downward in sorrow. And then it gazed upward. It
was cast down. The soul that had been cast down went to a body which
had been prepared for it. And behold, its witnesses were finished.
Then I gazed upward and saw the Spirit saying to me, "Paul, come!
Proceed toward me!". Then as I went, the gate opened, and I went up to
the fifth heaven. And I saw my fellow apostles going with me while the
Spirit accompanied us. And I saw a great angel in the fifth heaven
holding an iron rod in his hand. There were three other angels with
him, and I stared into their faces. But they were rivalling each other,
with whips in their hands, goading the souls on to the judgment. But I
went with the Spirit and the gate opened for me.
Then we went up to the sixth heaven. And I saw my fellow apostles going
with me, and the Holy Spirit was leading me before them. And I gazed up
on high and saw a great light shining down on the sixth heaven. I
spoke, saying to the toll-collector who was in the sixth heaven, "Open
to me and the Holy Spirit who is before me." He opened to me.
Then we went up to the seventh heaven, and I saw an old man [...] light
and whose garment was white. His throne, which is in the seventh
heaven, was brighter than the sun by seven times. The old man spoke,
saying to me, "Where are you going, Paul? O blessed one and the one who
was set apart from his mother`s womb." But I looked at the Spirit, and
he was nodding his head, saying to me, "Speak with him!". And I
replied, saying to the old man, "I am going to the place from which I
came." And the old man responded to me, "Where are you from?" But I
replied, saying, "I am going down to the world of the dead in order to
lead captive the captivity that was led captive in the captivity of
Babylon." The old man replied to me saying, "How will you be able to
get away from me? Look and see the principalities and authorities." The
Spirit spoke, saying, "Give him the sign that you have, and he will
open for you." And then I gave him the sign. He turned his face
downwards to his creation and to those who are his own authorities.
And then the heaven opened and we went up to the Ogdoad. And
I saw the twelve apostles. They greeted me, and we went up to the ninth
heaven. I greeted all those who were in the ninth heaven, and we went
up to the tenth heaven. And I greeted my fellow spirits.
The Apocalypse of Peter
As the Savior was sitting in the temple in the three hundredth (year)
of the covenant and the agreement of the tenth pillar, and being
satisfied with the number of the living, incorruptible Majesty, he said
to me, "Peter, blessed are those above belonging to the Father, who
revealed life to those who are from the life, through me, since I
reminded they who are built on what is strong, that they may hear my
word, and distinguish words of unrighteousness and transgression of law
from righteousness, as being from the height of every word of this
Pleroma of truth, having been enlightened in good pleasure by him whom
the principalities sought. But they did not find him, nor was he
mentioned among any generation of the prophets. He has now appeared
among these, in him who appeared, who is the Son of Man, who is exalted
above the heavens in a fear of men of like essence. But you yourself,
Peter, become perfect in accordance with your name with myself, the one
who chose you, because from you I have established a base for the
remnant whom I have summoned to knowledge. Therefore be strong until
the imitation of righteousness - of him who had summoned you, having
summoned you to know him in a way which is worth doing because of the
rejection which happened to him, and the sinews of his hands and his
feet, and the crowning by those of the middle region, and the body of
his radiance which they bring in hope of service because of a reward of
honor - as he was about to reprove you three times in this night."
And as he was saying these things, I saw the priests and the people
running up to us with stones, as if they would kill us; and I was
afraid that we were going to die.
And he said to me, "Peter, I have told you many times that they are
blind ones who have no guide. If you want to know their blindness, put
your hands upon (your) eyes - your robe - and say what you see."
But when I had done it, I did not see anything. I said "No one sees
(this way)."
Again he told me, "Do it again."
And there came in me fear with joy, for I saw a new light greater than
the light of day. Then it came down upon the Savior. And I told him
about those things which I saw.
And he said to me again, "Lift up your hands and listen to what the
priests and the people are saying."
And I listened to the priests as they sat with the scribes. The
multitudes were shouting with their voice.
When he heard these things from me he said to me, "Prick up your ears
and listen to the things they are saying."
And I listened again, "As you sit, they are praising you".
And when I said these things, the Savior said, "I have told you that
these (people) are blind and deaf. Now then, listen to the things which
they are telling you in a mystery, and guard them, Do not tell them to
the sons of this age. For they shall blaspheme you in these ages since
they are ignorant of you, but they will praise you in knowledge."
"For many will accept our teaching in the beginning. And they will turn
from them again by the will of the Father of their error, because they
have done what he wanted. And he will reveal them in his judgment,
i.e., the servants of the Word. But those who became mingled with these
shall become their prisoners, since they are without perception. And
the guileless, good, pure one they push to the worker of death, and to
the kingdom of those who praise Christ in a restoration. And they
praise the men of the propagation of falsehood, those who will come
after you. And they will cleave to the name of a dead man, thinking
that they will become pure. But they will become greatly defiled and
they will fall into a name of error, and into the hand of an evil,
cunning man and a manifold dogma, and they will be ruled without law."
"For some of them will blaspheme the truth and proclaim evil teaching.
And they will say evil things against each other. Some will be named:
(those) who stand in (the) strength of the archons, of a man and a
naked woman who is manifold and subject to much suffering. And those
who say these things will ask about dreams. And if they say that a
dream came from a demon worthy of their error, then they shall be given
perdition instead of incorruption."
"For evil cannot produce good fruit. For the place from which each of
them is produces that which is like itself; for not every soul is of
the truth, nor of immortality. For every soul of these ages has death
assigned to it in our view, because it is always a slave, since it is
created for its desires and their eternal destruction, in which they
are and from which they are. They love the creatures of the matter
which came forth with them."
"But the immortal souls are not like these, O Peter. But indeed, as
long as the hour is not yet come, it (the immortal soul) shall resemble
a mortal one. But it shall not reveal its nature, that it alone is the
immortal one, and thinks about immortality, having faith, and desiring
to renounce these things."
"For people do not gather figs from thorns or from thorn trees, if they
are wise, nor grapes from thistles. For, on the one hand, that which is
always becoming is in that from which it is, being from what is not
good, which becomes destruction for it and death. But that which comes
to be in the Eternal One is in the One of the life and the immortality
of the life which they resemble."
"Therefore all that which exists not will dissolve into what exists
not. For deaf and blind ones join only with their own kind."
"But others shall change from evil words and misleading mysteries. Some
who do not understand mystery speak of things which they do not
understand, but they will boast that the mystery of the truth is theirs
alone. And in haughtiness they shall grasp at pride, to envy the
immortal soul which has become a pledge. For every authority, rule, and
power of the aeons wishes to be with these in the creation of the
world, in order that those who are not, having been forgotten by those
that are, may praise them, though they have not been saved, nor have
they been brought to the Way by them, always wishing that they may
become imperishable ones. For if the immortal soul receives power in an
intellectual spirit -. But immediately they join with one of those who
misled them."
"But many others, who oppose the truth and are the messengers of error,
will set up their error and their law against these pure thoughts of
mine, as looking out from one (perspective) thinking that good and evil
are from one (source). They do business in my word. And they will
propagate harsh fate. The race of immortal souls will go in it in vain,
until my Parousia. For they shall come out of them - and my forgiveness
of their transgressions, into which they fell through their
adversaries, whose ransom I got from the slavery in which they were, to
give them freedom that they may create an imitation remnant in the name
of a dead man, who is Hermas, of the first-born of unrighteousness, in
order that the light which exists may not believed by the little ones.
But those of this sort are the workers who will be cast into the outer
darkness, away from the sons of light. For neither will they enter, nor
do they permit those who are going up to their approval for their
release."
"And still others of them who suffer think that they will perfect the
wisdom of the brotherhood which really exists, which is the spiritual
fellowship of those united in communion, through which the wedding of
incorruptibility shall be revealed. The kindred race of the sisterhood
will appear as an imitation. These are the ones who oppress their
brothers, saying to them, "Through this our God has pity, since
salvation comes to us through this," not knowing the punishment of
those who are made glad by those who have done this thing to the little
ones whom they saw, (and) whom they took prisoner."
"And there shall be others of those who are outside our number who name
themselves bishop and also deacons, as if they have received their
authority from God. They bend themselves under the judgment of the
leaders. Those people are dry canals."
But I said " I am afraid because of what you have told me, that indeed
little (ones) are, in our view, the counterfeit ones, indeed, that
there are multitudes that will mislead other multitudes of living ones,
and destroy them among themselves. And when they speak your name they
will be believed."
The Savior said, "For a time determined for them in proportion to their
error they will rule over the little ones. And after the completion of
the error, the never-aging one of the immortal understanding shall
become young, and they (the little ones) shall rule over those who are
their rulers. The root of their error he shall pluck out, and he shall
put it to shame so that it shall be manifest in all the impudence which
it has assumed to itself. And such ones shall become unchangeable, O
Peter."
"Come therefore, let us go on with the completion of the will of the
incorruptible Father. For behold, those who will bring them judgment
are coming, and they will put them to shame. But me they cannot touch.
And you, O Peter, shall stand in their midst. Do not be afraid because
of your cowardice. Their minds shall be closed, for the invisible one
has opposed them."
When he had said those things, I saw him seemingly being seized by
them. And I said "What do I see, O Lord? That it is you yourself whom
they take, and that you are grasping me? Or who is this one, glad and
laughing on the tree? And is it another one whose feet and hands they
are striking?"
The Savior said to me, "He whom you saw on the tree, glad and laughing,
this is the living Jesus. But this one into whose hands and feet they
drive the nails is his fleshly part, which is the substitute being put
to shame, the one who came into being in his likeness. But look at him
and me."
But I, when I had looked, said "Lord, no one is looking at you. Let us
flee this place."
But he said to me, "I have told you, 'Leave the blind alone!'. And you,
see how they do not know what they are saying. For the son of their
glory instead of my servant, they have put to shame."
And I saw someone about to approach us resembling him, even him who was
laughing on the tree. And he was with a Holy Spirit, and he is
the Savior. And there was a great, ineffable light around them, and the
multitude of ineffable and invisible angels blessing them. And when I
looked at him, the one who gives praise was revealed.
And he said to me, "Be strong, for you are the one to whom these
mysteries have been given, to know them through revelation, that he
whom they crucified is the first-born, and the home of demons, and the
stony vessel in which they dwell, of Elohim, of the cross, which is
under the Law. But he who stands near him is the living Savior, the
first in him, whom they seized and released, who stands joyfully
looking at those who did him violence, while they are divided among
themselves. Therefore he laughs at their lack of perception, knowing
that they are born blind. So then the one susceptible to suffering
shall come, since the body is the substitute. But what they released
was my incorporeal body. But I am the intellectual Spirit filled with
radiant light. He whom you saw coming to me is our intellectual
Pleroma, which unites the perfect light with my Holy Spirit."
"These things, then, which you saw you shall present to those of
another race who are not of this age. For there will be no honor in any
man who is not immortal, but only (in) those who were chosen from an
immortal substance, which has shown that it is able to contain him who
gives his abundance. Therefore I said, 'Every one who has, it will be
given to him, and he will have plenty.' But he who does not have, that
is, the man of this place, who is completely dead, who is removed from
the planting of the creation of what is begotten, whom, if one of the
immortal essence appears, they think that they possess him - it will be
taken from him and be added to the one who is. You, therefore, be
courageous and do not fear at all. For I shall be with you in order
that none of your enemies may prevail unto you. Peace be to you, Be
strong!"
When he (Jesus) had said these things, he (Peter) came to himself.
The Apocryphon of James
James writes to [...]: Peace be with you from Peace, love from Love,
grace from Grace, faith from Faith, life from Holy Life! Since you
asked that I send you a secret book which was revealed to me and Peter
by the Lord, I could not turn you away or gainsay (?) you; but I have
written it in the Hebrew alphabet and sent it to you, and you alone.
But since you are a minister of the salvation of the saints, endeavor
earnestly and take care not to rehearse this text to many - this that
the Savior did not wish to tell to all of us, his twelve disciples. But
blessed will they be who will be saved through the faith of this
discourse. I also sent you, ten months ago, another secret book which
the Savior had revealed to me. Under the circumstances, however, regard
that one as revealed to me, James; but this one ... [untranslatable
fragments]... the twelve disciples were all sitting together and
recalling what the Savior had said to each one of them, whether in
secret or openly, and putting it in books - But I was writing that
which was in my book - lo, the Savior appeared, after departing from us
while we gazed after him. And five hundred and fifty days since he had
risen from the dead, we said to him, "Have you departed and removed
yourself from us?" But Jesus said, "No, but I shall go to the place
from whence I came. If you wish to come with me, come!" They all
answered and said, "If you bid us, we come." He said, "Verily I say
unto you, no one will ever enter the kingdom of heaven at my bidding,
but (only) because you yourselves are full. Leave James and Peter to
me, that I may fill them." And having called these two, he drew them
aside and bade the rest occupy themselves with that which they were
about. The Savior said, "You have received mercy ... (7 lines missing)
Do you not, then, desire to be filled? And your heart is drunken; do
you not, then, desire to be sober? Therefore, be ashamed! Henceforth,
waking or sleeping, remember that you have seen the Son of Man, and
spoken with him in person, and listened to him in person. Woe to those
who have seen the Son of Man; blessed will they be who have not seen
the man, and they who have not consorted with him, and they who have
not spoken with him, and they who have not listened to anything from
him; yours is life! Know, then, that he healed you when you were ill,
that you might reign. Woe to those who have found relief from their
illness, for they will relapse into illness. Blessed are they who have
not been ill, and have known relief before falling ill; yours is the
kingdom of God. Therefore, I say to you, 'Become full, and leave no
space within you empty, for he who is coming can mock you."
Then Peter replied, "Lo, three times you have told us, 'Become full';
but we are full."
The Savior answered and said, "For this cause I have said to you,
'Become full,' that you may not be in want. They who are in want,
however, will not be saved. For it is good to be full, and bad to be in
want. Hence, just as it is good that you be in want and, conversely,
bad that you be full, so he who is full is in want, and he who is in
want does not become full as he who is in want becomes full, and he who
has been filled, in turn attains due perfection. Therefore, you must be
in want while it is possible to fill you, and be full while it is
possible for you to be in want, so that you may be able to fill
yourselves the more. Hence, become full of the Spirit, but be in want
of reason, for reason the soul; in turn, it is (of the
nature of) soul."
But I answered and said to him, "Lord, we can obey you if you wish, for
we have forsaken our fathers and our mothers and our villages, and
followed you. Grant us, therefore, not to be tempted by the devil, the
evil one."
The Lord answered and said, "What is your merit if you do the will of
the Father and it is not given to you from him as a gift while you are
tempted by Satan? But if you are oppressed by Satan, and persecuted,
and you do his (i.e., the Father's) will, I say that he will love you,
and make you equal with me, and reckon you to have become beloved
through his providence by your own choice. So will you not cease loving
the flesh and being afraid of sufferings? Or do you not know that you
have yet to be abused and to be accused unjustly; and have yet to be
shut up in prison, and condemned unlawfully, and crucified
reason, and buried as I myself, by the evil one? Do you dare to spare
the flesh, you for whom the Spirit is an encircling wall? If you
consider how long the world existed you, and how long it will
exist after you, you will find that your life is one single day, and
your sufferings one single hour. For the good will not enter into the
world. Scorn death, therefore, and take thought for life! Remember my
cross and my death, and you will live!"
But I answered and said to him, "Lord, do not mention to us the cross
and death, for they are far from you."
The Lord answered and said, "Verily, I say unto you, none will be saved
unless they believe in my cross. But those who have believed in my
cross, theirs is the kingdom of God. Therefore, become seekers for
death, like the dead who seek for life; for that which they seek is
revealed to them. And what is there to trouble them? As for you, when
you examine death, it will teach you election. Verily, I say unto you,
none of those who fear death will be saved; for the kingdom belongs to
those who put themselves to death. Become better than I; make
yourselves like the son of the Holy Spirit!"
Then I asked him, "Lord, how shall we be able to prophesy to those who
request us to prophesy to them? For there are many who ask us, and look
to us to hear an oracle from us."
The Lord answered and said, "Do you not know that the head of prophecy
was cut off with John?"
But I said, "Lord, can it be possible to remove the head of prophecy?"
The Lord said to me, "When you come to know what 'head' means, and that
prophecy issues from the head, (then) understand the meaning of 'Its
head was removed.' At first I spoke to you in parables, and you did not
understand; now I speak to you openly, and you (still) do not perceive.
Yet, it was you who served me as a parable in parables, and as that
which is open in the (words) that are open.
"Hasten to be saved without being urged! Instead, be eager of your own
accord, and, if possible, arrive even before me; for thus the Father
will love you."
"Come to hate hypocrisy and the evil thought; for it is the thought
that gives birth to hypocrisy; but hypocrisy is far from truth."
"Do not allow the kingdom of heaven to wither; for it is like a palm
shoot whose fruit has dropped down around it. They (i.e., the fallen
fruit) put forth leaves, and after they had sprouted, they caused their
womb to dry up. So it is also with the fruit which had grown from this
single root; when it had been picked (?), fruit was borne by many (?).
It (the root) was certainly good, (and) if it were possible for you to
produce the new plants now, would find it."
"Since I have already been glorified in this fashion, why do you hold
me back in my eagerness to go? For after the labor, you have compelled
me to stay with you another eighteen days for the sake of the parables.
It was enough for some to the teaching and understand 'The
Shepherds' and 'The Seed' and 'The Building' and 'The Lamps of the
Virgins' and 'The Wage of the Workmen' and the 'Didrachmae' and 'The
Woman.'"
"Become earnest about the word! For as to the word, its first part is
faith; the second, love; the third, works; for from these comes life.
For the word is like a grain of wheat; when someone had sown it, he had
faith in it; and when it had sprouted, he loved it, because he had seen
many grains in place of one. And when he had worked, he was saved,
because he had prepared it for food, (and) again he left (some) to sow.
So also can you yourselves receive the kingdom of heaven; unless you
receive this through knowledge, you will not be able to find it."
"Therefore, I say to you, be sober; do not be deceived! And many times
have I said to you all together, and also to you alone, James, have I
said, 'Be saved!' And I have commanded you to follow me, and I have
taught you what to say before the archons. Observe that I have
descended and have spoken and undergone tribulation, and carried off my
crown after saving you. For I came down to dwell with you, so that you
in turn might dwell with me. And, finding your houses unceiled, I have
made my abode in the houses that could receive me at the time of my
descent."
"Therefore, trust in me, my brethren; understand what the great light
is. The Father has no need of me, - for a father does not need a son,
but it is the son who needs the father - though I go to him. For the
Father of the Son has no need of you."
"Hearken to the word, understand knowledge, love life, and no one will
persecute you, nor will anyone oppress you, other than you yourselves."
"O you wretches; O you unfortunates; O you pretenders to the truth; O
you falsifiers of knowledge; O you sinners against the Spirit: can you
still bear to listen, when it behooved you to speak from the first? Can
you still bear to sleep, when it behooved you to be awake from the
first, so that the kingdom of heaven might receive you? Verily, I say
unto you, had I been sent to those who listen to me, and had I spoken
with them, I would never have come down to earth. So, then, be ashamed
for these things."
"Behold, I shall depart from you and go away, and do not wish to remain
with you any longer, just as your yourselves have not wished it. Now,
therefore, follow me quickly. This is why I say unto you, 'For your
sakes I came down.' You are the beloved; you are they who will be the
cause of life in many. Invoke the Father, implore God often, and he
will give to you. Blessed is he who has seen you with Him when He was
proclaimed among the angels, and glorified among the saints; yours is
life. Rejoice, and be glad, as sons of God. Keep his will, that you may
be saved; accept reproof from me and save yourselves. I intercede on
your behalf with the Father, and he will forgive you much."
And when we had heard these words, we became glad, for we had been
grieved at the words we have mentioned before. But when he saw us
rejoicing, he said, "Woe to you who lack an advocate! Woe to you who
stand in need of grace! Blessed will they be who have spoken out and
obtained grace for themselves. Liken yourselves to foreigners; of what
sort are they in the eyes of your city? Why are you disturbed when you
cast yourselves away of your own accord and separate yourselves from
your city? Why do you abandon your dwelling place of your own accord,
making it ready for those who want to dwell in it? O you outcasts and
fugitives, woe to you, for you will be caught! Or do you perhaps think
that the Father is a lover of mankind, or that he is won over without
prayers, or that he grants remission to one on another's behalf, or
that he bears with one who asks? - For he knows the desire, and also
what it is that the flesh needs! - (Or do you think) that it is not
this (flesh) that desires the soul? For without the soul, the body does
not sin, just as the soul is not saved without the spirit. But if the
soul is saved (when it is) without evil, and the spirit is also saved,
then the body becomes free from sin. For it is the spirit that raises
the soul, but the body that kills it; that is, it is it (the soul)
which kills itself. Verily, I say unto you, he will not forgive the
soul the sin by any means, nor the flesh the guilt; for none of those
who have worn the flesh will be saved. For do you think that many have
found the kingdom of heaven? Blessed is he who has seen himself as a
fourth one in heaven!"
When we heard these words, we were distressed. But when he saw that we
were distressed, he said, "For this cause I tell you this, that you may
know yourselves. For the kingdom of heaven is like an ear of grain
after it had sprouted in a field. And when it had ripened, it scattered
its fruit and again filled the field with ears for another year. You
also, hasten to reap an ear of life for yourselves, that you may be
filled with the kingdom!"
"And as long as I am with you, give heed to me, and obey me; but when I
depart from you, remember me. And remember me because when I was with
you, you did not know me. Blessed will they be who have known me; woe
to those who have heard and have not believed! Blessed will they be who
have not see, yet have believed!"
"And once more I prevail upon you, for I am revealed to you building a
house which is of great value to you when you find shelter beneath it,
just as it will be able to stand by your neighbors' house when it
threatens to fall. Verily, I say unto you, woe to those for whose sakes
I was sent down to this place; blessed will they be who ascend to the
Father! Once more I reprove you, you who are; become like those who are
not, that you may be with those who are not."
"Do not make the kingdom of heaven a desert within you. Do not be proud
because of the light that illumines, but be to yourselves as I myself
am to you. For your sakes I have placed myself under the curse, that
you may be saved."
But Peter replied to these words and said, "Sometimes you urge us on to
the kingdom of heaven, and then again you turn us back, Lord; sometimes
you persuade and draw us to faith and promise us life, and then again
you cast us forth from the kingdom of heaven."
But the Lord answered and said to us, "I have given you faith many
times; moreover, I have revealed myself to you, James, and you (all)
have not known me. Now again, I see you rejoicing many times; and when
you are elated at the promise of life, are you yet sad, and do you
grieve, when you are instructed in the kingdom? But you, through faith
and knowledge, have received life. Therefore, disdain the rejection
when you hear it, but when you hear the promise, rejoice the more.
Verily, I say unto you, he who will receive life and believe in the
kingdom will never leave it, not even if the Father wishes to banish
him."
"These are the things that I shall tell you so far; now, however, I
shall ascend to the place from whence I came. But you, when I was eager
to go, have cast me out, and instead of accompanying me, you have
pursued me. But pay heed to the glory that awaits me, and, having
opened your heart, listen to the hymns that await me up in the heavens;
for today I must take (my place at) the right hand of the Father. But I
have said (my) last word to you, and I shall depart from you, for a
chariot of spirit has borne me aloft, and from this moment on, I shall
strip myself, that I may clothe myself. But give heed; blessed are they
who have proclaimed the Son before his descent, that when I have come,
I might ascend (again). Thrice blessed are they who were proclaimed by
the Son before they came to be, that you might have a portion among
them."
Having said these words, he departed. But we bent (our) knee(s), I and
Peter, and gave thanks, and sent our heart(s) upwards to heaven. We
heard with our ears, and saw with our eyes, the noise of wars, and a
trumpet blare, and a great turmoil.
And when we had passed beyond that place, we sent our mind(s) farther
upwards, and saw with our eyes and heard with our ears hymns, and
angelic benedictions, and angelic rejoicing. And heavenly majesties
were singing praise, and we, too, rejoiced.
After this again, we wished to send our spirit upward to the Majesty,
and after ascending, we were not permitted to see or hear anything, for
the other disciples called us and asked us, "What did you hear from the
Master. And what has he said to you? And where did he go?"
But we answered them, "He has ascended, and has given us a pledge, and
promised life to us all, and revealed to us children (?) who are to
come after us, after bidding us love them, as we would be saved for
their sakes."
And when they heard (this), they indeed believed the revelation, but
were displeased about those to be born. And so, not wishing to give
them offense, I sent each one to another place. But I myself went up to
Jerusalem, praying that I might obtain a portion among the beloved, who
will be made manifest.
And I pray that the beginning may come from you, for thus I shall be
capable of salvation, since they will be enlightened through me, by my
faith - and through another (faith) that is better than mine, for I
would that mine be the lesser. Endeavor earnestly, then, to make
yourself like them, and pray that you may obtain a portion with them.
For because of what I have said, the Savior did not make the revelation
to us for their sakes. We do, indeed, proclaim a portion with those for
whom the proclamation was made - those whom the Lord has made his sons.
The Apocryphon of John (long version)
The teaching of the savior, and the revelation of the mysteries and the
things hidden in silence, even these things which he taught John, his
disciple. And it happened one day, when John, the brother of James -
who are the sons of Zebedee - had come up to the temple, that a
Pharisee named Arimanius approached him and said to him, "Where is your
master whom you followed?" And he said to him, "He has gone to the
place from which he came." The Pharisee said to him, "With deception
did this Nazarene deceive you (pl.), and he filled your ears with lies,
and closed your hearts (and) turned you from the traditions of your
fathers." When I, John, heard these things I turned away from the
temple to a desert place. And I grieved greatly in my heart, saying,
"How then was the savior appointed, and why was he sent into the world
by his Father, and who is his Father who sent him, and of what sort is
that aeon to which we shall go? For what did he mean when he said to
us, 'This aeon to which you will go is of the type of the imperishable
aeon, but he did not teach us concerning the latter, of what sort it
is."
Straightway, while I was contemplating these things, behold, the
heavens opened and the whole creation which is below heaven shone, and
the world was shaken. I was afraid, and behold I saw in the light a
youth who stood by me. While I looked at him, he became like an old
man. And he changed his likeness (again), becoming like a servant.
There was not a plurality before me, but there was a likeness with
multiple forms in the light, and the likenesses appeared through each
other, and the likeness had three forms.
He said to me, "John, John, why do you doubt, or why are you afraid?
You are not unfamiliar with this image, are you? - that is, do not be
timid! - I am the one who is with you (pl.) always. I am the Father, I
am the Mother, I am the Son. I am the undefiled and incorruptible one.
Now I have come to teach you what is and what was and what will come to
pass, that you may know the things which are not revealed and those
which are revealed, and to teach you concerning the unwavering race of
the perfect Man. Now, therefore, lift up your face, that you may
receive the things that I shall teach you today, and may tell them to
your fellow spirits who are from the unwavering race of the perfect
Man."
And I asked to know it, and he said to me, "The Monad is a monarchy
with nothing above it. It is he who exists as God and Father of
everything, the invisible One who is above everything, who exists as
incorruption, which is in the pure light into which no eye can look.
"He is the invisible Spirit, of whom it is not right to think of him as
a god, or something similar. For he is more than a god, since there is
nothing above him, for no one lords it over him. For he does not exist
in something inferior to him, since everything exists in him. For it is
he who establishes himself. He is eternal, since he does not need
anything. For he is total perfection. He did not lack anything, that he
might be completed by it; rather he is always completely perfect in
light. He is illimitable, since there is no one prior to him to set
limits to him. He is unsearchable, since there exists no one prior to
him to examine him. He is immeasurable, since there was no one prior to
him to measure him. He is invisible, since no one saw him. He is
eternal, since he exists eternally. He is ineffable, since no one was
able to comprehend him to speak about him. He is unnameable, since
there is no one prior to him to give him a name.
"He is immeasurable light, which is pure, holy (and) immaculate. He is
ineffable, being perfect in incorruptibility. (He is) not in
perfection, nor in blessedness, nor in divinity, but he is far
superior. He is not corporeal nor is he incorporeal. He is neither
large nor is he small. There is no way to say, 'What is his quantity?'
or, 'What is his quality?', for no one can know him. He is not someone
among (other) beings, rather he is far superior. Not that he is
(simply) superior, but his essence does not partake in the aeons nor in
time. For he who partakes in an aeon was prepared beforehand. Time was
not apportioned to him, since he does not receive anything from
another, for it would be received on loan. For he who precedes someone
does not lack, that he may receive from him. For rather, it is the
latter that looks expectantly at him in his light.
"For the perfection is majestic. He is pure, immeasurable mind. He is
an aeon-giving aeon. He is life-giving life. He is a blessedness-giving
blessed one. He is knowledge-giving knowledge. He is goodness-giving
goodness. He is mercy and redemption-giving mercy. He is grace-giving
grace, not because he possesses it, but because he gives the
immeasurable, incomprehensible light.
"How am I to speak with you about him? His aeon is indestructible, at
rest and existing in silence, reposing (and) being prior to everything.
For he is the head of all the aeons, and it is he who gives them
strength in his goodness. For we know not the ineffable things, and we
do not understand what is immeasurable, except for him who came forth
from him, namely (from) the Father. For it is he who told it to us
alone. For it is he who looks at himself in his light which surrounds
him, namely the spring of the water of life. And it is he who gives to
all the aeons and in every way, (and) who gazes upon his image which he
sees in the spring of the Spirit. It is he who puts his desire in his
water-light which is in the spring of the pure light-water which
surrounds him.
"And his thought performed a deed and she came forth, namely she who
had appeared before him in the shine of his light. This is the first
power which was before all of them (and) which came forth from his
mind, She is the forethought of the All - her light shines like his
light - the perfect power which is the image of the invisible, virginal
Spirit who is perfect. The first power, the glory of Barbelo, the
perfect glory in the aeons, the glory of the revelation, she glorified
the virginal Spirit and it was she who praised him, because thanks to
him she had come forth. This is the first thought, his image; she
became the womb of everything, for it is she who is prior to them all,
the Mother-Father, the first man, the holy Spirit, the thrice-male, the
thrice-powerful, the thrice-named androgynous one, and the eternal aeon
among the invisible ones, and the first to come forth.
" requested from the invisible, virginal Spirit - that is Barbelo
- to give her foreknowledge. And the Spirit consented. And when he had
consented, the foreknowledge came forth, and it stood by the
forethought; it originates from the thought of the invisible, virginal
Spirit. It glorified him and his perfect power, Barbelo, for it was for
her sake that it had come into being.
"And she requested again to grant her indestructibility, and he
consented. When he had consented, indestructibility came forth, and it
stood by the thought and the foreknowledge. It glorified the invisible
One and Barbelo, the one for whose sake they had come into being.
"And Barbelo requested to grant her eternal life. And the invisible
Spirit consented. And when he had consented, eternal life came forth,
and they attended and glorified the invisible Spirit and Barbelo, the
one for whose sake they had come into being.
"And she requested again to grant her truth. And the invisible Spirit
consented. And when he had consented, truth came forth, and they
attended and glorified the invisible, excellent Spirit and his Barbelo,
the one for whose sake they had come into being.
"This is the pentad of the aeons of the Father, which is the first man,
the image of the invisible Spirit; it is the forethought, which
Barbelo, and the thought, and the foreknowledge, and the
indestructibility, and the eternal life, and the truth. This is the
androgynous pentad of the aeons, which is the decad of the aeons, which
is the Father.
"And he looked at Barbelo with the pure light which surrounds the
invisible Spirit, and (with) his spark, and she conceived from him. He
begot a spark of light with a light resembling blessedness. But it does
not equal his greatness. This was an only-begotten child of the
Mother-Father which had come forth; it is the only offspring, the
only-begotten one of the Father, the pure Light.
"And the invisible, virginal Spirit rejoiced over the light which came
forth, that which was brought forth first by the first power of his
forethought, which is Barbelo. And he anointed it with his goodness
until it became perfect, not lacking in any goodness, because he had
anointed it with the goodness of the invisible Spirit. And it attended
him as he poured upon it. And immediately when it had received from the
Spirit, it glorified the holy Spirit and the perfect forethought, for
whose sake it had come forth.
"And it requested to give it a fellow worker, which is the mind, and he
consented gladly. And when the invisible Spirit had consented, the mind
came forth, and it attended Christ, glorifying him and Barbelo. And all
these came into being in silence.
"And the mind wanted to perform a deed through the word of the
invisible Spirit. And his will became a deed and it appeared with the
mind; and the light glorified it. And the word followed the will. For
because of the word, Christ the divine Autogenes created everything.
And the eternal life his will and the mind and the foreknowledge
attended and glorified the invisible Spirit and Barbelo, for whose sake
they had come into being.
"And the holy Spirit completed the divine Autogenes, his son, together
with Barbelo, that he may attend the mighty and invisible, virginal
Spirit as the divine Autogenes, the Christ whom he had honored with a
mighty voice. He came forth through the forethought. And the invisible,
virginal Spirit placed the divine Autogenes of truth over everything.
And he subjected to him every authority, and the truth which is in him,
that he may know the All which had been called with a name exalted
above every name. For that name will be mentioned to those who are
worthy of it.
"For from the light, which is the Christ, and the indestructibility,
through the gift of the Spirit the four lights (appeared) from the
divine Autogenes. He expected that they might attend him. And the three
(are) will, thought, and life. And the four powers (are) understanding,
grace, perception, and prudence. And grace belongs to the light-aeon
Armozel, which is the first angel. And there are three other aeons with
this aeon: grace, truth, and form. And the second light (is) Oriel, who
has been placed over the second aeon. And there are three other aeons
with him: conception, perception, and memory. And the third light is
Daveithai, who has been placed over the third aeon. And there are three
other aeons with him: understanding, love, and idea. And the fourth
aeon was placed over the fourth light Eleleth. And there are three
other aeons with him: perfection, peace, and wisdom. These are the four
lights which attend the divine Autogenes, (and) these are the twelve
aeons which attend the son of the mighty one, the Autogenes, the
Christ, through the will and the gift of the invisible Spirit. And the
twelve aeons belong to the son of the Autogenes. And all things were
established by the will of the holy Spirit through the Autogenes.
"And from the foreknowledge of the perfect mind, through the revelation
of the will of the invisible Spirit and the will of the Autogenes,
perfect Man (appeared), the first revelation, and the truth. It
is he whom the virginal Spirit called Pigera-Adamas, and he placed him
over the first aeon with the mighty one, the Autogenes, the Christ, by
the first light Armozel; and with him are his powers. And the invisible
one gave him a spiritual, invincible power. And he spoke and glorified
and praised the invisible Spirit, saying, 'It is for thy sake that
everything has come into being and everything will return to thee. I
shall praise and glorify thee and the Autogenes and the aeons, the
three: the Father, the Mother, and the Son, the perfect power.'
"And he placed his son Seth over the second aeon in the presence of the
second light Oriel. And in the third aeon the seed of Seth was placed
over the third light Daveithai. And the souls of the saints were placed
(there). And in the fourth aeon the souls were placed of those who do
not know the Pleroma and who did not repent at once, but who persisted
for a while and repented afterwards; they are by the fourth light
Eleleth. These are creatures which glorify the invisible Spirit.
"And the Sophia of the Epinoia, being an aeon, conceived a thought from
herself and the conception of the invisible Spirit and foreknowledge.
She wanted to bring forth a likeness out of herself without the consent
of the Spirit, - he had not approved - and without her consort, and
without his consideration. And though the person of her maleness had
not approved, and she had not found her agreement, and she had thought
without the consent of the Spirit and the knowledge of her agreement,
(yet) she brought forth. And because of the invincible power which is
in her, her thought did not remain idle, and something came out of her
which was imperfect and different from her appearance, because she had
created it without her consort. And it was dissimilar to the likeness
of its mother, for it has another form.
"And when she saw (the consequences of) her desire, it changed into a
form of a lion-faced serpent. And its eyes were like lightning fires
which flash. She cast it away from her, outside that place, that no one
of the immortal ones might see it, for she had created it in ignorance.
And she surrounded it with a luminous cloud, and she placed a throne in
the middle of the cloud that no one might see it except the holy Spirit
who is called the mother of the living. And she called his name
Yaltabaoth.
"This is the first archon who took a great power from his mother. And
he removed himself from her and moved away from the places in which he
was born. He became strong and created for himself other aeons with a
flame of luminous fire which (still) exists now. And he joined with his
arrogance which is in him and begot authorities for himself. The name
of the first one is Athoth, whom the generations call the reaper. The
second one is Harmas, who is the eye of envy. The third one is
Kalila-Oumbri. The fourth one is Yabel. The fifth one is Adonaiou, who
is called Sabaoth. The sixth one is Cain, whom the generations of men
call the sun. The seventh is Abel. The eighth is Abrisene. The ninth is
Yobel. The tenth is Armoupieel. The eleventh is Melceir-Adonein. The
twelfth is Belias, it is he who is over the depth of Hades. And he
placed seven kings - each corresponding to the firmaments of heaven -
over the seven heavens, and five over the depth of the abyss, that they
may reign. And he shared his fire with them, but he did not send forth
from the power of the light which he had taken from his mother, for he
is ignorant darkness.
"And when the light had mixed with the darkness, it caused the darkness
to shine. And when the darkness had mixed with the light, it darkened
the light and it became neither light nor dark, but it became dim.
"Now the archon who is weak has three names. The first name is
Yaltabaoth, the second is Saklas, and the third is Samael. And he is
impious in his arrogance which is in him. For he said, 'I am God and
there is no other God beside me,' for he is ignorant of his strength,
the place from which he had come.
