Pistis Sophia
tr. by G.R.S. Mead [1921]

by Raul Branco

Pistis-Sophia

by Lord Frederick Leighton [1889]

   For over two centuries the third-century Gnostic text known as the Pistis Sophia has eluded students and scholars of the esoteric tradition, who have struggled to apprehend the important message that this text veils. Over the years scholars have either expressed their frustration at its impenetrable language or just advanced broad descriptions of the text, without venturing analytical or hermeneutic comments. This has happened even with some of the most respected scholars in the field, such as Jean Doresse, author of The Secret Books of the Egyptian Gnostics; Kurt Rudolph, author of Gnosis: The Nature and History of Gnosticism; and Wilhelm Schneemelcher, editor of the standard edition of the New Testament Apocrypha.

In recent years some authors have attempted to interpret the text, such as Jan van Rijckenborgh, with his book Les mystères gnostiques de la Pistis Sophia; J.J. Hurtak and his wife Desiree Hurtak; and Samael Aun Weor, a self-proclaimed Gnostic master and supposed member of the Great White Fraternity, who wrote Pistis Sophia develada ("Pistis Sophia Unveiled"), explaining all of the text's mysteries in terms of sexual magic.

In Brazil in 1997, the author of this article published a version of the Pistis Sophia with suggested interpretations of the text and a summary of the cosmology of the work, with the help of some little-known notes of Blavatsky (Blavatsky, "Pistis Sophia"). This article attempts to describe the text in terms of the expansion of consciousness attained by Jesus as part of his supreme initiation.

The Manuscript

The original text of the Pistis Sophia, written in Greek, has been lost; the earliest version we have is an ancient translation into Coptic. The codex containing it was brought to England around 1772 and was later sold to the British Museum. The complete text was translated into Latin in the mid-nineteenth century by M. G. Schwartze, but it was only half a century later that it was translated into modern European languages, such as French (É. Amélineau, 1895), German (Carl Schmidt, 1905) and English (G. R. S. Mead, 1921). A much more recent translation was made by Violet MacDermot and published in 1978.

The text is divided into three major parts. In the first, Jesus is with his disciples for eleven symbolic years (perhaps eleven months) after his return from the dead, at the Mount of Olives. (According to this and other Gnostic texts, the resurrected Jesus spent some time instructing his disciples before making his final ascension to heaven.) Suddenly, in the midst of thunder and lightning, he is elevated to the heights of heaven in the midst of intense, blinding light. After thirty hours, Jesus returns, surrounded by three robes of light, with a brighter glow than when he had ascended. Henceforth he starts to instruct his disciples about his experiences and other occult matters.

The other two components of the text are the narrative of the story of Pistis Sophia and additional instructions to the disciples in the form of a dialogue. This article will endeavor to provide the main features of the Sophia myth, which, like the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke's Gospel and the Hymn of the Pearl in the Gnostic Acts of Thomas, is a profound revelation of the pilgrimage of the soul.

A Summary of the Sophia Myth

Upon his return from his ascent, Jesus describes to the disciples the hierarchies of the various planes that he has passed through on his way up. This long enumeration of entities is at first quite confusing, since nowhere in the text is there any explanation of this terminology or of the cosmological system into which those entities fit. Nevertheless, it is possible to set out a picture of the cosmic hierarchy of the text (see diagram below).

After several incidents with the entities of the lower planes, Jesus finds Pistis Sophia (whose name means "Faith Wisdom") below the Thirteenth Aeon, her original home. (Aeons, from the Greek aion or "age," are, in this text, entities governing zones of existence, or planes of consciousness, between heaven and earth.) She was alone, without her consort or her brothers, sorrowful and grieving on account of the torments that an entity known as the Authades, the Self-Centered One, had inflicted on her with the help of his emanations and the Twelve Aeons.

It happened that while in the Thirteenth Aeon, Pistis Sophia saw the Light of the Height on the veil of the Treasury of the Light, and started singing praises to that Light. From then on the Self-Centered One started to hate her, as did the Twelve Aeons below him. The Self-Centered One conceived a ruse to trick her. Pistis Sophia was led to look below and there she saw the light of another entity called the Lion-Faced Power. Not knowing that it was an emanation of the Self-Centered One, she decided to go after it, without her consort, to take its light, thinking that it would enable her to go to the Light of the Height. Once she descended from her place of origin, she was dragged further and further down into chaos, with the emanations of the Self-Centered One and the Twelve Aeons constantly chasing after her, trying to take her light away. When she finally saw Jesus surrounded by light, she cried to the Light of Lights and uttered a series of metanoias, often translated as "repentances."

The Symbolism

In all esoteric traditions the most important inner instructions are always transmitted in symbolic language (Hodson, 85-99), thus veiling the sacred from the eyes of the profane. At the same time the unveiling of the instructions offers a method for training the disciple's understanding.

In Theosophical terms, Pistis Sophia represents the soul, or more specifically, the part of the soul that incarnates; namely, the monad of consciousness in the concrete mind. Her name is a key to her role: Pistis is the Greek word for "faith." Not blind faith, but faith arising from total conviction of inner knowledge. Sophia is Greek for "wisdom." Thus her compound name indicates the fundamental principle (faith in the Light—an aspect of God) that enables her to undertake her mission, namely, the development of wisdom in both worlds. Her consort is Jesus, the aspect of the soul that unfolds the triple-natured higher Self in line with Pistis Sophia's progress in the material world. Jesus remained behind in the higher planes when she descended into chaos. This separation expresses the split in consciousness between the higher and lower nature of man. Although man is really one with his divine Self, the usual level of his consciousness cannot reach the spiritual planes; thus in the myth Pistis Sophia and Jesus are presented as separate entities.

The villain of the story is the Self-Centered One, standing for the ego, an appropriate name for the vain and egotistic "I," which always demands to be the center of attention and strives for the gratification of the senses, thus causing great affliction for the soul. The regents or archons of the Aeons are the main allies of the Self-Centered One, and they stand for the emotions and passions of man. Leading them is the Lion-Faced Power, an emanation of the Self-Centered One, standing for egotism, the strongest force driving man away from God and into chaos.
These evil and dark powers are not so much outer demons as they are inner aspects of man. Their role is to seize and fix the consciousness onto the strong, heavy vibrations of emotions, passions, and fantasies associated with sense gratification and mental delusions such as attachment, pride, and ambition. Thus they are described as actively engaged in trying to pull man down, or in the language of the text, in taking away Pistis Sophia's light. This goes on unremittingly until Pistis Sophia's final liberation from chaos.

While chaos, in the system of this text, is a region of the underworld, the term is mostly used to convey the image of a psychological state of disorder. Since Pistis Sophia is the monad of consciousness, when it is said that she falls into chaos, it means that she becomes prey to mental disorders resulting from emotions, desires, and passions. She becomes conditioned by names and forms, by cultural values and mores, by a whole gamut of conditions that represent a virtual prison to the incarnated soul—in short, the delusion of separateness. Thus Pistis Sophia's descent into chaos is a symbolic description of man's entrance into the cycle of incarnation, where he will remain until his mission is accomplished.

The Cosmology

The cosmological system of the Pistis Sophia is presented in summary form in the diagram. It should be kept in mind that an entity can be active in its own plane as well as in the regions below it. Thus Pistis Sophia and the Self-Centered One, whose region of origin is the Thirteenth Aeon (left of the Psychic Plane), are seen quite active in the Hylic Plane (the Astral Plane) just below. The same can be said of Jesus acting as the First Mystery Looking Without (buddhi), who is active all the way along the three planes below its original region.