"And the archons created seven powers for themselves, and the powers
created for themselves six angels for each one until they became 365
angels. And these are the bodies belonging with the names: the first is
Athoth, a he has a sheep's face; the second is Eloaiou, he has a
donkey's face; the third is Astaphaios, he has a hyena's face; the
fourth is Yao, he has a serpent's face with seven heads; the fifth is
Sabaoth, he has a dragon's face; the sixth is Adonin, he had a monkey's
face; the seventh is Sabbede, he has a shining fire-face. This is the
sevenness of the week.
"But Yaltabaoth had a multitude of faces, more than all of them, so
that he could put a face before all of them, according to his desire,
when he is in the midst of seraphs. He shared his fire with them;
therefore he became lord over them. Because of the power of the glory
he possessed of his mother's light, he called himself God. And he did
not obey the place from which he came. And he united the seven powers
in his thought with the authorities which were with him. And when he
spoke it happened. And he named each power beginning with the highest:
the first is goodness with the first (authority), Athoth; the second is
foreknowledge with the second one, Eloaio; and the third is divinity
with the third one, Astraphaio); the fourth is lordship with the fourth
one, Yao; the fifth is kingdom with the fifth one, Sabaoth; the sixth
is envy with the sixth one, Adonein; the seventh is understanding with
the seventh one, Sabbateon. And these have a firmament corresponding to
each aeon-heaven. They were given names according to the glory which
belongs to heaven for the destruction of the powers. And in the names
which were given to them by their Originator there was power. But the
names which were given them according to the glory which belongs to
heaven mean for them destruction and powerlessness. Thus they have two
names.
"And having created [...] everything, he organized according to the
model of the first aeons which had come into being, so that he might
create them like the indestructible ones. Not because he had seen the
indestructible ones, but the power in him, which he had taken from his
mother, produced in him the likeness of the cosmos. And when he saw the
creation which surrounds him, and the multitude of the angels around
him which had come forth from him, he said to them, 'I am a jealous
God, and there is no other God beside me.' But by announcing this he
indicated to the angels who attended him that there exists another God.
For if there were no other one, of whom would he be jealous?
"Then the mother began to move to and fro. She became aware of the
deficiency when the brightness of her light diminished. And she became
dark because her consort had not agreed with her."
And I said, "Lord, what does it mean that she moved to and fro?" But he
smiled and said, "Do not think it is, as Moses said, 'above the
waters.' No, but when she had seen the wickedness which had happened,
and the theft which her son had committed, she repented. And she was
overcome by forgetfulness in the darkness of ignorance and she began to
be ashamed. And she did not dare to return, but she was moving about.
And the moving is the going to and fro.
"And the arrogant one took a power from his mother. For he was
ignorant, thinking that there existed no other except his mother alone.
And when he saw the multitude of the angels which he had created, then
he exalted himself above them.
"And when the mother recognized that the garment of darkness was
imperfect, then she knew that her consort had not agreed with her. She
repented with much weeping. And the whole pleroma heard the prayer of
her repentance, and they praised on her behalf the invisible, virginal
Spirit. And he consented; and when the invisible Spirit had consented,
the holy Spirit poured over her from their whole pleroma. For it was
not her consort who came to her, but he came to her through the pleroma
in order that he might correct her deficiency. And she was taken up not
to her own aeon but above her son, that she might be in the ninth until
she has corrected her deficiency.
"And a voice came forth from the exalted aeon-heaven: 'The Man exists
and the son of Man.' And the chief archon, Yaltabaoth, heard (it) and
thought that the voice had come from his mother. And he did not know
from where it came. And he taught them, the holy and perfect
Mother-Father, the complete foreknowledge, the image of the invisible
one who is the Father of the all (and) through whom everything came
into being, the first Man. For he revealed his likeness in a human
form.
"And the whole aeon of the chief archon trembled, and the foundations
of the abyss shook. And of the waters which are above matter, the
underside was illuminated by the appearance of his image which had been
revealed. And when all the authorities and the chief archon looked,
they saw the whole region of the underside which was illuminated. And
through the light they saw the form of the image in the water.
"And he said to the authorities which attend him, 'Come, let us create
a man according to the image of God and according to our likeness, that
his image may become a light for us.' And they created by means of
their respective powers in correspondence with the characteristics
which were given. And each authority supplied a characteristic in the
form of the image which he had seen in its natural (form). He created a
being according to the likeness of the first, perfect Man. And they
said, 'Let us call him Adam, that his name may become a power of light
for us.'
"And the powers began: the first one, goodness, created a bone-soul;
and the second, foreknowledge, created a sinew-soul; the third,
divinity, created a flesh-soul; and the fourth, the lordship, created a
marrow-soul; the fifth, kingdom created a blood-soul; the sixth, envy,
created a skin-soul; the seventh, understanding, created a hair-soul.
And the multitude of the angels attended him and they received from the
powers the seven substances of the natural (form) in order to create
the proportions of the limbs and the proportion of the rump and the
proper working together of each of the parts.
"The first one began to create the head. Eteraphaope-Abron created his
head; Meniggesstroeth created the brain; Asterechme (created) the right
eye; Thaspomocha, the left eye; Yeronumos, the right ear; Bissoum, the
left ear; Akioreim, the nose; Banen-Ephroum, the lips; Amen, the teeth;
Ibikan, the molars; Basiliademe, the tonsils; Achcha, the uvula;
Adaban, the neck; Chaaman, the vertebrae; Dearcho, the throat; Tebar,
the right shoulder; [...], the left shoulder; Mniarcon, the right
elbow; [...], the left elbow; Abitrion, the right underarm; Evanthen,
the left underarm; Krys, the right hand; Beluai, the left hand; Treneu,
the fingers of the right hand; Balbel, the fingers of the left hand;
Kriman, the nails of the hands; Astrops, the right breast; Barroph, the
left breast; Baoum, the right shoulder joint; Ararim, the left shoulder
joint; Areche, the belly; Phthave, the navel; Senaphim, the abdomen;
Arachethopi, the right ribs; Zabedo, the left ribs; Barias, the right
hip; Phnouth the left hip; Abenlenarchei, the marrow; Chnoumeninorin,
the bones; Gesole, the stomach; Agromauna, the heart; Bano, the lungs;
Sostrapal, the liver; Anesimalar, the spleen; Thopithro, the
intestines; Biblo, the kidneys; Roeror, the sinews; Taphreo, the spine
of the body; Ipouspoboba, the veins; Bineborin, the arteries;
Atoimenpsephei, theirs are the breaths which are in all the limbs;
Entholleia, all the flesh; Bedouk, the right buttock (?); Arabeei, the
left penis; Eilo, the testicles; Sorma, the genitals;
Gorma-Kaiochlabar, the right thigh; Nebrith, the left thigh; Pserem,
the kidneys of the right leg; Asaklas, the left kidney; Ormaoth, the
right leg; Emenun, the left leg; Knyx, the right shin-bone; Tupelon,
the left shin-bone; Achiel, the right knee; Phnene, the left knee;
Phiouthrom, the right foot; Boabel, its toes; Trachoun, the left foot;
Phikna, its toes; Miamai, the nails of the feet; Labernioum - .
"And those who were appointed over all of these are: Zathoth, Armas,
Kalila, Jabel, (Sabaoth, Cain, Abel). And those who are particularly
active in the limbs (are) the head Diolimodraza, the neck Yammeax, the
right shoulder Yakouib, the left shoulder Verton, the right hand
Oudidi, the left one Arbao, the fingers of the right hand Lampno, the
fingers of the left hand Leekaphar, the right breast Barbar, the left
breast Imae, the chest Pisandriaptes, the right shoulder joint Koade,
the left shoulder joint Odeor, the right ribs Asphixix, the left ribs
Synogchouta, the belly Arouph, the womb Sabalo, the right thigh
Charcharb, the left thigh Chthaon, all the genitals Bathinoth, the
right leg Choux, the left leg Charcha, the right shin-bone Aroer, the
left shin-bone Toechtha, the right knee Aol, the left knee Charaner,
the right foot Bastan, its toes Archentechtha, the left foot
Marephnounth, its toes Abrana.
"Seven have power over all of these: Michael, Ouriel, Asmenedas,
Saphasatoel, Aarmouriam, Richram, Amiorps. And the ones who are in
charge over the senses (are) Archendekta; and he who is in charge over
the receptions (is) Deitharbathas; and he who is in charge over the
imagination (is) Oummaa; and he who is over the composition Aachiaram,
and he who is over the whole impulse Riaramnacho.
"And the origin of the demons which are in the whole body is determined
to be four: heat, cold, wetness, and dryness. And the mother of all of
them is matter. And he who reigns over the heat (is) Phloxopha; and he
who reigns over the cold is Oroorrothos; and he who reigns over what is
dry (is) Erimacho; and he who reigns over the wetness (is) Athuro. And
the mother of all of these, Onorthochrasaei, stands in their midst,
since she is illimitable, and she mixes with all of them. And she is
truly matter, for they are nourished by her.
"The four chief demons are: Ephememphi, who belongs to pleasure, Yoko,
who belongs to desire, Nenentophni, who belongs to grief, Blaomen, who
belongs to fear. And the mother of them all is Aesthesis-Ouch-Epi-Ptoe.
And from the four demons passions came forth. And from grief (came)
envy, jealousy, distress, trouble, pain, callousness, anxiety,
mourning, etc. And from pleasure much wickedness arises, and empty
pride, and similar things. And from desire (comes) anger, wrath, and
bitterness, and bitter passion, and unsatedness, and similar things.
And from fear (comes) dread, fawning, agony, and shame. All of these
are like useful things as well as evil things. But the insight into
their true (character) is Anaro, who is the head of the material soul,
for it belongs with the seven senses, Ouch-Epi-Ptoe.
"This is the number of the angels: together they are 365. They all
worked on it until, limb for limb, the natural and the material body
was completed by them. Now there are other ones in charge over the
remaining passions whom I did not mention to you. But if you wish to
know them, it is written in the book of Zoroaster. And all the angels
and demons worked until they had constructed the natural body. And
their product was completely inactive and motionless for a long time.
"And when the mother wanted to retrieve the power which she had given
to the chief archon, she petitioned the Mother-Father of the All, who
is most merciful. He sent, by means of the holy decree, the five lights
down upon the place of the angels of the chief archon. They advised him
that they should bring forth the power of the mother. And they said to
Yaltabaoth, 'Blow into his face something of your spirit and his body
will arise.' And he blew into his face the spirit which is the power of
his mother; he did not know (this), for he exists in ignorance. And the
power of the mother went out of Yaltabaoth into the natural body, which
they had fashioned after the image of the one who exists from the
beginning. The body moved and gained strength, and it was luminous.
"And in that moment the rest of the powers became jealous, because he
had come into being through all of them and they had given their power
to the man, and his intelligence was greater than that of those who had
made him, and greater than that of the chief archon. And when they
recognized that he was luminous, and that he could think better than
they, and that he was free from wickedness, they took him and threw him
into the lowest region of all matter.
"But the blessed One, the Mother-Father, the beneficent and merciful
One, had mercy on the power of the mother which had been brought forth
out of the chief archon, for they (the archons) might gain power over
the natural and perceptible body. And he sent, through his beneficent
Spirit and his great mercy, a helper to Adam, luminous Epinoia which
comes out of him, who is called Life. And she assists the whole
creature, by toiling with him and by restoring him to his fullness and
by teaching him about the descent of his seed (and) by teaching him
about the way of ascent, (which is) the way he came down. And the
luminous Epinoia was hidden in Adam, in order that the archons might
not know her, but that the Epinoia might be a correction of the
deficiency of the mother.
"And the man came forth because of the shadow of the light which is in
him. And his thinking was superior to all those who had made him. When
they looked up, they saw that his thinking was superior. And they took
counsel with the whole array of archons and angels. They took fire and
earth and water and mixed them together with the four fiery winds. And
they wrought them together and caused a great disturbance. And they
brought him (Adam) into the shadow of death, in order that they might
form (him) again from earth and water and fire and the spirit which
originates in matter, which is the ignorance of darkness and desire,
and their counterfeit spirit. This is the tomb of the newly-formed body
with which the robbers had clothed the man, the bond of forgetfulness;
and he became a mortal man. This is the first one who came down, and
the first separation. But the Epinoia of the light which was in him,
she is the one who was to awaken his thinking.
"And the archons took him and placed him in paradise. And they said to
him, 'Eat, that is at leisure,' for their luxury is bitter and their
beauty is depraved. And their luxury is deception and their trees are
godlessness and their fruit is deadly poison and their promise is
death. And the tree of their life they had placed in the midst of
paradise.
"And I shall teach you (pl.) what is the mystery of their life, which
is the plan which they made together, which is the likeness of their
spirit. The root of this (tree) is bitter and its branches are death,
its shadow is hate and deception is in its leaves, and its blossom is
the ointment of evil, and its fruit is death and desire is its seed,
and it sprouts in darkness. The dwelling place of those who taste from
it is Hades, and the darkness is their place of rest.
"But what they call the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which is
the Epinoia of the light, they stayed in front of it in order that he
(Adam) might not look up to his fullness and recognize the nakedness of
his shamefulness. But it was I who brought about that they ate."
And to I said to the savior, "Lord, was it not the serpent that taught
Adam to eat?" The savior smiled and said, "The serpent taught them to
eat from wickedness of begetting, lust, (and) destruction, that he
(Adam) might be useful to him. And he (Adam) knew that he was
disobedient to him (the chief archon) due to light of the Epinoia which
is in him, which made him more correct in his thinking than the chief
archon. And (the latter) wanted to bring about the power which he
himself had given him. And he brought a forgetfulness over Adam."
And I said to the savior, "What is the forgetfulness?" And he said "It
is not the way Moses wrote (and) you heard. For he said in his first
book, 'He put him to sleep' (Gn 2:21), but (it was) in his perception.
For also he said through the prophet, 'I will make their hearts heavy,
that they may not pay attention and may not see' (Is 6:10).
"Then the Epinoia of the light hid herself in him (Adam). And the chief
archon wanted to bring her out of his rib. But the Epinoia of the light
cannot be grasped. Although darkness pursued her, it did not catch her.
And he brought a part of his power out of him. And he made another
creature, in the form of a woman, according to the likeness of the
Epinoia which had appeared to him. And he brought the part which he had
taken from the power of the man into the female creature, and not as
Moses said, 'his rib-bone.'
"And he (Adam) saw the woman beside him. And in that moment the
luminous Epinoia appeared, and she lifted the veil which lay over his
mind. And he became sober from the drunkenness of darkness. And he
recognized his counter-image, and he said, 'This is indeed bone of my
bones and flesh of my flesh.' Therefore the man will leave his father
and his mother, and he will cleave to his wife, and they will both be
one flesh. For they will send him his consort, and he will leave his
father and his mother ... (3 lines unreadable)
"And our sister Sophia (is) she who came down in innocence in order to
rectify her deficiency. Therefore she was called Life, which is the
mother of the living, by the foreknowledge of the sovereignty of
heaven. And through her they have tasted the perfect Knowledge. I
appeared in the form of an eagle on the tree of knowledge, which is the
Epinoia from the foreknowledge of the pure light, that I might teach
them and awaken them out of the depth of sleep. For they were both in a
fallen state, and they recognized their nakedness. The Epinoia appeared
to them as a light; she awakened their thinking.
"And when Yaltabaoth noticed that they withdrew from him, he cursed his
earth. He found the woman as she was preparing herself for her husband.
He was lord over her, though he did not know the mystery which had come
to pass through the holy decree. And they were afraid to blame him. And
he showed his angels his ignorance which is in him. And he cast them
out of paradise and he clothed them in gloomy darkness. And the chief
archon saw the virgin who stood by Adam, and that the luminous Epinoia
of life had appeared in her. And Yaltabaoth was full of ignorance. And
when the foreknowledge of the All noticed (it), she sent some and they
snatched life out of Eve.
"And the chief archon seduced her and he begot in her two sons; the
first and the second (are) Eloim and Yave. Eloim has a bear-face and
Yave has a cat-face. The one is righteous but the other is unrighteous.
(Yave is righteous but Eloim is unrighteous.) Yave he set over the fire
and the wind, and Eloim he set over the water and the earth. And these
he called with the names Cain and Abel with a view to deceive.
"Now up to the present day, sexual intercourse continued due to the
chief archon. And he planted sexual desire in her who belongs to Adam.
And he produced through intercourse the copies of the bodies, and he
inspired them with his counterfeit spirit.
"And the two archons he set over principalities, so that they might
rule over the tomb. And when Adam recognized the likeness of his own
foreknowledge, he begot the likeness of the son of man. He called him
Seth, according to the way of the race in the aeons. Likewise, the
mother also sent down her spirit, which is in her likeness and a copy
of those who are in the pleroma, for she will prepare a dwelling place
for the aeons which will come down. And he made them drink water of
forgetfulness, from the chief archon, in order that they might not know
from where they came. Thus, the seed remained for a while assisting
(him), in order that, when the Spirit comes forth from the holy aeons,
he may raise up and heal him from the deficiency, that the whole
pleroma may (again) become holy and faultless."
And I said to the savior, "Lord, will all the souls then be brought
safely into the pure light?" He answered and said to me, "Great things
have arisen in your mind, for it is difficult to explain them to others
except to those who are from the immovable race. Those on whom the
Spirit of life will descend and (with whom) he will be with the power,
they will be saved and become perfect and be worthy of the greatness
and be purified in that place from all wickedness and the involvements
in evil. Then they have no other care than the incorruption alone, to
which they direct their attention from here on, without anger or envy
or jealousy or desire and greed of anything. They are not affected by
anything except the state of being in the flesh alone, which they bear
while looking expectantly for the time when they will be met by the
receivers (of the body). Such then are worthy of the imperishable,
eternal life and the calling. For they endure everything and bear up
under everything, that they may finish the good fight and inherit
eternal life."
I said to him, "Lord, the souls of those who did not do these works
(but) on whom the power and Spirit descended, (will they be rejected?"
He answered and said to me, "If) the Spirit (descended upon them), they
will in any case be saved, and they will change (for the better). For
the power will descend on every man, for without it no one can stand.
And after they are born, then, when the Spirit of life increases and
the power comes and strengthens that soul, no one can lead it astray
with works of evil. But those on whom the counterfeit spirit descends
are drawn by him and they go astray."
And I said, "Lord, where will the souls of these go when they have come
out of their flesh?" And he smiled and said to me, "The soul in which
the power will become stronger than the counterfeit spirit, is strong
and it flees from evil and, through the intervention of the
incorruptible one, it is saved, and it is taken up to the rest of the
aeons."
And I said, "Lord, those, however, who have not known to whom they
belong, where will their souls be?" And he said to me, "In those, the
despicable spirit has gained strength when they went astray. And he
burdens the soul and draws it to the works of evil, and he casts it
down into forgetfulness. And after it comes out of (the body), it is
handed over to the authorities, who came into being through the archon,
and they bind it with chains and cast it into prison, and consort with
it until it is liberated from the forgetfulness and acquires knowledge.
And if thus it becomes perfect, it is saved."
And I said, "Lord, how can the soul become smaller and return into the
nature of its mother or into man?" Then he rejoiced when I asked him
this, and he said to me, "Truly, you are blessed, for you have
understood! That soul is made to follow another one (fem.), since the
Spirit of life is in it. It is saved through him. It is not again cast
into another flesh."
And I said, "Lord, these also who did not know, but have turned away,
where will their souls go?" Then he said to me, "To that place where
the angels of poverty go they will be taken, the place where there is
no repentance. And they will be kept for the day on which those who
have blasphemed the spirit will be tortured, and they will be punished
with eternal punishment."
And I said, "Lord, from where did the counterfeit spirit come?" Then he
said to me, "The Mother-Father, who is rich in mercy, the holy Spirit
in every way, the One who is merciful and who sympathizes with you
(pl.), i.e., the Epinoia of the foreknowledge of light, he raised up
the offspring of the perfect race and its thinking and the eternal
light of man. When the chief archon realized that they were exalted
above him in the height - and they surpass him in thinking - then he
wanted to seize their thought, not knowing that they surpassed him in
thinking, and that he will not be able to seize them.
"He made a plan with his authorities, which are his powers, and they
committed together adultery with Sophia, and bitter fate was begotten
through them, which is the last of the changeable bonds. And it is of a
sort that is interchangeable. And it is harder and stronger than she
with whom the gods united, and the angels and the demons and all the
generations until this day. For from that fate came forth every sin and
injustice and blasphemy, and the chain of forgetfulness and ignorance
and every severe command, and serious sins and great fears. And thus
the whole creation was made blind, in order that they may not know God,
who is above all of them. And because of the chain of forgetfulness,
their sins were hidden. For they are bound with measures and times and
moments, since it (fate) is lord over everything.
"And he (the chief archon) repented for everything which had come into
being through him. This time he planned to bring a flood upon the work
of man. But the greatness of the light of the foreknowledge informed
Noah, and he proclaimed (it) to all the offspring which are the sons of
men. But those who were strangers to him did not listen to him. It is
not as Moses said, 'They hid themselves in an ark' (Gn 7: 7), but they
hid themselves in a place, not only Noah, but also many other people
from the immovable race. They went into a place and hid themselves in a
luminous cloud. And he (Noah) recognized his authority, and she who
belongs to the light was with him, having shone on them because he (the
chief archon) had brought darkness upon the whole earth.
"And he made a plan with his powers. He sent his angels to the
daughters of men, that they might take some of them for themselves and
raise offspring for their enjoyment. And at first they did not succeed.
When they had no success, they gathered together again and they made a
plan together. They created a counterfeit spirit, who resembles the
Spirit who had descended, so as to pollute the souls through it. And
the angels changed themselves in their likeness into the likeness of
their mates (the daughters of men), filling them with the spirit of
darkness, which they had mixed for them, and with evil. They brought
gold and silver and a gift and copper and iron and metal and all kinds
of things. And they steered the people who had followed them into great
troubles, by leading them astray with many deceptions. They (the
people) became old without having enjoyment. They died, not having
found truth and without knowing the God of truth. And thus the whole
creation became enslaved forever, from the foundation of the world
until now. And they took women and begot children out of the darkness
according to the likeness of their spirit. And they closed their
hearts, and they hardened themselves through the hardness of the
counterfeit spirit until now.
"I, therefore, the perfect Pronoia of the all, changed myself into my
seed, for I existed first, going on every road. For I am the richness
of the light; I am the remembrance of the pleroma.
"And I went into the realm of darkness and I endured till I entered the
middle of the prison. And the foundations of chaos shook. And I hid
myself from them because of their wickedness, and they did not
recognize me.
"Again I returned for the second time, and I went about. I came forth
from those who belong to the light, which is I, the remembrance of the
Pronoia. I entered into the midst of darkness and the inside of Hades,
since I was seeking (to accomplish) my task. And the foundations of
chaos shook, that they might fall down upon those who are in chaos and
might destroy them. And again I ran up to my root of light, lest they
be destroyed before the time.
"Still for a third time I went - I am the light which exists in the
light, I am the remembrance of the Pronoia - that I might enter into
the midst of darkness and the inside of Hades. And I filled my face
with the light of the completion of their aeon. And I entered into the
midst of their prison, which is the prison of the body. And I said, 'He
who hears, let him get up from the deep sleep.' And he wept and shed
tears. Bitter tears he wiped from himself and he said, 'Who is it that
calls my name, and from where has this hope come to me, while I am in
the chains of the prison?' And I said, 'I am the Pronoia of the pure
light; I am the thinking of the virginal Spirit, who raised you up to
the honored place. Arise and remember that it is you who hearkened, and
follow your root, which is I, the merciful one, and guard yourself
against the angels of poverty and the demons of chaos and all those who
ensnare you, and beware of the deep sleep and the enclosure of the
inside of Hades.
"And I raised him up, and sealed him in the light of the water with
five seals, in order that death might not have power over him from this
time on.
"And behold, now I shall go up to the perfect aeon. I have completed
everything for you in your hearing. And I have said everything to you
that you might write them down and give them secretly to your fellow
spirits, for this is the mystery of the immovable race."
And the savior presented these things to him that he might write them
down and keep them secure. And he said to him, "Cursed be everyone who
will exchange these things for a gift or for food or for drink or for
clothing or for any other such thing." And these things were presented
to him in a mystery, and immediately he disappeared from him. And he
went to his fellow disciples and related to them what the savior had
told him.
Jesus Christ, Amen.
The Book of Thomas the Contender
The secret words that the savior spoke to Judas Thomas which I, even I,
Mathaias, wrote down, while I was walking, listening to them speak with
one another. The savior said, "Brother Thomas while you have time in
the world, listen to me, and I will reveal to you the things you have
pondered in your mind. "Now, since it has been said that you are my
twin and true companion, examine yourself, and learn who you are, in
what way you exist, and how you will come to be. Since you will be
called my brother, it is not fitting that you be ignorant of yourself.
And I know that you have understood, because you had already understood
that I am the knowledge of the truth. So while you accompany me,
although you are uncomprehending, you have (in fact) already come to
know, and you will be called 'the one who knows himself'. For he who
has not known himself has known nothing, but he who has known himself
has at the same time already achieved knowledge about the depth of the
all. So then, you, my brother Thomas, have beheld what is obscure to
men, that is, what they ignorantly stumble against." Now Thomas said to
the lord, "Therefore I beg you to tell me what I ask you before your
ascension, and when I hear from you about the hidden things, then I can
speak about them. And it is obvious to me that the truth is difficult
to perform before men." The savior answered, saying, "If the things
that are visible to you are obscure to you, how can you hear about the
things that are not visible? If the deeds of the truth that are visible
in the world are difficult for you to perform, how indeed, then, shall
you perform those that pertain to the exalted height and to the pleroma
which are not visible? And how shall you be called 'laborers'? In this
respect you are apprentices, and have not yet received the height of
perfection." Now Thomas answered and said to the savior, "Tell us about
these things that you say are not visible, but are hidden from us." The
savior said, "All bodies [...] the beasts are begotten [...] it is
evident like [...] this, too, those that are above [...] things that
are visible, but they are visible in their own root, and it is their
fruit that nourishes them. But these visible bodies survive by
devouring creatures similar to them with the result that the bodies
change. Now that which changes will decay and perish, and has no hope
of life from then on, since that body is bestial. So just as the body
of the beasts perishes, so also will these formations perish. Do they
not derive from intercourse like that of the beasts? If it, too derives
from intercourse, how will it beget anything different from beasts? So,
therefore, you are babes until you become perfect." And Thomas
answered, "Therefore I say to you, lord, that those who speak about
things that are invisible and difficult to explain are like those who
shoot their arrows at a target at night. To be sure, they shoot their
arrows as anyone would - since they shoot at the target - but it is not
visible. Yet when the light comes forth and hides the darkness, then
the work of each will appear. And you, our light, enlighten, O lord."
Jesus said, "It is in light that light exists."
Thomas, spoke, saying, "Lord, why does this visible light that shines
on behalf of men rise and set?"
The savior said, "O blessed Thomas, of course this visible light shines
on your behalf - not in order that you remain here, but rather that you
might come forth - and whenever all the elect abandon bestiality, then
this light will withdraw up to its essence, and its essence will
welcome it, since it is a good servant."
Then the savior continued and said, "O unsearchable love of the light!
O bitterness of the fire that blazes in the bodies of men and in their
marrow, kindling in them night and day, and burning the limbs of men
and making their minds become drunk and their souls become deranged
[...] them within males and females [...] night and moving them, [...]
secretly and visibly. For the males move [...] upon the females and the
females upon the males. Therefore it is said, "Everyone who seeks the
truth from true wisdom will make himself wings so as to fly, fleeing
the lust that scorches the spirits of men." And he will make himself
wings to flee every visible spirit."
And Thomas answered, saying, "Lord, this is exactly what I am asking
you about, since I have understood that you are the one who is
beneficial to us, as you say."
Again the savior answered and said, "Therefore it is necessary for us
to speak to you, since this is the doctrine of the perfect. If, now,
you desire to become perfect, you shall observe these things; if not,
your name is 'Ignorant', since it is impossible for an intelligent man
to dwell with a fool, for the intelligent man is perfect in all wisdom.
To the fool, however, the good and bad are the same - indeed the wise
man will be nourished by the truth and (Ps. 1:3) "will be like a tree
growing by the meandering stream" - seeing that there are some who,
although having wings, rush upon the visible things, things that are
far from the truth. For that which guides them, the fire, will give
them an illusion of truth, and will shine on them with a perishable
beauty, and it will imprison them in a dark sweetness and captivate
them with fragrant pleasure. And it will blind them with insatiable
lust and burn their souls and become for them like a stake stuck in
their heart which they can never dislodge. And like a bit in the mouth,
it leads them according to its own desire. And it has fettered them
with its chains and bound all their limbs with the bitterness of the
bondage of lust for those visible things that will decay and change and
swerve by impulse. They have always been attracted downwards; as they
are killed, they are assimilated to all the beasts of the perishable
realm."
Thomas answered and said, "It is obvious and has been said, 'Many are
[...] those who do not know [...] soul.'"
And the savior answered, saying, "Blessed is the wise man who sought
after the truth, and when he found it, he rested upon it forever and
was unafraid of those who wanted to disturb him."
Thomas answered and said, "It is beneficial for us, lord, to rest among
our own?"
The savior said, "Yes, it is useful. And it is good for you, since
things visible among men will dissolve - for the vessel of their flesh
will dissolve, and when it is brought to naught it will come to be
among visible things, among things that are seen. And then the fire
which they see gives them pain on account of love for the faith they
formerly possessed. They will be gathered back to that which is
visible. Moreover, those who have sight among things that are not
visible, without the first love they will perish in the concern for
this life and the scorching of the fire. Only a little while longer,
and that which is visible will dissolve; then shapeless shades will
emerge, and in the midst of tombs they will forever dwell upon the
corpses in pain and corruption of soul."
Thomas answered and said, "What have we to say in the face of these
things? What shall we say to blind men? What doctrine should we express
to these miserable mortals who say, "We came to do good and not curse,"
and yet claim, "Had we not been begotten in the flesh, we would not
have known iniquity"?"
The savior said, "Truly, as for those, do not esteem them as men, but
regard them as beasts, for just as beasts devour one another, so also
men of this sort devour one another. On the contrary, they are deprived
of the kingdom since they love the sweetness of the fire and are
servants of death and rush to the works of corruption. They fulfill the
lust of their fathers. They will be thrown down to the abyss and be
afflicted by the torment of the bitterness of their evil nature. For
they will be scourged so as to make them rush backwards, whither they
do not know, and they will recede from their limbs not patiently, but
with despair. And they rejoice over [...] madness and derangement [...]
They pursue this derangement without realizing their madness, thinking
that they are wise. They [...] their body [...] Their mind is directed
to their own selves, for their thought is occupied with their deeds.
But it is the fire that will burn them."
And Thomas answered and said, "Lord, what will the one thrown down to
them do? For I am most anxious about them; many are those who fight
them."
The savior answered and said, "What is your own opinion?"
Judas - the one called Thomas - said, "It is you, lord, whom it befits
to speak, and me to listen."
The savior replied, "Listen to what I am going to tell you and believe
in the truth. That which sows and that which is sown will dissolve in
the fire - within the fire and the water - and they will hide in tombs
of darkness. And after a long time they shall show forth the fruit of
the evil trees, being punished, being slain in the mouth of beasts and
men at the instigation of the rains and winds and air and the light
that shines above."
Thomas replied, "You have certainly persuaded us, lord. We realize in
our heart, and it is obvious, that this is so, and that your word is
sufficient. But these words that you speak to us are ridiculous and
contemptible to the world since they are misunderstood. So how can we
go preach them, since we are not esteemed in the world?"
The savior answered and said, "Truly I tell you that he who will listen
to your word and turn away his face or sneer at it or smirk at these
things, truly I tell you that he will be handed over to the ruler above
who rules over all the powers as their king, and he will turn that one
around and cast him from heaven down to the abyss, and he will be
imprisoned in a narrow dark place. Moreover, he can neither turn nor
move on account of the great depth of Tartaros and the heavy bitterness
of Hades that is steadfast [...] them to it [...] they will not forgive
[...] pursue you. They will hand [...] over to [...] angel Tartarouchos
[...] fire pursuing them [...] fiery scourges that cast a shower of
sparks into the face of the one who is pursued. If he flees westward,
he finds the fire. If he turns southward, he finds it there as well. If
he turns northward, the threat of seething fire meets him again. Nor
does he find the way to the east so as to flee there and be saved, for
he did not find it in the day he was in the body, so that he might find
it in the day of judgment."
Then the savior continued, saying, "Woe to you, godless ones, who have
no hope, who rely on things that will not happen!
"Woe to you who hope in the flesh and in the prison that will perish!
How long will you be oblivious? And how long will you suppose that the
imperishables will perish too? Your hope is set upon the world, and
your god is this life! You are corrupting your souls!
"Woe to you within the fire that burns in you, for it is insatiable!
"Woe to you because of the wheel that turns in your minds!
"Woe to you within the grip of the burning that is in you, for it will
devour your flesh openly and rend your souls secretly, and prepare you
for your companions!
"Woe to you, captives, for you are bound in caverns! You laugh! In mad
laughter you rejoice! You neither realize your perdition, nor do you
reflect on your circumstances, nor have you understood that you dwell
in darkness and death! On the contrary, you are drunk with the fire and
full of bitterness. Your mind is deranged on account of the burning
that is in you, and sweet to you are the poison and the blows of your
enemies! And the darkness rose for you like the light, for you
surrendered your freedom for servitude! You darkened your hearts and
surrendered your thoughts to folly, and you filled your thoughts with
the smoke of the fire that is in you! And your light has hidden in the
cloud of [...] and the garment that is put upon you, you [...]. And you
were seized by the hope that does not exist. And whom is it you have
believed? Do you not know that you all dwell among those who that [...]
you as though you [...]. You baptized your souls in the water of
darkness ! You walked by your own whims!
"Woe to you who dwell in error, heedless that the light of the sun
which judges and looks down upon the all will circle around all things
so as to enslave the enemies. You do not even notice the moon, how by
night and day it looks down, looking at the bodies of your slaughters!
"Woe to you who love intimacy with womankind and polluted intercourse
with them! Woe to you in the grip of the powers of your body, for they
will afflict you! Woe to you in the grip of the forces of the evil
demons! Woe to you who beguile your limbs with fire! Who is it that
will rain a refreshing dew on you to extinguish the mass of fire from
you along with your burning? Who is it that will cause the sun to shine
upon you to disperse the darkness in you and hide the darkness and
polluted water?
"The sun and the moon will give a fragrance to you together with the
air and the spirit and the earth and the water. For if the sun does not
shine upon these bodies, they will wither and perish just like weeds or
grass. If the sun shines on them, they prevail and choke the grapevine;
but if the grapevine prevails and shades those weeds and all the other
brush growing alongside, and spreads and flourishes, it alone inherits
the land in which it grows; and every place it has shaded it dominates.
And when it grows up, it dominates all the land and is bountiful for
its master, and it pleases him even more, for he would have suffered
great pains on account of these plants until he uprooted them. But the
grapevine alone removed them and choked them, and they died and became
like the soil."
Then Jesus continued and said to them, "Woe to you, for you did not
receive the doctrine, and those who are [...] will labor at preaching
[...]. And you are rushing into [...] will send them down [...] you
kill them daily in order that they might rise from death.
"Blessed are you who have prior knowledge of the stumbling blocks and
who flee alien things.
"Blessed are you who are reviled and not esteemed on account of the
love their lord has for them.
"Blessed are you who weep and are oppressed by those without hope, for
you will be released from every bondage.
"Watch and pray that you not come to be in the flesh, but rather that
you come forth from the bondage of the bitterness of this life. And as
you pray, you will find rest, for you have left behind the suffering
and the disgrace. For when you come forth from the sufferings and
passions of the body, you will receive rest from the good one, and you
will reign with the king, you joined with him and he with you, from now
on, for ever and ever, Amen."
The Book of Thomas The Contender Writing To the Perfect
Remember me also, my brethren, in your prayers:
Peace to the saints and those who are spiritual.
The Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth
"My father, yesterday you promised me that you would bring my mind into
the eighth and afterwards you would bring me into the ninth. You said
that this is the order of the tradition."
"My son, indeed this is the order. But the promise was according to
human nature. For I told you when I initiated the promise, I said, 'If
you hold in mind each one of the steps.' After I had received the
spirit through the power, I set forth the action for you. Indeed, the
understanding dwells in you; in me (it is) as though the power were
pregnant. For when I conceived from the fountain that flowed to me, I
gave birth."
"My father, you have spoken every word well to me. But I am amazed at
this statement that you have just made. For you said, 'The power that
is in me'."
He said, "I gave birth to it (the power), as children are born."
"Then, my father, I have many brothers, if I am to be numbered among
the offspring."
"Right, my son! This good thing is numbered by ... (3 lines missing)
... and [...] at all times. Therefore, my son, it is necessary for you
to recognize your brothers and to honor them rightly and properly,
because they come from the same father. For each generation I have
called. I have named it, because they were offspring like these sons."
"Then, my father, do they have (a) day?"
"My son, they are spiritual ones. For they exist as forces that grow
other souls. Therefore I say that they are immortal."
"Your word is true; it has no refutation from now on. My father, begin
the discourse on the eighth and the ninth, and include me also with my
brothers."
"Let us pray, my son, to the father of the universe, with your brothers
who are my sons, that he may give the spirit of eloquence."
"How do they pray, my father, when joined with the generations? I want
to obey, my father."
(2 lines missing) ... But it is not [...]. Nor is it a [...]. But he is
satisfied with her [...] him [...]. And it is right for you to remember
the progress that came to you as wisdom in the books, my son. Compare
yourself to the early years of life. As children (do), you have posed
senseless, unintelligent questions."
"My father, the progress that has come to me now, and the
foreknowledge, according to the books, that has come to me, exceeding
the deficiency - these things are foremost in me."
"My son, when you understand the truth of your statement, you will find
your brothers, who are my sons, praying with you."
"My father, I understand nothing else except the beauty that came to me
in the books."
"This is what you call the beauty of the soul, the edification that
came to you in stages. May the understanding come to you, and you will
teach."
"I have understood, my father, each one of the books. And especially
the ... (2 lines missing) ... which is in [...]."
"My son, [...] in praises from those who extolled them."
"My father, from you I will receive the power of the discourse that you
will give. As it was told to both (of us), let us pray, my father."
"My son, what is fitting is to pray to God with all our mind and all
our heart and our soul, and to ask him that the gift of the eighth
extend to us, and that each one receive from him what is his. Your
part, then, is to understand; my own is to be able to deliver the
discourse from the fountain that flows to me."
"Let us pray, my father: I call upon you, who rules over the kingdom of
power, whose word comes as (a) birth of light. And his words are
immortal. They are eternal and unchanging. He is the one whose will
begets life for the forms in every place. His nature gives form to
substance. By him, the souls of the eighth and the angels are moved ...
(2 lines missing) ... those that exist. His providence extends to
everyone [...] begets everyone. He is the one who [...] the aeon among
spirits. He created everything. He who is self-contained cares for
everything. He is perfect, the invisible God to whom one speaks in
silence - his image is moved when it is directed, and it governs - the
one mighty power, who is exalted above majesty, who is better than the
honored (ones), Zoxathazo a oo ee ooo eee oooo ee oooooo ooooo oooooo
uuuuuu oooooooooooo ooo Zozazoth.
"Lord, grant us a wisdom from your power that reaches us, so that we
may describe to ourselves the vision of the eighth and the ninth. We
have already advanced to the seventh, since we are pious and walk in
your law. And your will we fulfill always. For we have walked in your
way, and we have renounced [...], so that your vision may come. Lord,
grant us the truth in the image. Allow us through the spirit to see the
form of the image that has no deficiency, and receive the reflection of
the pleroma from us through our praise.
"And acknowledge the spirit that is in us. For from you the universe
received soul. For from you, the unbegotten one, the begotten one came
into being. The birth of the self-begotten one is through you, the
birth of all begotten things that exist. Receive from us these
spiritual sacrifices, which we send to you with all our heart and our
soul and all our strength. Save that which is in us and grant us the
immortal wisdom."
"Let us embrace each other affectionately, my son. Rejoice over this!
For already from them the power, which is light, is coming to us. For I
see! I see indescribable depths. How shall I tell you, my son? [...]
from the [...] the places. How shall I describe the universe? I am
Mind, and I see another Mind, the one that moves the soul! I see the
one that moves me from pure forgetfulness. You give me power! I see
myself! I want to speak! Fear restrains me. I have found the beginning
of the power that is above all powers, the one that has no beginning. I
see a fountain bubbling with life. I have said, my son, that I am Mind.
I have seen! Language is not able to reveal this. For the entire
eighth, my son, and the souls that are in it, and the angels, sing a
hymn in silence. And I, Mind, understand."
"What is the way to sing a hymn through it (silence)?"
"Have you become such that you cannot be spoken to?"
"I am silent, my father. I want to sing a hymn to you while I am
silent."
"Then sing it, for I am Mind."
"I understand Mind, Hermes, who cannot be interpreted, because he keeps
within himself. And I rejoice, my father, because I see you smiling.
And the universe rejoices. Therefore, there is no creature that will
lack your life. For you are the lord of the citizens in every place.
Your providence protects. I call you 'father', 'aeon of the aeons',
'great divine spirit'. And by a spirit he gives rain upon everyone.
What do you say to me, my father, Hermes?"
"Concerning these things, I do not say anything, my son. For it is
right before God that we keep silent about what is hidden."
"Trismegistus, let not my soul be deprived of the great divine vision.
For everything is possible for you as master of the universe."
"Return to , my son, and sing while you are silent. Ask what
you want in silence."
What he had finished praising, he shouted, "Father Trismegistus! What
shall I say? We have received this light. And I myself see this same
vision in you. And I see the eighth, and the souls that are in it, and
the angels singing a hymn to the ninth and its powers. And I see him
who has the power of them all, creating those in the
spirit."
"It is advantageous from now on, that we keep silence in a reverent
posture. Do not speak about the vision from now on. It is proper to
sing a hymn to the father until the day to quit (the) body."
"What you sing, my father, I too want to sing."
"I am singing a hymn within myself. While you rest yourself, be active
in praise. For you have found what you seek."
"But is it proper, my father, that I praise because I am filled in my
heart?"
"What is proper is your praise that you will sing to God, so that it
might be written in this imperishable book."
"I will offer up the praise in my heart, as I pray to the end of the
universe and the beginning of the beginning, to the object of man's
quest, the immortal discovery, the begetter of light and truth, the
sower of reason, the love of immortal life. No hidden word will be able
to speak about you, Lord. Therefore, my mind wants to sing a hymn to
you daily. I am the instrument of your spirit; Mind is your plectrum.
And your counsel plucks me. I see myself! I have received power from
you. For your love has reached us."
"Right, my son."
"Grace! After these things, I give thanks by singing a hymn to you. For
I have received life from you, when you made me wise. I praise you. I
call your name that is hidden within me: a o ee o eee ooo iii oooo
ooooo ooooo uuuuuu oo ooooooooo ooooooooo oo. You are the one who
exists with the spirit. I sing a hymn to you reverently."
"My son, write this book for the temple at Diospolis in hieroglyphic
characters, entitling it 'The Eighth Reveals the Ninth.'"
"I will do it, my , as you command now."
"My , write the language of the book on steles of turquoise. My
son, it is proper to write this book on steles of turquoise, in
hieroglyphic characters. For Mind himself has become overseer of these.
Therefore, I command that this teaching be carved on stone, and that
you place it in my sanctuary. Eight guardians guard it with [...] of
the Sun. The males on the right are frog-faced, and the females on the
left are cat-faced. And put a square milk-stone at the base of the
turquoise tablets, and write the name on the azure stone tablet in
hieroglyphic characters. My son, you will do this when I am in Virgo,
and the sun is in the first half of the day, and fifteen degrees have
passed by me."
"My father, everything that you say I will do eagerly."
"And write an oath in the book, lest those who read the book bring the
language into abuse, and not (use it) to oppose the acts of fate.
Rather, they should submit to the law of God, without having
transgressed at all, but in purity asking God for wisdom and knowledge.
And he who will not be begotten at the start by God comes to be by the
general and guiding discourses. He will not be able to read the things
written in this book, although his conscience is pure within him, since
he does not do anything shameful, nor does he consent to it. Rather, by
stages he advances and enters into the way of immortality. And thus he
enters into the understanding of the eighth that reveals the ninth."
"So shall I do it, my father."
"This is the oath: I make him who will read this holy book swear by
heaven and earth, and fire and water, and seven rulers of substance,
and the creating spirit in them, and the God, and the
self-begotten one, and him who has been begotten, that he will guard
the things that Hermes has said. And those who keep the oath, God will
be reconciled with them and everyone whom we have named. But wrath will
come to each one of those who violate the oath. This is the perfect one
who is, my son."
The Exegesis on the Soul
Wise men of old gave the soul a feminine name. Indeed she is female in
her nature as well. She even has her womb.
As long as she was alone with the father, she was virgin and in form
androgynous. But when she fell down into a body and came to this life,
then she fell into the hands of many robbers. And the wanton creatures
passed her from one to another and [...] her. Some made use of her by
force, while others did so by seducing her with a gift. In short, they
defiled her, and she [...] her virginity.
And in her body she prostituted herself and gave herself to one and
all, considering each one she was about to embrace to be her husband.
When she had given herself to wanton, unfaithful adulterers, so that
they might make use of her, then she sighed deeply and repented. But
even when she turns her face from those adulterers, she runs to others
and they compel her to live with them and render service to them upon
their bed, as if they were her masters. Out of shame she no longer
dares to leave them, whereas they deceive her for a long time,
pretending to be faithful, true husbands, as if they greatly respected
her. And after all this they abandon her and go.
She then becomes a poor desolate widow, without help; not even a
measure of food was left her from the time of her affliction. For from
them she gained nothing except the defilements they gave her while they
had sexual intercourse with her. And her offspring by the adulterers
are dumb, blind and sickly. They are feebleminded.
But when the father who is above visits her and looks down upon her and
sees her sighing - with her sufferings and disgrace - and repenting of
the prostitution in which she engaged, and when she begins to call upon
his name so that he might help her, [...] all her heart, saying "Save
me, my father, for behold I will render an account to thee, for I
abandoned my house and fled from my maiden`s quarters. Restore me to
thyself again." When he sees her in such a state, then he will count
her worthy of his mercy upon her, for many are the afflictions that
have come upon her because she abandoned her house.
Now concerning the prostitution on the soul, the Holy Spirit prophesies
in many places. For he said in the prophet Jeremiah (3:1-4),
If the husband divorces his wife and she goes and takes another man,
can she return to him after that? Has not that woman utterly defiled
herself? "And you prostituted yourself to many shepherds and you
returned to me!" said the lord. "Take an honest look and see where you
prostituted yourself. Were you not sitting in the streets defiling the
land with your acts of prostitution and your vices? And you took many
shepherds for a stumbling block for yourself. You became shameless with
everyone. You did not call on me as kinsman or as father or author of
your virginity".
Again it is written in the prophet Hosea (2:2-7),
Come, go to law with your mother, for she is not to be a wife to me nor
I a husband to her. I shall remove her prostitution from my presence,
and I shall remove her adultery from between her breasts. I shall make
her naked as on the day she was born, and I shall make her desolate
like a land without water, and I shall make her longingly childless. I
shall show her children no pity, for they are children of prostitution,
since their mother prostituted herself and put her children to shame.
For she said, "I shall prostitute myself to my lovers. It was they who
gave me my bread and my water and my garments and my clothes and my
wine and my oil and everything I needed." Therefore behold I shall shut
them up so that she shall not be able to run after her adulterers. And
when she seeks them and does not find them, she will say, 'I shall
return to my former husband, in those days I was better off than now."
Again he said in Ezekiel (16:23-26),
It came to pass after much depravity, said the lord, you built yourself
a brothel and you made yourself a beautiful place in the streets. And
you built yourself brothels on every lane, and you wasted your beauty,
and you spread your legs in every alley, and you multiplied your acts
of prostitution. You prostituted yourself to the sons of Egypt, those
who are your neighbors, men great of flesh.
But what does "the sons of Egypt, men great of flesh" mean, if not the
domain of the flesh and the perceptible realm and the affairs of the
earth, by which the soul has become defiled here, receiving bread from
them, as well as wine, oil, clothing, and the other external nonsense
surrounding the body - the things she thinks she needs.
But as to this prostitution, the apostles of the savior commanded (Acts
15:20, 29; 21:25; 1Th 4:3; 1 Co 6:18; 2 Co 7:1): "Guard yourselves
against it, purify yourselves from it," speaking not just of the
prostitution of the body but especially that of the soul. For this
reason the apostles write to the churches of God, that such
prostitution might not occur among us.
Yet the greatest struggle has to do with the prostitution of the soul.
From it arises the prostitution of the body as well. Therefore Paul,
writing to the Corinthians (1Co 5:9-10), said, "I wrote you in the
letter, 'Do not associate with prostitutes,' not at all (meaning) the
prostitutes of this world or the greedy or the thieves or the
idolaters, since then you would have to go out from the world." - here
it is speaking spiritually - "For our struggle is not against flesh and
blood - as he said (Ep 6:12) - but against the world rulers of this
darkness and the spirits of wickedness."
As long as the soul keeps running about everywhere copulating with
whomever she meets and defiling herself, she exists suffering her just
deserts. But when she perceives the straits she is in and weeps before
the father and repents, then the father will have mercy on her and he
will make her womb turn from the external domain and will turn it again
inward, so that the soul will regain her proper character. For it is
not so with a woman. For the womb of the body is inside the body like
the other internal organs, but the womb of the soul is around the
outside like the male genitalia which is external.
So when the womb of the soul, by the will of the father, turns itself
inward, it is baptized and is immediately cleansed of the external
pollution which was pressed upon it, just as garments, when dirty, are
put into the water and turned about until their dirt is removed and
they become clean. And so the cleansing of the soul is to regain the
newness of her former nature and to turn herself back again. That is
her baptism.
Then she will begin to rage at herself like a woman in labor, who
writhes and rages in the hour of delivery. But since she is female, by
herself she is powerless to beget a child. From heaven the father sent
her her man, who is her brother, the firstborn. Then the bridegroom
came down to the bride. She gave up her former prostitution and
cleansed herself of the pollutions of the adulterers, and she was
renewed so as to be a bride. She cleansed herself in the bridal
chamber; she filled it with perfume; she sat in it waiting for the true
bridegroom. No longer does she run about the market place, copulating
with whomever she desires, but she continued to wait for him - (saying)
"When will he come?" - and to fear him, for she did not know what he
looked like: she no longer remembers since the time she fell from her
father's house. But by the will of the father <...> And she dreamed of
him like a woman in love with a man.
But then the bridegroom, according to the father's will, came down to
her into the bridal chamber, which was prepared. And he decorated the
bridal chamber.
For since that marriage is not like the carnal marriage, those who are
to have intercourse with one another will be satisfied with that
intercourse. And as if it were a burden, they leave behind them the
annoyance of physical desire and they turn their faces from each other.
But this marriage [...]. But once they unite with one another, they
become a single life. Wherefore the prophet said (Gn 2:24) concerning
the first man and the first woman, "They will become a single flesh."
For they were originally joined one to another when they were with the
father before the woman led astray the man, who is her brother. This
marriage has brought them back together again and the soul has been
joined to her true love, her real master, as it is written (cf. Gn
3:16; 1 Co 11;1; Ep 5:23), "For the master of the woman is her
husband."
Then gradually she recognized him, and she rejoiced once more, weeping
before him as she remembered the disgrace of her former widowhood. And
she adorned herself still more so that he might be pleased to stay with
her.
And the prophet said in the Psalms (Ps 45:10-11): "Hear, my daughter,
and see and incline your ear and forget your people and your father's
house, for the king has desired your beauty, for he is your lord."
For he requires her to turn her face from her people and the multitude
of her adulterers, in whose midst she once was, to devote herself only
to her king, her real lord, and to forget the house of the earthly
father, with whom things went badly for her, but to remember her father
who is in heaven. Thus also it was said (Gn 12:1) to Abraham: "Come out
from your country and your kinsfolk and from your father`s house"
Thus when the soul had adorned herself again in her beauty [...]
enjoyed her beloved, and he also loved her. And when she had
intercourse with him, she got from him the seed that is the life-giving
spirit, so that by him she bears good children and rears them. For this
is the great, perfect marvel of birth. And so this marriage is made
perfect by the will of the father.
Now it is fitting that the soul regenerates herself and become again as
she formerly was. The soul then moves of her own accord. And she
received the divine nature from the father for her rejuvenation, so
that she might be restored to the place where originally she had been.
This is the resurrection that is from the dead. This is the ransom from
captivity. This is the upward journey of ascent to heaven. This is the
way of ascent to the father. Therefore the prophet said (Ps 103:1-5):
"Praise the lord, O my soul, and, all that is within me, (praise) his
holy name. My soul, praise God, who forgave all your sins, who healed
all your sicknesses, who ransomed your life from death, who crowned you
with mercy, who satisfies your longing with good things. Your youth
will be renewed like an eagle's."
Then when she becomes young again, she will ascend, praising the father
and her brother, by whom she was rescued. Thus it is by being born
again that the soul will be saved. And this is due not to rote phrases
or to professional skills or to book learning. Rather it is the grace
of the [...], it is the gift of the [...]. For such is this heavenly
thing. Therefore the savior cries out (Jn 6:44), "No one can come to me
unless my Father draws him and brings him to me; and I myself will
raise him up on the last day."
It is therefore fitting to pray to the father and to call on him with
all our soul - not externally with the lips, but with the spirit, which
is inward, which came forth from the depth - sighing; repenting for the
life we lived; confessing our sins; perceiving the empty deception we
were in, and the empty zeal; weeping over how we were in darkness and
in the wave; mourning for ourselves, that he might have pity on us;
hating ourselves for how we are now.
Again the savior said (cf Mt 5:4, Lk 6:12): "Blessed are those who
mourn, for it is they who will be pitied; blessed, those who are
hungry, for it is they who will be filled."
Again he said (cf. Lk 14:26), "If one does not hate his soul he cannot
follow me." For the beginning of salvation is repentance. Therefore
(cf. Acts 13:24), "Before Christ`s appearance came John, preaching the
baptism of repentance."
And repentance takes place in distress and grief. But the father is
good and loves humanity, and he hears the soul that calls upon him and
sends it the light of salvation. Therefore he said through the spirit
to the prophet (cf. 1 Cl 8:3), "Say to the children of my people, 'If
your sins extend from earth to heaven, and if they become red like
scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, and if you return to me with all
your soul and say to me 'my Father!', I will heed you as a holy
people.'"
Again another place (Is 30:15), "Thus says the lord, the holy one of
Israel: "If you return and sigh, then you will be saved and will know
where you were when you trusted in what is empty."
Again he said in another place (Is 30:19-20), "Jerusalem wept much,
saying, 'Have pity on me.' He will have pity on the sound of your
weeping. And when he saw, he heeded you. And the lord will give you
bread of affliction and water of oppression. From now on, those who
deceive will not approach you again. Your eyes will see those who are
deceiving you."
Therefore it is fitting to pray to God night and day, spreading out our
hands towards him as do people sailing in the middle of the sea: they
pray to God with all their heart without hypocrisy. For those who pray
hypocritically deceive only themselves. Indeed, it is in order that he
might know who is worthy of salvation that God examines the inward
parts and searches the bottom of the heart. For no one is worthy of
salvation who still loves the place of deception.
Therefore it is written in the poet (Homer, Odyssey 1.48-1.59),
"Odysseus sat on the island weeping and grieving and turning his face
from the words of Calypso and from her tricks, longing to see his
village and smoke coming forth from it. And had he not received help
from heaven, he would not have been able to return to his village."
Again Helen <...> saying (Odyssey 4.260-261), "My heart turned itself
from me. It is to my house that I want to return."
For she sighed, saying (Odyssey 4.261-4.264), "It is Aphrodite who
deceived me and brought me out of my village. My only daughter I left
behind me, and my good, understanding, handsome husband."
For when the soul leaves her perfect husband because of the treachery
of Aphrodite, who exists here in the act of begetting, then she will
suffer harm. But if she sighs and repents, she will be restored to her
house.
Certainly Israel would not have been visited in the first place, to be
brought out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, if it
had not sighed to God and wept for the oppression of its labors.
Again it is written in the Psalms (6:6-9), "I was greatly troubled in
my groaning. I will bathe my bed and my cover each night with my tears.
I have become old in the midst of all my enemies. Depart from me, all
you who work at lawlessness, for behold the lord has heard the cry of
my weeping and the lord has heard my prayer."
If we repent, truly God will heed us, he who is long suffering and
abundantly merciful, to whom is the glory for ever and ever. Amen!
The Expository Treatise on the Soul
The Gospel of Philip
A Hebrew makes another Hebrew, and such a person is called "proselyte".
But a proselyte does not make another proselyte. [...] just as they
[...] and make others like themselves, while others simply exist.
The slave seeks only to be free, but he does not hope to acquire the
estate of his master. But the son is not only a son but lays claim to
the inheritance of the father. Those who are heirs to the dead are
themselves dead, and they inherit the dead. Those who are heirs to what
is living are alive, and they are heirs to both what is living and the
dead. The dead are heirs to nothing. For how can he who is dead
inherit? If he who is dead inherits what is living he will not die, but
he who is dead will live even more.
A Gentile does not die, for he has never lived in order that he may
die. He who has believed in the truth has found life, and this one is
in danger of dying, for he is alive. Since Christ came, the world has
been created, the cities adorned, the dead carried out. When we were
Hebrews, we were orphans and had only our mother, but when we became
Christians, we had both father and mother.
Those who sow in winter reap in summer. The winter is the world, the
summer the other Aeon (eternal realm). Let us sow in the world that we
may reap in the summer. Because of this, it is fitting for us not to
pray in the winter. Summer follows winter. But if any man reap in
winter he will not actually reap but only pluck out, since it will not
provide a harvest for such a person. It is not only [...] that it will
[...] come forth, but also on the Sabbath [...] is barren.
Christ came to ransom some, to save others, to redeem others. He
ransomed those who were strangers and made them his own. And he set his
own apart, those whom he gave as a pledge according to his plan. It was
not only when he appeared that he voluntarily laid down his life, but
he voluntarily laid down his life from the very day the world came into
being. Then he came first in order to take it, since it had been given
as a pledge. It fell into the hands of robbers and was taken captive,
but he saved it. He redeemed the good people in the world as well as
the evil.
Light and Darkness, life and death, right and left, are brothers of one
another. They are inseparable. Because of this neither are the good
good, nor evil evil, nor is life life, nor death death. For this reason
each one will dissolve into its earliest origin. But those who are
exalted above the world are indissoluble, eternal.
Names given to the worldly are very deceptive, for they divert our
thoughts from what is correct to what is incorrect. Thus one who hears
the word "God" does not perceive what is correct, but perceives what is
incorrect. So also with "the Father" and "the Son" and "the Holy
Spirit" and "life" and "light" and "resurrection" and "the Church
(Ekklesia)" and all the rest - people do not perceive what is correct
but they perceive what is incorrect, unless they have come to know what
is correct. The names which are heard are in the world [...] deceive.
If they were in the Aeon (eternal realm), they would at no time be used
as names in the world. Nor were they set among worldly things. They
have an end in the Aeon.
One single name is not uttered in the world, the name which the Father
gave to the Son; it is the name above all things: the name of the
Father. For the Son would not become Father unless he wore the name of
the Father. Those who have this name know it, but they do not speak it.
But those who do not have it do not know it.
But truth brought names into existence in the world for our sakes,
because it is not possible to learn it (truth) without these names.
Truth is one single thing; it is many things and for our sakes to teach
about this one thing in love through many things. The rulers (archons)
wanted to deceive man, since they saw that he had a kinship with those
that are truly good. They took the name of those that are good and gave
it to those that are not good, so that through the names they might
deceive him and bind them to those that are not good. And afterward,
what a favor they do for them! They make them be removed from those
that are not good and place them among those that are good. These
things they knew, for they wanted to take the free man and make him a
slave to them forever.
These are powers which [...] man, not wishing him to be saved, in order
that they may [...]. For if man is saved, there will not be any
sacrifices [...] and animals will not be offered to the powers. Indeed,
the animals were the ones to whom they sacrificed. They were indeed
offering them up alive, but when they offered them up, they died. As
for man, they offered him up to God dead, and he lived.
Before Christ came, there was no bread in the world, just as Paradise,
the place were Adam was, had many trees to nourish the animals but no
wheat to sustain man. Man used to feed like the animals, but when
Christ came, the perfect man, he brought bread from heaven in order
that man might be nourished with the food of man. The rulers thought
that it was by their own power and will that they were doing what they
did, but the Holy Spirit in secret was accomplishing everything through
them as it wished. Truth, which existed since the beginning, is sown
everywhere. And many see it being sown, but few are they who see it
being reaped.
Some said, "Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit." They are in error. They
do not know what they are saying. When did a woman ever conceive by a
woman? Mary is the virgin whom no power defiled. She is a great
anathema to the Hebrews, who are the apostles and the apostolic men.
This virgin whom no power defiled [...] the powers defile themselves.
And the Lord would not have said "My Father who is in Heaven" (Mt
16:17), unless he had had another father, but he would have said simply
"My father".
The Lord said to the disciples, "[...] from every house. Bring into the
house of the Father. But do not take (anything) in the house of the
Father nor carry it off."
"Jesus" is a hidden name, "Christ" is a revealed name. For this reason
"Jesus" is not particular to any language; rather he is always called
by the name "Jesus". While as for "Christ", in Syriac it is "Messiah",
in Greek it is "Christ". Certainly all the others have it according to
their own language. "The Nazarene" is he who reveals what is hidden.
Christ has everything in himself, whether man, or angel, or mystery,
and the Father.
Those who say that the Lord died first and (then) rose up are in error,
for he rose up first and (then) died. If one does not first attain the
resurrection, he will not die. As God lives, he would [...].
No one will hide a large valuable object in something large, but many a
time one has tossed countless thousands into a thing worth a penny.
Compare the soul. It is a precious thing and it came to be in a
contemptible body.
Some are afraid lest they rise naked. Because of this they wish to rise
in the flesh, and they do not know that it is those who wear the flesh
who are naked. It is those who [...] to unclothe themselves who are not
naked. "Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Co
15:50). What is this which will not inherit? This which is on us. But
what is this, too, which will inherit? It is that which belongs to
Jesus and his blood. Because of this he said "He who shall not eat my
flesh and drink my blood has not life in him" (Jn 6:53). What is it?
His flesh is the word, and his blood is the Holy Spirit. He who has
received these has food and he has drink and clothing. I find fault
with the others who say that it will not rise. Then both of them are at
fault. You say that the flesh will not rise. But tell me what will
rise, that we may honor you. You say the Spirit in the flesh, and it is
also this light in the flesh. (But) this too is a matter which is in
the flesh, for whatever you shall say, you say nothing outside the
flesh. It is necessary to rise in this flesh, since everything exists
in it. In this world, those who put on garments are better than the
garments. In the Kingdom of Heaven, the garments are better than those
that put them on.
It is through water and fire that the whole place is purified - the
visible by the visible, the hidden by the hidden. There are some things
hidden through those visible. There is water in water, there is fire in
chrism.
Jesus took them all by stealth, for he did not appear as he was, but in
the manner in which they would be able to see him. He appeared to them
all. He appeared to the great as great. He appeared to the small as
small. He appeared to the angels as an angel, and to men as a man.
Because of this, his word hid itself from everyone. Some indeed saw
him, thinking that they were seeing themselves, but when he appeared to
his disciples in glory on the mount, he was not small. He became great,
but he made the disciples great, that they might be able to see him in
his greatness.
He said on that day in the thanksgiving, "You who have joined the
perfect light with the Holy Spirit, unite the angels with us also, as
being the images." Do not despise the lamb, for without it, it is not
possible to see the king. No one will be able to go in to the king if
he is naked.
The heavenly man has many more sons than the earthly man. If the sons
of Adam are many, although they die, how much more the sons of the
perfect man, they who do not die but are always begotten. The father
makes a son, and the son has not the power to make a son. For he who
has been begotten has not the power to beget, but the son gets brothers
for himself, not sons. All who are begotten in the world are begotten
in a natural way, and the others are nourished from the place whence
they have been born. It is from being promised to the heavenly place
that man receives nourishment. [...] him from the mouth. And had the
word gone out from that place, it would be nourished from the mouth and
it would become perfect. For it is by a kiss that the perfect conceive
and give birth. For this reason we also kiss one another. We receive
conception from the grace which is in one another.
There were three who always walked with the Lord: Mary, his mother, and
her sister, and Magdalene, the one who was called his companion. His
sister and his mother and his companion were each a Mary.
"The Father" and "the Son" are single names; "the Holy Spirit" is a
double name. For they are everywhere: they are above, they are below;
they are in the concealed, they are in the revealed. The Holy Spirit is
in the revealed: it is below. It is in the concealed: it is above.
The saints are served by evil powers, for they are blinded by the Holy
Spirit into thinking that they are serving an (ordinary) man whenever
they do so for the saints. Because of this, a disciple asked the Lord
one day for something of this world. He said to him, "Ask your mother,
and she will give you of the things which are another's."
The apostles said to the disciples, "May our entire offering obtain
salt." They called Sophia "salt". Without it, no offering is
acceptable. But Sophia is barren, without child. For this reason, she
is called "a trace of salt". Wherever they will [...] in their own way,
the Holy Spirit [...], and her children are many.
What the father possesses belongs to the son, and the son himself, so
long as he is small, is not entrusted with what is his. But when he
becomes a man, his father gives him all that he possesses.
Those who have gone astray, whom the spirit begets, usually go astray
also because of the Spirit. Thus, by one and the same breath, the fire
blazes and is put out.
Echamoth is one thing and Echmoth, another. Echamoth is Wisdom simply,
but Echmoth is the Wisdom of death, which is the one who knows death,
which is called "the little Wisdom".
There are domestic animals, like the bull and the ass and others of
this kind. Others are wild and live apart in the deserts. Man ploughs
the field by means of the domestic animals, and from this he is
nourished, he and the animals, whether tame or wild. Compare the
perfect man. It is through powers which are submissive that he ploughs,
preparing for everything to come into being. For it is because of this
that the whole place stands, whether the good or the evil, the right
and the left. The Holy Spirit shepherds everyone and rules all the
powers, the "tame" ones and the "wild" ones, as well as those which are
unique. For indeed he [...] shuts them in, in order that [...] wish,
they will not be able to escape.
He who has been created is beautiful, but you would find his sons
noble creations. If he were not created, but begotten, you would find
that his seed was noble. But now he was created (and) he begot. What
nobility is this? First, adultery came into being, afterward murder.
And he was begotten in adultery, for he was the child of the Serpent.
So he became a murderer, just like his father, and he killed his
brother. Indeed, every act of sexual intercourse which has occurred
between those unlike one another is adultery.
God is a dyer. As the good dyes, which are called "true", dissolve with
the things dyed in them, so it is with those whom God has dyed. Since
his dyes are immortal, they become immortal by means of his colors. Now
God dips what he dips in water.
It is not possible for anyone to see anything of the things that
actually exist unless he becomes like them. This is not the way with
man in the world: he sees the sun without being a sun; and he sees the
heaven and the earth and all other things, but he is not these things.
This is quite in keeping with the truth. But you saw something of that
place, and you became those things. You saw the Spirit, you became
spirit. You saw Christ, you became Christ. You saw the Father, you
shall become Father. So in this place you see everything and do not see
yourself, but in that place you do see yourself - and what you see you
shall become.
Faith receives, love gives. No one will be able to receive without
faith. No one will be able to give without love. Because of this, in
order that we may indeed receive, we believe, and in order that we may
love, we give, since if one gives without love, he has no profit from
what he has given. He who has received something other than the Lord is
still a Hebrew.
The apostles who were before us had these names for him: "Jesus, the
Nazorean, Messiah", that is, "Jesus, the Nazorean, the Christ". The
last name is "Christ", the first is "Jesus", that in the middle is "the
Nazarene". "Messiah" has two meanings, both "the Christ" and "the
measured". "Jesus" in Hebrew is "the redemption". "Nazara" is "the
Truth". "The Nazarene" then, is "the Truth". "Christ" [...] has been
measured. "The Nazarene" and "Jesus" are they who have been measured.
When the pearl is cast down into the mud, it becomes greatly despised,
nor if it is anointed with balsam oil will it become more precious. But
it always has value in the eyes of its owner. Compare the Sons of God:
wherever they may be, they still have value in the eyes of their
Father.
If you say, "I am a Jew," no one will be moved. If you say, "I am a
Roman," no one will be disturbed. If you say, "I am a Greek, a
barbarian, a slave, a free man," no one will be troubled. If you say,
"I am a Christian," the [...] will tremble. Would that I might [...]
like that - the person whose name [...] will not be able to endure
hearing.
God is a man-eater. For this reason, men are sacrificed to him. Before
men were sacrificed, animals were being sacrificed, since those to whom
they were sacrificed were not gods.
Glass decanters and earthenware jugs are both made by means of fire.
But if glass decanters break, they are done over, for they came into
being through a breath. If earthenware jugs break, however, they are
destroyed, for they came into being without breath.
An ass which turns a millstone did a hundred miles walking. When it was
loosed, it found that it was still at the same place. There are men who
make many journeys, but make no progress towards any destination. When
evening came upon them, they saw neither city nor village, neither
human artifact nor natural phenomenon, power nor angel. In vain have
the wretches labored.
The eucharist is Jesus. For he is called in Syriac "Pharisatha," which
is "the one who is spread out," for Jesus came to crucify the world.
The Lord went into the dye works of Levi. He took seventy-two different
colors and threw them into the vat. He took them out all white. And he
said, "Even so has the Son of Man come as a dyer."
As for the Wisdom who is called "the barren," she is the mother of the
angels. And the companion of the [...] Mary Magdalene. [...] loved her
more than all the disciples, and used to kiss her often on her mouth.
The rest of the disciples [...]. They said to him "Why do you love her
more than all of us?" The Savior answered and said to them,"Why do I
not love you like her? When a blind man and one who sees are both
together in darkness, they are no different from one another. When the
light comes, then he who sees will see the light, and he who is blind
will remain in darkness."
The Lord said, "Blessed is he who is before he came into being. For he
who is, has been and shall be."
The superiority of man is not obvious to the eye, but lies in what is
hidden from view. Consequently, he has mastery over the animals which
are stronger than he is and great in terms of the obvious and the
hidden. This enables them to survive. But if man is separated from
them, they slay one another and bite one another. They ate one another
because they did not find any food. But now they have found food
because man tilled the soil.
If one goes down into the water and comes up without having received
anything, and says "I am a Christian," he has borrowed the name at
interest. But if he receives the Holy Spirit, he has the name as a
gift. He who has received a gift does not have to give it back, but of
him who has borrowed it at interest, payment is demanded. This is the
way it happens to one when he experiences a mystery.
Great is the mystery of marriage! For without it, the world would not
exist. Now the existence of the world [...], and the existence of [...]
marriage. Think of the [...] relationship, for it possesses [...]
power. Its image consists of a defilement.
The forms of evil spirit include male ones and female ones. The males
are they which unite with the souls which inhabit a female form, but
the females are they which are mingled with those in a male form,
though one who was disobedient. And none shall be able to escape them,
since they detain him if he does not receive a male power or a female
power, the bridegroom and the bride. One receives them from the
mirrored bridal chamber. When the wanton women see a male sitting
alone, they leap down on him and play with him and defile him. So also
the lecherous men, when they see a beautiful woman sitting alone, they
persuade her and compel her, wishing to defile her. But if they see the
man and his wife sitting beside one another, the female cannot come
into the man, nor can the male come into the woman. So if the image and
the angel are united with one another, neither can any venture to go
into the man or the woman.
He who comes out of the world, and so can no longer be detained on the
grounds that he was in the world, evidently is above the desire of the
[...] and fear. He is master over [...]. He is superior to envy. If
[...] comes, they seize him and throttle him. And how will this one be
able to escape the great [...] powers? How will he be able to [...]?
There are some who say, "We are faithful" in order that [...] the
unclean spirits and the demons. For if they had the Holy Spirit, no
unclean spirit would cleave to them. Fear not the flesh nor love it. If
you fear it, it will gain mastery over you. If you love it, it will
swallow and paralyze you.
And so he dwells either in this world or in the resurrection or in the
middle place. God forbid that I be found in there! In this world, there
is good and evil. Its good things are not good, and its evil things not
evil. But there is evil after this world which is truly evil - what is
called "the middle". It is death. While we are in this world, it is
fitting for us to acquire the resurrection, so that when we strip off
the flesh, we may be found in rest and not walk in the middle. For many
go astray on the way. For it is good to come forth from the world
before one has sinned.
There are some who neither will nor have the power to; and others who,
if they will, do not profit; for they did not act since [...] makes
them sinners. And if they do not will, justice will elude them in both
cases: and it is always a matter of the will, not the act.
An apostolic man in a vision saw some people shut up in a house of fire
and bound with fiery [...], lying [...] flaming [...], them in [...]
faith [...]. And he said to them, "[...] able to be saved?" [...],
"They did not desire it. They received [...] punishment, what is called
'the [...] darkness', because he [...]."
It is from water and fire that the soul and the spirit came into being.
It is from water and fire and light that the son of the bridal chamber
(came into being). The fire is the chrism, the light is the fire. I am
not referring to that fire which has no form, but to the other fire
whose form is white, which is bright and beautiful, and which gives
beauty.
Truth did not come into the world naked, but it came in types and
images. The world will not receive truth in any other way. There is a
rebirth and an image of rebirth. It is certainly necessary to be born
again through the image. Which one? Resurrection. The image must rise
again through the image. The bridal chamber and the image must enter
through the image into the truth: this is the restoration. Not only
must those who produce the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, do so, but have produced them for you. If one does not acquire
them, the name ("Christian") will also be taken from him. But one
receives the unction of the [...] of the power of the cross. This power
the apostles called "the right and the left." For this person is no
longer a Christian but a Christ.
The Lord did everything in a mystery, a baptism and a chrism and a
eucharist and a redemption and a bridal chamber. [...] he said, "I came
to make the things below like the things above, and the things outside
like those inside. I came to unite them in the place." [...] here
through types [...]and images.
Those who say, "There is a heavenly man and there is one above him" are
wrong. For it is the first of these two heavenly men, the one who is
revealed, that they call "the one who is below"; and he to whom the
hidden belongs is that one who is above him. For it would be better for
them to say, "The inner and outer, and what is outside the outer".