One novel feature of the Pistis Sophia's cosmology is that each plane is divided into three regions: right, middle and left. The right is superior and the left is inferior. The entities of the right have the function of establishing ideals or archetypes; those of the middle, of sustaining or ensuring proper conditions; and those of the left, in implementing the functions set for that plane. Their roles could be seen as that of father, mother, and son, or alternatively, as the seed, the earth, and the fruit. Moreover, each plane is a reflection of the planes above it. Thus the entities of the right in every plane act as delegates of the Logos, unfolding the fundamental model or archetype for its own plane. From this model the process of manifestation takes place, from ideation to creation, at every ensuing plane.

The unmanifest Godhead is not called God, but simply the Ineffable, the One about whom nothing is known and who is infinitely beyond any characterization by man.

The highest entity on the Divine Plane is called the Mystery of the Ineffable or the Logos. He is the source of all that exists, visible and invisible, having established the archetype of the whole plan of manifestation. Immediately below him is found the First Mystery, in its double aspects as Looking Within and Looking Without. The First Mystery is the mystery of unity, and its aspect as First Mystery Looking Within is atma or spirit, which encompasses and interpenetrates all that exists, providing the divine characteristic of immanence. The First Mystery Looking Without is the vehicle of atma, namely buddhi, also known in the Western tradition as the Christ.

The plane below is the Spiritual Plane, the Pleroma (from the Greek word for "fullness") or Treasury of the Light, which corresponds to the plane of abstract or superior mind. It corresponds also to the orthodox concept of heaven, where souls finally liberated from the world find their bliss. The supreme entity of this plane is Ieu, referred to by the titles of Supervisor of the Light and First Man. Also in the right of the spiritual plane is Melchizedek, the Great Receiver of Light, the Manu of the fifth, present Root Race.

Interpretation

The myth is a highly esoteric account of the soul's pilgrimage to the distant land—the material world—and its eventual return to the Father's house. But it is far more. It reveals the process involved in the supreme initiation that turns a man into a Master of wisdom.

In the text, after Jesus returns from the height "shining most exceedingly," the disciples ask him to "withdraw his light-glory" and then ask, "Rabbi, where didst thou go, or what was thy ministry in which thou didst go?" And Jesus replies, "Rejoice and exult from this hour on, for I have gone to the regions from whence I came forth."

Jesus then recounts his entire journey, from region to region, starting from the moment that he saw Mary, his mother "according to the material body" and then going through the Firmament, the Sphere, the Providence, and the Twelve Aeons. He narrates that all the archons and the powers therein were agitated and afraid because of his exceeding light. And he went on bringing order into their regions until he came to the Thirteenth Aeon. At that point he finds Pistis Sophia alone, below her place of origin, without her brothers. And he describes how the Pistis Sophia worked her way out of chaos with his help. The narrative is, of course, atemporal. Present, past, and future unfold as the eternal now in which Jesus spins his tale.

While this story looks like a myth, Jesus actually seems to be recounting one aspect of his experience at the Great Initiation, which probably took place during the thirty hours that he remained at the height. His recollection of the incidents on his way up has a surprising parallel with the life review that takes place in the dying process of every human being. We learn that this rapid but thorough process at the end of each incarnation teaches us the implications of our actions in this world. If we recall that the law of correspondence tells us, "What is above is like that which is below and that which is below is like what is above," we can infer that the Pistis Sophia tale seems like a monumental review of the actions of the soul throughout its long journey in this world. This process is mentioned in the Mahatma Letters: "The full remembrance of our lives will return back at the end of all the seven Rounds" (Barker, 171). But it seems also to take place when the evolutionary process is speeded up, as in the case of adepts that reach the Fifth Initiation in advance of the majority of the race.

Jesus seems to be revealing to his disciples his own journey in consciousness throughout his many lives in this world until his final process of "death" as a human being. He tells us that he will make a revelation at the very point when he finds Pistis Sophia below her place of origin: "I will tell you the mystery of how these things happened."

Thus the Pistis Sophia myth is the story of the passage of Jesus's soul through the world from time immemorial until his final triumph. Jesus and Pistis Sophia are presented as a pair, the two aspects of the soul, just like the two sides of a coin. Each has its role in the mystery of life. The progressive expansion of consciousness that eventually turns Jesus into a Master of Wisdom was in fact a reflection, on a higher level, of Pistis Sophia's slow and relentless battle in this world against all agents of matter that have constantly strived to take away her light. No mention is made of the great number of incarnations that Jesus must have gone through until that historical one in Palestine. During all those lives, regardless of the names by which he may have been known, Pistis Sophia, his soul, was the loyal heroine doing battle in this world.

We can now return to the myth. Pistis Sophia "falls" from her original region, pursuing a mirage, a reflection of the Light of the Height seen down below in the region of the Aeons, which represents the power of matter. This fall, due to ignorance, was her "original sin," but later on the text says that Pistis Sophia fell at the command of the First Mystery, that is, following an inner urge to comply with the divine plan. This would require her to incarnate in order to fulfill the final objective of having Spirit manifest fully through matter.

As Pistis Sophia descends into chaos, she takes upon herself the necessary vehicles for manifestation in the material world. Thus both on the astral and the physical planes the soul is "wrapped" with appropriate bodies to function in those planes. It will be remembered that the entities of the middle region of each plane have the motherly role of providing appropriate conditions and giving sustenance. Thus, on the astral plane, Providence (in Greek, heimarmene, also translated as "fate") bestows all the tendencies from past lives that provide recurrent opportunities for the individual to learn the lessons that remain to be learned. On the physical plane, the middle region provides a physical body for the individual that is adequate for the type of life that karma has in store for him.

The story expresses the reality as seen from the Height, that is, from a spiritual vantage point. Thus when Pistis Sophia complains that the archons of the Aeons are oppressing her, trying to take her light away, this might mean that the personality has experienced a heavy, aggressive, or unpleasant vibration, such as a feeling of hatred, or has told a lie. But the "oppression of the archons" can also mean experiences of immoderate sense gratification that to a worldly individual mean "to enjoy life" and "to have fun," but to the soul, seeing reality from the vantage point of the inner light, are seen as an affliction for which she will pay dearly.

Here is enacted the classical struggle of the forces of darkness against those of the Light. Pistis Sophia, the soul, strives to go to the Height but has to fight every inch of the way against evil and darkness. These forces are entrenched within her own castle—her emotions, desires, and passions under the command of the self-serving personality.

In her process of ascent, Pistis Sophia experiences thirteen metanoias, followed by eleven songs of praise to the Light. The word metanoia, generally translated as "repentance," is central to the Christian tradition. But its original Greek meaning was much broader than "repentance," indicating a change in one's mental state. Thus each metanoia actually indicates that the individual is undertaking an inner change—of attitude, values, and behavior. Since Pistis Sophia's region is the Thirteenth Aeon, she must symbolically effect thirteen changes of consciousness or metanoias, one for each region or aspect of herself. The much-heralded Way or Path in all esoteric traditions in fact entails this very process of inner change. This is made clear in The Voice of the Silence in the statement "Thou canst not travel on the Path before thou hast become that Path itself" (The Voice of the Silence, 12).

Nowhere in the Pistis Sophia do we see Jesus preaching any moral code of behavior. What is made clear is that man must renounce the world and transform his mind if he hopes to receive the mysteries that will open for him the inheritance of the Light.