Because of this, the Lord called destruction the "the outer darkness":
there is not another outside of it. He said, "My Father who is in
secret". He said, "Go into your chamber and shut the door behind you,
and pray to your Father who is in secret" (Mt 6:6), the one who is
within them all. But that which is within them all is the fullness.
Beyond it, there is nothing else within it. This is that of which they
say, "That which is above them".
Before Christ, some came from a place they were no longer able to
enter, and they went where they were no longer able to come out. Then
Christ came. Those who went in, he brought out, and those who went out,
he brought in.
When Eve was still with Adam, death did not exist. When she was
separated from him, death came into being. If he enters again and
attains his former self, death will be no more.
"My God, my God, why, O Lord, have you forsaken me?" (Mk 15:34). It was
on the cross that he said these words, for he had departed from that
place.
[...] who has been begotten through him who [...] from God.
The [...] from the dead. [...] to be, but now [...] perfect. [...]
flesh, but this [...] is true flesh. [...] is not true, but [...] only
possess an image of the true.
A bridal chamber is not for the animals, nor is it for the slaves, nor
for defiled women; but it is for free men and virgins.
Through the Holy Spirit we are indeed begotten again, but we are
begotten through Christ in the two. We are anointed through the Spirit.
When we were begotten, we were united. None can see himself either in
water or in a mirror without light. Nor again can you see in light
without mirror or water. For this reason, it is fitting to baptize in
the two, in the light and the water. Now the light is the chrism.
There were three buildings specifically for sacrifice in Jerusalem. The
one facing the west was called "The Holy". Another, facing south, was
called "The Holy of the Holy". The third, facing east, was called "The
Holy of the Holies", the place where only the high priest enters.
Baptism is "the Holy" building. Redemption is the "Holy of the Holy".
"The Holy of the Holies" is the bridal chamber. Baptism includes the
resurrection and the redemption; the redemption (takes place) in the
bridal chamber. But the bridal chamber is in that which is superior to
[...] you will not find [...] are those who pray [...] Jerusalem who
[...] Jerusalem, [...] those called the "Holy of the Holies" [...] the
veil was rent, [...] bridal chamber except the image [...] above.
Because of this, its veil was rent from top to bottom. For it was
fitting for some from below to go upward.
The powers do not see those who are clothed in the perfect light, and
consequently are not able to detain them. One will clothe himself in
this light sacramentally in the union.
If the woman had not separated from the man, she should not die with
the man. His separation became the beginning of death. Because of this,
Christ came to repair the separation, which was from the beginning, and
again unite the two, and to give life to those who died as a result of
the separation, and unite them. But the woman is united to her husband
in the bridal chamber. Indeed, those who have united in the bridal
chamber will no longer be separated. Thus Eve separated from Adam
because it was not in the bridal chamber that she united with him.
The soul of Adam came into being by means of a breath. The partner of
his soul is the spirit. His mother is the thing that was given to him.
His soul was taken from him and replaced by a spirit. When he was
united (to the spirit), he spoke words incomprehensible to the powers.
They envied him [...] spiritual partner [...] hidden [...] opportunity
[...] for themselves alone [...] bridal chamber, so that [...].
Jesus appeared [...] Jordan - the fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven. He
who was begotten before everything, was begotten anew. He who was once
anointed, was anointed anew. He who was redeemed, in turn redeemed
(others).
Indeed, one must utter a mystery. The Father of everything united with
the virgin who came down, and a fire shone for him on that day. He
appeared in the great bridal chamber. Therefore his body came into
being on that very day. It left the bridal chamber as one who came into
being from the bridegroom and the bride. So Jesus established
everything in it through these. It is fitting for each of the disciples
to enter into his rest.
Adam came into being from two virgins, from the Spirit and from the
virgin earth. Christ therefore, was born from a virgin to rectify the
Fall which occurred in the beginning.
There are two trees growing in Paradise. The one bears animals, the
other bears men. Adam ate from the tree which bore animals. He became
an animal and he brought forth animals. For this reason the children of
Adam worship animals. The tree [...] fruit is [...] increased. [...]
ate the [...] fruit of the [...] bears men, [...] man. [...] God
created man. [...] men create God. That is the way it is in the world -
men make gods and worship their creation. It would be fitting for the
gods to worship men!
Surely what a man accomplishes depends on his abilities. For this
reason, we refer to one`s accomplishments as "abilities". Among his
accomplishments are his children. They originate in a moment of ease.
Thus his abilities determine what he may accomplish, but this ease is
clearly evident in the children. You will find that this applies
directly to the image. Here is the man made after the image
accomplishing things with his physical strength, but producing his
children with ease.
In this world, the slaves serve the free. In the Kingdom of Heaven, the
free will minister to the slaves: the children of the bridal chamber
will minister to the children of the marriage. The children of the
bridal chamber have just one name: rest. Altogether, they need take no
other form, because they have contemplation, [...]. They are numerous
[...] in the things [...] the glories [...].
Those [...] go down into the water. [...] out (of the water), will
consecrate it, [...] they who have [...] in his name. For he said,
"Thus we should fulfill all righteousness." (Mt 3:15)
Those who say they will die first and then rise are in error. If they
do not first receive the resurrection while they live, when they die
they will receive nothing. So also when speaking about baptism they
say, "Baptism is a great thing," because if people receive it they will
live.
Philip the apostle said, "Joseph the carpenter planted a garden because
he needed wood for his trade. It was he who made the cross from the
trees which he planted. His own offspring hung on that which he
planted. His offspring was Jesus, and the planting was the cross." But
the Tree of Life is in the middle of the Garden. However, it is from
the olive tree that we got the chrism, and from the chrism, the
resurrection.
This world is a corpse-eater. All the things eaten in it themselves die
also. Truth is a life-eater. Therefore no one nourished by truth will
die. It was from that place that Jesus came and brought food. To those
who so desired, he gave life, that they might not die.
God [...] garden. Man [...] garden. There are [...] and [...] of God.
[...] The things which are in [...] I wish. This garden is the place
where they will say to me, "[...] eat this or do not eat that, just as
you wish." In the place where I will eat all things is the Tree of
Knowledge. That one killed Adam, but here the Tree of Knowledge made
men alive. The law was the tree. It has power to give the knowledge of
good and evil. It neither removed him from evil, nor did it set him in
the good, but it created death for those who ate of it. For when he
said, "Eat this, do not eat that", it became the beginning of death.
The chrism is superior to baptism, for it is from the word "Chrism"
that we have been called "Christians," certainly not because of the
word "baptism". And it is because of the chrism that "the Christ" has
his name. For the Father anointed the Son, and the Son anointed the
apostles, and the apostles anointed us. He who has been anointed
possesses everything. He possesses the resurrection, the light, the
cross, the Holy Spirit. The Father gave him this in the bridal chamber;
he merely accepted (the gift). The Father was in the Son and the Son in
the Father. This is the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Lord said it well: "Some have entered the Kingdom of Heaven
laughing, and they have come out [...] because [...] a Christian,
[...]. And as soon as [...] went down into the water, he came [...]
everything (of this world), [...] because he [...] a trifle, but [...]
full of contempt for this [...] the Kingdom of Heaven [...] If he
despises [...], and scorns it as a trifle, [...] out laughing. So it is
also with the bread and the cup and the oil, even though there is
another one superior to these.
The world came about through a mistake. For he who created it wanted to
create it imperishable and immortal. He fell short of attaining his
desire. For the world never was imperishable, nor, for that matter, was
he who made the world. For things are not imperishable, but sons are.
Nothing will be able to receive imperishability if it does not first
become a son. But he who has not the ability to receive, how much more
will he be unable to give?
The cup of prayer contains wine and water, since it is appointed as the
type of the blood for which thanks is given. And it is full of the Holy
Spirit, and it belongs to the wholly perfect man. When we drink this,
we shall receive for ourselves the perfect man. The living water is a
body. It is necessary that we put on the living man. Therefore, when he
is about to go down into the water, he unclothes himself, in order that
he may put on the living man.
A horse sires a horse, a man begets man, a god brings forth a god.
Compare the bridegroom and the bride. They have come from the [...]. No
Jew [...] has existed. And [...] from the Jews. [...] Christians [...]
these [...] are referred to as "The chosen people of [...]," and "The
true man" and "Son of Man" and "the seed of the Son of Man". This true
race is renowned in the world [...] that the sons of the bridal chamber
dwell.
Whereas in this world the union is one of husband with wife - a case of
strength complemented by weakness(?) - in the Aeon (eternal realm), the
form of the union is different, although we refer to them by the same
names. There are other names, however; they are superior to every other
name that is named and are stronger than the strong. For where there is
a show of strength, there those who excel in strength appear. These are
not separate things, but both of them are this one single thing. This
is the one which will not be able to rise above the heart of flesh.
Is it not necessary for all those who possess everything to know
themselves? Some indeed, if they do not know themselves, will not enjoy
what they possess. But those who have come to know themselves will
enjoy their possessions.
Not only will they be unable to detain the perfect man, but they will
not be able to see him, for if they see him, they will detain him.
There is no other way for a person to acquire this quality except by
putting on the perfect light and he too becoming perfect light. He who
has put it on will enter [...]. This is the perfect [...] that we [...]
become [...] before we leave [...]. Whoever receives everything [...]
hither [...] be able [...] that place, but will [...] the Middle as
imperfect. Only Jesus knows the end of this person.
The priest is completely holy, down to his very body. For if he has
taken the bread, he will consecrate it. Or the cup or anything else
that he gets, he will consecrate. Then how will he not consecrate the
body also?
By perfecting the water of baptism, Jesus emptied it of death. Thus we
do go down into the water, but we do not go down into death, in order
that we may not be poured out into the spirit of the world. When that
spirit blows, it brings the winter. When the Holy Spirit breathes, the
summer comes.
He who has knowledge of the truth is a free man, but the free man does
not sin, for "He who sins is the slave of sin" (Jn 8:34). Truth is the
mother, knowledge the father. Those who think that sinning does not
apply to them are called "free" by the world. Knowledge of the truth
merely makes such people arrogant, which is what the words, "it makes
them free" mean. It even gives them a sense of superiority over the
whole world. But "Love builds up" (1 Co 8:1). In fact, he who is really
free, through knowledge, is a slave, because of love for those who have
not yet been able to attain to the freedom of knowledge. Knowledge
makes them capable of becoming free. Love never calls something its
own, [...] it [...] possess [...]. It never says,"This is yours" or
"This is mine," but "All these are yours". Spiritual love is wine and
fragrance. All those who anoint themselves with it take pleasure in it.
While those who are anointed are present, those nearby also profit
(from the fragrance). If those anointed with ointment withdraw from
them and leave, then those not anointed, who merely stand nearby, still
remain in their bad odor. The Samaritan gave nothing but wine and oil
to the wounded man. It is nothing other than the ointment. It healed
the wounds, for "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 P 4:8).
The children a woman bears resemble the man who loves her. If her
husband loves her, then they resemble her husband. If it is an
adulterer, then they resemble the adulterer. Frequently, if a woman
sleeps with her husband out of necessity, while her heart is with the
adulterer with whim she usually has intercourse, the child she will
bear is born resembling the adulterer. Now you who live together with
the Son of God, love not the world, but love the Lord, in order that
those you will bring forth may not resemble the world, but may resemble
the Lord.
The human being has intercourse with the human being. The horse has
intercourse with the horse, the ass with the ass. Members of a race
usually have associated with those of like race. So spirit mingles with
spirit, and thought consorts with thought, and light shares with light.
If you are born a human being, it is the human being who will love you.
If you become a spirit, it is the spirit which will be joined to you.
If you become thought, it is thought which will mingle with you. If you
become light, it is the light which will share with you. If you become
one of those who belong above, it is those who belong above who will
rest upon you. If you become horse or ass or bull or dog or sheep, or
another of the animals which are outside or below, then neither human
being nor spirit nor thought nor light will be able to love you.
Neither those who belong above nor those who belong within will be able
to rest in you, and you have no part in them.
He who is a slave against his will, will be able to become free. He who
has become free by favor of his master, and has sold himself into
slavery, will no longer be able to be free.
Farming in the world requires the cooperation of four essential
elements. A harvest is gathered into the barn only as a result of the
natural action of water, earth, wind and light. God's farming likewise
has four elements - faith, hope, love, and knowledge. Faith is our
earth, that in which we take root. And hope is the water through which
we are nourished. Love is the wind through which we grow. Knowledge,
then, is the light through which we ripen. Grace exists in four ways:
it is earthborn; it is heavenly; [...] the highest heaven; [...] in
[...].
Blessed is the one who on no occasion caused a soul [...]. That person
is Jesus Christ. He came to the whole place and did not burden anyone.
Therefore, blessed is the one who is like this, because he is a perfect
man. For the Word tells us that this kind is difficult to define. How
shall we be able to accomplish such a great thing? How will he give
everyone comfort? Above all, it is not proper to cause anyone distress
- whether the person is great or small, unbeliever or believer - and
then give comfort only to those who take satisfaction in good deeds.
Some find it advantageous to give comfort to the one who has fared
well. He who does good deeds cannot give comfort to such people, for he
does not seize whatever he likes. He is unable to cause distress,
however, since he does not afflict them. To be sure, the one who fares
well sometimes causes people distress - not that he intends to do so;
rather, it is their own wickedness which is responsible for their
distress. He who possesses the qualities (of the perfect man) bestows
joy upon the good. Some, however, are terribly distressed by all this.
There was a householder who had every conceivable thing, be it son or
slave or cattle or dog or pig or corn or barley or chaff or grass or
[...] or meat and acorn. Now he was a sensible fellow, and he knew what
the food of each one was. He served the children bread [...]. He served
the slaves [...] and meal. And he threw barley and chaff and grass to
the cattle. He threw bones to the dogs, and to the pigs he threw acorns
and slop. Compare the disciple of God: if he is a sensible fellow, he
understands what discipleship is all about. The bodily forms will not
deceive him, but he will look at the condition of the soul of each one
and speak with him. There are many animals in the world which are in a
human form. When he identifies them, to the swine he will throw acorns,
to the cattle he will throw barley and chaff and grass, to the dogs he
will throw bones. To the slaves he will give only the elementary
lessons, to the children he will give the complete instruction.
There is the Son of Man and there is the son of the Son of Man. The
Lord is the Son of Man, and the son of the Son of Man is he who creates
through the Son of Man. The Son of Man received from God the capacity
to create. He also has the ability to beget. He who has received the
ability to create is a creature. He who has received the ability to
beget is an offspring. He who creates cannot beget. He who begets also
has power to create. Now they say, "He who creates begets". But his
so-called "offspring" is merely a creature. Because of [...] of birth,
they are not his offspring but [...]. He who creates works openly, and
he himself is visible. He who begets, begets in private, and he himself
is hidden, since [...] image. Also, he who creates, creates openly. But
one who begets, begets children in private.
No one can know when the husband and the wife have intercourse with one
another, except the two of them. Indeed, marriage in the world is a
mystery for those who have taken a wife. If there is a hidden quality
to the marriage of defilement, how much more is the undefiled marriage
a true mystery! It is not fleshly, but pure. It belongs not to desire,
but to the will. It belongs not to the darkness or the night, but to
the day and the light. If a marriage is open to the public, it has
become prostitution, and the bride plays the harlot not only when she
is impregnated by another man, but even if she slips out of her bedroom
and is seen. Let her show herself only to her father and her mother,
and to the friend of the bridegroom and the sons of the bridegroom.
These are permitted to enter every day into the bridal chamber. But let
the others yearn just to listen to her voice and to enjoy her ointment,
and let them feed from the crumbs that fall from the table, like the
dogs. Bridegrooms and brides belong to the bridal chamber. No one shall
be able to see the bridegroom with the bride unless he become such a
one.
When Abraham [...] that he was to see what he was to see, he
circumcised the flesh of the foreskin, teaching us that it is proper to
destroy the flesh.
Most things in the world, as long as their inner parts are hidden,
stand upright and live. If they are revealed, they die, as is
illustrated by the visible man: as long as the intestines of the man
are hidden, the man is alive; when his intestines are exposed and come
out of him, the man will die. So also with the tree: while its root is
hidden, it sprouts and grows. If its root is exposed, the tree dries
up. So it is with every birth that is in the world, not only with the
revealed but with the hidden. For so long as the root of wickedness is
hidden, it is strong. But when it is recognized, it is dissolved. When
it is revealed, it perishes. That is why the Word says, "Already the
axe is laid at the root of the trees" (Mt 3:10). It will not merely cut
- what is cut sprouts again - but the ax penetrates deeply, until it
brings up the root. Jesus pulled out the root of the whole place, while
others did it only partially. As for ourselves, let each one of us dig
down after the root of evil which is within one, and let one pluck it
out of one's heart from the root. It will be plucked out if we
recognize it. But if we are ignorant of it, it takes root in us and
produces its fruit in our heart. It masters us. We are its slaves. It
takes us captive, to make us do what we do not want; and what we do
want, we do not do. It is powerful because we have not recognized it.
While it exists it is active. Ignorance is the mother of all evil.
Ignorance will result in death, because those who come from ignorance
neither were nor are nor shall be. [...] will be perfect when all the
truth is revealed. For truth is like ignorance: while it is hidden, it
rests in itself, but when it is revealed and is recognized, it is
praised, inasmuch as it is stronger than ignorance and error. It gives
freedom. The Word said, "If you know the truth, the truth will make you
free" (Jn 8:32). Ignorance is a slave. Knowledge is freedom. If we know
the truth, we shall find the fruits of the truth within us. If we are
joined to it, it will bring our fulfillment.
At the present time, we have the manifest things of creation. We say,
"The strong who are held in high regard are great people. And the weak
who are despised are the obscure." Contrast the manifest things of
truth: they are weak and despised, while the hidden things are strong
and held in high regard. The mysteries of truth are revealed, though in
type and image. The bridal chamber, however, remains hidden. It is the
Holy in the Holy. The veil at first concealed how God controlled the
creation, but when the veil is rent and the things inside are revealed,
this house will be left desolate, or rather will be destroyed. And the
whole (inferior) godhead will flee from here, but not into the holies
of the holies, for it will not be able to mix with the unmixed light
and the flawless fullness, but will be under the wings of the cross and
under its arms. This ark will be their salvation when the flood of
water surges over them. If some belong to the order of the priesthood,
they will be able to go within the veil with the high priest. For this
reason, the veil was not rent at the top only, since it would have been
open only to those above; nor was it rent at the bottom only, since it
would have been revealed only to those below. But it was rent from the
top to bottom. Those above opened to us the things below, in order that
we may go in to the secret of the truth. This truly is what is held in
high regard, (and) what is strong! But we shall go in there by means of
lowly types and forms of weakness. They are lowly indeed when compared
with the perfect glory. There is glory which surpasses glory. There is
power which surpasses power. Therefore, the perfect things have opened
to us, together with the hidden things of truth. The holies of the
holies were revealed, and the bridal chamber invited us in.
As long as it is hidden, wickedness is indeed ineffectual, but it has
not been removed from the midst of the seed of the Holy Spirit. They
are slaves of evil. But when it is revealed, then the perfect light
will flow out on every one. And all those who are in it will receive
the chrism. Then the slaves will be free and the captives ransomed.
"Every plant which my father who is in heaven has not planted will be
plucked out." (Mt 15:13) Those who are separated will unite [...] and
will be filled. Every one who will enter the bridal chamber will kindle
the light, for [...] just as in the marriages which are [...] happen at
night. That fire [...] only at night, and is put out. But the mysteries
of that marriage are perfected rather in the day and the light. Neither
that day nor its light ever sets. If anyone becomes a son of the bridal
chamber, he will receive the light. If anyone does not receive it while
he is here, he will not be able to receive it in the other place. He
who will receive that light will not be seen, nor can he be detained.
And none shall be able to torment a person like this, even while he
dwells in the world. And again when he leaves the world, he has already
received the truth in the images. The world has become the Aeon
(eternal realm), for the Aeon is fullness for him. This is the way it
is: it is revealed to him alone, not hidden in the darkness and the
night, but hidden in a perfect day and a holy light.
The Gospel According to Philip
The Gospel of Thomas
These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos
Judas Thomas recorded.
1. And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings
will not taste death."
2. Jesus said, "Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find.
When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they
will marvel, and will reign over all. [And after they have reigned they
will rest.]"
3. Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's)
kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If
they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you.
Rather, the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you.
When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will
understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do
not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the
poverty."
4. Jesus said, "The person old in days won't hesitate to ask a little
child seven days old about the place of life, and that person will
live.
For many of the first will be last, and will become a single one."
5. Jesus said, "Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden
from you will be disclosed to you.
For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. [And there is
nothing buried that will not be raised.]"
6. His disciples asked him and said to him, "Do you want us to fast?
How should we pray? Should we give to charity? What diet should we
observe?"
Jesus said, "Don't lie, and don't do what you hate, because all things
are disclosed before heaven. After all, there is nothing hidden that
will not be revealed, and there is nothing covered up that will remain
undisclosed."
7. Jesus said, "Lucky is the lion that the human will eat, so that the
lion becomes human. And foul is the human that the lion will eat, and
the lion still will become human."
8. And he said, "The person is like a wise fisherman who cast his net
into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of little fish. Among
them the wise fisherman discovered a fine large fish. He threw all the
little fish back into the sea, and easily chose the large fish. Anyone
here with two good ears had better listen!"
9. Jesus said, "Look, the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds),
and scattered (them). Some fell on the road, and the birds came and
gathered them. Others fell on rock, and they didn't take root in the
soil and didn't produce heads of grain. Others fell on thorns, and they
choked the seeds and worms ate them. And others fell on good soil, and
it produced a good crop: it yielded sixty per measure and one hundred
twenty per measure."
10. Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world, and look, I'm
guarding it until it blazes."
11. Jesus said, "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will
pass away.
The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. During the days
when you ate what is dead, you made it come alive. When you are in the
light, what will you do? On the day when you were one, you became two.
But when you become two, what will you do?"
12. The disciples said to Jesus, "We know that you are going to leave
us. Who will be our leader?"
Jesus said to them, "No matter where you are you are to go to James the
Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being."
13. Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to something and tell me
what I am like."
Simon Peter said to him, "You are like a just messenger."
Matthew said to him, "You are like a wise philosopher."
Thomas said to him, "Teacher, my mouth is utterly unable to say what
you are like."
Jesus said, "I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk, you have
become intoxicated from the bubbling spring that I have tended."
And he took him, and withdrew, and spoke three sayings to him. When
Thomas came back to his friends they asked him, "What did Jesus say to
you?"
Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the sayings he spoke to me,
you will pick up rocks and stone me, and fire will come from the rocks
and devour you."
14. Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will bring sin upon
yourselves, and if you pray, you will be condemned, and if you give to
charity, you will harm your spirits.
When you go into any region and walk about in the countryside, when
people take you in, eat what they serve you and heal the sick among
them.
After all, what goes into your mouth will not defile you; rather, it's
what comes out of your mouth that will defile you."
15. Jesus said, "When you see one who was not born of woman, fall on
your faces and worship. That one is your Father."
16. Jesus said, "Perhaps people think that I have come to cast peace
upon the world. They do not know that I have come to cast conflicts
upon the earth: fire, sword, war.
For there will be five in a house: there'll be three against two and
two against three, father against son and son against father, and they
will stand alone."
17. Jesus said, "I will give you what no eye has seen, what no ear has
heard, what no hand has touched, what has not arisen in the human
heart."
18. The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us, how will our end come?"
Jesus said, "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking
for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is.
Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will
know the end and will not taste death."
19. Jesus said, "Congratulations to the one who came into being before
coming into being.
If you become my disciples and pay attention to my sayings, these
stones will serve you.
For there are five trees in Paradise for you; they do not change,
summer or winter, and their leaves do not fall. Whoever knows them will
not taste death."
20. The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us what Heaven's kingdom is
like."
He said to them, "It's like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds,
but when it falls on prepared soil, it produces a large plant and
becomes a shelter for birds of the sky."
21. Mary said to Jesus, "What are your disciples like?"
He said, "They are like little children living in a field that is not
theirs. When the owners of the field come, they will say, 'Give us back
our field.' They take off their clothes in front of them in order to
give it back to them, and they return their field to them.
For this reason I say, if the owners of a house know that a thief is
coming, they will be on guard before the thief arrives and will not let
the thief break into their house (their domain) and steal their
possessions.
As for you, then, be on guard against the world. Prepare yourselves
with great strength, so the robbers can't find a way to get to you, for
the trouble you expect will come.
Let there be among you a person who understands.
When the crop ripened, he came quickly carrying a sickle and harvested
it. Anyone here with two good ears had better listen!"
22. Jesus saw some babies nursing. He said to his disciples, "These
nursing babies are like those who enter the (Father's) kingdom."
They said to him, "Then shall we enter the (Father's) kingdom as
babies?"
Jesus said to them, "When you make the two into one, and when you make
the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper
like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so
that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make
eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of
a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the
kingdom]."
23. Jesus said, "I shall choose you, one from a thousand and two from
ten thousand, and they will stand as a single one."
24. His disciples said, "Show us the place where you are, for we must
seek it."
He said to them, "Anyone here with two ears had better listen! There is
light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it
does not shine, it is dark."
25. Jesus said, "Love your friends like your own soul, protect them
like the pupil of your eye."
26. Jesus said, "You see the sliver in your friend's eye, but you don't
see the timber in your own eye. When you take the timber out of your
own eye, then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your
friend's eye."
27. "If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the
(Father's) kingdom. If you do not observe the sabbath as a sabbath you
will not see the Father."
28. Jesus said, "I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in
flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find
any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity,
because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came
into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world
empty.
But meanwhile they are drunk. When they shake off their wine, then they
will change their ways."
29. Jesus said, "If the flesh came into being because of spirit, that
is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body, that is
a marvel of marvels.
Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has come to dwell in this
poverty."
30. Jesus said, "Where there are three deities, they are divine. Where
there are two or one, I am with that one."
31. Jesus said, "No prophet is welcome on his home turf; doctors don't
cure those who know them."
32. Jesus said, "A city built on a high hill and fortified cannot fall,
nor can it be hidden."
33. Jesus said, "What you will hear in your ear, in the other ear
proclaim from your rooftops.
After all, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, nor does
one put it in a hidden place. Rather, one puts it on a lampstand so
that all who come and go will see its light."
34. Jesus said, "If a blind person leads a blind person, both of them
will fall into a hole."
35. Jesus said, "One can't enter a strong person's house and take it by
force without tying his hands. Then one can loot his house."
36. Jesus said, "Do not fret, from morning to evening and from evening
to morning, [about your food--what you're going to eat, or about your
clothing--] what you are going to wear. [You're much better than the
lilies, which neither card nor spin.
As for you, when you have no garment, what will you put on? Who might
add to your stature? That very one will give you your garment.]"
37. His disciples said, "When will you appear to us, and when will we
see you?"
Jesus said, "When you strip without being ashamed, and you take your
clothes and put them under your feet like little children and trample
then, then [you] will see the son of the living one and you will not be
afraid."
38. Jesus said, "Often you have desired to hear these sayings that I am
speaking to you, and you have no one else from whom to hear them. There
will be days when you will seek me and you will not find me."
39. Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the scholars have taken the keys of
knowledge and have hidden them. They have not entered nor have they
allowed those who want to enter to do so.
As for you, be as sly as snakes and as simple as doves."
40. Jesus said, "A grapevine has been planted apart from the Father.
Since it is not strong, it will be pulled up by its root and will
perish."
41. Jesus said, "Whoever has something in hand will be given more, and
whoever has nothing will be deprived of even the little they have."
42. Jesus said, "Be passersby."
43. His disciples said to him, "Who are you to say these things to us?"
"You don't understand who I am from what I say to you.
Rather, you have become like the Judeans, for they love the tree but
hate its fruit, or they love the fruit but hate the tree."
44. Jesus said, "Whoever blasphemes against the Father will be
forgiven, and whoever blasphemes against the son will be forgiven, but
whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven, either
on earth or in heaven."
45. Jesus said, "Grapes are not harvested from thorn trees, nor are
figs gathered from thistles, for they yield no fruit.
Good persons produce good from what they've stored up; bad persons
produce evil from the wickedness they've stored up in their hearts, and
say evil things. For from the overflow of the heart they produce evil."
46. Jesus said, "From Adam to John the Baptist, among those born of
women, no one is so much greater than John the Baptist that his eyes
should not be averted.
But I have said that whoever among you becomes a child will recognize
the (Father's) kingdom and will become greater than John."
47. Jesus said, "A person cannot mount two horses or bend two bows.
And a slave cannot serve two masters, otherwise that slave will honor
the one and offend the other.
Nobody drinks aged wine and immediately wants to drink young wine.
Young wine is not poured into old wineskins, or they might break, and
aged wine is not poured into a new wineskin, or it might spoil.
An old patch is not sewn onto a new garment, since it would create a
tear."
48. Jesus said, "If two make peace with each other in a single house,
they will say to the mountain, 'Move from here!' and it will move."
49. Jesus said, "Congratulations to those who are alone and chosen, for
you will find the kingdom. For you have come from it, and you will
return there again."
50. Jesus said, "If they say to you, 'Where have you come from?' say to
them, 'We have come from the light, from the place where the light came
into being by itself, established [itself], and appeared in their
image.'
If they say to you, 'Is it you?' say, 'We are its children, and we are
the chosen of the living Father.'
If they ask you, 'What is the evidence of your Father in you?' say to
them, 'It is motion and rest.'"
51. His disciples said to him, "When will the rest for the dead take
place, and when will the new world come?"
He said to them, "What you are looking forward to has come, but you
don't know it."
52. His disciples said to him, "Twenty-four prophets have spoken in
Israel, and they all spoke of you."
He said to them, "You have disregarded the living one who is in your
presence, and have spoken of the dead."
53. His disciples said to him, "Is circumcision useful or not?"
He said to them, "If it were useful, their father would produce
children already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true
circumcision in spirit has become profitable in every respect."
54. Jesus said, "Congratulations to the poor, for to you belongs
Heaven's kingdom."
55. Jesus said, "Whoever does not hate father and mother cannot be my
disciple, and whoever does not hate brothers and sisters, and carry the
cross as I do, will not be worthy of me."
56. Jesus said, "Whoever has come to know the world has discovered a
carcass, and whoever has discovered a carcass, of that person the world
is not worthy."
57 Jesus said, "The Father's kingdom is like a person who has [good]
seed. His enemy came during the night and sowed weeds among the good
seed. The person did not let the workers pull up the weeds, but said to
them, 'No, otherwise you might go to pull up the weeds and pull up the
wheat along with them.' For on the day of the harvest the weeds will be
conspicuous, and will be pulled up and burned."
58. Jesus said, "Congratulations to the person who has toiled and has
found life."
59. Jesus said, "Look to the living one as long as you live, otherwise
you might die and then try to see the living one, and you will be
unable to see."
60. He saw a Samaritan carrying a lamb and going to Judea. He said to
his disciples, "that person ... around the lamb." They said to him, "So
that he may kill it and eat it." He said to them, "He will not eat it
while it is alive, but only after he has killed it and it has become a
carcass."
They said, "Otherwise he can't do it."
He said to them, "So also with you, seek for yourselves a place for
rest, or you might become a carcass and be eaten."
61. Jesus said, "Two will recline on a couch; one will die, one will
live."
Salome said, "Who are you mister? You have climbed onto my couch and
eaten from my table as if you are from someone."
Jesus said to her, "I am the one who comes from what is whole. I was
granted from the things of my Father."
"I am your disciple."
"For this reason I say, if one is whole, one will be filled with light,
but if one is divided, one will be filled with darkness."
62. Jesus said, "I disclose my mysteries to those [who are worthy] of
[my] mysteries.
63 Jesus said, "There was a rich person who had a great deal of money.
He said, 'I shall invest my money so that I may sow, reap, plant, and
fill my storehouses with produce, that I may lack nothing.' These were
the things he was thinking in his heart, but that very night he died.
Anyone here with two ears had better listen!"
64. Jesus said, "A person was receiving guests. When he had prepared
the dinner, he sent his slave to invite the guests.
The slave went to the first and said to that one, 'My master invites
you.' That one said, 'Some merchants owe me money; they are coming to
me tonight. I have to go and give them instructions. Please excuse me
from dinner.'
The slave went to another and said to that one, 'My master has invited
you.' That one said to the slave, 'I have bought a house, and I have
been called away for a day. I shall have no time.'
The slave went to another and said to that one, 'My master invites
you.' That one said to the slave, 'My friend is to be married, and I am
to arrange the banquet. I shall not be able to come. Please excuse me
from dinner.'
The slave went to another and said to that one, 'My master invites
you.' That one said to the slave, 'I have bought an estate, and I am
going to collect the rent. I shall not be able to come. Please excuse
me.'
The slave returned and said to his master, 'Those whom you invited to
dinner have asked to be excused.' The master said to his slave, 'Go out
on the streets and bring back whomever you find to have dinner.'
Buyers and merchants [will] not enter the places of my Father."
65. He said, "A [...] person owned a vineyard and rented it to some
farmers, so they could work it and he could collect its crop from them.
He sent his slave so the farmers would give him the vineyard's crop.
They grabbed him, beat him, and almost killed him, and the slave
returned and told his master. His master said, 'Perhaps he didn't know
them.' He sent another slave, and the farmers beat that one as well.
Then the master sent his son and said, 'Perhaps they'll show my son
some respect.' Because the farmers knew that he was the heir to the
vineyard, they grabbed him and killed him. Anyone here with two ears
had better listen!"
66. Jesus said, "Show me the stone that the builders rejected: that is
the keystone."
67. Jesus said, "Those who know all, but are lacking in themselves, are
utterly lacking."
68. Jesus said, "Congratulations to you when you are hated and
persecuted; and no place will be found, wherever you have been
persecuted."
69. Jesus said, "Congratulations to those who have been persecuted in
their hearts: they are the ones who have truly come to know the Father.
Congratulations to those who go hungry, so the stomach of the one in
want may be filled."
70. Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you have
will save you. If you do not have that within you, what you do not have
within you [will] kill you."
71. Jesus said, "I will destroy [this] house, and no one will be able
to build it [...]."
72. A [person said] to him, "Tell my brothers to divide my father's
possessions with me."
He said to the person, "Mister, who made me a divider?"
He turned to his disciples and said to them, "I'm not a divider, am I?"
73. Jesus said, "The crop is huge but the workers are few, so beg the
harvest boss to dispatch workers to the fields."
74. He said, "Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but
there is nothing in the well."
75. Jesus said, "There are many standing at the door, but those who are
alone will enter the bridal suite."
76. Jesus said, "The Father's kingdom is like a merchant who had a
supply of merchandise and found a pearl. That merchant was prudent; he
sold the merchandise and bought the single pearl for himself.
So also with you, seek his treasure that is unfailing, that is
enduring, where no moth comes to eat and no worm destroys."
77. Jesus said, "I am the light that is over all things. I am all: from
me all came forth, and to me all attained.
Split a piece of wood; I am there.
Lift up the stone, and you will find me there."
78. Jesus said, "Why have you come out to the countryside? To see a
reed shaken by the wind? And to see a person dressed in soft clothes,
[like your] rulers and your powerful ones? They are dressed in soft
clothes, and they cannot understand truth."
79. A woman in the crowd said to him, "Lucky are the womb that bore you
and the breasts that fed you."
He said to [her], "Lucky are those who have heard the word of the
Father and have truly kept it. For there will be days when you will
say, 'Lucky are the womb that has not conceived and the breasts that
have not given milk.'"
80. Jesus said, "Whoever has come to know the world has discovered the
body, and whoever has discovered the body, of that one the world is not
worthy."
81. Jesus said, "Let one who has become wealthy reign, and let one who
has power renounce ."
82. Jesus said, "Whoever is near me is near the fire, and whoever is
far from me is far from the (Father's) kingdom."
83. Jesus said, "Images are visible to people, but the light within
them is hidden in the image of the Father's light. He will be
disclosed, but his image is hidden by his light."
84. Jesus said, "When you see your likeness, you are happy. But when
you see your images that came into being before you and that neither
die nor become visible, how much you will have to bear!"
85. Jesus said, "Adam came from great power and great wealth, but he
was not worthy of you. For had he been worthy, [he would] not [have
tasted] death."
86. Jesus said, "[Foxes have] their dens and birds have their nests,
but human beings have no place to lay down and rest."
87. Jesus said, "How miserable is the body that depends on a body, and
how miserable is the soul that depends on these two."
88. Jesus said, "The messengers and the prophets will come to you and
give you what belongs to you. You, in turn, give them what you have,
and say to yourselves, 'When will they come and take what belongs to
them?'"
89. Jesus said, "Why do you wash the outside of the cup? Don't you
understand that the one who made the inside is also the one who made
the outside?"
90. Jesus said, "Come to me, for my yoke is comfortable and my lordship
is gentle, and you will find rest for yourselves."
91. They said to him, "Tell us who you are so that we may believe in
you."
He said to them, "You examine the face of heaven and earth, but you
have not come to know the one who is in your presence, and you do not
know how to examine the present moment."
92. Jesus said, "Seek and you will find.
In the past, however, I did not tell you the things about which you
asked me then. Now I am willing to tell them, but you are not seeking
them."
93. "Don't give what is holy to dogs, for they might throw them upon
the manure pile. Don't throw pearls [to] pigs, or they might ... it
[...]."
94. Jesus [said], "One who seeks will find, and for [one who knocks] it
will be opened."
95. [Jesus said], "If you have money, don't lend it at interest.
Rather, give [it] to someone from whom you won't get it back."
96. Jesus [said], "The Father's kingdom is like [a] woman. She took a
little leaven, [hid] it in dough, and made it into large loaves of
bread. Anyone here with two ears had better listen!"
97. Jesus said, "The [Father's] kingdom is like a woman who was
carrying a [jar] full of meal. While she was walking along [a] distant
road, the handle of the jar broke and the meal spilled behind her
[along] the road. She didn't know it; she hadn't noticed a problem.
When she reached her house, she put the jar down and discovered that it
was empty."
98. Jesus said, "The Father's kingdom is like a person who wanted to
kill someone powerful. While still at home he drew his sword and thrust
it into the wall to find out whether his hand would go in. Then he
killed the powerful one."
99. The disciples said to him, "Your brothers and your mother are
standing outside."
He said to them, "Those here who do what my Father wants are my
brothers and my mother. They are the ones who will enter my Father's
kingdom."
100. They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to him, "The Roman
emperor's people demand taxes from us."
He said to them, "Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, give
God what belongs to God, and give me what is mine."
101. "Whoever does not hate [father] and mother as I do cannot be my
[disciple], and whoever does [not] love [father and] mother as I do
cannot be my [disciple]. For my mother [...], but my true [mother] gave
me life."
102. Jesus said, "Damn the Pharisees! They are like a dog sleeping in
the cattle manger: the dog neither eats nor [lets] the cattle eat."
103. Jesus said, "Congratulations to those who know where the rebels
are going to attack. [They] can get going, collect their imperial
resources, and be prepared before the rebels arrive."
104. They said to Jesus, "Come, let us pray today, and let us fast."
Jesus said, "What sin have I committed, or how have I been undone?
Rather, when the groom leaves the bridal suite, then let people fast
and pray."
105. Jesus said, "Whoever knows the father and the mother will be
called the child of a whore."
106. Jesus said, "When you make the two into one, you will become
children of Adam, and when you say, 'Mountain, move from here!' it will
move."
107. Jesus said, "The (Father's) kingdom is like a shepherd who had a
hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the
ninety-nine and looked for the one until he found it. After he had
toiled, he said to the sheep, 'I love you more than the ninety-nine.'"
108. Jesus said, "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I
myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed
to him."
109. Jesus said, "The (Father's) kingdom is like a person who had a
treasure hidden in his field but did not know it. And [when] he died he
left it to his [son]. The son [did] not know about it either. He took
over the field and sold it. The buyer went plowing, [discovered] the
treasure, and began to lend money at interest to whomever he wished."
110. Jesus said, "Let one who has found the world, and has become
wealthy, renounce the world."
111. Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will roll up in your
presence, and whoever is living from the living one will not see
death."
Does not Jesus say, "Those who have found themselves, of them the world
is not worthy"?
112. Jesus said, "Damn the flesh that depends on the soul. Damn the
soul that depends on the flesh."
113. His disciples said to him, "When will the kingdom come?"
"It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, 'Look,
here!' or 'Look, there!' Rather, the Father's kingdom is spread out
upon the earth, and people don't see it."
[Saying probably added to the original collection at a later date:]
114. Simon Peter said to them, "Make Mary leave us, for females don't
deserve life."
Jesus said, "Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too
may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who
makes herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven."
The Gospel of Truth
The gospel of truth is joy to those who have received from the Father
of truth the gift of knowing him by the power of the Logos, who has
come from the Pleroma and who is in the thought and the mind of the
Father; he it is who is called "the Savior," since that is the name of
the work which he must do for the redemption of those who have not
known the Father. For the name of the gospel is the manifestation of
hope, since that is the discovery of those who seek him, because the
All sought him from whom it had come forth. You see, the All had been
inside of him, that illimitable, inconceivable one, who is better than
every thought.
This ignorance of the Father brought about terror and fear. And terror
became dense like a fog, that no one was able to see. Because of this,
error became strong. But it worked on its hylic substance vainly,
because it did not know the truth. It was in a fashioned form while it
was preparing, in power and in beauty, the equivalent of truth. This
then, was not a humiliation for him, that illimitable, inconceivable
one. For they were as nothing, this terror and this forgetfulness and
this figure of falsehood, whereas this established truth is unchanging,
unperturbed and completely beautiful.
For this reason, do not take error too seriously. Thus, since it had no
root, it was in a fog as regards the Father, engaged in preparing works
and forgetfulnesses and fears in order, by these means, to beguile
those of the middle and to make them captive. The forgetfulness of
error was not revealed. It did not become light beside the Father.
Forgetfulness did not exist with the Father, although it existed
because of him. What exists in him is knowledge, which was revealed so
that forgetfulness might be destroyed and that they might know the
Father, Since forgetfulness existed because they did not know the
Father, if they then come to know the Father, from that moment on
forgetfulness will cease to exist.
That is the gospel of him whom they seek, which he has revealed to the
perfect through the mercies of the Father as the hidden mystery, Jesus
the Christ. Through him he enlightened those who were in darkness
because of forgetfulness. He enlightened them and gave them a path. And
that path is the truth which he taught them. For this reason error was
angry with him, so it persecuted him. It was distressed by him, so it
made him powerless. He was nailed to a cross. He became a fruit of the
knowledge of the Father. He did not, however, destroy them because they
ate of it. He rather caused those who ate of it to be joyful because of
this discovery.
And as for him, them he found in himself, and him they found in
themselves, that illimitable, inconceivable one, that perfect Father
who made the all, in whom the All is, and whom the All lacks, since he
retained in himself their perfection, which he had not given to the
all. The Father was not jealous. What jealousy, indeed, is there
between him and his members? For, even if the Aeon had received their
perfection, they would not have been able to approach the perfection of
the Father, because he retained their perfection in himself, giving it
to them as a way to return to him and as a knowledge unique in
perfection. He is the one who set the All in order and in whom the All
existed and whom the All lacked. As one of whom some have no knowledge,
he desires that they know him and that they love him. For what is it
that the All lacked, if not the knowledge of the Father?
He became a guide, quiet and in leisure. In the middle of a school he
came and spoke the Word, as a teacher. Those who were wise in their own
estimation came to put him to the test. But he discredited them as
empty-headed people. They hated him because they really were not wise
men. After all these came also the little children, those who possess
the knowledge of the Father. When they became strong they were taught
the aspects of the Father's face. They came to know and they were
known. They were glorified and they gave glory. In their heart, the
living book of the Living was manifest, the book which was written in
the thought and in the mind of the Father and, from before the
foundation of the All, is in that incomprehensible part of him.
This is the book which no one found possible to take, since it was
reserved for him who will take it and be slain. No one was able to be
manifest from those who believed in salvation as long as that book had
not appeared. For this reason, the compassionate, faithful Jesus was
patient in his sufferings until he took that book, since he knew that
his death meant life for many. Just as in the case of a will which has
not yet been opened, for the fortune of the deceased master of the
house is hidden, so also in the case of the All which had been hidden
as long as the Father of the All was invisible and unique in himself,
in whom every space has its source. For this reason Jesus appeared. He
took that book as his own. He was nailed to a cross. He affixed the
edict of the Father to the cross.
Oh, such great teaching! He abases himself even unto death, though he
is clothed in eternal life. Having divested himself of these perishable
rags, he clothed himself in incorruptibility, which no one could
possibly take from him. Having entered into the empty territory of
fears, he passed before those who were stripped by forgetfulness, being
both knowledge and perfection, proclaiming the things that are in the
heart of the Father, so that he became the wisdom of those who have
received instruction. But those who are to be taught, the living who
are inscribed in the book of the living, learn for themselves,
receiving instructions from the Father, turning to him again.
Since the perfection of the All is in the Father, it is necessary for
the All to ascend to him. Therefore, if one has knowledge, he gets what
belongs to him and draws it to himself. For he who is ignorant, is
deficient, and it is a great deficiency, since he lacks that which will
make him perfect. Since the perfection of the All is in the Father, it
is necessary for the All to ascend to him and for each one to get the
things which are his. He registered them first, having prepared them to
be given to those who came from him.
Those whose name he knew first were called last, so that the one who
has knowledge is he whose name the Father has pronounced. For he whose
name has not been spoken is ignorant. Indeed, how shall one hear if his
name has not been uttered? For he who remains ignorant until the end is
a creature of forgetfulness and will perish with it. If this is not so,
why have these wretches no name, why do they have no sound? Hence, if
one has knowledge, he is from above. If he is called, he hears, he
replies, and he turns toward him who called him and he ascends to him
and he knows what he is called. Since he has knowledge, he does the
will of him who called him. He desires to please him and he finds rest.
He receives a certain name. He who thus is going to have knowledge
knows whence he came and whither he is going. He knows it as a person
who, having become intoxicated, has turned from his drunkenness and
having come to himself, has restored what is his own.
He has turned many from error. He went before them to their own places,
from which they departed when they erred because of the depth of him
who surrounds every place, whereas there is nothing which surrounds
him. It was a great wonder that they were in the Father without knowing
him and that they were able to leave on their own, since they were not
able to contain him and know him in whom they were, for indeed his will
had not come forth from him. For he revealed it as a knowledge with
which all its emanations agree, namely, the knowledge of the living
book which he revealed to the Aeons at last as his letters, displaying
to them that these are not merely vowels nor consonants, so that one
may read them and think of something void of meaning; on the contrary,
they are letters which convey the truth. They are pronounced only when
they are known. Each letter is a perfect truth like a perfect book, for
they are letters written by the hand of the unity, since the Father
wrote them for the Aeons, so that they by means of his letters might
come to know the Father.
While his wisdom mediates on the logos, and since his teaching
expresses it, his knowledge has been revealed. His honor is a crown
upon it. Since his joy agrees with it, his glory exalted it. It has
revealed his image. It has obtained his rest. His love took bodily form
around it. His trust embraced it. Thus the logos of the Father goes
forth into the All, being the fruit of his heart and expression of his
will. It supports the All. It chooses and also takes the form of the
All, purifying it, and causing it to return to the Father and to the
Mother, Jesus of the utmost sweetness. The Father opens his bosom, but
his bosom is the Holy Spirit. He reveals his hidden self which is his
son, so that through the compassion of the Father the Aeons may know
him, end their wearying search for the Father and rest themselves in
him, knowing that this is rest. After he had filled what was
incomplete, he did away with form. The form of it is the world, that
which it served. For where there is envy and strife, there is an
incompleteness; but where there is unity, there is completeness. Since
this incompleteness came about because they did not know the Father, so
when they know the Father, incompleteness, from that moment on, will
cease to exist. As one's ignorance disappears when he gains knowledge,
and as darkness disappears when light appears, so also incompleteness
is eliminated by completeness. Certainly, from that moment on, form is
no longer manifest, but will be dissolved in fusion with unity. For now
their works lie scattered. In time unity will make the spaces complete.
By means of unity each one will understand itself. By means of
knowledge it will purify itself of diversity with a view towards unity,
devouring matter within itself like fire and darkness by light, death
by life.
Certainly, if these things have happened to each one of us, it is
fitting for us, surely, to think about the All so that the house may be
holy and silent for unity. Like people who have moved from a
neighborhood, if they have some dishes around which are not good, they
usually break them. Nevertheless the householder does not suffer a
loss, but rejoices, for in the place of these defective dishes there
are those which are completely perfect. For this is the judgement which
has come from above and which has judged every person, a drawn
two-edged sword cutting on this side and that. When it appeared, I
mean, the Logos, who is in the heart of those who pronounce it - it was
not merely a sound but it has become a body - a great disturbance
occurred among the dishes, for some were emptied, others filled: some
were provided for, others were removed; some were purified, still
others were broken. All the spaces were shaken and disturbed for they
had no composure nor stability. Error was disturbed not knowing what it
should do. It was troubled; it lamented, it was beside itself because
it did not know anything. When knowledge, which is its abolishment,
approached it with all its emanations, error is empty, since there is
nothing in it. Truth appeared; all its emanations recognized it. They
actually greeted the Father with a power which is complete and which
joins them with the Father. For each one loves truth because truth is
the mouth of the Father. His tongue is the Holy Spirit, who joins him
to truth attaching him to the mouth of the Father by his tongue at the
time he shall receive the Holy Spirit.
This is the manifestation of the Father and his revelation to his
Aeons. He revealed his hidden self and explained it. For who is it who
exists if it is not the Father himself? All the spaces are his
emanations. They knew that they stem from him as children from a
perfect man. They knew that they had not yet received form nor had they
yet received a name, every one of which the Father produces. If they at
that time receive form of his knowledge, though they are truly in him,
they do not know him. But the Father is perfect. He knows every space
which is within him. If he pleases, he reveals anyone whom he desires
by giving him a form and by giving him a name; and he does give him a
name and cause him to come into being. Those who do not yet exist are
ignorant of him who created them. I do not say, then, that those who do
not yet exist are nothing. But they are in him who will desire that
they exist when he pleases, like the event which is going to happen. On
the one hand, he knows, before anything is revealed, what he will
produce. On the other hand, the fruit which has not yet been revealed
does not know anything, nor is it anything either. Thus each space
which, on its part, is in the Father comes from the existent one, who,
on his part, has established it from the nonexistent. [...] he who does
not exist at all, will never exist.
What, then, is that which he wants him to think? "I am like the shadows
and phantoms of the night." When morning comes, this one knows that the
fear which he had experienced was nothing. Thus they were ignorant of
the Father; he is the one whom they did not see. Since there had been
fear and confusion and a lack of confidence and doublemindness and
division, there were many illusions which were conceived by him, the
foregoing, as well as empty ignorance - as if they were fast asleep and
found themselves a prey to troubled dreams. Either there is a place to
which they flee, or they lack strength as they come, having pursued
unspecified things. Either they are involved in inflicting blows, or
they themselves receive bruises. Either they are falling from high
places, or they fly off through the air, though they have no wings at
all. Other times, it is as if certain people were trying to kill them,
even though there is no one pursuing them; or, they themselves are
killing those beside them, for they are stained by their blood. Until
the moment when they who are passing through all these things - I mean
they who have experienced all these confusions - awake, they see
nothing because the dreams were nothing. It is thus that they who cast
ignorance from them as sheep do not consider it to be anything, nor
regard its properties to be something real, but they renounce them like
a dream in the night and they consider the knowledge of the Father to
be the dawn. It is thus that each one has acted, as if he were asleep,
during the time when he was ignorant and thus he comes to understand,
as if he were awakening. And happy is the man who comes to himself and
awakens. Indeed, blessed is he who has opened the eyes of the blind.
And the Spirit came to him in haste when it raised him. Having given
its hand to the one lying prone on the ground, it placed him firmly on
his feet, for he had not yet stood up. He gave them the means of
knowing the knowledge of the Father and the revelation of his son. For
when they saw it and listened to it, he permitted them to take a taste
of and to smell and to grasp the beloved son.
He appeared, informing them of the Father, the illimitable one. He
inspired them with that which is in the mind, while doing his will.
Many received the light and turned towards him. But material men were
alien to him and did not discern his appearance nor recognize him. For
he came in the likeness of flesh and nothing blocked his way because it
was incorruptible and unrestrainable. Moreover, while saying new
things, speaking about what is in the heart of the Father, he
proclaimed the faultless word. Light spoke through his mouth, and his
voice brought forth life. He gave them thought and understanding and
mercy and salvation and the Spirit of strength derived from the
limitlessness of the Father and sweetness. He caused punishments and
scourgings to cease, for it was they which caused many in need of mercy
to astray from him in error and in chains - and he mightily destroyed
them and derided them with knowledge. He became a path for those who
went astray and knowledge to those who were ignorant, a discovery for
those who sought, and a support for those who tremble, a purity for
those who were defiled.
He is the shepherd who left behind the ninety-nine sheep which had not
strayed and went in search of that one which was lost. He rejoiced when
he had found it. For ninety-nine is a number of the left hand, which
holds it. The moment he finds the one, however, the whole number is
transferred to the right hand. Thus it is with him who lacks the one,
that is, the entire right hand which attracts that in which it is
deficient, seizes it from the left side and transfers it to the right.
In this way, then, the number becomes one hundred. This number
signifies the Father.
He labored even on the Sabbath for the sheep which he found fallen into
the pit. He saved the life of that sheep, bringing it up from the pit
in order that you may understand fully what that Sabbath is, you who
possess full understanding. It is a day in which it is not fitting that
salvation be idle, so that you may speak of that heavenly day which has
no night and of the sun which does not set because it is perfect. Say
then in your heart that you are this perfect day and that in you the
light which does not fail dwells.
Speak concerning the truth to those who seek it and of knowledge to
those who, in their error, have committed sin. Make sure-footed those
who stumble and stretch forth your hands to the sick. Nourish the
hungry and set at ease those who are troubled. Foster men who love.
Raise up and awaken those who sleep. For you are this understanding
which encourages. If the strong follow this course, they are even
stronger. Turn your attention to yourselves. Do not be concerned with
other things, namely, that which you have cast forth from yourselves,
that which you have dismissed. Do not return to them to eat them. Do
not be moth-eaten. Do not be worm-eaten, for you have already shaken it
off. Do not be a place of the devil, for you have already destroyed
him. Do not strengthen your last obstacles, because that is
reprehensible. For the lawless one is nothing. He harms himself more
than the law. For that one does his works because he is a lawless
person. But this one, because he is a righteous person, does his works
among others. Do the will of the Father, then, for you are from him.
For the Father is sweet and his will is good. He knows the things that
are yours, so that you may rest yourselves in them. For by the fruits
one knows the things that are yours, that they are the children of the
Father, and one knows his aroma, that you originate from the grace of
his countenance. For this reason, the Father loved his aroma; and it
manifests itself in every place; and when it is mixed with matter, he
gives his aroma to the light; and into his rest he causes it to ascend
in every form and in every sound. For there are no nostrils which smell
the aroma, but it is the Spirit which possesses the sense of smell and
it draws it for itself to itself and sinks into the aroma of the
Father. He is, indeed, the place for it, and he takes it to the place
from which it has come, in the first aroma which is cold. It is
something in a psychic form, resembling cold water which is [...] since
it is in soil which is not hard, of which those who see it think, "It
is earth." Afterwards, it becomes soft again. If a breath is taken, it
is usually hot. The cold aromas, then, are from the division. For this
reason, God came and destroyed the division and he brought the hot
Pleroma of love, so that the cold may not return, but the unity of the
Perfect Thought prevail.
This is the word of the Gospel of the finding of the Pleroma for those
who wait for the salvation which comes from above. When their hope, for
which they are waiting, is waiting - they whose likeness is the light
in which there is no shadow, then at that time the Pleroma is about to
come. The deficiency of matter, however, is not because of the
limitlessness of the Father who comes at the time of the deficiency.
And yet no one is able to say that the incorruptible One will come in
this manner. But the depth of the Father is increasing, and the thought
of error is not with him. It is a matter of falling down and a matter
of being readily set upright at the finding of that one who has come to
him who will turn back.
For this turning back is called "repentance". For this reason,
incorruption has breathed. It followed him who has sinned in order that
he may find rest. For forgiveness is that which remains for the light
in the deficiency, the word of the pleroma. For the physician hurries
to the place in which there is sickness, because that is the desire
which he has. The sick man is in a deficient condition, but he does not
hide himself because the physician possesses that which he lacks. In
this manner the deficiency is filled by the Pleroma, which has no
deficiency, which has given itself out in order to fill the one who is
deficient, so that grace may take him, then, from the area which is
deficient and has no grace. Because of this a diminishing occurred in
the place which there is no grace, the area where the one who is small,
who is deficient, is taken hold of.
He revealed himself as a Pleroma, i.e., the finding of the light of
truth which has shined towards him, because he is unchangeable. For
this reason, they who have been troubled speak about Christ in their
midst so that they may receive a return and he may anoint them with the
ointment. The ointment is the pity of the Father, who will have mercy
on them. But those whom he has anointed are those who are perfect. For
the filled vessels are those which are customarily used for anointing.
But when an anointing is finished, the vessel is usually empty, and the
cause of its deficiency is the consumption of its ointment. For then a
breath is drawn only through the power which he has. But the one who is
without deficiency - one does not trust anyone beside him nor does one
pour anything out. But that which is the deficient is filled again by
the perfect Father. He is good. He knows his plantings because he is
the one who has planted them in his Paradise. And his Paradise is his
place of rest.
This is the perfection in the thought of the Father and these are the
words of his reflection. Each one of his words is the work of his will
alone, in the revelation of his Logos. Since they were in the depth of
his mind, the Logos, who was the first to come forth, caused them to
appear, along with an intellect which speaks the unique word by means
of a silent grace. It was called "thought," since they were in it
before becoming manifest. It happened, then, that it was the first to
come forth - at the moment pleasing to the will of him who desired it;
and it is in the will that the Father is at rest and with which he is
pleased. Nothing happens without him, nor does anything occur without
the will of the Father. But his will is incomprehensible. His will is
his mark, but no one can know it, nor is it possible for them to
concentrate on it in order to possess it. But that which he wishes
takes place at the moment he wishes it - even if the view does not
please anyone: it is God`s will. For the Father knows the beginning of
them all as well as their end. For when their end arrives, he will
question them to their faces. The end, you see, is the recognition of
him who is hidden, that is, the Father, from whom the beginning came
forth and to whom will return all who have come from him. For they were
made manifest for the glory and the joy of his name.
And the name of the Father is the Son. It is he who, in the beginning,
gave a name to him who came forth from him - he is the same one - and
he begat him for a son. He gave him his name which belonged to him -
he, the Father, who possesses everything which exists around him. He
possess the name; he has the son. It is possible for them to see him.
The name, however, is invisible, for it alone is the mystery of the
invisible about to come to ears completely filled with it through the
Father`s agency. Moreover, as for the Father, his name is not
pronounced, but it is revealed through a son. Thus, then, the name is
great.
Who, then, has been able to pronounce a name for him, this great name,
except him alone to whom the name belongs and the sons of the name in
whom the name of the Father is at rest, and who themselves in turn are
at rest in his name, since the Father has no beginning? It is he alone
who engendered it for himself as a name in the beginning before he had
created the Aeons, that the name of the Father should be over their
heads as a lord - that is, the real name, which is secure by his
authority and by his perfect power. For the name is not drawn from
lexicons nor is his name derived from common name-giving, But it is
invisible. He gave a name to himself alone, because he alone saw it and
because he alone was capable of giving himself a name. For he who does
not exist has no name. For what name would one give him who did not
exist? Nevertheless, he who exists also with his name and he alone
knows it, and to him alone the Father gave a name. The Son is his name.
He did not, therefore, keep it secretly hidden, but the son came into
existence. He himself gave a name to him. The name, then, is that of
the Father, just as the name of the Father is the Son. For otherwise,
where would compassion find a name - outside of the Father? But someone
will probably say to his companion, "Who would give a name to someone
who existed before himself, as if, indeed, children did not receive
their name from one of those who gave them birth?"
Above all, then, it is fitting for us to think this point over: What is
the name? It is the real name. It is, indeed, the name which came from
the Father, for it is he who owns the name. He did not, you see, get
the name on loan, as in the case of others because of the form in which
each one of them is going to be created. This, then, is the
authoritative name. There is no one else to whom he has given it. But
it remained unnamed, unuttered, `till the moment when he, who is
perfect, pronounced it himself; and it was he alone who was able to
pronounce his name and to see it. When it pleased him, then, that his
son should be his pronounced name and when he gave this name to him, he
who has come from the depth spoke of his secrets, because he knew that
the Father was absolute goodness. For this reason, indeed, he sent this
particular one in order that he might speak concerning the place and
his place of rest from which he had come forth, and that he might
glorify the Pleroma, the greatness of his name and the sweetness of his
Father.
Each one will speak concerning the place from which he has come forth,
and to the region from which he received his essential being, he will
hasten to return once again. And he want from that place - the place
where he was - because he tasted of that place, as he was nourished and
grew. And his own place of rest is his Pleroma. All the emanations from
the Father, therefore, are Pleromas, and all his emanations have their
roots in the one who caused them all to grow from himself. He appointed
a limit. They, then, became manifest individually in order that they
might be in their own thought, for that place to which they extend
their thoughts is their root, which lifts them upward through all
heights to the Father. They reach his head, which is rest for them, and
they remain there near to it so that they say that they have
participated in his face by means of embraces. But these of this kind
were not manifest, because they have not risen above themselves.
Neither have they been deprived of the glory of the Father nor have
they thought of him as small, nor bitter, nor angry, but as absolutely
good, unperturbed, sweet, knowing all the spaces before they came into
existence and having no need of instruction. Such are they who possess
from above something of this immeasurable greatness, as they strain
towards that unique and perfect one who exists there for them. And they
do not go down to Hades. They have neither envy nor moaning, nor is
death in them. But they rest in him who rests, without wearying
themselves or becoming involved in the search for truth. But, they,
indeed, are the truth, and the Father is in them, and they are in the
Father, since they are perfect, inseparable from him who is truly good.
They lack nothing in any way, but they are given rest and are refreshed
by the Spirit. And they listen to their root; they have leisure for
themselves, they in whom he will find his root, and he will suffer no
loss to his soul.
Such is the place of the blessed; this is their place. As for the rest,
then, may they know, in their place, that it does not suit me, after
having been in the place of rest to say anything more. But he is the
one in whom I shall be in order to devote myself, at all times, to the
Father of the All and the true brothers, those upon whom the love of
the Father is lavished, and in whose midst nothing of him is lacking.
It is they who manifest themselves truly since they are in that true
and eternal life and speak of the perfect light filled with the seed of
the Father, and which is in his heart and in the Pleroma, while his
Spirit rejoices in it and glorifies him in whom it was, because the
Father is good. And his children are perfect and worthy of his name,
because he is the Father. Children of this kind are those whom he
loves.
The Hypostasis of the Archons
On account of the reality of the authorities, (inspired) by the spirit
of the father of truth, the great apostle - referring to the
"authorities of the darkness" - told us that "our contest is not
against flesh and blood; rather, the authorities of the universe and
the spirits of wickedness." I have sent this (to you) because you
inquire about the reality of the authorities.
Their chief is blind; because of his power and his ignorance and his
arrogance he said, with his power, "It is I who am God; there is none
apart from me." When he said this, he sinned against the entirety. And
this speech got up to incorruptibility; then there was a voice that
came forth from incorruptibility, saying, "You are mistaken, Samael" -
which is, "god of the blind."
His thoughts became blind. And, having expelled his power - that is,
the blasphemy he had spoken - he pursued it down to chaos and the
abyss, his mother, at the instigation of Pistis Sophia. And she
established each of his offspring in conformity with its power - after
the pattern of the realms that are above, for by starting from the
invisible world the visible world was invented.
As incorruptibility looked down into the region of the waters, her
image appeared in the waters; and the authorities of the darkness
became enamored of her. But they could not lay hold of that image,
which had appeared to them in the waters, because of their weakness -
since beings that merely possess a soul cannot lay hold of those that
possess a spirit - for they were from below, while it was from above.
This is the reason why "incorruptibility looked down into the region
(etc.)": so that, by the father's will, she might bring the entirety
into union with the light.
The rulers laid plans and said, "Come, let us create a man that will be
soil from the earth." They modeled their creature as one wholly of the
earth. Now the rulers [...] body [...] they have [...] female [...] is
[...] with the face of a beast. They had taken some soil from the earth
and modeled their man after their body and after the image of God that
had appeared to them in the waters. They said, "Come, let us lay hold
of it by means of the form that we have modeled, so that it may see its
male counterpart [...], and we may seize it with the form that we have
modeled" - not understanding the force of God, because of their
powerlessness. And he breathed into his face; and the man came to have
a soul (and remained) upon the ground many days. But they could not
make him arise because of their powerlessness. Like storm winds they
persisted (in blowing), that they might try to capture that image,
which had appeared to them in the waters. And they did not know the
identity of its power.
Now all these things came to pass by the will of the father of the
entirety. Afterwards, the spirit saw the soul-endowed man upon the
ground. And the spirit came forth from the Adamantine Land; it
descended and came to dwell within him, and that man became a living
soul. It called his name Adam, since he was found moving upon the
ground. A voice came forth from incorruptibility for the assistance of
Adam; and the rulers gathered together all the animals of the earth and
all the birds of heaven and brought them in to Adam to see what Adam
would call them, that he might give a name to each of the birds and all
the beasts.
They took Adam and put him the garden, that he might cultivate it and
keep watch over it. And the rulers issued a command to him, saying,
"From every tree in the garden shall you eat; yet from the tree of
recognizing good and evil do not eat, nor touch it; for the day you eat
from it, with death you are going to die."
They [...] this. They do not understand what they have said to him;
rather, by the father's will, they said this in such a way that he
might (in fact) eat, and that Adam might regard them as would a
man of an exclusively material nature.
The rulers took counsel with one another and said, "Come, let us cause
a deep sleep to fall upon Adam." And he slept. - Now the deep sleep
that they "caused to fall upon him, and he slept" is Ignorance. - They
opened his side like a living woman. And they built up his side with
some flesh in place of her, and Adam came to be endowed only with soul.
And the spirit-endowed woman came to him and spoke with him, saying,
"Arise, Adam." And when he saw her, he said, "It is you who have given
me life; you will be called 'mother of the living'. - For it is she who
is my mother. It is she who is the physician, and the woman, and she
who has given birth."
Then the authorities came up to their Adam. And when they saw his
female counterpart speaking with him, they became agitated with great
agitation; and they became enamored of her. They said to one another,
"Come, let us sow our seed in her," and they pursued her. And she
laughed at them for their witlessness and their blindness; and in their
clutches she became a tree, and left before them her shadowy reflection
resembling herself; and they defiled it foully. - And they defiled the
stamp of her voice, so that by the form they had modeled, together with
their (own) image, they made themselves liable to condemnation.
Then the female spiritual principle came in the snake, the instructor;
and it taught them, saying, "What did he say to you? Was it, 'From
every tree in the garden shall you eat; yet - from the tree of
recognizing good and evil do not eat'?"
The carnal woman said, "Not only did he say 'Do not eat', but even 'Do
not touch it; for the day you eat from it, with death you are going to
die.'"
And the snake, the instructor, said, "With death you shall not die; for
it was out of jealousy that he said this to you. Rather your eyes shall
open and you shall come to be like gods, recognizing evil and good."
And the female instructing principle was taken away from the snake, and
she left it behind, merely a thing of the earth.
And the carnal woman took from the tree and ate; and she gave to her
husband as well as herself; and these beings that possessed only a
soul, ate. And their imperfection became apparent in their lack of
knowledge; and they recognized that they were naked of the spiritual
element, and took fig leaves and bound them upon their loins.
Then the chief ruler came; and he said, "Adam! Where are you?" - for he
did not understand what had happened. And Adam said, "I heard your
voice and was afraid because I was naked; and I hid."
The ruler said, "Why did you hide, unless it is because you have eaten
from the tree from which alone I commanded you not to eat? And you have
eaten!"
Adam said, "The woman that you gave me, she gave to me and I ate." And
the arrogant ruler cursed the woman.
The woman said, "It was the snake that led me astray and I ate." They
turned to the snake and cursed its shadowy reflection, [...] powerless,
not comprehending that it was a form they themselves had modeled. From
that day, the snake came to be under the curse of the authorities;
until the all-powerful man was to come, that curse fell upon the snake.
They turned to their Adam and took him and expelled him from the garden
along with his wife; for they have no blessing, since they too are
beneath the curse. Moreover, they threw mankind into great distraction
and into a life of toil, so that their mankind might be occupied by
worldly affairs, and might not have the opportunity of being devoted to
the holy spirit.
Now afterwards, she bore Cain, their son; and Cain cultivated the land.
Thereupon he knew his wife; again becoming pregnant, she bore Abel; and
Abel was a herdsman of sheep. Now Cain brought in from the crops of his
field, but Abel brought in an offering (from) among his lambs. God
looked upon the votive offerings of Abel; but he did not accept the
votive offerings of Cain. And carnal Cain pursued Abel, his brother.
And God said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?"
He answered saying, "Am I, then, my brother's keeper?"
God said to Cain, "Listen! The voice of your brother's blood is crying
up to me! You have sinned with your mouth. It will return to you:
anyone who kills Cain will let loose seven vengeances, and you will
exist groaning and trembling upon the earth."
And Adam knew his female counterpart Eve, and she became pregnant, and
bore Seth to Adam. And she said, "I have borne another man through God,
in place of Abel." Again Eve became pregnant, and she bore Norea. And
she said, "He has begotten on me a virgin as an assistance for many
generations of mankind." She is the virgin whom the forces did not
defile.
Then mankind began to multiply and improve. The rulers took counsel
with one another and said, "Come, let us cause a deluge with our hands
and obliterate all flesh, from man to beast." But when the ruler of the
forces came to know of their decision, he said to Noah, "Make yourself
an ark from some wood that does not rot and hide in it - you and your
children and the beasts and the birds of heaven from small to large -
and set it upon Mount Sir."
Then Orea came to him, wanting to board the ark. And when he would not
let her, she blew upon the ark and caused it to be consumed by fire.
Again he made the ark, for a second time.
The rulers went to meet her, intending to lead her astray. Their
supreme chief said to her, "Your mother Eve came to us." But Norea
turned to them and said to them, "It is you who are the rulers of the
darkness; you are accursed. And you did not know my mother; instead it
was your female counterpart that you knew. For I am not your
descendant; rather it is from the world above that I am come."
The arrogant ruler turned, with all his might, and his countenance came
to be like (a) black [...]; he said to her presumptuously, "You must
render service to us, as did also your mother Eve; for I have been
given [...]." But Norea turned, with the might of [...]; and in a loud
voice, she cried out up to the holy one, the God of the entirety,
"Rescue me from the rulers of unrighteousness and save me from their
clutches - forthwith!"
The angel came down from the heavens and said to her, "Why are
you crying up to God? Why do you act so boldly towards the holy
spirit?"
Norea said, "Who are you?" The rulers of unrighteousness had withdrawn
from her.
He said, "It is I who am Eleleth, sagacity, the great angel who stands
in the presence of the holy spirit. I have been sent to speak with you
and save you from the grasp of the lawless. And I shall teach you about
your root."
(Norea apparently now speaking) Now as for that angel, I cannot speak
of his power: his appearance is like fine gold and his raiment is like
snow. No, truly, my mouth cannot bear to speak of his power and the
appearance of his face!
Eleleth, the great angel, spoke to me. "It is I," he said, "who am
understanding. I am one of the four light-givers, who stand in the
presence of the great invisible spirit. Do you think these rulers have
any power over you? None of them can prevail against the root of truth;
for on its account he appeared in the final ages; and these authorities
will be restrained. And these authorities cannot defile you and that
generation; for your abode is in incorruptibility, where the virgin
spirit dwells, who is superior to the authorities of chaos and to their
universe."
But I said, "Sir, teach me about the faculty of these authorities - how
did they come into being, and by what kind of genesis, and of what
material, and who created them and their force?"
And the great angel Eleleth, understanding, spoke to me: "Within
limitless realms dwells incorruptibility. Sophia, who is called Pistis,
wanted to create something, alone without her consort; and her product
was a celestial thing. A veil exists between the world above and the
realms that are below; and shadow came into being beneath the veil; and
that shadow became matter; and that shadow was projected apart. And
what she had created became a product in the matter, like an aborted
fetus. And it assumed a plastic form molded out of shadow, and became
an arrogant beast resembling a lion. It was androgynous, as I have
already said, because it was from matter that it derived.
Opening his eyes, he saw a vast quantity of matter without limit; and
he became arrogant, saying, "It is I who am God, and there is none
other apart from me". When he said this, he sinned against the
entirety. And a voice came forth from above the realm of absolute
power, saying, "You are mistaken, Samael" - which is, 'god of the
blind'.
And he said, "If any other thing exists before me, let it become
visible to me!" And immediately Sophia stretched forth her finger and
introduced light into matter; and she pursued it down to the region of
chaos. And she returned up to her light; once again darkness [...]
matter.
This ruler, by being androgynous, made himself a vast realm, an extent
without limit. And he contemplated creating offspring for himself, and
created for himself seven offspring, androgynous just like their
parent. And he said to his offspring, "It is I who am god of the
entirety."
And Zoe (Life), the daughter of Pistis Sophia, cried out and said to
him, "You are mistaken, Sakla!" - for which the alternative name is
Yaltabaoth. She breathed into his face, and her breath became a fiery
angel for her; and that angel bound Yaldabaoth and cast him down into
Tartaros below the abyss.
Now when his offspring Sabaoth saw the force of that angel, he repented
and condemned his father and his mother, matter. He loathed her, but he
sang songs of praise up to Sophia and her daughter Zoe. And Sophia and
Zoe caught him up and gave him charge of the seventh heaven, below the
veil between above and below. And he is called 'God of the forces,
Sabaoth', since he is up above the forces of chaos, for Sophia
established him.
Now when these (events) had come to pass, he made himself a huge
four-faced chariot of cherubim, and infinitely many angels to act as
ministers, and also harps and lyres. And Sophia took her daughter Zoe
and had her sit upon his right to teach him about the things that exist
in the eighth (heaven); and the angel of wrath she placed upon his
left. Since that day, his right has been called 'life'; and the left
has come to represent the unrighteousness of the realm of absolute
power above. It was before your time that they came into being.
Now when Yaldabaoth saw him (Sabaoth) in this great splendor and at
this height, he envied him; and the envy became an androgynous product,
and this was the origin of envy. And envy engendered death; and death
engendered his offspring and gave each of them charge of its heaven;
and all the heavens of chaos became full of their multitudes. But it
was by the will of the father of the entirety that they all came into
being - after the pattern of all the things above - so that the sum of
chaos might be attained.