While Jesus's parables and other public teachings often castigate conventional wisdom as expressed by compliance with the Mosaic Law (Borg, 97–116), the Pistis Sophia clearly links Jesus's teachings with the prophetic tradition. This is done ingeniously by means of interpretations advanced by the disciples after each metanoia uttered by Pistis Sophia, which in fact are quotations from the biblical Psalms and the apocryphal Odes of Solomon.

The metanoias and invocations uttered by Pistis Sophia suggest the protracted process of transformation needed to turn a worldly individual into "a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13). On closer examination of these metanoias and songs of praise, we notice some turning points and fundamental changes in her situation as she is slowly freed from chaos. These turning points have a parallel with the five major initiations of the esoteric tradition.

The first turning point occurs when her insistent pleas for assistance from the Light of the Height are finally heard. These pleas have a parallel with the surrender of the mystic, implicit in Jesus's utterance "Thy will be done, Lord, not mine." In time a channel is opened up in the seeker's consciousness where the Light starts to be seen, or the Christ is born.

After Pistis Sophia's sixth metanoia, her sin of going down into chaos alone without her consort is forgiven, and Jesus leads Pistis Sophia "into a somewhat spacious region in the chaos." This more spacious "region" is actually an expansion of consciousness. Here the aspirant's interests in the coarser things of the outer world, with their heavy vibrations, begins to diminish. This relative respite from the oppressions of the archons, that is, of emotions and passions, expressed as an elevation into a more "spacious region in the chaos," seems to indicate what Theosophy calls the First Initiation.

Once the archons notice that Pistis Sophia has not been taken entirely away from chaos, they return with redoubled efforts to afflict her and she continues to utter her metanoias, thus continuing her inner transformation. After the ninth metanoia, her plea for help from the Light is partially accepted, and Jesus is sent by the First Mystery (the pure mind reinforced by the power of the inner Christ) to help her to secretly escape from chaos. From then on, Pistis Sophia, man's consciousness, perceives Jesus as a Light shining brightly, probably an indication of the opening of her spiritual vision, or of an expansion of consciousness arising from the Second Initiation. From then on, the man in the outer world has his mind progressively illumined by the Light of the Height, enabling him to carry out his work in the world as a light bearer, as Jesus did after his baptism in the Jordan, which represents the Second Initiation.

But the desires and emotions elicited by material things are still felt as the emanations of the Self-Centered One (the egotistic personality), and the powers of the archons (desires and passions) change form as the seeker conquers the grosser vibrations. After the thirteenth metanoia, Jesus sends a light-power to assist Pistis Sophia and to take her to higher regions of chaos. The initiation process continues with the fourteenth invocation, when a light-power is sent by the First Mystery (the power of Divine Spirit). These two powers meet together and become a great stream of light, forming a protecting crown over the head of Pistis Sophia. This seems to reflect the stage of illumination reached with the Third Initiation, in which periods of consciousness of unity with God and with all beings alternate with the usual dualistic consciousness of the world.

Now the joy of Pistis Sophia becomes the central theme of her songs of praise, in which she reiterates her determination to remain firm and never stray from the Light again. But the powers of darkness do not relent, and new and stronger emanations of the Self-Centered One are sent to join the others so as to oppress Pistis Sophia and take her back to chaos. After her sixteenth invocation, pleading for the help that had been promised, she is saved once again by the stream of Light, with the help of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Jesus also goes down into chaos to help Pistis Sophia. He enables her to step over the principal evil emanation of the Self-Centered One, a serpent with seven heads. This symbolizes the killing of the seeds of evil within man, namely the illusion of separateness.

Once the illusion of separateness is overcome, the initiate is entitled to enter nirvana. Thus, at this point, Jesus takes Pistis Sophia to a region just below the Thirteenth Aeon, her original station (probably a reference to the Fourth Initiation, which turns the seeker into an Arhat or enlightened one). The Initiate is very close to the other shore, his final destination.

Nevertheless, in spite of her high accomplishments, the soul is still subject to the affliction of the subtle material powers, and Pistis Sophia continues her invocations. Jesus warns her that the Self-Centered One is furious with her and will try a last attack by means of two dark and violent emanations in order to take her back into chaos. She is left alone, but Jesus promises to come back to help her if she feels oppressed and invokes his help. As indicated, the two dark and chaotic emanations (probably depression and despair) attack in earnest. This seems to refer to the period sometimes called as the Dark Night of the Soul (Underhill, 380–412), when the individual feels alone and abandoned by all and sundry, sinking into a period of depression that might lead to despair, until he is able to renounce his last remaining attachments to the world—namely, his feeling of being a separate "I"—prior to final and permanent union with God or the Light.

With the twenty-fourth invocation finally arrives the moment to take Pistis Sophia permanently out of chaos and into the Thirteenth Aeon. This might look like an anticlimax, a mere return to her original region. But at this point a touching surprise awaits the reader. It is said that Pistis Sophia reaches her final liberation at the exact moment that Jesus is at the Mount of Olives with his disciples in the process of being elevated to the Height in the midst of the Light. Thus we have an indication of the Fifth Initiation, both from the point of view of the glorified individuality, Jesus or the Higher Self, and of the soul, which is finally freed from the prison of the world. At that moment Pistis Sophia is finally reunited with her consort, Jesus, a parallel with the sacrament of the wedding chamber mentioned in the Gnostic Gospel of Philip and with the experience of the great mystics at the last stage of theosis—"deification" or union with God.

This mysterious initiation, which is said to be conferred by the initiate upon himself, is the end of the soul's pilgrimage. The man has learned all there is to be learned as a man, and embarks on another journey beyond the realm of humanity in the endless spiral of eternal evolution. The symbolic image of being elevated to the Height conveys the idea of a monumental expansion of consciousness to the adept, encompassing all planes from "earth" to "heaven."

Notice that at each of the five major turning points in the story of Pistis Sophia, her consort, Jesus, goes down into chaos to help her. This seems an indication that an integration of the two aspects of the soul, Jesus and the Pistis Sophia, occurs as part of the initiation process. The first four such integrations are partial or perhaps temporary. It is only with the final initiation that total and permanent integration of the higher and lower natures of man is finally accomplished.

We could conclude that the Pistis Sophia, like all sacred scriptures, is an encoded map to a precious treasure hoard. If we are able to interpret its symbols, we will be able to tread the Path and find the precious pearl of gnosis, the key that admits us to the kingdom of heaven.

The cosmology of the Pistis Sophia is extremely intricate. Although the diagram may seem complicated, it is actually a simplified version of the system presented in the text. Not all of the entities listed in the diagram are discussed in the article. 

References

Barker, A. T., ed. The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett. Pasadena, Calif.: Theosophical University Press, 1975.

Blavatsky, H. P. "Pistis Sophia: Commentary and Notes." Collected Writings, vol. 13. Wheaton: Theosophical Publishing House, 1982, 1-81.

———. The Voice of the Silence. Wheaton: Theosophical Publishing House, 1992.

Borg, Marcus J. Jesus: A New Vision. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1991.

Doresse, Jean. The Secret Books of the Egyptian Gnostics. New York: Viking, 1960.

Hodson, Geoffrey. The Hidden Wisdom in the Holy Bible, vol. 1. Adyar: Theosophical Publishing House, 1963.

Hurtak, J. J., and Desiree Hurtak. Pistis Sophia: A Coptic Gnostic Text with Commentary. Los Gatos, Calif.: Academy for Future Science, 1999.

MacDermot, Violet. The Fall of Sophia: A Gnostic Text on the Redemption of Universal Consciousness. Great Barrington, Mass.: Lindisfarne, 2001.

Mead, G. R. S. Pistis Sophia: A Gnostic Miscellany. London: Watkins, 1921.

Robinson, James, ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English. New York: Harper Collins, 1990.

Rudolph, Kurt. Gnosis: The Nature and History of Gnosticism. San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1987.

Schneemelcher, Wilhelm. New Testament Apocrypha. Two volumes. Philadelphia: Westminster/John Knox, 1991.

Underhill, Evelyn. Mysticism: The Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness. Oxford: One World, 1993.

Raul Branco, an economist, has taught at the University of Texas, City College of New York, and Columbia University and has worked for the United Nations and the Brazilian government. Now retired, he lives in Brasília, Brazil, where he dedicates himself to the study of comparative religion, the Christian tradition, and Gnosticism. He published a version of Pistis Sophia in Portuguese (Rio de Janeiro: Bertrand Brasil, 1997); and a second enlarged edition (Brasília, Editora Teosófica, 2009). He has published two books in Portuguese: their English titles are The Teachings of Jesus and the Esoteric Christian Tradition, (São Paulo: Pensamento, 1999) and The Transforming Power of Early Christianity (Editora Teosófica, 2004).

Pistis Sophia: Book One

CHAPTER 1

But it happened that after Jesus had risen from the dead he spent eleven years speaking with his disciples . And he taught them only as far as the places of the first ordinance and as far as the places of the First Mystery, which is within the veil which is within the first ordinance, which is the 24th mystery outside and below , these which are in the second space of the First Mystery, which is before all mysteries the Father in the form of a dove . And Jesus said to his disciples : "I have come forth from that First Mystery which is the last mystery, namely the 24th"..

And the disciples did not know and understand that there was anything within that mystery. But they thought that that mystery was the head of the All , and the head of all the things that exist . And they thought that it was the completion of all completions, because Jesus had said to them concerning the mystery, that it surrounded the first ordinance and the five incisions and the great light and the five helpers (parastatai) and the whole Treasury of Light. And moreover Jesus had not spoken to his disciples of the whole extent of the places of the great invisible one and the three triple powers and the 24 invisible ones and all their places and their aeons and all their ranks, how they extend - these which are the emanations of the great invisible one - and their unbegotten ones and their self-begotten ones and their begotten ones and their luminaries and their unpaired ones and their archons and their powers (exousiai) and their lords and their archangels and their angels and their decans and their ministers and all the houses of their spheres and all the ranks of each one of them.

And Jesus had not told his disciples of the whole extent of the emanations of the treasury, nor their ranks how they extend, nor had he told them of their saviours, according to the rank of each one, how they are. Nor had he told them which watcher is over each of the doors of the Treasury of Light. Nor had he told them of the place of the twin saviour who is the child of the child. Nor had he told them of the place of the three amens, in which places they extend, and he had not told them in which places the five trees are spread, nor of the seven other amens, namely the seven voices, which their place is and how they extend. And Jesus had not told his disciples of what type are the five helpers (Parastatai). Or into which places they are brought. Nor had he told them in what manner the great light extends, or into which places it is brought- Nor had he told them of the five incisions, nor concerning the first ordinance, into which places they are brought. But he had only spoken to them in general, teaching them that they existed. But he had not told them their extent and the rank of their places according to how they exist. Because of this they also did not know that other places existed within that mystery. And he had not said to his disciples : "I came forth from such and such places until I entered that mystery, until I came forth from it." But he had said to them as hen thaught them : "I came forth from that mystery".

Because of this they thought now of that mystery that it was the completion of all completions, and that it was the head of the All, and that it was (the) whole pleroma, since Jesus had said to his disciples : "That mystery surrounds the totalities of which I have told you all from the day on which I met you until today". Because of this the disciples thought now that there was nothing existing within that mystery..

CHAPTER 2

It happened as the disciples were sitting with one another upon the Mount of Olives, as they spoke these words they rejoiced with great joy, and they were very jubilant, and they said to one another: "We are blessed beyond all men who are on earth because the Saviour has revealed these things to us, and we have received the pleroma and the whole completion". As they were saying these things to one another, Jesus was sitting at a short distance from them.

It happened, however, on the 1st of the moon in the month of Tôbe, which is the day on which the moon becomes full, now on that day when the sun had risen on its path , there came forth after it a great power of light, giving a very great light, and there was no measure to its accompanying light , for it came forth from the Light of Lights, exceedingly, with (a) light to which there was no measure.

And the disciples gazed after him, and not one of them spoke until he had reached heaven, but they all kept a great silence. Now these things happened on the 15th of the moon, on the day on which it is full in the month of Tôbe.

Now it happened when Jesus went up to heaven, after three hours all the powers of the heavens were disturbed, and they all shook against one another, they and all their aeons, and all their places and all their ranks and the whole earth moved with all who dwelt upon it. And all the men in the world were agitated, and also the disciples. And they all thought : "Perhaps the world will be rolled up". And all the powers which are in the heavens did not cease from their agitation, they and the whole world, and they all moved against one another from the third hour of the 15th of the moon in (the month of) Tôbe until the ninth hour of the following day. And all the angels and their archangels and all the powers of the height all sang praises to the innermost of the inner , so that the whole world heard their voices, and they did not cease until the ninth hour of the following day.

CHAPTER 3

Now it happened when the light-power had come down upon Jesus, it gradually surrounded him completely.

Then Jesus rose or ascended to the height, giving light exceedingly, with (a) light to which there was no measure.

And the disciples gazed after him, and not one of them spoke until he had reached heaven, but they all kept a great silence. Now these things happened on the 1st of the moon, on the day on which it is full in the month of Tôbe.

Now it happened when Jesus went up to heaven, after three hours all the powers of the heavens were disturbed, and they all shook against one another , they and all their aeons, and all their places and all their ranks and the whole earth moved with all who dwelt upon it. And all the men in the world were agitated, and also the disciples. And they all thought : "Perhaps the world will be rolled up". And all the powers which are in the heavens did not cease from their agitation, they and the whole world, and they all moved against one another from the third hour of the 1st of the moon in (the month on Tôbe until the ninth hour of the following day. And all the angels and their archangels and all the powers of the height all sang praises to the innermost of the inner , so that the whole world heard their voices, and they did not cease until the ninth hour of the following day.

CHAPTER 4

The disciples, however, sat with one another in fear, and were greatly agitated. ( They were afraid, however, on account of the great earthquake which happened, and they wept together, saying: "What will happen now? Perhaps the Saviour will destroy all the places".

As they were saying these things and were weeping to one another, on the ninth hour of the following day the heavens opened, and they saw Jesus coming down, giving light exceedingly, and there was no measure to the light in which he was. For he gave more light than in the hour -that he went up to heaven, so that the men in the world were not able to speak of the light which was his, and it cast forth very many rays of light, and there was no measure to its rays. And his light was not equal throughout, but it was of different kinds, and it was of different types, so that some were many times superior to others, and the whole light together was in three forms, and the one was many times superior to the other; the second which was in the middle was superior to the first which was below; and the third which was above them all was superior to the second which was below. And the first ray which was below them all was similar to the light which had come down upon Jesus before he went up to heaven, and it was quite equal to it in its light. And the three light-forms were of different kinds of light and they were of different types. And some were many times superior to others.