"There, I have taught you about the pattern of the rulers; and the
matter in which it was expressed; and their parent; and their
universe."
But I said, "Sir, am I also from their matter?"
"You, together with your offspring, are from the primeval father; from
above, out of the imperishable light, their souls are come. Thus the
authorities cannot approach them, because of the spirit of truth
present within them; and all who have become acquainted with this way
exist deathless in the midst of dying mankind. Still, that sown element
will not become known now. Instead, after three generations it will
come to be known, and it has freed them from the bondage of the
authorities' error."
Then I said, "Sir, how much longer?"
He said to me, "Until the moment when the true man, within a modeled
form, reveals the existence of the spirit of truth, which the father
has sent.
Then he will teach them about everything, and he will anoint them with
the unction of life eternal, given him from the undominated generation.
Then they will be freed of blind thought, and they will trample
underfoot death, which is of the authorities, and they will ascend into
the limitless light where this sown element belongs.
Then the authorities will relinquish their ages, and their angels will
weep over their destruction, and their demons will lament their death.
Then all the children of the light will be truly acquainted with the
truth and their root, and the father of the entirety and the holy
spirit. They will all say with a single voice, 'The father's truth is
just, and the son presides over the entirety", and from everyone unto
the ages of ages, "Holy - holy - holy! Amen!'"
The Reality
Of the Rulers
The Letter of Peter to Philip
The Letter of Peter which he sent to Philip "Peter, the apostle of
Jesus Christ, to Philip, our beloved brother and our fellow apostle,
and (to) the brethren who are with you: greetings! Now I want you to
know, our brother, that we received orders from our Lord and the Savior
of the whole world that we should come together to give instruction and
preach in the salvation which was promised us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
But as for you, you were separate from us, and you did not desire us to
come together and to know how we should organize ourselves in order
that we might tell the good news. Therefore would it be agreeable to
you, our brother, to come according to the orders of our God Jesus?"
When Philip had received these (words), and when he had read them, he
went to Peter rejoicing with gladness. Then Peter gathered the others
also. They went upon the mountain which is called "the (mount) olives,"
the place where they used to gather with the blessed Christ when he was
in the body.
Then, when the apostles had come together, and had thrown themselves
upon their knees, they prayed thus saying, "Father, Father, Father of
the light, who possesses the incorruptions, hear us just as thou hast
taken pleasure in thy holy child Jesus Christ. For he became for us an
illuminator in the darkness. Yea hear us!"
And they prayed again another time, saying, "Son of life, Son of
immortality, who is in the light, Son, Christ of immortality, our
Redeemer, give us power, for they seek to kill us!"
Then a great light appeared so that the mountains shone from the sight
of him who had appeared. And a voice called out to them saying, "Listen
to my words that I may speak to you. Why are you asking me? I am Jesus
Christ who am with you forever."
Then the apostles answered and said, "Lord, we would like to know the
deficiency of the aeons and their pleroma." And: "How are we detained
in this dwelling place?" Further: "How did we come to this place?" And:
"In what manner shall we depart?" Again: "How do we have the authority
of boldness?" And: "Why do the powers fight against us?"
Then a voice came to them out of the light saying, "It is you
yourselves who are witnesses that I spoke all these things to you. But
because of your unbelief I shall speak again. First of all concerning
the deficiency of the aeons, this is the deficiency, when the
disobedience and the foolishness of the mother appeared without the
commandment of the majesty of the Father. She wanted to raise up aeons.
And when she spoke, the Arrogant One followed. And when she left behind
a part, the Arrogant One laid hold of it, and it became a deficiency.
This is the deficiency of the aeons. Now when the Arrogant One had
taken a part, he sowed it. And he placed powers over it and
authorities. And he enclosed it in the aeons which are dead. And all
the powers of the world rejoiced that they had been begotten. But they
do not know the pre-existent Father, since they are strangers to him.
But this is the one to whom they gave power and whom they served by
praising him. But he, the Arrogant One, became proud on account of the
praise of the powers. He became an envier and he wanted to make an
image in the place of an image, and a form in the place of a form. And
he commissioned the powers within his authority to mold mortal bodies.
And they came to be from a misrepresentation, from the semblance which
had merged."
"Next concerning the pleroma: I am the one who was sent down in the
body because of the seed which had fallen away. And I came down into
their mortal mold. But they did not recognize me; they were thinking of
me that I was a mortal man. And I spoke with him who belongs to me, and
he harkened to me just as you too who harkened today. And I gave him
authority in order that he might enter into the inheritance of his
fatherhood. And I took [...] they were filled [...] in his salvation.
And since he was a deficiency, for this reason he became a pleroma."
"It is because of this that you are being detained, because you belong
to me. When you strip off from yourselves what is corrupted, then you
will become illuminators in the midst of mortal men."
"And this (is the reason) that you will fight against the powers,
because they do not have rest like you, since they do not wish that you
be saved."
Then the apostles worshiped again saying, "Lord, tell us: In what way
shall we fight against the archons, since the archons are above us?"
Then a voice called out to them from the appearance saying, "Now you
will fight against them in this way, for the archons are fighting
against the inner man. And you are to fight against them in this way:
Come together and teach in the world the salvation with a promise. And
you, gird yourselves with the power of my Father, and let your prayer
be known. And he, the Father, will help you as he has helped you by
sending me. Be not afraid, I am with you forever, as I previously said
to you when I was in the body." Then there came lightning and thunder
from heaven, and what appeared to them in that place was taken up to
heaven.
Then the apostles gave thanks to the Lord with every blessing. And they
returned to Jerusalem. And while coming up they spoke with each other
on the road concerning the light which had come. And a remark was made
concerning the Lord. It was said, "If he, our Lord, suffered, then how
much (must) we (suffer)?"
Peter answered saying, "He suffered on our behalf, and it is necessary
for us too to suffer because of our smallness." Then a voice came to
them saying, "I have told you many times: it is necessary for you to
suffer. It is necessary that they bring you to synagogues and
governors, so that you will suffer. But he who does not suffer and does
not [...] the Father [...] in order that he may [...]."
And the apostles rejoiced greatly and came up to Jerusalem. And they
came up to the temple and gave instruction in salvation in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ. And they healed a multitude.
And Peter opened his mouth, he said to his (fellow) disciples, "Did our
Lord Jesus, when he was in the body, show us everything? For he came
down. My brothers, listen to my voice." And he was filled with a holy
spirit. He spoke thus: "Our illuminator, Jesus, came down and was
crucified. And he bore a crown of thorns. And he put on a purple
garment. And he was crucified on a tree and he was buried in a tomb.
And he rose from the dead. My brothers, Jesus is a stranger to this
suffering. But we are the ones who have suffered through the
transgression of the mother. And because of this, he did everything
like us. For the Lord Jesus, the Son of the immeasurable glory of the
Father, he is the author of our life. My brothers, let us therefore not
obey these lawless ones, and walk in [...]."
[...] Then Peter gathered together the others also, saying, "O, Lord
Jesus Christ, author of our rest, give us a spirit of understanding in
order that we also may perform wonders."
Then Peter and the other apostles saw him, and they were filled with a
holy spirit, And each one performed healings. And they parted in order
to preach the Lord Jesus. And they came together and greeted each other
saying, "Amen."
Then Jesus appeared saying to them, "Peace to you all and everyone who
believes in my name. And when you depart, joy be to you and grace and
power. And be not afraid; behold, I am with you forever."
Then the apostles parted from each other into four words in order to
preach. And they went by a power of Jesus, in peace.
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
This the prayer that they spoke:
"We give thanks to You! Every soul and heart is lifted up to You,
undisturbed name, honored with the name 'God' and praised with the name
'Father', for to everyone and everything (comes) the fatherly kindness
and affection and love, and any teaching there may be that is sweet and
plain, giving us mind, speech, (and) knowledge: mind, so that we may
understand You, speech, so that we may expound You, knowledge, so that
we may know You. We rejoice, having been illuminated by Your knowledge.
We rejoice because You have shown us Yourself. We rejoice because while
we were in (the) body, You have made us divine through Your knowledge.
"The thanksgiving of the man who attains to You is one thing: that we
know You. We have known You, intellectual light. Life of life, we have
known You. Womb of every creature, we have known You. Womb pregnant
with the nature of the Father, we have known You. Eternal permanence of
the begetting Father, thus have we worshiped Your goodness. There is
one petition that we ask: we would be preserved in knowledge. And there
is one protection that we desire: that we not stumble in this kind of
life."
When they had said these things in the prayer, they embraced each other
and they went to eat their holy food, which has no blood in it.
Scribal Note
I have copied this one discourse of his. Indeed, very many have come to
me. I have not copied them because I thought that they had come to you
(pl.). Also, I hesitate to copy these for you because, perhaps they
have (already) come to you, and the matter may burden you. Since the
discourses of that one, which have come to me, are numerous ...
The Prayer of the Apostle Paul
(Approximately two lines are missing.)
... your light, give me your mercy! My Redeemer, redeem me, for I am
yours; the one who has come forth from you. You are my mind; bring me
forth! You are my treasure house; open for me! You are my fullness;
take me to you! You are (my) repose; give me the perfect thing that
cannot be grasped!
I invoke you, the one who is and who pre-existed in the name which is
exalted above every name, through Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords, the
King of the ages; give me your gifts, of which you do not repent,
through the Son of Man, the Spirit, the Paraclete of truth. Give me
authority when I ask you; give healing for my body when I ask you
through the Evangelist, and redeem my eternal light soul and my spirit.
And the First-born of the Pleroma of grace -- reveal him to my mind!
Grant what no angel eye has seen and no archon ear (has) heard, and
what has not entered into the human heart which came to be angelic and
(modelled) after the image of the psychic God when it was formed in the
beginning, since I have faith and hope. And place upon me your beloved,
elect, and blessed greatness, the First-born, the First-begotten, and
the wonderful mystery of your house; for yours is the power and the
glory and the praise and the greatness for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Paul (the) Apostle.
In Peace.
Christ is holy.
The Second Treatise of the Great Seth
And the perfect Majesty is at rest in the ineffable light, in the truth
of the mother of all these, and all of you that attain to me, to me
alone who am perfect, because of the Word. For I exist with all the
greatness of the Spirit, which is a friend to us and our kindred alike,
since I brought forth a word to the glory of our Father, through his
goodness, as well as an imperishable thought; that is, the Word within
him - it is slavery that we shall die with Christ - and an imperishable
and undefiled thought, an incomprehensible marvel, the writing of the
ineffable water which is the word from us. It is I who am in you, and
you are in me, just as the Father is in you in innocence.
Let us gather an assembly together. Let us visit that creation of his.
Let us send someone forth in it, just as he visited (the) Ennoias, the
regions below. And I said these things to the whole multitude of the
multitudinous assembly of the rejoicing Majesty. The whole house of the
Father of Truth rejoiced that I am the one who is from them. I produced
thought about the Ennoias which came out of the undefiled Spirit, about
the descent upon the water, that is, the regions below. And they all
had a single mind, since it is out of one. They charged me since I was
willing. I came forth to reveal the glory to my kindred and my fellow
spirits.
For those who were in the world had been prepared by the will of our
sister Sophia - she who is a whore - because of the innocence which has
not been uttered. And she did not ask anything from the All, nor from
the greatness of the Assembly, nor from the Pleroma. Since she was
first, she came forth to prepare monads and places for the Son of Light
and the fellow workers which she took from the elements below to build
bodily dwellings from them. But, having come into being in an empty
glory, they ended in destruction in the dwellings in which they were,
since they were prepared by Sophia. They stand ready to receive the
life-giving word of the ineffable Monad and of the greatness of the
assembly of all those who persevere and those who are in me.
I visited a bodily dwelling. I cast out the one who was in it first,
and I went in. And the whole multitude of the archons became troubled.
And all the matter of the archons, as well as all the begotten powers
of the earth, were shaken when it saw the likeness of the Image, since
it was mixed. And I am the one who was in it, not resembling him who
was in it first. For he was an earthly man, but I, I am from above the
heavens. I did not refuse them even to become a Christ, but I did not
reveal myself to them in the love which was coming forth from me. I
revealed that I am a stranger to the regions below.
There was a great disturbance in the whole earthly area, with confusion
and flight, as well as (in) the plan of the archons. And some were
persuaded, when they saw the wonders which were being accomplished by
me. And all these, with the race, that came down, flee from him who had
fled from the throne to the Sophia of hope, since she had earlier given
the sign concerning us and all the ones with me - those of the race of
Adonaios. Others also fled, as if from the Cosmocrator and those with
them, since they have brought every (kind of) punishment upon me. And
there was a flight of their mind about what they would counsel
concerning me, thinking that she (Sophia) is the whole greatness, and
speaking false witness, moreover, against the Man and the whole
greatness of the assembly.
It was not possible for them to know who the Father of Truth, the Man
of the Greatness, is. But they who received the name because of contact
with ignorance - which (is) a burning and a vessel - having created it
to destroy Adam, whom they had made, in order to cover up those who are
theirs in the same way. But they, the archons, those of the place of
Yaldabaoth, reveal the realm of the angels, which humanity was seeking
in order that they may not know the Man of Truth. For Adam, whom they
had formed, appeared to them. And a fearful motion came about
throughout their entire dwelling, lest the angels surrounding them
rebel. For without those who were offering praise - I did not really
die lest their archangel become empty.
And then a voice - of the Cosmocrator - came to the angels: "I am God
and there is no other beside me." But I laughed joyfully when I
examined his empty glory. But he went on to say, "Who is man?" And the
entire host of his angels, who had seen Adam and his dwelling, were
laughing at his smallness. And thus did their Ennoia come to be removed
outside the Majesty of the heavens, i.e.,the Man of Truth, whose name
they saw since he is in a small dwelling place, since they are small
(and) senseless in their empty Ennoia, namely their laughter. It was
contagion for them.
The whole greatness of the Fatherhood of the Spirit was at rest in his
places. And I am he who was with him, since I have an Ennoia of a
single emanation from the eternal ones and the undefiled and
immeasurable incomprehensibilities. I placed the small Ennoia in the
world, having disturbed them and frightened the whole multitude of the
angels and their ruler. And I was visiting them all with fire and flame
because of my Ennoia. And everything pertaining to them was brought
about because of me. And there came about a disturbance and a fight
around the Seraphim and Cherubim, since their glory will fade, and the
confusion around Adonaios on both sides and their dwelling - to the
Cosmocrator and him who said, "Let us seize him''; others again, "The
plan will certainly not materialize.''
For Adonaios knows me because of hope. And I was in the mouths of
lions. And the plan which they devised about me to release their Error
and their senselessness - I did not succumb to them as they had
planned. But I was not afflicted at all. Those who were there punished
me. And I did not die in reality but in appearance, lest I be put to
shame by them because these are my kinsfolk. I removed the shame from
me and I did not become fainthearted in the face of what happened to me
at their hands. I was about to succumb to fear, and I
according to their sight and thought, in order that they may never find
any word to speak about them. For my death, which they think happened,
(happened) to them in their error and blindness, since they nailed
their man unto their death. For their Ennoias did not see me, for they
were deaf and blind. But in doing these things, they condemn
themselves. Yes, they saw me; they punished me. It was another, their
father, who drank the gall and the vinegar; it was not I. They struck
me with the reed; it was another, Simon, who bore the cross on his
shoulder. I was another upon Whom they placed the crown of thorns. But
I was rejoicing in the height over all the wealth of the archons and
the offspring of their error, of their empty glory. And I was laughing
at their ignorance.
And I subjected all their powers. For as I came downward, no one saw
me. For I was altering my shapes, changing from form to form. And
therefore, when I was at their gates, I assumed their likeness. For I
passed them by quietly, and I was viewing the places, and I was not
afraid nor ashamed, for I was undefiled. And I was speaking with them,
mingling with them through those who are mine, and trampling on those
who are harsh to them with zeal, and quenching the flame. And I was
doing all these things because of my desire to accomplish what I
desired by the will of the Father above.
And the Son of the Majesty, who was hidden in the regions below, we
brought to the height where I in all these aeons with them, which
(height) no one has seen nor known, where the wedding of the wedding
robe is, the new one and not the old, nor does it perish. For it is a
new and perfect bridal chamber of the heavens, as I have revealed
(that) there are three ways: an undefiled mystery in a spirit of this
aeon, which does not perish, nor is it fragmentary, nor able to be
spoken of; rather, it is undivided, universal, and permanent. For the
soul, the one from the height, will not speak about the error which is
here, nor transfer from these aeons, since it will be transferred when
it becomes free and when it is endowed with nobility in the world,
standing before the Father without weariness and fear, always mixed
with the Nous of power (and) of form. They will see me from every side
without hatred. For since they see me, they are being seen (and) are
mixed with them. Since they did not put me to shame, they were not put
to shame. Since they were not afraid before me, they will pass by every
gate without fear and will be perfected in the third glory.
It was my going to the revealed height which the world did not accept,
my third baptism in a revealed image. When they had fled from the fire
of the seven Authorities, and the sun of the powers of the archons set,
darkness took them. And the world became poor when he was restrained
with a multitude of fetters. They nailed him to the tree, and they
fixed him with four nails of brass. The veil of his temple he tore with
his hands. It was a trembling which seized the chaos of the earth, for
the souls which were in the sleep below were released. And they arose.
They went about boldly, having shed zealous service of ignorance and
unlearnedness beside the dead tombs, having put on the new man, since
they have come to know that perfect Blessed One of the eternal and
incomprehensible Father and the infinite light, which is I, since I
came to my own and united them with myself. There is no need for many
words, for our Ennoia was with their Ennoia. Therefore they knew what I
speak of, for we took counsel about the destruction of the archons. And
therefore I did the will of the Father, who is I.
After we went forth from our home, and came down to this world, and
came into being in the world in bodies, we were hated and persecuted,
not only by those who are ignorant, but also by those who think that
they are advancing the name of Christ, since they were unknowingly
empty, not knowing who they are, like dumb animals. They persecuted
those who have been liberated by me, since they hate them - those who,
should they shut their mouth, would weep with a profitless groaning
because they did not fully know me. lnstead, they served two masters,
even a multitude. But you will become victorious in everything, in war
and battles, jealous division and wrath. But in the uprightness of our
love we are innocent, pure, (and) good, since we have a mind of the
Father in an ineffable mystery.
For it was ludicrous. It is I who bear witness that it was ludicrous,
since the archons do not know that it is an ineffable union of
undefiled truth, as exists among the sons of light, of which they made
an imitation, having proclaimed a doctrine of a dead man and lies so as
to resemble the freedom and purity of the perfect assembly, (and)
themselves with their doctrine to fear and slavery, worldly
cares, and abandoned worship, being small (and) ignorant, since they do
not contain the nobility of the truth, for they hate the one in whom
they are, and love the one in whom they are not. For they did not know
the Knowledge of the Greatness, that it is from above and (from) a
fountain of truth, and that it is not from slavery and jealousy, fear
and love of worldly matter. For that which is not theirs and that which
is theirs they use fearlessly and freely. They do not desire, because
they have authority, and a law from themselves over whatever they will
wish.
But those who have not are poor, that is, those who do not possess him.
And they desire him and lead astray those, who through them have become
like those who possess the truth of their freedom, just as they bought
us for servitude and constraint of care and fear. This person is in
slavery. And he who is brought by constraint of force and threat has
been guarded by God. But the entire nobility of the Fatherhood is not
guarded, since he guards only him who is from him, without word and
constraint, since he is united with his will, he who belongs only to
the Ennoia of the Fatherhood, to make it Perfect and ineffable through
the living water, to be with you mutually in wisdom, not only in word
of hearing but in deed and fulfilled word. For the perfect ones are
worthy to be established in this way and to be united with me, in order
that they may not share in any enmity, in a good friendship. I
accomplish everything through the Good One, for this is the union of
the truth, that they should have no adversary. But everyone who brings
division - and he will learn no wisdom at all because he brings
division and is not a friend - is hostile to them all. But he who lives
in harmony and friendship of brotherly love, naturally and not
artificially, completely and not partially, this person is truly the
desire of the Father. He is the universal one and perfect love.
For Adam was a laughingstock, since he was made a counterfeit type of
man by the Hebdomad, as if he had become stronger than I and my
brothers. We are innocent with respect to him, since we have not
sinned. And Abraham and Isaac and Jacob were a laughingstock, since
they, the counterfeit fathers, were given a name by the Hebdomad, as if
he had become stronger than I and my brothers. We are innocent with
respect to him, since we have not sinned. David was a laughingstock in
that his son was named the Son of Man, having been influenced by the
Hebdomad, as if he had become stronger than I and the fellow members of
my race. But we are innocent with respect to him; we have not sinned.
Solomon was a laughingstock, since he thought that he was Christ,
having become vain through the Hebdomad, as if he had become stronger
than I and my brothers. But we are innocent with respect to him. I have
not sinned. The 12 prophets were laughingstocks, since they have come
forth as imitations of the true prophets. They came into being as
counterfeits through the Hebdomad, as if he had become stronger than I
and my brothers. But we are innocent with respect to him, since we have
not sinned. Moses, a faithful servant, was a laughingstock, having been
named "the Friend," since they perversely bore witness concerning him
who never knew me. Neither he nor those before him, from Adam to Moses
and John the Baptist, none of them knew me nor my brothers.
For they had a doctrine of angels to observe dietary laws and bitter
slavery, since they never knew truth, nor will they know it. For there
is a great deception upon their soul, making it impossible for them
ever to find a Nous of freedom in order to know him, until they come to
know the Son of Man. Now concerning my Father, I am he whom the world
did not know, and because of this, it (the world) rose up against me
and my brothers. But we are innocent with respect to him; we have not
sinned.
For the Archon was a laughingstock because he said, "I am God, and
there is none greater than I. I alone am the Father, the Lord, and
there is no other beside me. I am a jealous God, who brings the sins of
the fathers upon the children for three and four generations." As if he
had become stronger than I and my brothers! But we are innocent with
respect to him, in that we have not sinned, since we mastered his
teaching. Thus he was in an empty glory. And he does not agree with our
Father. And thus through our fellowship we grasped his teaching, since
he was vain in an empty glory. And he does not agree with our Father,
for he was a laughingstock and judgment and false prophecy.
O those who do not see, you do not see your blindness, i.e., this which
was not known, nor has it ever been known, nor has it been known about
him. They did not listen to firm obedience. Therefore they proceeded in
a judgment of error, and they raised their defiled and murderous hands
against him, as if they were beating the air. And the senseless and
blind ones are always senseless, always being slaves of law and earthly
fear.
I am Christ, the Son of Man, the one from you who is among you. I am
despised for your sake, in order that you yourselves may forget the
difference. And do not become female, lest you give birth to evil and
(its) brothers: jealousy and division, anger and wrath, fear and a
divided heart, and empty, non-existent desire. But I am an ineffable
mystery to you.
Then before the foundation of the world, when the whole multitude of
the Assembly came together upon the places of the Ogdoad, when they had
taken counsel about a spiritual wedding which is in union, and thus he
was perfected in the ineffable places by a living word, the undefiled
wedding was consummated through the Mesotes of Jesus, who inhabits them
all and possesses them, who abides in an undivided love of power. And
surrounding him, he appears to him as a Monad of all these, a thought
and a father, since he is one. And he stands by them all, since he as a
whole came forth alone. And he is life, since he came from the Father
of ineffable and perfect Truth, (the father) of those who are there,
the union of Peace and a friend of good things, and life eternal and
undefiled joy, in a great harmony of life and faith, through eternal
life of fatherhood and motherhood and sisterhood and rational wisdom.
They had agreed with Nous, who stretches out (and) will stretch out in
joyful union and is trustworthy and faithfully listens to someone. And
he is in fatherhood and motherhood and rational brotherhood and wisdom.
And this is a wedding of truth, and a repose of incorruption, in a
spirit of truth, in every mind, and a perfect light in an unnameable
mystery. But this is not, nor will it happen among us in any region or
place in division and breach of peace, but (in) union and a mixture of
love, all of which are perfected in the one who is.
It also happened in the places under heaven for their reconciliation.
Those who knew me in salvation and undividedness, and those who existed
for the glory of the father and the truth, having been separated,
blended into the one through the living word. And I am in the spirit
and the truth of the motherhood, just as he has been there; I was among
those who are united in the friendship of friends forever, who neither
know hostility at all, nor evil, but who are united by my Knowledge in
word and peace which exists in perfection with everyone and in them
all. And those who assumed the form of my type will assume the form of
my word. Indeed, these will come forth in light forever, and (in)
friendship with each other in the spirit, since they have known in
every respect (and) indivisibly that what is, is One. And all of these
are one. And thus they will learn about the One, as (did) the Assembly
and those dwelling in it. For the father of all these exists, being
immeasurable (and) immutable: Nous and Word and Division and Envy and
Fire. And he is entirely one, being the All with them all in a single
doctrine, because all these are from a single spirit. O unseeing ones,
why did you not know the mystery rightly?
But the archons around Yaldabaoth were disobedient because of the
Ennoia who went down to him from her sister Sophia. They made for
themselves a union with those who were with them in a mixture of a
fiery cloud, which was their Envy, and the rest who were brought forth
by their creatures, as if they had bruised the noble pleasure of the
Assembly. And therefore they revealed a mixture of ignorance in a
counterfeit of fire and earth and a murderer, since they are small and
untaught, without knowledge having dared these things, and not having
understood that light has fellowship with light, and darkness with
darkness, and the corruptible with the perishable, and the imperishable
with the incorruptible.
Now these things I have presented to you - I am Jesus Christ, the Son
of Man, who is exalted above the heavens - O perfect and incorruptible
ones, because of the incorruptible and perfect mystery and the
ineffable one. But they think that we decreed them before the
foundation of the world, in order that, when we emerge from the places
of the world, we may present there the symbols of incorruption from the
spiritual union unto knowledge. You do not know it, because the fleshly
cloud overshadows you. But I alone am the friend of Sophia. I have been
in the bosom of the father from the beginning, in the place of the sons
of the truth, and the Greatness. Rest then with me, my fellow spirits
and my brothers, forever.
Second Treatise of the Great Seth
The Sophia of Jesus Christ
The Sophia (Wisdom) of Jesus Christ.
After he rose from the dead, his twelve disciples and seven women
continued to be his followers, and went to Galilee onto the mountain
called "Divination and Joy". When they gathered together and were
perplexed about the underlying reality of the universe and the plan,
and the holy providence, and the power of the authorities, and about
everything the Savior is doing with them in the secret of the holy
plan, the Savior appeared - not in his previous form, but in the
invisible spirit. And his likeness resembles a great angel of light.
But his resemblance I must not describe. No mortal flesh could endure
it, but only pure, perfect flesh, like that which he taught us about on
the mountain called "Of the Olives" in Galilee.
And he said: "Peace be to you, My peace I give you!" And they all
marveled and were afraid. The Savior laughed and said to them: "What
are you thinking about? Are you perplexed? What are you searching for?"
Philip said: "For the underlying reality of the universe and the plan."
The Savior said to them: "I want you to know that all men are born on
earth from the foundation of the world until now, being dust, while
they have inquired about God, who he is and what he is like, have not
found him. Now the wisest among them have speculated from the ordering
of the world and (its) movement. But their speculation has not reached
the truth. For it is said that the ordering is directed in three ways,
by all the philosophers, (and) hence they do not agree. For some of
them say about the world that it is directed by itself. Others, that it
is providence (that directs it). Others, that it is fate. But it is
none of these. Again, of the three voices I have just mentioned, none
is close to the truth, and (they are) from man. But I, who came from
Infinite Light, I am here - for I know him (Light) - that I might speak
to you about the precise nature of the truth. For whatever is from
itself is a polluted life; it is self-made. Providence has no wisdom in
it. And fate does not discern. But to you it is given to know; and
whoever is worthy of knowledge will receive (it), whoever has not been
begotten by the sowing of unclean rubbing but by First Who Was Sent,
for he is an immortal in the midst of mortal men."
Matthew said to him: "Lord, no one can find the truth except through
you. Therefore teach us the truth."
The Savior said: "He Who Is is ineffable. No principle knew him, no
authority, no subjection, nor any creature from the foundation of the
world until now, except he alone, and anyone to whom he wants to make
revelation through him who is from First Light. From now on, I am the
Great Savior. For he is immortal and eternal. Now he is eternal, having
no birth; for everyone who has birth will perish. He is unbegotten,
having no beginning; for everyone who has a beginning has an end. Since
no one rules over him, he has no name; for whoever has a name is the
creation of another."
(BG 84, 13-17 adds: He is unnameable. He has no human form; for whoever
has human form is the creation of another).
"And he has a semblance of his own - not like what you have seen and
received, but a strange semblance that surpasses all things and is
better than the universe. It looks to every side and sees itself from
itself. Since it is infinite, he is ever incomprehensible. He is
imperishable and has no likeness (to anything). He is unchanging good.
He is faultless. He is eternal. He is blessed. While he is not known,
he ever knows himself. He is immeasurable. He is untraceable. He is
perfect, having no defect. He is imperishability blessed. He is called
'Father of the Universe'".
Philip said: "Lord, how, then, did he appear to the perfect ones?"
The perfect Savior said to him: "Before anything is visible of those
that are visible, the majesty and the authority are in him, since he
embraces the whole of the totalities, while nothing embraces him. For
he is all mind. And he is thought and considering and reflecting and
rationality and power. They all are equal powers. They are the sources
of the totalities. And their whole race from first to last was in his
foreknowledge, (that of) the infinite, unbegotten Father."
Thomas said to him: "Lord, Savior, why did these come to be, and why
were these revealed?"
The perfect Savior said: "I came from the Infinite that I might tell
you all things. Spirit-Who-Is was the begetter, who had the power
a begetter and a form-giver`s nature, that the great wealth that was
hidden in him might be revealed. Because of his mercy and his love, he
wished to bring forth fruit by himself, that he might not his
goodness alone, but (that) other spirits of the Unwavering Generation
might bring forth body and fruit, glory and honor, in imperishableness
and his infinite grace, that his treasure might be revealed by
Self-begotten God, the father of every imperishableness and those that
came to be afterward. But they had not yet come to visibility. Now a
great difference exists among the imperishables."
He called out, saying: "Whoever has ears to hear about the infinities,
let him hear!"; and "I have addressed those who are awake." Still he
continued and said: "Everything that came from the perishable will
perish, since it came from the perishable. But whatever came from
imperishableness does not perish but becomes imperishable. So, many men
went astray because they had not known this difference and they died."
Mary said to him: "Lord, then how will we know that?"
The perfect Savior said: "Come (you) from invisible things to the end
of those that are visible, and the very emanation of Thought will
reveal to you how faith in those things that are not visible was found
in those that are visible, those that belong to Unbegotten Father.
Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!
"The Lord of the Universe is not called 'Father', but 'Forefather', the
beginning of those that will appear, but he (the Lord) is the
beginningless Forefather. Seeing himself within himself in a mirror, he
appeared resembling himself, but his likeness appeared as Divine
Self-Father, and Confronter over the Confronted ones, First
Existent Unbegotten Father. He is indeed of equal age the Light
that is before him, but he is not equal to him in power.
"And afterward was revealed a whole multitude of confronting,
self-begotten ones, equal in age and power, being in glory (and)
without number, whose race is called 'The Generation over Whom There Is
No Kingdom' from the one in whom you yourselves have appeared from
these men. And that whole multitude over which there is no kingdom is
called 'Sons of Unbegotten Father, God, Savior, Son of God,' whose
likeness is with you. Now he is the unknowable, who is full of
ever-imperishable glory and ineffable joy. They all are at rest in him,
ever rejoicing in ineffable joy in his unchanging glory and measureless
jubilation; this was never heard or known among all the aeons and their
worlds until now."
Matthew said to him: "Lord, Savior, how was Man revealed?"
The perfect Savior said: "I want you to know that he who appeared
before the universe in infinity, Self-grown, Self-constructed Father,
being full of shining light and ineffable, in the beginning, when he
decided to have his likeness become a great power, immediately the
principle (or beginning) of that Light appeared as Immortal Androgynous
Man, that through that Immortal Androgynous Man they might attain their
salvation and awake from forgetfulness through the interpreter who was
sent, who is with you until the end of the poverty of the robbers.
"And his consort is the Great Sophia, who from the first was destined
in him for union by Self-begotten Father, from Immortal Man, who
appeared as First and divinity and kingdom, for the Father, who is
called 'Man, Self-Father', revealed this. And he created a great aeon,
whose name is 'Ogdoad', for his own majesty.
"He was given great authority, and he ruled over the creation of
poverty. He created gods and angels, archangels, myriads without
number for retinue, from that Light and the tri-male Spirit, which is
that of Sophia, his consort. For from this, God originated divinity and
kingdom. Therefore he was called 'God of gods' and 'King of kings'.
"First Man has his unique mind, within, and thought - just as he is it
(thought) - (and) considering, reflecting, rationality, power. All the
attributes that exist are perfect and immortal. In respect to
imperishableness, they are indeed equal. (But) in respect to power,
they are different, like the difference between father and son <, and
son> and thought, and the thought and the remainder. As I said earlier,
among the things that were created, the monad is first.
"And after everything, all that was revealed appeared from his power.
And from what was created, all that was fashioned appeared; from what
was fashioned appeared what was formed; from what was formed, what was
named. Thus came the difference among the unbegotten ones from
beginning to end."
Then Bartholomew said to him: "How (is it that) was designated in
the Gospel 'Man' and 'Son of Man'? To which of them, then, is this Son
related?"
The Holy One said to him: "I want you to know that First Man is called
'Begetter, Self-perfected Mind'. He reflected with Great Sophia, his
consort, and revealed his first-begotten, androgynous son. His male
name is designated 'First Begetter, Son of God', his female name,
'First Begettress Sophia, Mother of the Universe'. Some call her
'Love'. Now First-begotten is called 'Christ'. Since he has authority
from his father, he created a multitude of angels without number for
retinue from Spirit and Light."
His disciples said to him: "Lord, reveal to us about the one called
'Man', that we also may know his glory exactly."
The perfect Savior said: "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. First
Begetter Father is called 'Adam, Eye of Light,' because he came from
shining Light, and his holy angels, who are ineffable (and) shadowless,
ever rejoice with joy in their reflecting, which they received from
their Father. The whole Kingdom of Son of Man, who is called 'Son of
God,' is full of ineffable and shadowless joy, and unchanging
jubilation, (they) rejoicing over his imperishable glory, which has
never been heard until now, nor has it been revealed in the aeons that
came afterward, and their worlds. I came from Self-begotten and First
Infinite Light, that I might reveal everything to you."
Again, his disciples said: "Tell us clearly how they came down from the
invisibilities, from the immortal to the world that dies?"
The perfect Savior said: "Son of Man consented with Sophia, his
consort, and revealed a great androgynous light. His male name is
designated 'Savior, Begetter of All Things'. His female name is
designated 'All-Begettress Sophia'. Some call her 'Pistis'.
"All who come into the world, like a drop from the Light, are sent by
him to the world of Almighty, that they might be guarded by him. And
the bond of his forgetfulness bound him by the will of Sophia, that the
matter might be through it to the whole world in poverty,
concerning his (Almighty's) arrogance and blindness and the ignorance
that he was named. But I came from the places above by the will of the
great Light, (I) who escaped from that bond; I have cut off the work of
the robbers; I have awakened that drop that was sent from Sophia, that
it might bear much fruit through me, and be perfected and not again be
defective, but be through me, the Great Savior, that his glory
might be revealed, so that Sophia might also be justified in regard to
that defect, that her sons might not again become defective but might
attain honor and glory and go up to their Father, and know the words of
the masculine Light. And you were sent by the Son, who was sent that
you might receive Light, and remove yourselves from the forgetfulness
of the authorities, and that it might not again come to appearance
because of you, namely, the unclean rubbing that is from the fearful
fire that came from their fleshly part. Tread upon their malicious
intent."
Then Thomas said to him: "Lord, Savior, how many are the aeons of those
who surpass the heavens?"
The perfect Savior said: "I praise you (pl.) because you ask about the
great aeons, for your roots are in the infinities. Now when those whom
I have discussed earlier were revealed, he provided ....
[pages 109 and 110 are missing, replaced here by the corresponding
section in the Berlin Gnostic Codex (no.8502), the beginning of which
is somewhat different from the final partial sentence of III 108 (the
broken off sentence)]
[BG107]: "Now when those whom I have discussed earlier were revealed,
Self-begetter Father very soon created twelve aeons for retinue for the
twelve angels. All these are perfect and good. Thus the defect in the
female appeared."
And said to him: "How many are the aeons of the immortals,
starting from the infinities?"
The perfect Savior said: "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear. The
first aeon is that of Son of Man, who is called 'First Begetter', who
is called 'Savior', who has appeared. The second aeon (is) that of Man,
who is called 'Adam, Eye of Light'. That which embraces these is the
aeon over which there is no kingdom, (the aeon) of the Eternal Infinite
God, the Self-begotten aeon of the aeons that are in it, (the aeon) of
the immortals, whom I described earlier, (the aeon) above the Seventh,
that appeared from Sophia, which is the first aeon.
"Now Immortal Man revealed aeons and powers and kingdoms, and gave
authority to all who appear in him, that they might exercise their
desires until the last things that are above chaos. For these consented
with each other and revealed every magnificence, even from spirit,
multitudinous lights that are glorious and without number. These were
called in the beginning, that is, the first aeon and and
. The first called 'Unity and Rest'. Each one has its
(own) name; for the aeon was designated 'Assembly' from the
great multitude that appeared: in one, a multitude revealed themselves.