CHAPTER 5

It happened, however, when the disciples saw these they were greatly afraid and agitated. Now Jesus, the compassionate and tender-hearted, when he saw that his disciples were in great agitation, he spoke to them saying : "Be courageous. It is I, do not fear" .

CHAPTER 6

Now it happened when the disciples heard these words, they said : "Lord, if it be thou, draw thy light-glory to thyself so that we can stand, otherwise our eyes are darkened and we are agitated, and also the whole world is agitated 1, because of the great light which is thine".

Then Jesus drew to himself the glory of his light. And when this had happened all the disciples took courage, they came before Jesus, they all prostrated themselves at the same time, they worshipped him, rejoicing with great joy. They said to him : "Rabbi, where didst thou go, or what was thy service in which thou didst go, or for what reason were all these disturbances and all these earthquakes which happened ?".

Then Jesus, the compassionate, said to them : "Rejoice and be glad from this hour because I have been to the places from whence I came forth. From today onwards now I will speak with you openly from the beginning of the truth until its completion. And I will speak with you face to face, without parable . I will not conceal from you, from this hour onwards, anything of the things of the height and of the place of the truth . For I have been given authority , through the Ineffable and through the First Mystery of all the mysteries, that I should speak with you from the beginning until the pleroma, and from within outwards, and from without inwards. Hear now, so that I tell you all things.

It happened as I was sitting at a short distance from you upon the Mount of Olives, I was thinking of the rank of the service for which I was sent, that it should be completed, and that my garment was not yet sent to me by the First Mystery, which is the 24th mystery from within outwards.

These (24 mysteries) are in the second space of the First Mystery in the rank of that space. It happened now when I knew that the rank of the service for which I had been sent was completed, and that that mystery had not yet sent me the garment, which I had left behind within it until the time was completed - as I thought of these things, I was sitting upon the Mount of Olives at a short distance from you.

CHAPTER 7

It happened when the sun rose in the East now after- wards, through the First Mystery which had existed from the beginning, because of which ( the All existed, from which I myself have come just now - not prior to my crucifixion , but now - it happened through the command of that mystery, it sent me my garment of light, which it had given to me from the beginning, which I had left behind in the last mystery which is the 24th mystery from within outwards, these (24 mysteries) which are in the ranks of the second space of the First Mystery. That garment (of light) now I had left behind in the last mystery until the time was completed that I should put it on me, and that I should begin to speak with the race of mankind, and reveal to them all things from the beginning of the truth until its completion, and speak to them from the innermost of the inner to the outermost of the outer, and from the outermost of the outer to the innermost of the inner. Rejoice and be glad , and rejoice still more, that it is given to you that I should speak with you first from the beginning of the truth until its completion. Because of this indeed I have chosen you from the beginning ( through the First Mystery. Rejoice now and be glad , because when I entered the world I brought the twelve powers with me, as I told you from the beginning, which I took from the twelve saviours of the Treasury of Light, according to the command of the First Mystery.

These now I cast into the wombs of your mothers when I came into the world, and it is these which are in your bodies today. For these powers have been given to you above the whole world, for you are those who are able to save the whole world, so that you should be able to withstand the threat of the archons of the world, and the sufferings of the world and their dangers, and all their persecutions which the archons of the height will bring upon you. For I have said to you many times that the power which is within you I have brought from the twelve saviours, which are in the Treasury of Light. For this reason I have indeed said to you from the beginning that you are not from the world; I also am not from it . For all men who are in the world have received souls from (the power) of the archons of the aeons. The power, however, which is in you, is from me but your souls belong to the height. I have brought twelve powers of the twelve saviours of the Treasury of the Light, taking them from the part of my power which I received at first. And when I entered the world I came to the midst of the archons of the sphere, and I took the likeness of Gabriel, the Angel of the aeons, and the archers of the aeons did not recognize me . But they thought that I was the Angel Gabriel. Now it happened that when I came into the midst of the archons of the aeons, I looked down at the world of mankind, at the command of the First Mystery.

I found Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist , before she had conceived him and I cast into her a power which I had received from the Little Jao , the Good, who is in the Midst, so that he should be able to preach before me, and prepare my way and baptise with water of forgiveness .

Now that power was in the body of John. And again, in place of the soul of the archons which he was due to receive, I found the soul of the prophet Elias in the aeons of the sphere; and I took it in and I took his soul again; I brought it to the Virgin of the Light, and she gave it to her paralemptors . They brought it to the sphere of the archons, and they cast it into the womb of Elisabeth. But the power of the Little Jao, he of the Midst, and the soul of the prophet Elias were bound in the body of John the Baptist.

You doubted now at the time when I spoke to you because John said : 'I am not the Christ' and you said to me : 'lt is written in the scripture : when the Christ shall come, there will come Elias before him and he will prepare his way'. But when you said this to me, I said to you : 'Elias has indeed come and he has prepared all things, as it is written : And they did to him as they pleased. And when I knew that you did not understand what I said to you concerning the soul of Elias, which was bound in John the Baptist, I answered you openly in speech, face to face, saying : 'If it pleases you to accept John the Baptist, he is Elias of whom I have said that he will come'".

CHAPTER 8

Jesus continued again speaking and said: "Now it happened after this, through the command of the First Mystery, I looked down again upon the world of mankind, I found Mary, who is called my mother according to the material body. I spoke to her in the type of Gabriel , and when she turned to the height towards me, I cast into her the first power which I had received from the Barbelo, which is the body which I wore in the height. And in place of the soul, I cast into her the power which I received from the great Sabaoth, the Good , who is in the place of the right. And the twelve powers of the twelve saviours of the Treasury of the Light, which I received from the twelve servers which are in the Midst, I cast into the sphere of the archons. And the decans of the archons and their ministers thought that they were souls of the archons, and the ministers brought them, they bound them in the bodies of your mothers. And when your times were completed, they bore you into the world without there being souls of the archons in you. And you have received your parts from the power which the last helper (parastates) had breathed into the mixture, this (power) which is mixed with all the invisible ones and all the archons and all the aeons. In a word, it is mixed with the world of destruction, namely the mixture.

This (power) which, from the beginning, I brought out of myself, I cast into the first ordinance. And the first ordinance cast a part of it into the great light. And the great light cast a part of what it received into the five helpers (parastatai), and the last helper (parastates) took a part from what it received and cast it into the mixture. And (the part) has come to be in all who are in the mixture, as I have just said to you." Now Jesus was saying these things to his disciples upon the Mount of Olives. Jesus now continued again in the discourse with his disciples: "Rejoice and be glad , and add joy to your joy, because the times are completed that I should put on my garment which was prepared for me from the beginning, which I left behind in the last mystery until the time of its completion. But the time of its completion is the time when I am commanded by the First Mystery to speak to you from the beginning of the truth to its fulfillment, and from the innermost of the inner (to the outermost of the outer), because the world will be saved by you. Rejoice and be glad because you are blessed beyond all men upon earth, because it is you who will save the whole world.".

CHAPTER 9

It happened now when Jesus finished saying these words to his disciples, he continued again with the discourse, and he said to them : "Behold, I have put on my garment and all authority is given to me through the First Mystery.

Yet a little time, and I will tell you ( the mystery of the All and the pleroma of the All, and I will not hide anything from you from this hour, but in completion I will complete you in every pleroma and in every completion and in every mystery ; these are the completion of all completions and the Pleroma of all Pleromas and the gnosis of all gnoses, these which are in my garment. I will tell you all the mysteries from the outermost of the outer to the innermost of the inner. Hear, nevertheless, and I will tell you everything which has happened to me.

CHAPTER 10

It happened now when the sun rose in the East, a great power of light came down, in which was my garment which I had left in the 24th mystery, as I have just been telling you. And I found a mystery in my garment, written in the manner of writing of those of the height :<lacuna untranslatable> whose interpretation is : 'O Mystery which art outside the world , because of which the All exists - this is the whole coming forth and the whole ascent which has emanated all emanations and all that is within them, and because of which all mysteries and all their places exist - come forth to us because we are thy fellow-members.

But we all with thee alone, we and thou are one and the same. Thou art the First Mystery which has existed from the beginning in the Ineffable One, before he went forth, and the name of that one is all of us. Now all together we will approach thee at the last boundary , which is the last mystery from within, itself a part of us. Now we have sent thee thy garment which has belonged to thee from the beginning, which thou didst leave in the last boundary, which is the last mystery from within, until its time was completed according to the command of the First Mystery.

Behold, the time is completed. Put it on, come to us, that we all approach thee to put on thee the First Mystery with all his glory, through his own command; as the First Mystery, having two garments , has given it to us that we should put it on thee, apart from this which we have sent thee because thou art worthy, since thou art first among us and thou didst exist before us . Because of this the First Mystery has sent to thee through us the mystery of his whole glory, having two garments. That is, in the first is all the glory of all the names of all the mysteries and all the emanations and the ranks of the spaces of the Ineffable One. And in the second garment is the whole glory of the name of all the mysteries and all the emanations which are in the ranks of the two spaces of the First Mystery. And in this garment which we have now sent thee is the glory of the name of the mystery of the informer, which is the first ordinance, and the mystery of the five incisions, and the mystery of the great messenger of the Ineffable, who is the great light, and the mystery of the five leaders who are the five helpers (parastatai). And furthermore, there is in that garment the glory of the name of the mystery of all the ranks of the emanations of the Treasury of the Light, and their saviours, and (the mystery on the ranks of the ranks, which are the seven amens and the seven voices and the five trees and the three amens and the twin saviour, namely the child of the child, and the mystery of the nine watchers of the three gates of the Treasury of the Light . And furthermore there is in it the whole glory of the name (of all those) who are on the right, and all those who are in the Midst. And furthermore there is in it the whole glory of the name of the great invisible one, who is the great forefather , and the mystery of the triple power, and the mystery, of their whole place, and the mystery, of all their invisible ones and of all those who are in the thirteenth aeon , and the name of the twelve aeons and of all their archons and all their archangels and all their angels, and of all those which are in the twelve aeons, and the whole mystery, of the names of all those which are in the Heimarmene and all the heavens.

And the whole mystery of the name of all those in the sphere, and their firmaments and all those which are in them, and all their places. Behold now, we have sent thee that garment which no one knew, from the first ordinance downwards, because the glory of its light was hidden within it. And the spheres and all the places from the first ordinance downwards (did not know it). Behold now, put on this garment quickly.

Come to us that we approach thee to put on thee thy two garments, through the command of the First Mystery they having been for thee with the First Mystery since the beginning until the time appointed by the Ineffable One which contained their name. They were exceedingly afraid and all their bonds in which they were bound were loosened, and each one abandoned his rank. And they all prostrated themselves in my presence, they worshipped, saying : 'How has the Lord of the All passed through us without our knowing?' And they all sang praises at once to the innermost of the inner. However they did not see me, but they saw the light alone and they were in great fear . And they were greatly agitated, and they sang praises to the innermost of the inner.

CHAPTER 11

It happened now, when I saw the mystery, of all these words in the garment which was sent to me, I put it on in that hour, and I gave light exceedingly, and I flew to the height, and I came before the gate of the firmament, shining exceedingly, there being no measure to the light which I had. And the gates of the firmament were agitated against one another, and they all opened at the same time.

And all the archons and all the powers (exousiai) and all the angels therein were all agitated at the same time because of the great light which I had. And they looked upon the shining garment of light which I wore, they saw the mystery is completed. Behold the time is completed. Come now quickly to us that we put them on thee, until thou hast completed the whole service of the completion of the First Mystery, which is appointed by the Ineffable One. Come now quickly to us that we put them on thee, according to the command of the First Mystery. For yet a little time, an insignificant one, and thou wilt come to us and leave the world. Come now quickly, and thou shalt receive the whole glory which is the glory of the First Mystery ii. It happened now, when I saw the mystery, of all these words in the garment which was sent to me, I put it on in that hour, and I gave light exceedingly, and I flew to the height, and I came before the gate of the firmament, shining exceedingly, there being no measure to the light which I had. And the gates of the firmament were agitated against one another, and they all opened at the same time.

And all the archons and all the powers (exousiai) and all the angels therein were all agitated at the same time because of the great light which I had. And they looked upon the shining garment of light which I wore, they saw the mystery of their name within it. And they were increasingly agitated and they were in great fear, saying : "How has the Lord of the All passed through without our knowing?" And all their bonds were loosened, and their places and their ranks.

And each one abandoned his rank. And they all prostrated themselves at the same time, they all worshipped in my presence or in the presence of my garment. And they all sang praises at the same time to the innermost of the inner, being in great fear and great agitation.

CHAPTER 12

Nevertheless I left that place behind me, I came up to the first sphere shining exceedingly, 49 times more than when I gave light within the firmament. Now it happened when I reached the gate of the first sphere, its gates were agitated and they opened of themselves at the same time.

I came into the houses of the spheres shining exceedingly, there being no measure to the light which I had. And all the archons and all those who were in that sphere were agitated together. And they saw the great light which I had.

And they looked upon my garment, they saw the mystery of their name within it. And they were increasingly agitated, and they were in great fear, saying: 'How, has the Lord of the All passed through us without our knowing?' And all their bonds were loosened, and their places and their ranks. And each one abandoned his rank. And they all prostrated themselves at the same time, they all worshipped in my presence or in the presence of my garment. And they all sang praises at the same time to the innermost of the inner, being in great fear and great agitation.

CHAPTER 13

And I left that place behind me, I came to the gate of the second sphere, which is the Heimarmene. But all its gates were agitated and they opened of themselves . And I entered into the houses of the Heimarmene, shining exceedingly, there being no measure to the light which I had, for I was shining in the Heimarmene 49 times more than in the sphere. And all the archons and all those who are in the Heimarmene were agitated and they fell upon one another, and were in very great fear as they saw the great light which I had. And they looked at my garment of light, they saw the mystery of their name in my garment, and they were increasingly agitated. They were in great fear, saying : 'How has the Lord of the All passed through us without our knowing?' And all the bonds of their places and their ranks and their houses were loosened. They all came at the same time, they prostrated themselves, they worshipped in my presence. And they all sang praises at the same time to the innermost of the inner, being in great fear and great agitation.

CHAPTER 14

And I left that place behind me, I came upwards to the great aeons of the archons, I came before their veils and their gates shining exceedingly, and there was no measure to the light which I had. Now it happened when I reached the twelve aeons , their veils and their gates were agitated against one another. The veils drew themselves aside and the gates opened of themselves , and I entered into their aeons shining exceedingly, there being no measure to the light which I had, 49 times greater than the light with which I was shining in the houses of the Heimarmene. And all the angels of the aeons and their archangels and their archons and their gods and their lords and their powers (exousiai) and their tyrants and their powers and their light-sparks and their luminaries and their unpaired ones and their invisible ones and their forefathers and their triple-powered glories, they saw me shining exceedingly, there being no measure to the light which I had. And they were agitated against one another, and great fear came upon them as they saw the great light which I had. And their great agitation and their great fear reached to the place of the great invisible forefather and the three great triple-powered ones. However, because of the great fear from their agitation, the great forefather continued to run from side to side in his place, he and the three triple-powered ones, and they could not close all their places because of the great fear in which they were. And they moved all their aeons at the same time, and all their spheres, and all their orders, fearing and greatly agitated because of the great light which I had. Not as at the time when I had it, in which I was upon the earth of mankind, when the garment of light came down upon me, for the world would not be able to bear the light as it is in its reality, else the world and all that is upon it would be dissolved at the same time. But the light which I had in the twelve aeons was 8700 myriad times greater than that which I had with you in the world.