Now because the multitudes gather and come to a unity we call them
'Assembly of the Eighth.'It appeared as androgynous and was name partly
as male and partly as female. The male is called 'Assembly', while the
female is called 'Life', that it might be shown that from a female came
the life for all the aeons. And every name was received, starting from
the beginning.
"For from his concurrence with his thought, the powers very soon
appeared who were called 'gods'; and the gods of the gods from their
wisdom revealed gods; from their wisdom revealed lords;
and the lords of the lords from their thinkings revealed lords; and the
lords from their power revealed archangels; the archangels from their
words revealed angels; from them, semblances appeared, with structure
and form and name for all the aeons and their worlds.
"And the immortals, whom I have just described, all have authority from
Immortal Man, who is called 'Silence', because by reflecting without
speech all her own majesty was perfected. For since the
imperishabilities had the authority, each created a great kingdom in
the Eighth, (and) also thrones and temples (and) firmaments for their
own majesties. For these all came by the will of the Mother of the
Universe."
Then the Holy Apostles said to him: "Lord, Savior, tell us about those
who are in the aeons, since it is necessary for us to ask about them."
The perfect Savior said: "If you ask about anything, I will tell you.
They created hosts of angels, myriads without number, for retinue and
their glory. They created virgin spirits, the ineffable and
unchangeable lights. For they have no sickness nor weakness, but it is
will. [BG 115,14 adds here: And they came to be in an instant.]
"Thus the aeons were completed quickly in the heavens and the
firmaments in the glory of Immortal Man and Sophia, his consort: the
area from which every aeon and the world and those that came afterward
took (their) pattern for their creation of likenesses in the heavens of
chaos and their worlds. And all natures, starting from the revelation
of chaos, are in the Light that shines without shadow, and joy that
cannot be described, and unutterable jubilation. They ever delight
themselves on account of their unchanging glory and the immeasurable
rest, which cannot be described among all the aeons that came to be
afterward, and all their powers. Now all that I have just said to you,
I said that you might shine in Light more than these."
Mary said to him: "Holy Lord, where did your disciples come from, and
where are they going, and (what) should they do here?"
The Perfect Savior said to them: "I want you to know that Sophia, the
Mother of the Universe and the consort, desired by herself to bring
these to existence without her male (consort). But by the will of the
Father of the Universe, that his unimaginable goodness might be
revealed, he created that curtain between the immortals and those that
came afterward, that the consequence might follow ... [BG 118:] ...
every aeon and chaos - that the defect of the female might ,
and it might come about that Error would contend with her. And these
became the curtain of spirit. From aeons above the emanations of
Light, as I have said already, a drop from Light and Spirit came down
to the lower regions of Almighty in chaos, that their molded forms
might appear from that drop, for it is a judgment on him,
Arch-Begetter, who is called 'Yaldabaoth'. That drop revealed their
molded forms through the breath, as a living soul. It was withered and
it slumbered in the ignorance of the soul. When it became hot from the
breath of the Great Light of the Male, and it took thought, (then)
names were received by all who are in the world of chaos, and all
things that are in it through that Immortal One, when the breath blew
into him. But when this came about by the will of Mother Sophia - so
that Immortal Man might piece together the garments there for a
judgment on the robbers - then welcomed the blowing of that
breath; but since he was soul-like, he was not able to take that power
for himself until the number of chaos should be complete, (that is,)
when the time determined by the great angel is complete.
"Now I have taught you about Immortal Man and have loosed the bonds of
the robbers from him. I have broken the gates of the pitiless ones in
their presence. I have humiliated their malicious intent, and they all
have been shamed and have risen from their ignorance. Because of this,
then, I came here, that they might be joined with that Spirit and
Breath, [III continues:] and might from two become one, just as from
the first, that you might yield much fruit and go up to Him Who Is from
the Beginning, in ineffable joy and glory and honor and grace of the
Father of the Universe.
"Whoever, then, knows the Father in pure knowledge will depart to the
Father and repose in Unbegotten Father. But whoever knows him
defectively will depart to the defect and the rest of the Eighth. Now
whoever knows Immortal Spirit of Light in silence, through reflecting
and consent in the truth, let him bring me signs of the Invisible One,
and he will become a light in the Spirit of Silence. Whoever knows Son
of Man in knowledge and love, let him bring me a sign of Son of Man,
that he might depart to the dwelling-places with those in the Eighth.
"Behold, I have revealed to you the name of the Perfect One, the whole
will of the Mother of the Holy Angels, that the masculine multitude may
be completed here, that there might appear in the aeons, the infinities
and those that came to be in the untraceable wealth of the Great
Invisible Spirit, that they all might take from his goodness, even the
wealth of their rest that has no kingdom over it. I came from First Who
Was Sent, that I might reveal to you Him Who Is from the Beginning,
because of the arrogance of Arch-Begetter and his angels, since they
say about themselves that they are gods. And I came to remove them from
their blindness, that I might tell everyone about the God who is above
the universe. Therefore, tread upon their graves, humiliate their
malicious intent, and break their yoke and arouse my own. I have given
you authority over all things as Sons of Light, that you might tread
upon their power with your feet."
These are the things the blessed Savior said, and he disappeared from
them. Then all the disciples were in great, ineffable joy in the spirit
from that day on. And his disciples began to preach the Gospel of God,
the eternal, imperishable Spirit. Amen.
The Sophia of Jesus
The Teachings of Silvanus
Abolish every childish time of life, acquire for yourself strength of
mind and soul, and intensify the struggle against every folly of the
passions of love and base wickedness, and love of praise, and fondness
of contention, and tiresome jealousy and wrath, and anger and the
desire of avarice. Guard your (pl.) camp and weapons and spears. Arm
yourself and all the soldiers, which are the words, and the commanders,
which are the counsels, and your mind as a guiding principle.
My son, throw every robber out of your gates. Guard all your gates with
torches, which are the words, and you will acquire through all these
things a quiet life. But he who will not guard these things will become
like a city which is desolate, since it has been captured. All kinds of
wild beasts have trampled upon it, for thoughts which are not good are
evil wild beasts. And your city will be filled with robbers, and you
will not be able to acquire peace, but only all kinds of savage wild
beasts. The Wicked One, who is a tyrant, is lord over these. While
directing this, he (the Wicked One) is beneath the great mire. The
whole city, which is your soul, will perish.
Remove yourself from these things, O wretched soul! Bring your guide
and your teacher. The mind is the guide, but reason is the teacher.
They will bring you out of destruction and dangers.
Listen, my son, to my advice! Do not show your back to enemies and
flee, but rather, pursue them as a strong one. Be not an animal, with
men pursuing you; but rather, be a man, with you pursuing the evil wild
beasts, lest somehow they become victorious over you and trample upon
you as on a dead man, and you perish due to their wickedness.
Oh wretched man, what will you do if you fall into their hands? Protect
yourself, lest you be delivered into the hands of your enemies. Entrust
yourself to this pair of friends, reason and mind, and no one will be
victorious over you. May God dwell in your camp, may his Spirit protect
your gates, and may the mind of Divinity protect the walls. Let holy
reason become a torch in your mind, burning the wood which is the whole
of sin.
And if you do these things, O my son, you will be victorious over all
your enemies, and they will not be able to wage war against you,
neither will they be able to resist, nor will they be able to get in
your way. For if you find these, you will despise them as deniers of
truth. They will speak to you, cajoling you and enticing (you), not
because they are afraid of you, but because they are afraid of those
who dwell within you, namely, the guardians of the divinity and the
teaching.
My son, accept the education and the teaching. Do not flee from the
education and the teaching, but when you are taught, accept (it) with
joy. And if you are educated in any matter, do what is good. You will
plait a crown of education by your guiding principle. Put on the holy
teaching like a robe. Make yourself noble-minded through good conduct.
Obtain the austerity of good discipline. Judge yourself like a wise
judge. Do not go astray from my teaching, and do not acquire ignorance,
lest you lead your people astray. Do not flee from the divine and the
teaching which are within you, for he who is teaching you loves you
very much. For he shall bequeath to you a worthy austerity. Cast out
the animal nature which is within you, and do not allow base thought to
enter you. For ... you know the way which I teach.
If it is good to rule over the few, as you see it, how much better it
is that you rule over everyone, since you are exalted above every
congregation and every people, (are) prominent in every respect, and
(are) a divine reason, having become master over every power which
kills the soul.
My son, does anyone want to be a slave? Why, then, do you trouble
yourself wrongly?
My son, do not fear anyone except God alone, the Exalted One. Cast the
deceitfulness of the Devil from you. Accept the light for your eyes,
and cast the darkness from you. Live in Christ, and you will acquire a
treasure in heaven. Do not become a sausage (made) of many things which
are useless, and do not become a guide in your blind ignorance.
My son, listen to my teaching, which is good and useful, and end the
sleep which weighs heavily upon you. Depart from the forgetfulness
which fills you with darkness, since if you were unable to do anything,
I would not have said these things to you. But Christ has come in order
to give you this gift. Why do you pursue the darkness when the light is
at your disposal? Why do you drink stale water, though sweet wine is
available for you? Wisdom summons you, yet you desire folly. Not by
your own desire do you do these things, but it is the animal nature
within you that does them.
Wisdom summons you in her goodness, saying, "Come to Me, all of you, O
foolish ones, that you may receive a gift, the understanding which is
good and excellent. I am giving to you a high-priestly garment which is
woven from every (kind of) wisdom." What else is evil death except
ignorance? What else is evil darkness except familiarity with
forgetfulness? Cast your anxiety upon God alone. Do not become desirous
of gold and silver, which are profitless, but clothe yourself with
wisdom like a robe; put knowledge on yourself like a crown, and be
seated upon a throne of perception. For these are yours, and you will
receive them again on high another time.
For a foolish man usually puts on folly like a robe, and like a garment
of sorrow, he puts on shame. And he crowns himself with ignorance, and
takes his seat upon a throne of nescience. For while he is without
reason, he leads only himself astray, for he is guided by ignorance.
And he goes the ways of the desire of every passion. He swims in the
desires of life and has sunk. To be sure, he thinks that he finds
profit when he does all the things which are without profit. The
wretched man who goes through all these things will die, because he
does not have the mind, the helmsman. But he is like a ship which the
wind tosses to and fro, and like a loose horse which has no rider. For
this (man) needed the rider, which is reason. For the wretched one went
astray because he did not want advice. He was thrown to and fro by
these three misfortunes: he acquired death as a father, ignorance as a
mother, and evil counsels - he acquired them as friends and brothers.
Therefore, foolish one, you should mourn for yourself.
From now on, then, my son, return to your divine nature. Cast from you
these evil, deceiving friends! Accept Christ, this true friend, as a
good teacher. Cast from you death, which has become a father to you.
For death did not exist, nor will it exist at the end.
But since you cast from yourself God, the holy Father, the true Life,
the Spring of Life, therefore you have obtained death as a father and
have acquired ignorance as a mother. They have robbed you of the true
knowledge.
But return, my son, to your first father, God, and Wisdom, your Mother,
from whom you came into being from the very first in order that you
might fight against all of your enemies, the Powers of the Adversary.
Listen, my son, to my advice. Do not be arrogant in opposition to every
good opinion, but take for yourself the side of the divinity of reason.
Keep the holy commandments of Jesus Christ, and you will reign over
every place on earth, and will be honored by the angels and archangels.
Then you will acquire them as friends and fellow servants, and you will
acquire places in heaven above.
Do not bring grief and trouble to the divine which is within you. But
when you will care for it, will request of it that you remain pure, and
will become self-controlled in your soul and body, you will become a
throne of wisdom, and one belonging to God's household. He will give
you a great light through it (wisdom).
But before everything (else), know your birth. Know yourself, that is,
from what substance you are, or from what race, or from what species.
Understand that you have come into being from three races: from the
earth, from the formed, and from the created. The body has come into
being from the earth with an earthly substance, but the formed, for the
sake of the soul, has come into being from the thought of the Divine.
The created, however, is the mind, which has come into being in
conformity with the image of God. The divine mind has substance from
the Divine, but the soul is that which he (God) formed for their own
hearts. For I think that it (the soul) exists as wife of that which has
come into being in conformity with the image, but matter is the
substance of the body, which has come into being from the earth.
If you mix yourself, you will acquire the three parts as you fall from
virtue into inferiority. Live according to the Mind. Do not think about
things pertaining to the flesh. Acquire strength, for the mind is
strong. If you fall from this other, you have become male-female. And
if you cast out of yourself the substance of the mind, which is
thought, you have cut off the male part, and turned yourself to the
female part alone. You have become psychic, since you have received the
substance of the formed. If you cast out the smallest part of this, so
that you do not acquire again a human part - but you have accepted for
yourself the animal thought and likeness - you have become fleshly,
since you have taken on animal nature. For (if) it is difficult to find
a psychical man, how much more so to find the Lord?
But I say that God is the spiritual one. Man has taken shape from the
substance of God. The divine soul shares partly in this one;
furthermore, it shares partly in the flesh. The base soul is wont to
turn from side to side, [...] which it images the truth.
It is good for you, O man, to turn yourself toward the human, rather
than toward the animal nature - I mean toward the fleshly. You will
take on the likeness of the part toward which you will turn yourself.
I shall say something further to you. Again, for what will you (masc.
sg.) be zealous? Did you (fem. sg.) wish to become animal when you had
come into this kind of nature? But rather, share in a true nature of
life. To be sure, animality will guide you into the race of the earth,
but the rational nature will guide you in rational ways. Turn toward
the rational nature, and cast from yourself the earth-begotten nature.
O soul, persistent one, be sober and shake off your drunkenness, which
is the work of ignorance. If you persist and live in the body, you
dwell in rusticity. When you entered into a bodily birth, you were
begotten. Come into being inside the bridal chamber! Be illuminated in
mind!
My son, do not swim in any water, and do not allow yourself to be
defiled by strange kinds of knowledge. Certainly you know that the
schemes of the Adversary are not few, and (that) the tricks which he
has are varied? Especially has the noetic man been robbed of the
intelligence of the snake. For it is fitting for you to be in agreement
with the intelligence of (these) two: with the intelligence of the
snake and with the innocence of the dove - lest he (the Adversary) come
into you in the guise of a flatterer, as a true friend, saying, "I
advise good things for you."
But you did not recognize the deceitfulness of this one when you
received him as a true friend. For he casts into your heart evil
thoughts as good ones, and hypocrisy in the guise of true wisdom,
avidity in the guise of conservative frugality, love of glory in the
guise of that which is beautiful, boastfulness and pride in the guise
of great austerity, and godlessness as great godliness. For he who
says, "I have many gods," is godless. And he casts spurious knowledge
into your heart in the guise of mysterious words. Who will be able to
comprehend his thoughts and devices, which are varied, since he is a
Great Mind for those who wish to accept him as king?
My son, how will you be able to comprehend the schemes of this one, or
his soul-killing counsel? For his devices, and the schemes of his
wickedness, are many. And think about his entrances, that is, how he
will enter your soul, and in what garment he will enter you.
Accept Christ, who is able to set you free, and who has taken on the
devices of that one, so that through these he might destroy him by
deceit. For this is the king whom you have who is forever invincible,
against whom no one will be able to fight nor say a word. This is your
king and your father, for there is no one like him. The divine teacher
is with you always. He is a helper, and he meets you because of the
good which is in you.
Do not put maliciousness in your judgment, for every malicious man
harms his heart. For only a foolish man is wont to his destruction, but
a wise man knows his way.
And a foolish man does not guard against speaking (a) mystery: A wise
man (however) does not blurt out every word, but he will be
discriminating toward those who hear. Do not mention everything in the
presence of those whom you do not know.
Have a great number of friends, but not counselors. First, examine your
counselor, for do not honor anyone who flatters. Their word, to be
sure, is sweet as honey, but their heart is full of hellebore. For
whenever they think that they have become a reliable friend, then they
will deceitfully turn against you, and they will cast you down into the
mire.
Do not trust anyone as a friend, for this whole world has come into
being deceitfully, and every man is troubled in vain. All things of the
world are not profitable, but they happen in vain. There is no one, not
even a brother (who is trustworthy), since each one is seeking his own
advantage.
My son, do not have anyone as a friend, but if you do acquire one, do
not entrust yourself to him. Entrust yourself to God alone as father
and as friend. For everyone proceeds deceitfully, while the whole earth
is full of suffering and pain - things in which there is no profit. If
you wish to pass your life in quiet, do not keep company with anyone.
And if you do keep company with them, be as if you do not. Be pleasing
to God, and you will not need anyone.
Live with Christ and he will save you. For he is the true light and the
sun of life. For just as the sun which is visible and makes light for
the eyes of the flesh, so Christ illuminates every mind and the heart.
For (if) a wicked man (who is) in the body (has) an evil death, how
much more so (does) he who has his mind blind. For every blind man goes
along in such a way that he is seen just as one who does not have his
mind sane. He does not delight in acquiring the light of Christ, which
is reason.
For everything which is visible is a copy of that which is hidden. For
as a fire which burns in a place without being confined to it, so it is
with the sun which is in the sky, all of whose rays extend to places on
the earth. Similarly, Christ has a single being, and he gives light to
every place. This is also the way in which he speaks of our mind, as if
it were a lamp which burns and lights up the place. (Being) in a part
of the soul, it gives light to all the parts.
Furthermore, I shall speak of what is more exalted than this: the mind,
with respect to actual being, is in a place, which means it is in the
body; but with respect to thought, the mind is not in a place. For how
can it be in a place, when it contemplates every place?
But we are able to mention what is more exalted than this: for do not
think in your heart that God exists in a place. If you localize the
Lord of all in a place, then it is fitting for you to say that the
place is more exalted than he who dwells in it. For that which contains
is more exalted than that which is contained. For there is no place
which is called incorporeal. For it is not right for us to say that God
is corporeal. For the consequence (would be) that we (must) attribute
both increase and decrease to the corporeal, but also that he (God) who
is subject to these will not remain imperishable.
Now, it is not difficult to know the Creator of all creatures, but it
is impossible to comprehend the likeness of this One. For it is
difficult not only for men to comprehend God, but it is (also)
difficult for every divine being, (both) the angels and the archangels.
It is necessary to know God as he is. You cannot know God through
anyone except Christ, who has the image of the Father, for this image
reveals the true likeness in correspondence to that which is revealed.
A king is not usually known apart from an image.
Consider these things about God: he is in every place; on the other
hand, he is in no place. With respect to power, to be sure, he is in
every place; but with respect to divinity, he is in no place. So then,
it is possible to know God a little. With respect to his power, he
fills every place, but in the exaltation of his divinity, nothing
contains him. Everything is in God, but God is not in anything.
Now what is it to know God? God is all which is in the truth. But it is
as impossible to look at Christ as at the sun. God sees everyone; no
one looks at him. But Christ, without being jealous, receives and
gives. He is the Light of the Father, as he gives light without being
jealous. In this manner he gives light to every place.
And all is Christ, he who has inherited all from the Existent One. For
Christ is the idea of incorruptibility, and he is the Light which is
shining undefiled. For the sun (shines) on every impure place, and yet
it is not defiled. So it is with Christ: even if he is in the
deficiency, yet he is without deficiency. And even if he has been
begotten, he is (still) unbegotten. So it is with Christ: if, on the
one hand, he is comprehensible, on the other, he is incomprehensible
with respect to his actual being. Christ is all. He who does not
possess all is unable to know Christ.
My son, do not dare to say a word about this One, and do not confine
the God of all to mental images. For he who condemns may not be
condemned by the one who condemns. Indeed, it is good to ask and to
know who God is. Reason and mind are male names. Indeed, let him who
wishes to know about this One, quietly and reverently ask. For there is
no small danger in speaking about these things, since you know that you
will be judged on the basis of everything that you say.
And understand by this that he who is in darkness will not be able to
see anything unless he receives the light and recovers (his) sight by
means of it. Examine yourself (to see) whether you wholly have the
light, so that, if you ask about these things, you may understand how
you will escape. For many are seeking in darkness, and they grope
about, wishing to understand, since there is no light for them.
My son, do not allow your mind to stare downward, but rather, let it
look by means of the light at things above. For the light will always
come from above. Even if it (the mind) is upon the earth, let it seek
to pursue the things above. Enlighten your mind with the light of
heaven, so that you may turn to the light of heaven.
Do not tire of knocking on the door of reason, and do not cease walking
in the way of Christ. Walk in it so that you may receive rest from your
labors. If you walk in another way, there will be no profit in it. For
also those who walk in the broad way will go down at their end to the
perdition of the mire. For the Underworld is open wide for the soul,
and the place of perdition is broad. Accept Christ, the narrow way. For
he is oppressed and bears affliction for your sin.
O soul, persistent one, in what ignorance you exist! For who is your
guide into the darkness? How many likenesses did Christ take on because
of you! Although he was God, he was found among men as a man. He
descended to the Underworld. He released the children of death. They
were in travail, as the scripture of God has said. And he sealed up the
(very) heart of it (the Underworld). And he broke its (the
Underworld's) strong bows completely. And when all the powers had seen
him, they fled, so that he might bring you, wretched one, up from the
Abyss, and might die for you as a ransom for your sin. He saved you
from the strong hand of the Underworld.
But you, yourself, difficult (though it be) give to him your
fundamental assent with (even so much as) a hint that he may take you
up with joy! Now the fundamental choice, which is humility of heart, is
the gift of Christ. A contrite heart is the acceptable sacrifice. If
you humble yourself, you will be greatly exalted; and if you exalt
yourself, you will be exceedingly humbled.
My son, guard yourself against wickedness, and do not let the Spirit of
Wickedness cast you down into the Abyss. For he is mad and bitter. He
is terrifying, and he casts everyone down into a pit of mire.
It is a great and good thing not to love fornication, and not even to
think of the wretched matter at all, for to think of it is death. It is
not good for any man to fall into death. For a soul which has been
found in death will be without reason. For it is better not to live
than to acquire an animal's life. Protect yourself, lest you are burned
by the fires of fornication. For many who are submerged in fire are its
servants, whom you do not know as your enemies.
O my son, strip off the old garment of fornication, and put on the
garment which is clean and shining, that you may be beautiful in it.
But when you have this garment, protect it well. Release yourself from
every bond, so that you may acquire freedom. If you cast out of
yourself the desire whose devices are many, you will release yourself
from the sins of lust.
Listen, O soul, to my advice. Do not become a den of foxes and snakes,
nor a hole of serpents and asps, nor a dwelling place of lions, or a
place of refuge of basilisk-snakes. When these things happen to you, O
soul, what will you do? For these are the powers of the Adversary.
Everything which is dead will come into you through them (the powers).
For their food is everything which is dead, and every unclean thing.
For when these are within you, what living thing will come into you?
The living angels will detest you. You were a temple, (but) you have
made yourself a tomb. Cease being a tomb, and become (again) a temple,
so that uprightness and divinity may remain in you.
Light the light within you. Do not extinguish it! Certainly, no one
lights a lamp for wild beasts or their young. Raise your dead who have
died, for they lived and have died for you. Give them life. They shall
live again!
For the Tree of Life is Christ. He is Wisdom. For he is Wisdom; he is
also the Word. he is the Life, the Power, and the Door. He is the
Light, the Angel, and the Good Shepherd. Entrust yourself to this one
who became all for your sake.
Knock on yourself as upon a door, and walk upon yourself as on a
straight road. For if you walk on the road, it is impossible for you to
go astray. And if you knock with this one (Wisdom), you knock on hidden
treasures.
For since he (Christ) is Wisdom, he makes the foolish man wise. He
(Wisdom) is a holy kingdom and a shining robe. For it (Wisdom) is much
gold, which gives you great honor. The Wisdom of God became a type of
fool for you, so that it might take you up, O foolish one, and make you
a wise man. And the Life died for you when he was powerless, so that
through his death, he might give life to you who have died.
Entrust yourself to reason and remove yourself from animalism. For the
animal which has no reason is made manifest. For many think that they
have reason, but if you look at them attentively, their speech is
animalistic.
Give yourself gladness from the true vine of Christ. Satisfy yourself
with the true wine, in which there is no drunkenness nor error. For it
(the true wine) marks the end of drinking, since there is usually in it
what gives joy to the soul and the mind, through the Spirit of God. But
first, nurture your reasoning powers before you drink of it (the true
wine).
Do not pierce yourself with the sword of sin. Do not burn yourself, O
wretched one, with the fire of lust. Do not surrender yourself to
barbarians like a prisoner, nor to savage beasts which want to trample
upon you. For they are as lions which roar very loudly. Be not dead
lest they trample upon you. You shall be man! It is possible for you
through reasoning to conquer them.
But the man who does nothing is unworthy of (being called) rational
man. The rational man is he who fears God. He who fears God does
nothing insolent. And he who guards himself against doing anything
insolent is one who keeps his guiding principle. Although he is a man
who exists on earth, he makes himself like God.
But he who makes himself like God is one who does nothing unworthy of
God, according to the statement of Paul, who has become like Christ.
For who shows reverence for God while not wanting to do things which
are pleasing to him? For piety is that which is from the heart, and
piety from the heart (characterizes) every soul which is near to God.
The soul which is a member of God's household is one which is kept
pure, and the soul which has put on Christ is one which is pure. It is
impossible for it to sin. Now where Christ is, there sin is idle.
Let Christ alone enter your world, and let him bring to naught all
powers which have come upon you. Let him enter the temple which is
within you, so that he may cast out all the merchants. Let him dwell in
the temple which is within you, and may you become for him a priest and
a Levite, entering in purity.
Blessed are you, O soul, if you find this one in your temple.
Blessed are you still more if you perform his service.
But he who will defile the temple of God, that one God will destroy.
For you lay yourself open, O man, if you cast this one out of your
temple. For whenever the enemies do not see Christ in you, then they
will come into you armed in order to crush you.
O my son, I have given you orders concerning these things many times so
that you would always guard your soul. It is not you who will cast him
(Christ) out, but he will cast you out. For if you flee from him, you
will fall into great sin. Again, if you flee from him, you will become
food for your enemies. For all base persons flee from their lord, and
the (man) base in virtue and wisdom flees from Christ. For every man
who is separated (from him) falls into the claws of wild beasts.
Know who Christ is, and acquire him as a friend, for this is the friend
who is faithful. He is also God and Teacher. This one, being God,
became man for your sake. It is this one who broke the iron bars of the
Underworld, and the bronze bolts. It is this one who attacked and cast
down every haughty tyrant. It is he who loosened from himself the
chains of which he had taken hold. He brought up the poor from the
Abyss and the mourners from the Underworld. It is he who humbled the
haughty powers; he who put to shame haughtiness through humility; he
who has cast down the strong and the boaster through weakness; he who,
in his contempt, scorned that which is considered an honor, so that
humility for God's sake might be highly exalted; (and) he who has put
on humanity.
And yet, the divine Word is God, he who bears patiently with man
always. He wished to produce humility in the exalted. He (Christ), who
has exalted man became like God, not in order that he might bring God
down to man, but that man might become like God.
O this great goodness of God! O Christ, King, who has revealed to men
the Great Divinity, King of every virtue and King of life, King of ages
and Great One of the heavens, hear my words and forgive me!
Furthermore, he manifested a great zeal for Divinity.
Where is a man (who is) wise or powerful in intelligence, or a man
whose devices are many because he knows wisdom? Let him speak wisdom;
let him utter great boasting! For every man has become a fool and has
spoken out of his (own) knowledge. For he (Christ) confounded the
counsels of guileful people, and he prevailed over those wise in their
own understanding.
Who will be able to discover the counsel of the Almighty, or to speak
of the Divinity, or to proclaim it correctly? If we have not even been
able to understand the counsels of our companions, who will be able to
comprehend the Divinity, or the divinities of the heavens? If we
scarcely find things on earth, who will search for the things of
heaven? A great power and great glory has made the world known.
And the Life of Heaven wishes to renew all, that he may cast out that
which is weak, and every black form, that everyone may shine forth in
heavenly garments in order to make manifest the command of the Father
(who) is exceedingly brilliant, and that he (Christ) may crown those
wishing to contend well. Christ, being judge of the contest, is he who
crowned every one, teaching every one to contend. This one who
contended first received the crown, gained dominion, and appeared,
giving light to everyone. And all were made new through the Holy Spirit
and the Mind.
O Lord Almighty, how much glory shall I give Thee? No one has been able
to glorify God adequately. It is Thou who hast given glory to Thy Word
in order to save everyone, O Merciful God. (It is) he who has come from
Thy mouth and has risen from Thy heart, the First-born, the Wisdom, the
Prototype, the First Light.
For he is light from the power of God, and he is an emanation of the
pure glory of the Almighty. He is the spotless mirror of the working of
God, and he is the image of his goodness. For he is also the light of
the Eternal Light. He is the eye which looks at the invisible Father,
always serving and forming by the Father's will. He alone was begotten
by the Father's good pleasure. For he is an incomprehensible Word, and
he is Wisdom and Life. He gives life to, and nourishes, all living
things and powers. Just as the soul gives life to all the members, he
rules all with power and gives life to them. For he is the beginning
and the end of everyone, watching over all and encompassing them. He is
troubled on behalf of everyone, and he rejoices and also mourns. On the
one hand, he mourns for those who have gotten as their lot the place of
punishment; on the other, he is troubled about every one whom he
arduously brings to instruction. But he rejoices over everyone who is
in purity.
Then beware, lest somehow you fall into the hands of robbers. Do not
allow sleep to your eyes nor drowsiness to your eyelids, that you may
be saved like a gazelle from nets, and like a bird from a trap.
Fight the great fight as long as the fight lasts, while all the powers
are staring after you - not only the holy ones, but also all the powers
of the Adversary. Woe to you if you are vanquished in the midst of
every one who is watching you! If you fight the fight and are
victorious over the powers which fight against you, you will bring
great joy to every holy one, and yet great grief to your enemies. Your
judge helps (you) completely, since he wants you to be victorious.
Listen, my son, and do not be slow with your ears. Raise yourself up
when you have left your old man behind like an eagle. Fear God in all
your acts, and glorify him through good work. You know that every man
who is not pleasing to God is the son of perdition. He will go down to
the Abyss of the Underworld.
O this patience of God, which bears with every one, which desires that
every one who has become subject to sin be saved!
But no one prevents him (God) from doing what he wants. For who is
stronger than him, that he may prevent him? To be sure, it is he who
touches the earth, causing it to tremble and also causing the mountains
to smoke. (It is) he who has gathered together such a great sea as in a
leather bag, and has weighed all the water on his scales. Only the hand
of the Lord has created all these things. For this hand of the Father
is Christ, and it forms all. Through it, all has come into being, since
it became the mother of all. For he is always Son of the Father.
Consider these things about God Almighty, who always exists: this One
was not always King, for fear that he might be without a divine Son.
For all dwell in God, (that is), the things which have come into being
through the Word, who is the Son as the image of the Father.
For God is nearby; he is not far off. All divine limits are those which
belong to God's household. Therefore, if the divine agrees with you
partially in anything, know that all of the Divine agrees with you. But
this divine is not pleased with anything evil. For it is this which
teaches all men what is good. This is what God has given to the human
race, so that for this reason every man might be chosen before all the
angels and the archangels.
For God does not need to put any man to the test. He knows all things
before they happen, and he knows the hidden things of the heart. They
are all revealed and found wanting in his presence. Let no one ever say
that God is ignorant. For it is not right to place the Creator of every
creature in ignorance. For even things which are in darkness are before
him like (things in) the light.
So, there is no other one hidden except God alone. But he is revealed
to everyone, and yet he is very hidden. He is revealed because God
knows all. And if they do not wish to affirm it, they will be corrected
by their heart. Now he is hidden because no one perceives the things of
God. For it is incomprehensible and unfathomable to know the counsel of
God. Furthermore, it is difficult to comprehend him, and it is
difficult to find Christ. For he is the one who dwells in every place,
and also he is in no place. For no one who wants to will be able to
know God as he actually is, nor Christ, nor the Spirit, nor the chorus
of angels, nor even the archangels, as well as the thrones of the
spirits, and the exalted lordships, and the Great Mind. If you do not
know yourself, you will not be able to know all of these.
Open the door for yourself, that you may know the One who is. Knock on
yourself, that the Word may open for you. For he is the Ruler of Faith
and the Sharp Sword, having become all for everyone because he wishes
to have mercy on everyone.
My son, prepare yourself to escape from the world-rulers of darkness
and of this kind of air, which is full of powers. But if you have
Christ, you will conquer this entire world. That which you open for
yourself, you will open. That which you knock upon for yourself, you
will knock upon, benefiting yourself.
Help yourself, my son, (by) not proceeding with things in which there
is no profit.
My son, first purify yourself toward the outward life, in order that
you may be able to purify the inward.
And be not as the merchants of the Word of God.
Put all words to the test before you utter them.
Do not wish to acquire honors which are insecure, nor the boastfulness
which brings you to ruin.
Accept the wisdom of Christ, (who is) patient and mild, and guard this,
O my son, knowing that God's way is always profitable.
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior (Ichthus), Wonder Extraordinary
The Testimony of Truth
I will speak to those who know to hear not with the ears of the body
but with the ears of the mind. For many have sought after the truth and
have not been able to find it; because there has taken hold of them the
old leaven of the Pharisees and the scribes of the Law. And the leaven
is the errant desire of the angels and the demons and the stars. As for
the Pharisees and the scribes, it is they who belong to the archons who
have authority over them.
For no one who is under the Law will be able to look up to the truth,
for they will not be able to serve two masters. For the defilement of
the Law is manifest; but undefilement belongs to the light. The Law
commands (one) to take a husband (or) to take a wife, and to beget, to
multiply like the sand of the sea. But passion, which is a delight to
them, constrains the souls of those who are begotten in this place,
those who defile and those who are defiled, in order that the Law might
be fulfilled through them. And they show that they are assisting the
world; and they turn away from the light, who are unable to pass by the
archon of darkness until they pay the last penny.
But the Son of Man came forth from Imperishability, being alien to
defilement. He came to the world by the Jordan river, and immediately
the Jordan turned back. And John bore witness to the descent of Jesus.
For it is he who saw the power which came down upon the Jordan river;
for he knew that the dominion of carnal procreation had come to an end.
The Jordan river is the power of the body, that is, the senses of
pleasures. The water of the Jordan is the desire for sexual
intercourse. John is the archon of the womb.
And this is what the Son of Man reveals to us: It is fitting for you
(pl.) to receive the word of truth, if one will receive it perfectly.
But as for one who is in ignorance, it is difficult for him to diminish
his works of darkness which he has done. Those who have known
Imperishability, however, have been able to struggle against passions
[...]. I have said to you, "Do not build nor gather for yourselves in
the place where the brigands break open, but bring forth fruit to the
Father."
The foolish - thinking in their heart that if they confess, "We are
Christians," in word only (but) not with power, while giving themselves
over to ignorance, to a human death, not knowing where they are going
nor who Christ is, thinking that they will live, when they are (really)
in error - hasten towards the principalities and authorities. They fall
into their clutches because of the ignorance that is in them. For (if)
only words which bear testimony were effecting salvation, the whole
world would endure this thing and would be saved. But it is in this way
that they drew error to themselves. ...
... (3 lines unrecoverable)
... they do not know that they will destroy themselves. If the Father
were to desire a human sacrifice, he would become vainglorious.
For the Son of Man clothed himself with their first-fruits; he went
down to Hades and performed many mighty works. He raised the dead
therein; and the world-rulers of darkness became envious of him, for
they did not find sin in him. But he also destroyed their works from
among men, so that the lame, the blind, the paralytic, the dumb, (and)
the demon-possessed were granted healing. And he walked upon the waters
of the sea. For this reason he destroyed his flesh from [...] which he
[...]. And he became [...] salvation [...] his death ...
... (4 lines unrecoverable)
... everyone [...] how many they are! They are blind guides, like the
disciples. They boarded the ship; at about thirty stadies, they saw
Jesus walking on the sea. These are empty martyrs, since they bear
witness only to themselves. And yet they are sick, and they are not
able to raise themselves.
But when they are "perfected" with a (martyr's) death, this is the
thought that they have within them: "If we deliver ourselves over to
death for the sake of the Name we will be saved." These matters are not
settled in this way. But through the agency of the wandering stars they
say they have "completed" their futile "course", and [...] say, [...].
But these [...] they have delivered themselves ...
... (7 lines unrecoverable)
... but they resemble [...] them. They do not have the word which gives
life.
And some say, "On the last day we will certainly arise in the
resurrection." But they do not know what they are saying, for the last
day is when those belonging to Christ [...] the earth, which is [...].
When the time was fulfilled, he destroyed their archon of darkness
[...] soul(s) ...
... (10 lines unrecoverable)
... he stood [...] they asked what they have been bound with, and how
they might properly release themselves. And they came to know
themselves, who they are, or rather, where they are now, and what is
the place in which they will rest from their senselessness, arriving at
knowledge. These Christ will transfer to the heights, since they have
renounced foolishness (and have) advanced to knowledge. And those who
have knowledge ...
... (11 lines unrecoverable)
... the great [...] resurrection [...], he has to come to know the Son
of Man, that is, he has come to know himself. This is the perfect life,
that man know himself by means of the All.
Do not expect, therefore, the carnal resurrection, which is
destruction; and they are not stripped of it (the flesh) who err in
expecting a resurrection that is empty. They do not know the power of
God, nor do they understand the interpretation of the scriptures, on
account of their double-mindedness. The mystery which the Son of Man
spoke about, [...], in order that [...] destroy ...