CHAPTER 15

Now it happened when all those that were in the twelve aeons saw the great light which I had, they were all agitated against one another, and they ran from side to side in the aeons. And all the aeons and all the heavens and their whole order moved against one another, because of the great fear which they had because they did not know the mystery which had happened. And Adamas, the great tyrant , and all the tyrants which are in all the aeons began to wage war in vain against the light. And they did not know against whom they waged war, because they saw nothing except the greatly surpassing light.

Now it happened when they waged war against the light, they were all exhausted together, and they were cast down into the aeons, and they became like the earth-dwellers who are dead and have no breath in them. And I took a third part of all their power so that they should not work their wicked actions, and in order that when men who are in the world call upon them in their mysteries - those which the transgressing angels brought down, namely their magic - that when now they call upon them in their wicked actions, they are not able to complete them. And (as for) the Heimarmene and the sphere over which they rule, I turned them and caused them to spend six months turned to the left, as they complete their (periods of) influence, and to look to the right for six months, as they complete their (periods on influence. However, through the command of the first ordinance and through the command of the First Mystery, Jeu the Overseer of the Light had placed them so that they were looking to the left at all times, as they completed their (periods of) influence and their actions.

CHAPTER 16

Now it happened when I came to their place, they rebelled and waged war against the light. And I took a third part of their power, so that they should not be able to complete their wicked actions. And (as for) the Heimarmene and the sphere over which they rule, I turned them, I placed them looking to the left for six months, as they complete their (periods of) influence, and I placed them for another six months turning to the right, as they complete their (periods of) influence.

CHAPTER 17

Now when he had said these things to his disciples, he said to them : "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" .

Now it happened when Mariam heard these words as the Saviour was saying them, she stared for one hour into the air and said : "My Lord, command me that I speak openly".

Jesus, the compassionate, answered and said to Mariam : "Mariam, thou blessed one, whom I will complete in all the mysteries of the height, speak openly, thou art she whose heart is more directed to the Kingdom of Heaven than all thy brothers".

CHAPTER 18

Then Mariam said to the Saviour: "My Lord, the word which thou hast spoken to us : 'Who has ears to hear, let him hear', thou sayest so that we may understand the word which thou hast spoken. Hear now, my Lord, for I will speak openly. The word which thou hast spoken: 'I have taken a third part of the power of the archons of all the aeons, and I have turned their Heimarmene and their sphere over which they rule, so that when the race of mankind call upon them in their mysteries - these which the transgressing angels have taught them for the completion of their evil and iniquitous deeds in the mystery of their magic - from this hour now they should not be able to complete their iniquitous deeds, because thou hast taken their power from them and from their astrologers and from their soothsayers and from those who tell men who are in the world all things which will happen, so that from this hour they will not understand anything which will happen so as to tell it. For thou hast turned their sphere, and thou hast made them spend six months turned to the left, completing their (periods of) influence, and six months looking to the right, completing their (periods of) influence.' Now concerning this word, my Lord, the power within the prophet Isaiah has spoken thus and has related once in a spiritual parable, speaking about the vision of Egypt : 'Where now Egypt, where are thy soothsayers and thy astrologers, and those who call from the earth, and those who call from their bellies? Let them now tell thee, from this hour, the things which the Lord Sabaoth will do.' Now before thou didst come, the power within Isaiah, the prophet, prophesied concerning thee, that thou wouldst take away the power of the archons of the aeons, and that thou wouldst turn their sphere and their Heimarmene, so that from this hour they would know nothing. Concerning this also it has said : 'You will not know what the Lord Sabaoth will do'. That is, none of the archons will know what things thou wilt do from this hour. They (the archons) are Egypt, because they are matter. The power within Isaiah has once prophesied about thee saying : 'You will not know from this hour what the Lord Sabaoth will do' Concerning the power of light which thou hast taken from Sabaoth the Good, who is in the place of the right, and which today is in thy material body, concerning this now, thou hast said to us, my Lord Jesus: 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear, so that thou shouldst know whose heart is directed towards the Kingdom of Heaven.".

CHAPTER 19

Now it happened when Maria finished saying these words, he said : "Excellent, Maria. Thou art blessed beyond all women upon earth, because thou shalt be the pleroma of all Pleromas and the completion of all completions." But when Maria heard the Saviour saying these words, she rejoiced greatly and she came before Jesus, she prostrated herself in his presence, she worshipped at his feet, she said to him : "My Lord, hear me that I question thee on this word before thou speakest with us of the places to which thou hast gone".

Jesus answered and said to Mariam : "Speak openly and do not fear. I will reveal all things which thou seekest".

CHAPTER 20

She said : "My Lord, all men who know the mystery of the magic of all the archons of all the aeons, and the magic of the archons of the Heimarmene and those of the sphere, as the transgressing angels have taught them, when they call upon them in their mysteries, that is their evil magic to prevent good things: will they, from this hour, fulfill them or not?" Then Jesus answered and said to Maria : "They will not fulfill them in the manner in which they fulfilled them from the beginning, because I have taken a third part of their power. But they will borrow from those who know the mysteries of the magic of the third aeon. And when they call upon the mysteries of the magic of those who are in the third aeon, they will fulfill them well and certainly because I have not taken power from that place, according to the command of the First Mystery".

CHAPTER 21

It happened, however, when Jesus finished speaking these words, Maria answered again and said : "My Lord, will the astrologers and the soothsayers not tell men, from this hour, what will happen?" Jesus answered, however, and said to Maria : "When the astrologers find the Heimarmene and the sphere turned to the left, according to their first distribution, then their words concur and they will say what is due to happen. But when they meet the Heimarmene or the sphere turned to the right, they do not speak anything of the truth, because I have turned their (periods of) influence and their quadrangles and their triangles and their figures of eight , since their (periods of) influence remained turned to the left from the beginning, together with their quadrangles and their triangles and their figures of eight. However, I have now caused them to spend six months turned to the left, and six months turned to the right. He who now will find their reckoning from the time when I turned them, placing them to spend six months looking to their left hand parts, and six months looking to their right hand paths, and who will now consult them in this way, will know their (periods of) influence with certainty, and he will predict all things that they will do.

Likewise also the soothsayers, when they call upon the name of the archons, and they meet them looking to the left, everything concerning which they will seek of their decans, they will tell them with certainty. However, when their soothsayers call upon their names as they are looking to the right, they will not hear them, because they look in another form than their first ordinance in which Jeu established them, since their names are other when they are turned to the left than when they are turned to the right. And when they call upon them as they are turned to the right, they will not speak the truth to them, but in confusion they will confuse them, and with threats they will threaten them.