... (2 lines unrecoverable)
... man who [...] book, which is written [...] for they have ...
... (1 line unrecoverable)
... blessed [...] within them, and they dwell before God under the
light yoke. Those who do not have the life-giving word in their heart
will die; and in their thought they have become manifest to the Son of
Man, according to the manner of their activity and their error [...] of
this sort. They [...] as he divides the [...], and they do not
understand that the Son of Man is coming from him.
But when they have come up to [...] sacrifice, they die in a human way,
and they deliver themselves ...
... (2 lines unrecoverable)
... a death ...
... (3 lines unrecoverable)
... those who [...], they are many [...], each one [...] pervert [...]
gain [...] their mind. Those who receive him to themselves with
uprightness and power and every knowledge are the ones whom he will
transfer to the heights, unto life eternal.
But those who receive him to themselves with ignorance, the pleasures
which are defiled prevail over them. It is those people who used to
say; "God created members for our use, for us to grow in defilement, in
order that we might enjoy ourselves." And they cause God to participate
with them in deeds of this sort; and they are not steadfast upon the
earth. Nor will they reach heaven, but [...] place will [...] four ...
... (3 lines unrecoverable)
... unquenchable ...
... (3 lines unrecoverable)
... word [...] upon the Jordan river, when he came to John at the time
he was baptized. The Holy Spirit came down upon him as a dove [...]
accept for ourselves that he was born of a virgin and he took flesh; he
[...] having received power. Were we also begotten from a virginal
state or conceived by the word? Rather, we have been born again by the
word. Let us therefore strengthen ourselves as virgins in the [...].
The males dwell [...] the virgin, by means of [...] in the word [...].
But the word of [...] and spirit ...
... (4 lines unrecoverable)
... is the Father [...] for the man ...
... (1 line unrecoverable)
... like Isaiah, who was sawed with a saw, (and) he became two. So also
the Son of Man divides us by the word of the cross. It divides the day
from the night and the light from the darkness and the corruptible from
incorruptibility, and it divides the males from the females. But Isaiah
is the type of the body. The saw is the word of the Son of Man, which
separates us from the error of the angels.
No one knows the God of truth except solely the man who will forsake
all of the things of the world, having renounced the whole place, (and)
having grasped the fringe of his garment. He has set himself up as a
power; he has subdued desire in every way within himself. He has [...]
and he has turned to him [...], having also examined [...] in becoming
[...] the mind. And he [...] from his soul [...] there [...] he has ...
... (1 line unrecoverable)
... in what way [...] the flesh which [...] in what way [...] out of
it, and how many powers does he have? And who is the one who has bound
him? And who is the one who will loose him? And what is the light? And
what is the darkness? And who is the one who has created the earth? And
who is God? And who are the angels? And what is soul? And what is
spirit? And where is the voice? And who is the one who speaks? And who
is the one who hears? Who is the one who gives pain? And who is the one
who suffers? And who is it who has begotten the corruptible flesh? And
what is the governance? And why are some lame, and some blind, and some
[...], and some [...], and some rich, and some poor? And why are some
powerless, some brigands? ...
... (4 lines unrecoverable)
... he having [...] as he again [...], fighting against thoughts of the
archons and the powers and the demons, not giving them a place in which
to rest. But he struggled against their passions [...], he condemned
their error. He cleansed his soul from the transgressions which he had
committed with an alien hand. He stood up, being upright within
himself, because he exists in everyone, and because he has death and
life within himself, and he exists in the midst of both of them. And
when he had received the power, he turned towards the parts of the
right, and he entered into the truth, having forsaken all things
pertaining to the left, having been filled with wisdom, with counsel,
with understanding, and with insight and an eternal power. And he broke
open his bonds. Those who had formed the whole place, he condemned. But
they did not find [...] hidden within him.
And he gave command to himself; he began to know himself and to speak
with his mind, which is the father of the truth, concerning the
unbegotten aeons, and concerning the virgin who brought forth the
light. And he thinks about the power which flowed over the whole place,
and which takes hold of him. And he is a disciple of his mind, which is
male. He began to keep silent within himself until the day when he
should become worthy to be received above. He rejects for himself
loquacity and disputations, and he endures the whole place; and he
bears up under them, and he endures all of the evil things. And he is
patient with every one; he makes himself equal to every one, and he
also separates himself from them. And that which someone wants, he
brings to him, in order that he might become perfect (and) holy. When
the [...], he grasped him, having bound him upon [...], and he was
filled with wisdom. He bore witness to the truth [...] the power, and
he went into Imperishability, the place whence he came forth, having
left the world, which has the appearance of the night, and those that
whirl the stars in it. This, therefore, is the true testimony: When man
comes to know himself and God, who is over the truth, he will be saved,
and he will crown himself with the crown unfading.
John was begotten by the World through a woman, Elizabeth; and Christ
was begotten by the world through a virgin, Mary. What is (the meaning
of) this mystery? John was begotten by means of a womb worn with age,
but Christ passed through a virgin's womb. When she had conceived, she
gave birth to the Savior. Furthermore, she was found to be a virgin
again. Why, then do you (pl.) err and not seek after these mysteries,
which were prefigured for our sake?
It is written in the Law concerning this, when God gave a command to
Adam, "From every tree you may eat, but from the tree which is in the
midst of Paradise do not eat, for on the day that you eat from it, you
will surely die." But the serpent was wiser than all the animals that
were in Paradise, and he persuaded Eve, saying, "On the day when you
eat from the tree which is in the midst of Paradise, the eyes of your
mind will be opened." And Eve obeyed, and she stretched forth her hand;
she took from the tree and ate; she also gave to her husband with her.
And immediately they knew that they were naked, and they took some
fig-leaves (and) put them on as girdles.
But God came at the time of evening, walking in the midst of Paradise.
When Adam saw him, he hid himself. And he said, "Adam, where are you?"
He answered (and) said, "I have come under the fig tree." And at that
very moment, God knew that he had eaten from the tree of which he had
commanded him, "Do not eat of it." And he said to him, "Who is it who
has instructed you?" And Adam answered, "The woman whom you have given
me." And the woman said, "It is the serpent who instructed me." And he
(God) cursed the serpent, and called him "devil." And he said, "Behold,
Adam has become like one of us, knowing evil and good." Then he said,
"Let us cast him out of paradise, lest he take from the tree of life,
and eat, and live forever."
But what sort is this God? First he maliciously refused Adam from
eating of the tree of knowledge, and, secondly, he said "Adam, where
are you?" God does not have foreknowledge? Would he not know from the
beginning? And afterwards, he said, "Let us cast him out of this place,
lest he eat of the tree of life and live forever." Surely, he has shown
himself to be a malicious grudger! And what kind of God is this? For
great is the blindness of those who read, and they did not know him.
And he said, "I am the jealous God; I will bring the sins of the
fathers upon the children until three (and) four generations." And he
said, "I will make their heart thick, and I will cause their mind to
become blind, that they might not know nor comprehend the things that
are said." But these things he has said to those who believe in him and
serve him!
And in one place, Moses writes, "He made the devil a serpent
those whom he has in his generation." Also, in the book which is called
"Exodus," it is written thus: "He contended against the magicians, when
the place was full of serpents according to their wickedness; and the
rod which was in the hand of Moses became a serpent, (and) it swallowed
the serpents of the magicians."
Again it is written (Nm 21:9), "He made a serpent of bronze (and) hung
it upon a pole ...
... (1 line unrecoverable)
... which [...] for the one who will gaze upon this bronze serpent,
none will destroy him, and the one who will believe in this bronze
serpent will be saved." For this is Christ; those who believed in him
have received life. Those who did not believe will die.
What, then, is this faith? They do not serve ...
... (16 lines unrecoverable)
... and you (pl.) [...] we [...] and you do not understand Christ
spiritually when you say, "We believe in Christ". For this is the way
Moses writes in every book. The book of the generation of Adam is
written for those who are in the generation of the Law. They follow the
Law and they obey it, and ...
... ( 1 line unrecoverable)
... together with the ...
pp. 51-54 of codex almost completely missing
... the Ogdoad, which is the eighth, and that we might receive that
place of salvation." But they know not what salvation is, but they
enter into misfortune, and into a [...] in death, in the waters. This
is the baptism of death which they observe ...
... (6 lines unrecoverable)
... come to death [...] and this is [...] according to ...
... (lines 19 through end-of-page unrecoverable)
... he completed the course of Valentinus. He himself speaks about the
Ogdoad, and his disciples resemble the disciples of Valentinus. They on
their part, moreover, [...] leave the good, but they have worship of
the idols ...
... (8 lines unrecoverable)
... he has spoken many words, and he has written many books [...] words
...
... (lines 16 through end-of-page unrecoverable)
... they are manifest from the confusion in which they are, in the
deceit of the world. For they go to that place, together with their
knowledge, which is vain.
Isidore also, his son, resembled Basilides. He also [...] many, and he
[...], but he did not [...] this [...] other disciple(s) [...] blind
[...], but he gave them [...] pleasures ...... (lines 16 through
end-of-page unrecoverable)... they do not agree with each other. For
the Simonians take wives (and) beget children; but the [...] abstain
from their [...] nature [...] a passion [...] the drops of [...] anoint
them ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... which we [...] they agree with
each other [...] him [...] they ...... (lines 14 through end-of-page
unrecoverable)... judgment(s) [...] these, on account of the [...] them
[...] the heretics [...] schism(s) [...] and the males [...] are men
[...] will belong to the world-rulers of darkness ...... (1 line
unrecoverable)... of the world ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... they
have [...] the archons [...] power(s) ...... (1 line unrecoverable)...
judge them [...]. But the [...] word(s) of ...... (lines 20 through
end-of-page unrecoverable)... speak, while they [...] become [...] in a
fire unquenchable [...] they are punished. But these who are from the
generation of the Son of Man have revealed to the [...] in all of the
affairs ...... (2 lines unrecoverable)... But it is difficult to [...]
to find one [...] and two ...... (2 lines unrecoverable)... For the
Savior said to his disciples, [...] one in ...... (lines 19 through
end-of-page unrecoverable)... and he has [...] wisdom, as well as
counsel and understanding and intelligence and knowledge and power and
truth. And he has some [...] from above [...], the place where the Son
of Man ...... (2 lines unrecoverable)... power [...] guard against
...... (lines 14 through end-of-page unrecoverable)... he knows [...]
understands ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... worthy of him [...] true
[...] alien [...]. But [...], together with [...] evil, in ...... (2
lines unrecoverable)... he received baptism [...], and those that
...... (lines 13 through end-of-page unrecoverable) pp. 63-64 of codex
missing... in a dream [...] silver [...]. But [...] becomes wealthy
[...] among the authorities ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... But the
sixtieth [...], thus [...] world [...] they [...] gold ...... (18 lines
unrecoverable)... they think ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... we have
been released from the flesh. ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... not turn
him to [...] Jesus ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... the beginning [...]
a son ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... out of [...], which is the
pattern [...] light of ...... (16 lines unrecoverable)... to find from
[...] defilement which ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... they do not
blaspheme [...] them not, neither is there any pleasure nor desire, nor
can they control them. It is fitting that they should become undefiled,
in order that they might show to every one that they are from the
generation of the Son of Man, since it is about them that the Savior
bore witness. But those who are from the seed of Adam are manifest by
their deeds, which are their work. They have not ceased from desire
which is wicked [...]. But some [...] the dogs [...] the angels for
[...] which they beget [...] will come [...] with their ... ... (9
lines unrecoverable)... move as they [...] on the day when they will
beget children. Not only that, but they have intercourse while they are
giving suck. But others are caught up in the death of [...]. They are
pulled which way, (and) they are gratified by unrighteous
Mammon. They lend money at interest; they waste time; and they do not
work. But he who is father of Mammon is (also) father of sexual
intercourse. But he who is able to renounce them shows that he is from
the generation of the Son of Man, (and) has power to accuse them. [...]
he restrains [...] part(s) in a [...] in wickedness, and he makes the
outer like the inner. He resembles an angel which ...... (1 line
unrecoverable)... power [...] said them. But the one ...... (5 lines
unrecoverable) And having withdrawn [...], he became silent, having
ceased from loquacity and disputations. But he who has found the
life-giving word, and he who has come to know the Father of Truth, has
come to rest; he has ceased seeking, having found. And when he found,
he became silent. But few are the things he used to say to those that
[...] with their intellectual mind the [...].There are some, who upon
entering the faith, receive a baptism on the ground that they have it
as a hope of salvation, which they call the "seal", not knowing that
the fathers of the world are manifest (in) that place. But he himself
knows that he is sealed. For the Son of Man did not baptize any of his
disciples. But [...], if those who are baptized were headed for life,
the world would become empty. And the fathers of baptism were defiled.
But the baptism of truth is something else; it is by renunciation of
the world that it is found. But those who say only with the tongue that
they are renouncing it are lying, and they are coming to the place of
fear. Moreover, they are humbled within it. Just as those to whom it
was given to have been condemned, they shall get something! They are
wicked in their behavior! Some of them fall away to the worship of
idols. Others have demons dwelling with them, as did David the king. He
is the one who laid the foundation of Jerusalem; and his son Solomon,
whom he begat in adultery, is the one who built Jerusalem by means of
the demons, because he received power. When he had finished building,
he imprisoned the demons in the temple. He placed them into seven
waterpots. They remained a long time in the waterpots, abandoned there.
When the Romans went up to Jerusalem, they discovered the waterpots,
and immediately the demons ran out of the waterpots, as those who
escape from prison. And the waterpots remained pure thereafter. And
since those days, they dwell with men who are in ignorance, and they
have remained upon the earth. Who, then, is David? And who is Solomon?
And what is the foundation? And what is the wall which surrounds
Jerusalem? And who are the demons? And what are the waterpots? And who
are the Romans? But these are mysteries ...... (11 lines
unrecoverable)... victorious over [...] the Son of Man [...] undefiled
...... (3 lines unrecoverable)... and he [...] when he [...]. For [...]
is a great ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... to this nature ... ... (1
line unrecoverable)... those that [...] all in a [...] blessed, and
they [...] like a salamander. It goes into the flaming fire which burns
exceedingly; it slithers into the furnace ...... (13 lines
unrecoverable)... the furnace ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... the
boundaries [...], that they might see [...] and the power [...]
sacrifice. Great is the sacrifice ...... (2 lines unrecoverable)...,
but in a [...] aside [...]. And the Son of Man [...], and he has become
manifest through the bubbling fountain of immortality. ...... (1 line
unrecoverable)... he is pure, and he is [...]. A free man is not
envious. He is set apart from everyone, from every audacity and envy
the power of which is great [...] is (a) disciple [...] pattern of law
[...] these [...] only ...... (2 lines unrecoverable)... they placed
him under a [...] a teaching ...... (1 line unrecoverable)... his
teaching, saying, "Even if an angel comes from heaven, and preaches to
you beyond that which we preached to you, may he be anathema," (Gal
1:8) not letting the [...] of the soul which [...] freedom [...]. For
they are still immature [...] they are not able to keep this law which
works by means of these heresies - though it is not they, but the
powers of Sabaoth - by means of the [...] the doctrines [...] as they
have been jealous of some [...] law(s) in Christ. Those who will [...]
power [...] they reach the [...] the twelve judge [...] them [...] the
fountain of immortality ...... (3 lines unrecoverable)... in order that
...... (3 lines unrecoverable)... good [...] the whole place. [...]
there the enemies. He baptized himself, and the [...] he became divine;
he flew up, (and) they did not grasp him. [...] there the enemies
[...], since it was not possible for them to bring him down again. If
every [...] grasps him with ignorance, attending to those who teach in
the corners by means of carved things and artful tricks, they are not
able [...].
The Thought of Norea
Father of All, Ennoia of the Light, dwelling in the heights above the
(regions) below, Light dwelling in the heights, Voice of Truth, upright
Nous, untouchable Logos, and ineffable Voice, incomprehensible Father!
It is Norea who cries out to them. They heard, (and) they received her
into her place forever. They gave it to her in the Father of Nous,
Adamas, as well as the voice of the Holy Ones, in order that she might
rest in the ineffable Epinoia, in order that might inherit the
first mind which had received, and that might rest in the
divine Autogenes, and that she (too) might generate herself, just as
she also has inherited the living Logos, and that she might be joined
to all of the Imperishable Ones, and speak with the mind of the Father.
And she began to speak with the words of Life, and remained in
the presence of the Exalted One, possessing that which she had received
before the world came into being. She has the great mind of the
Invisible One, and she gives glory to Father, and she dwells
within those who [...] within the Pleroma, and she beholds the Pleroma.
There will be days when she will behold the Pleroma, and she will not
be in deficiency, for she has the four holy helpers who intercede on
her behalf with the Father of the All, Adamas. He it is who is within
all of the Adams, possessing the thought of Norea, who speaks
concerning the two names which create a single name.
The First Stele of Seth
I bless thee, Father Geradama(s), I, as thine (own) Son, Emmacha Seth,
whom thou didst beget without begetting, as a blessing of our God; for
I am thine (own) Son. And thou art my mind, O my Father. And I, I sowed
and begot; but thou hast seen the majesties. Thou hast stood
imperishable. I bless thee, Father. Bless me, Father. It is because of
thee that I exist; it is because of God that thou dost exist. Because
of thee I am with that very one. Thou art light, since thou beholdest
light. Thou hast revealed light. Thou art Mirotheas; thou art my
Mirotheos. I bless thee as God; I bless thy divinity. Great is the good
Self-begotten who stood, the God who had already stood. Thou didst come
in goodness; thou hast appeared, and thou hast revealed goodness. I
shall utter thy name, for thou art a first name. Thou art unbegotten.
Thou hast appeared in order that thou mightest reveal the eternal ones.
Thou art he who is. Therefore thou hast revealed those who really are.
Thou art he who is uttered by a voice, but by mind art thou glorified,
thou who hast dominion everywhere. Therefore the perceptible world too
knows thee because of thee and thy seed. Thou art merciful. And thou
art from another race, and its place is over another race. And now thou
art from another race, and its place is over another race. Thou art
from another race, for thou art not similar. And thou art merciful, for
thou art eternal. And thy place is over a race, for thou hast caused
all these to increase; and for the sake of my seed. For it is thou who
knows it, that its place is in begetting. But they are from other
races, for they are not similar. But their place is over other races,
for their place is in life. Thou art Mirotheos. I bless his power which
was given to me, who caused the malenesses that really are to become
male three times; he who was divided into the pentad, the one who was
given to us in triple power, the one who was begotten without
begetting, the one who came from that which is elect; because of what
is humble, he went forth from the midst. Thou art a Father through a
Father, a word from a command. We bless thee, Thrice Male, for thou
didst unite all through them all, for thou hast empowered us. Thou hast
arisen from one; from one thou hast gone forth; thou hast come to one.
Thou hast saved, thou hast saved, thou hast saved us, O crown-bearer,
crown-giver! We bless thee eternally. We bless thee, once we have been
saved, as the perfect individuals, perfect on account of thee, those
who became perfect with thee who is complete, who completes, the one
perfect through all these, who is similar everywhere. Thrice Male, thou
hast stood. Thou hast already stood. Thou wast divided everywhere. Thou
didst continue being one. And those whom thou hast willed, thou hast
saved. But thou dost will to be saved all who are worthy. Thou art
Perfect! Thou art Perfect! Thou art Perfect!
The First Stele of Seth
The Second Stele of Seth
Great is the first aeon, male virginal Barbelo, the first glory of the
invisible Father, she who is called "perfect". Thou (fem.) hast seen
first the one who truly pre-exists because he is non-being. And from
him and through him thou hast pre-existed eternally, the non-being from
one indivisible, triple power, thou a triple power, thou a great monad
from a pure monad, thou an elect monad, the first shadow of the holy
Father, light from light. We bless thee, producer (fem.) of perfection,
aeon-giver (fem.). Thou hast seen the eternal ones because they are
from a shadow. And thou hast become numerable. And thou didst find,
thou didst continue being one (fem.); yet becoming numerable in
division, thou art three-fold. Thou art truly thrice, thou one (fem.)
of the one (masc.). And thou art from a shadow of him, thou a Hidden
One, thou a world of understanding, knowing those of the one, that they
are from a shadow. And these are thine in the heart. For their sake
thou hast empowered the eternal ones in being; thou hast empowered
divinity in living; thou hast empowered knowledge in goodness; in
blessedness thou hast empowered the shadows which pour from the one.
Thou hast empowered this (one) in knowledge; thou hast empowered
another one in creation. Thou hast empowered him who is equal and him
who is not equal, him who is similar and him who is not similar. Thou
hast empowered in begetting, and (provided) forms in that which exists
to others. [...] Thou hast empowered these. - He is that One Hidden in
the heart. - And thou hast come forth to these and from these . Thou
art divided among them. And thou dost become a great male noetic
First-Appearer. Fatherly God, divine child, begetter of multiplicity
according to a division of all who really are, thou (masc.) hast
appeared to them all in a word. And thou (masc.) dost possess them all
without begetting and eternally indestructible on account of thee
(fem.). Salvation has come to us; from thee is salvation. Thou art
wisdom, thou knowledge; thou art truthfulness. On account of thee is
life; from thee is life. On account of thee is mind; from thee is mind.
Thou art mind, thou a world of truthfulness, thou a triple power, thou
threefold. Truly thou art thrice, the aeon of aeons. It is thou only
who sees purely the first eternal ones and the unbegotten ones. But the
first divisions are as thou wast divided. Unite us as thou has been
united. Teach us those things which thou dost see. Empower us that we
may be saved to eternal life. For we are each a shadow of thee as thou
art a shadow of that first pre-existent one. Hear us first. We are
eternal ones. Hear us as the perfect individuals. Thou art the aeon of
aeons, the all-perfect one who is established. Thou hast heard! Thou
hast heard! Thou hast saved! Thou hast saved! We give thanks! We bless
thee always! We shall glorify thee!
The Second Stele of Seth
The Third Stele
We rejoice! We rejoice! We rejoice! We have seen! We have seen! We have
seen the really pre-existent one, that he really exists, that he is the
first eternal one. O Unconceived, from thee are the eternal ones and
the aeons, the all-perfect ones who are established, and the perfect
individuals. We bless thee, non-being, existence which is before
existences, first being which is before beings, Father of divinity and
life, creator of mind, giver of good, giver of blessedness! We all
bless thee, knower, in a glorifying blessing, (thou) because of whom
[all these are. ... really, ...], who knows thee, through thee alone.
For there is no one who is active before thee. Thou art an only and
living spirit. And thou knowest one, for this one who belongs to thee
is on every side. We are not able to express him. For thy light shines
upon us. Present a command to us to see thee, so that we may be saved.
Knowledge of thee, it is the salvation of us all. Present a command!
When thou dost command, we have been saved! Truly we have been saved!
We have seen thee by mind! Thou art them all, for thou dost save them
all, he who was not saved, nor was he saved through them. For thou,
thou hast commanded us. Thou art one. Thou art one, just as there is
one (who) will say to thee: Thou art one, thou art a single living
spirit. How shall we give thee a name? We do not have it, For thou art
the existence of them all. Thou art the life of them all. Thou art the
mind of them all. For thou art he in whom they all rejoice. Thou hast
commanded all these to be saved through thy word [...] glory who is
before him, Hidden One, blessed Senaon, he who begat himself,
Asineu(s), [...]ephneu(s), Optaon, Elemaon the great power, Emouniar,
Nibareu(s), Kandephor(os), Aphredon, Deiphaneus, thou who art Armedon
to me, power-begetter, Thalanatheu(s), Antitheus, thou who existeth
within thyself, thou who art before thyself - and after thee no one
entered into activity. As what shall we bless thee? We are not
empowered. But we give thanks, as being humble toward thee. For thou
hast commanded us, as he who is elect, to glorify thee to the extent we
are able. We bless thee because we were saved. Always we glorify thee.
For this reason we shall glorify thee, that we may be saved to eternal
salvation. We have blessed thee, for we are empowered. We have been
saved, for thou hast willed always, that we all do this. We all did
this. [...] not through [... aeon ...], the one who was [...], we and
those who [...]. He who will remember these and give glory always will
become perfect among those who are perfect and impassable beyond all
things. For they all bless these individually and together. And
afterwards they shall be silent. And just as they were ordained, they
ascend. After the silence, they descend from the third. They bless the
second; after these the first. The way of ascent is the way of descent.
Know therefore, as those who live, that you have attained. And you
taught yourselves the infinite things. Marvel at the truth which is
within them, and (at) the revelation.
The Three Steles of Seth
This book belongs to the fatherhood. It is the son who wrote it. Bless
me O Father. I bless you,
O Father, in peace. Amen.
The Thunder, Perfect Mind
I was sent forth from the power, and I have come to those who reflect
upon me, and I have been found among those who seek after me. Look upon
me, you who reflect upon me, and you hearers, hear me. You who are
waiting for me, take me to yourselves. And do not banish me from your
sight. And do not make your voice hate me, nor your hearing. Do not be
ignorant of me anywhere or any time. Be on your guard! Do not be
ignorant of me. For I am the first and the last. I am the honored one
and the scorned one. I am the whore and the holy one. I am the wife and
the virgin. I am and the daughter. I am the members of my
mother. I am the barren one and many are her sons. I am she whose
wedding is great, and I have not taken a husband. I am the midwife and
she who does not bear. I am the solace of my labor pains. I am the
bride and the bridegroom, and it is my husband who begot me. I am the
mother of my father and the sister of my husband and he is my
offspring. I am the slave of him who prepared me. I am the ruler of my
offspring. But he is the one who begot me before the time on a
birthday. And he is my offspring in (due) time, and my power is from
him. I am the staff of his power in his youth, and he is the rod of my
old age. And whatever he wills happens to me. I am the silence that is
incomprehensible and the idea whose remembrance is frequent. I am the
voice whose sound is manifold and the word whose appearance is
multiple. I am the utterance of my name. Why, you who hate me, do you
love me, and hate those who love me? You who deny me, confess me, and
you who confess me, deny me. You who tell the truth about me, lie about
me, and you who have lied about me, tell the truth about me. You who
know me, be ignorant of me, and those who have not known me, let them
know me. For I am knowledge and ignorance. I am shame and boldness. I
am shameless; I am ashamed. I am strength and I am fear. to me. Give
heed to my poverty and my wealth. Do not be arrogant to me when I am
cast out upon the earth, and you will find me in those that are to
come. And do not look upon me on the dung-heap nor go and leave me cast
out, and you will find me in the kingdoms. And do not look upon me when
I am cast out among those who are disgraced and in the least places,
nor laugh at me. And do not cast me out among those who are slain in
violence. But I, I am compassionate and I am cruel. Be on your guard!
Do not hate my obedience and do not love my self-control. In my
weakness, do not forsake me, and do not be afraid of my power. For why
do you despise my fear and curse my pride? But I am she who exists in
all fears and strength in trembling. I am she who is weak, and I am
well in a pleasant place. I am senseless and I am wise. Why have you
hated me in your counsels? For I shall be silent among those who are
silent, and I shall appear and speak, Why then have you hated me, you
Greeks? Because I am a barbarian among the barbarians? For I am the
wisdom of the Greeks and the knowledge of the barbarians. I am the
judgement of the Greeks and of the barbarians. I am the one whose image
is great in Egypt and the one who has no image among the barbarians. I
am the one who has been hated everywhere and who has been loved
everywhere. I am the one whom they call Life, and you have called
Death. I am the one whom they call Law, and you have called
Lawlessness. I am the one whom you have pursued, and I am the one whom
you have seized. I am the one whom you have scattered, and you have
gathered me together. I am the one before whom you have been ashamed,
and you have been shameless to me. I am she who does not keep festival,
and I am she whose festivals are many. I, I am godless, and I am the
one whose God is great. I am the one whom you have reflected upon, and
you have scorned me. I am unlearned, and they learn from me. I am the
one that you have despised, and you reflect upon me. I am the one whom
you have hidden from, and you appear to me. But whenever you hide
yourselves, I myself will appear. For whenever you appear, I myself
will hide from you. Those who have [...] to it [...] senselessly
[...].Take me [... understanding] from grief. and take me to yourselves
from understanding and grief. And take me to yourselves from places
that are ugly and in ruin, and rob from those which are good even
though in ugliness. Out of shame, take me to yourselves shamelessly;
and out of shamelessness and shame, upbraid my members in yourselves.
And come forward to me, you who know me and you who know my members,
and establish the great ones among the small first creatures. Come
forward to childhood, and do not despise it because it is small and it
is little. And do not turn away greatnesses in some parts from the
smallnesses, for the smallnesses are known from the greatnesses. Why do
you curse me and honor me? You have wounded and you have had mercy. Do
not separate me from the first ones whom you have known. And do not
cast anyone out nor turn anyone away [...] turn you away and [... know]
him not. [...].What is mine [...].I know the first ones and those after
them know me. But I am the mind of [...] and the rest of [...].I am the
knowledge of my inquiry, and the finding of those who seek after me,
and the command of those who ask of me, and the power of the powers in
my knowledge of the angels, who have been sent at my word, and of gods
in their seasons by my counsel, and of spirits of every man who exists
with me, and of women who dwell within me. I am the one who is honored,
and who is praised, and who is despised scornfully. I am peace, and war
has come because of me. And I am an alien and a citizen. I am the
substance and the one who has no substance. Those who are without
association with me are ignorant of me, and those who are in my
substance are the ones who know me. Those who are close to me have been
ignorant of me, and those who are far away from me are the ones who
have known me. On the day when I am close to you, you are far away from
me, and on the day when I am far away from you, I am close to you. [I
am ...] within. [I am ...] of the natures. I am [...] of the creation
of the spirits. [...] request of the souls. I am control and the
uncontrollable. I am the union and the dissolution. I am the abiding
and I am the dissolution. I am the one below, and they come up to me. I
am the judgment and the acquittal. I, I am sinless, and the root of sin
derives from me. I am lust in (outward) appearance, and interior
self-control exists within me. I am the hearing which is attainable to
everyone and the speech which cannot be grasped. I am a mute who does
not speak, and great is my multitude of words. Hear me in gentleness,
and learn of me in roughness. I am she who cries out, and I am cast
forth upon the face of the earth. I prepare the bread and my mind
within. I am the knowledge of my name. I am the one who cries out, and
I listen. I appear and [...] walk in [...] seal of my [...].I am [...]
the defense [...].I am the one who is called Truth and iniquity
[...].You honor me [...] and you whisper against me. You who are
vanquished, judge them (who vanquish you) before they give judgment
against you, because the judge and partiality exist in you. If you are
condemned by this one, who will acquit you? Or, if you are acquitted by
him, who will be able to detain you? For what is inside of you is what
is outside of you, and the one who fashions you on the outside is the
one who shaped the inside of you. And what you see outside of you, you
see inside of you; it is visible and it is your garment. Hear me, you
hearers and learn of my words, you who know me. I am the hearing that
is attainable to everything; I am the speech that cannot be grasped. I
am the name of the sound and the sound of the name. I am the sign of
the letter and the designation of the division. And I [...]. (3 lines
missing) [...] light [...]. [...] hearers [...] to you [...] the great
power. And [...] will not move the name. [...] to the one who created
me. And I will speak his name. Look then at his words and all the
writings which have been completed. Give heed then, you hearers and you
also, the angels and those who have been sent, and you spirits who have
arisen from the dead. For I am the one who alone exists, and I have no
one who will judge me. For many are the pleasant forms which exist in
numerous sins, and incontinencies, and disgraceful passions, and
fleeting pleasures, which (men) embrace until they become sober and go
up to their resting place. And they will find me there, and they will
live, and they will not die again.
The Treatise on the Resurrection
Some there are, my son Rheginos, who want to learn many things. They
have this goal when they are occupied with questions whose answer is
lacking. If they succeed with these, they usually think very highly of
themselves. But I do not think that they have stood within the Word of
Truth. They seek rather their own rest, which we have received through
our Savior, our Lord Christ. We received it when we came to know the
truth and rested ourselves upon it. But since you ask us pleasantly
what is proper concerning the resurrection, I am writing you that it is
necessary. To be sure, many are lacking faith in it, but there are a
few who find it. So then, let us discuss the matter. How did the Lord
proclaim things while he existed in flesh and after he had revealed
himself as Son of God? He lived in this place where you remain,
speaking about the Law of Nature - but I call it 'Death'. Now the Son
of God, Rheginos, was Son of Man. He embraced them both, possessing the
humanity and the divinity, so that on the one hand he might vanquish
death through his being Son of God, and that on the other through the
Son of Man the restoration to the Pleroma might occur; because he was
originally from above, a seed of Truth, before this structure had come
into being. In this many dominions and divinities came into existence.
I know that I am presenting the solution in difficult terms, but there
is nothing difficult in the Word of Truth. But since the Solution
appeared so as not to leave anything hidden, but to reveal all things
openly concerning existence - the destruction of evil on the one hand,
the revelation of the elect on the other. This is the emanation of
Truth and Spirit, Grace is of the Truth. The Savior swallowed up death
- (of this) you are not reckoned as being ignorant - for he put aside
the world which is perishing. He transformed himself into an
imperishable Aeon and raised himself up, having swallowed the visible
by the invisible, and he gave us the way of our immortality. Then,
indeed, as the Apostle said, "We suffered with him, and we arose with
him, and we went to heaven with him". Now if we are manifest in this
world wearing him, we are that one`s beams, and we are embraced by him
until our setting, that is to say, our death in this life. We are drawn
to heaven by him, like beams by the sun, not being restrained by
anything. This is the spiritual resurrection which swallows up the
psychic in the same way as the fleshly. But if there is one who does
not believe, he does not have the (capacity to be) persuaded. For it is
the domain of faith, my son, and not that which belongs to persuasion:
the dead shall arise! There is one who believes among the philsophers
who are in this world. At least he will arise. And let not the
philosopher who is in this world have cause to believe that he is one
who returns himself by himself - and (that) because of our faith! For
we have known the Son of Man, and we have believed that he rose from
among the dead. This is he of whom we say, "He became the destruction
of death, as he is a great one in whom they believe." Great are those
who believe. The thought of those who are saved shall not perish. The
mind of those who have known him shall not perish. Therefore, we are
elected to salvation and redemption since we are predestined from the
beginning not to fall into the foolishness of those who are without
knowledge, but we shall enter into the wisdom of those who have known
the Truth. Indeed, the Truth which is kept cannot be abandoned, nor has
it been. "Strong is the system of the Pleroma; small is that which
broke loose (and) became (the) world. But the All is what is
encompassed. It has not come into being; it was existing." So, never
doubt concerning the resurrection, my son Rheginos! For if you were not
existing in flesh, you received flesh when you entered this world. Why
will you not receive flesh when you ascend into the Aeon? That which is
better than the flesh is that which is for (the) cause of life. That
which came into being on your account, is it not yours? Does not that
which is yours exist with you? Yet, while you are in this world, what
is it that you lack? This is what you have been making every effort to
learn. The afterbirth of the body is old age, and you exist in
corruption. You have absence as a gain. For you will not give up what
is better if you depart. That which is worse has diminution, but there
is grace for it. Nothing, then, redeems us from this world. But the All
which we are, we are saved. We have received salvation from end to end.
Let us think in this way! Let us comprehend in this way! But there are
some (who) wish to understand, in the enquiry about those things they
are looking into, whether he who is saved, if he leaves his body
behind, will be saved immediately. Let no one doubt concerning this.
[...]. indeed, the visible members which are dead shall not be saved,
for (only) the living members which exist within them would arise.
What, then, is the resurrection? It is always the disclosure of those
who have risen. For if you remember reading in the Gospel that Elijah
appeared and Moses with him, do not think the resurrection is an
illusion. It is no illusion, but it is truth! Indeed, it is more
fitting to say the world is an illusion, rather than the resurrection
which has come into being through our Lord the Savior, Jesus Christ.
But what am I telling you now? Those who are living shall die. How do
they live in an illusion? The rich have become poor, and the kings have
been overthrown. Everything is prone to change. The world is an
illusion! - lest, indeed, I rail at things to excess! But the
resurrection does not have this aforesaid character, for it is the
truth which stands firm. It is the revelation of what is, and the
transformation of things, and a transition into newness. For
imperishability descends upon the perishable; the light flows down upon
the darkness, swallowing it up; and the Pleroma fills up the
deficiency. These are the symbols and the images of the resurrection.
He it is who makes the good. Therefore, do not think in part, O
Rheginos, nor live in conformity with this flesh for the sake of
unanimity, but flee from the divisions and the fetters, and already you
have the resurrection. For if he who will die knows about himself that
he will die - even if he spends many years in this life, he is brought
to this - why not consider yourself as risen and (already) brought to
this? If you have the resurrection but continue as if you are to die -
and yet that one knows that he has died - why, then, do I ignore your
lack of exercise? It is fitting for each one to practice in a number of
ways, and he shall be released from this Element that he may not fall
into error but shall himself receive again what at first was. These
things I have received from the generosity of my Lord, Jesus Christ. I
have taught you and your brethren, my sons, considering them, while I
have not omitted any of the things suitable for strengthening you. But
if there is one thing written which is obscure in my exposition of the
Word, I shall interpret it for you (pl.) when you (pl.) ask. But now,
do not be jealous of anyone who is in your number when he is able to
help. Many are looking into this which I have written to you. To these
I say: Peace (be) among them and grace. I greet you and those who love
you (pl.) in brotherly Love.
The Treatise on the Resurrection
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