Those now who do not know their paths as they are turned to the right, with their triangles and their quadrangles and all their figures, they will find nothing of truth, but they will be confused in great confusion, and they will be in great error, and they will be deluded in great delusion, because the works which they did in the time when they were turned to the left in their quadrangles, in their triangles and in their figures of eight, these in which they continued as they were turned to the left, I have now turned. And I have caused them to spend six months making all their patterns turned to the right, so that they should be confused in confusion in their whole circuit. And furthermore I have caused them to spend six months turned to the left, doing the works of their (periods of) influence and all their patterns, so that the archons which are in the aeons and in their spheres and in their heavens and in all their places should be confused in confusion, and should wander in error, so that they should not understand their own paths".

CHAPTER 22

It happened when Jesus finished saying these words, Philip sat writing every word as Jesus said them. Now after this it happened that Philip came forward, he prostrated himself and worshipped at the feet of Jesus, saying : "My Lord, Saviour, give me authority that I speak in thy presence and that I question thee on this discourse before thou speakest with us of the places to which thou hast gone for the sake of thy service".

The compassionate Saviour answered, he said to Philip : "The authority is given to thee to deliver the discourse which thou dost wish".

Then Philip answered and spoke to Jesus: "My Lord, for the sake of what mystery hast thou turned the bondage of the archons and their aeons and their Heimarmene and their sphere and all their places, and in confusion hast thou caused them to be confused in their paths, and to wander in their course? Hast thou now done this for the sake of the salvation of the world or not?".

CHAPTER 23

Jesus answered, however, and said to Philip and all the disciples together : "I have turned their paths for the salvation of all souls. Truly, truly, I say to you : unless I had turned their paths a multitude of souls would have been destroyed. And they would have spent a long period if the archons of the aeons and the archons of the Heimarmene and the sphere and all their places and all their heavens and all their aeons were not dissolved. And the souls would have spent a great (period of) time outside. And there would have been delay in the completion of the number of perfect souls, which will be accounted among the inheritance of the height, through the mysteries, and will be in the Treasury of Light. Because of this, I have turned their paths so that they are confused and agitated, and give up the power which is in the matter of their world, which they make into souls, so that those that will be saved with all the power are purified quickly and ascend, and those who will not be saved are quickly dissolved".

CHAPTER 24

It happened now when Jesus finished speaking these words to his disciples, Maria, the beautiful in her speech, came forward. The blessed one prostrated herself at the feet of Jesus and said : "My Lord, suffer me that I speak in thy presence, and be not angry with me because I trouble thee many times, questioning thee". The Saviour answered compassionately, he said to Maria: "Speak the discourse which thou dost wish, and I will reveal it to thee openly"" Maria answered and said to Jesus : "'My Lord, in what manner would the souls be delayed outside or in what form will they be quickly purified?" .

CHAPTER 25

However Jesus answered and said to Maria : "Excellent, Maria. Thou dost ask well with an excellent question and thou dost seek everything with certainty and with accuracy. Now indeed I will not conceal anything from you from this hour, but I will reveal everything to you with certainty and openly. Hear now, Maria, and give ear, all you disciples.

Before I preached to all the archons of the aeons, and all the archons of the Heimarmene and the sphere, they were all bound with their bonds, in their spheres and their seals, according to the manner in which Jeu, the Overseer of the Light, had bound them from the beginning. And each one of them was continuing in his rank and each one was proceeding according to his course, according to the manner in which Jeu, the Overseer of the Light, had settled it. And when the time came of the number of Melchizedek, the great Paralemptor of Light, he came to the midst of the aeons, and to all the archons which were bound in the sphere and in the Heimarmene, and he took away what is purified of the light from all the archons of the aeons, and from all the archons of the Heimarmene, and from those of the sphere, for he took away that which agitated them.

And he moved the hastener that is over them and made their cycles turn quickly, and he (Melchizedek) took away their power which was in them, and the breath of their mouths, and the tears of their eyes, and the sweat of their bodies. And Melchizedek, the Paralemptor of the Light, purified those powers, he carried their light to the Treasury of the Light. And all their matter was gathered together by the ministers of all the archons. And the ministers of all the archons of the Heimarmene and the ministers of the sphere which are below the aeons took them (the matter) and made them into souls of men and cattle and reptiles and beasts and birds. And they sent them to this world of mankind.

And furthermore the paralemptors of the sun and the paralemptors of the moon when they looked up and they saw the patterns of the paths of the aeons, and the patterns of the Heimarmene and those of the sphere, they took the light-power from them. And the paralemptors of the sun prepared to lay it down until they gave it to the paralemptor of Melchizedek, the purifier of the light. And their material dregs they brought to the sphere which is below the aeons, and they made it into the souls of men and they also made it into (souls of) reptiles and cattle and beasts and birds, according to the cycle of the archons of that sphere, and according to all the patterns of its revolution. And they cast them into this world of mankind, and they became souls in that place, according to what I have just told you.

CHAPTER 26

These things were now fully completed before their power diminished within them, and they declined and they weakened or they became powerless. It happened when they became weak, their power began to cease within them, and they became weak in their power. And their light, which was in their place, ceased. And their kingdom dissolved.

And the All was quickly carried up.

It happened now when these things in their time were known, and when the number of the cipher of Melchizedek, the Paralemptor (of the Light), occurred, he came forth, and he went into the midst of the archons of all the aeons, and to the midst of all the archons of the Heimarmene and those of the sphere. And he agitated them, and he caused them quickly to abandon their circles, and immediately they were afflicted, and they cast the power out of themselves, out of the breath of their mouths, and out of the tears of their eyes, and out of the sweat of their bodies. And Melchizedek, the Paralemptor of the Light purified them, according to the manner in which he did so continually. And he took their light to the Treasury of the Light. And the matter of their dregs was surrounded and swallowed by all the archons of the aeons and the archons of the Heimarmene and those of the sphere, and they did not allow them to go and become souls in the world. They now swallowed their matter, that they might not become powerless and weak, that their power might not cease within them and their rulership (kingdom) dissolve. And they swallowed them so that they should not dissolve, but that they should be retarded, and should spend a great time until the completion of the number of perfect souls which would be in the Treasury of the Light.

CHAPTER 27

It happened now as the archons of the aeons and those of the Heimarmene and those of the sphere continued acting after this type; as they turned themselves they ate the dregs of their matter, they did not allow them to become souls in the world of mankind, so that they might be retarded as rulers. And the powers, namely the powers within them which were souls, spent a great time outside this. Now these remained making two cycles continually.

It happened now when I came to go forth for the service for the sake of which I was appointed, through the command of the First Mystery, I came forth to the midst of the tyrants of the archons of the twelve aeons. And my garment of light was upon me, and I was shining exceedingly, there being no measure to the light which I had.

Now it happened, when those tyrants saw the great light which I had, the great Adamas, the Tyrant, and all the tyrants of the twelve aeons all began to wage war with the light of my garment, wishing to restrain it for themselves, so that they might still be retarded in their rulership (kingdom). These now acted thus, not knowing with whom they waged war. When they now rebelled and waged war with the light, I then turned the paths and the courses of their aeons, and the paths of their Heimarmene and their sphere, according to the command of the First Mystery, and I caused them to spend six months looking to the triangles of the left, and to the quadrangles, and to those in their aspect , and to their pattern of eight, according to the manner in which they were at first. But I turned their rotation or their aspect to another rank. And I caused them to spend another six months looking to the works of their (periods of) influence in the quadrangles of the right, and in their triangles, and in those which are in their aspect, and in their pattern of eight. And I caused the archons of the aeons to be confused with much confusion, and I caused them to wander in error, together with all the archons of the Heimarmene and those of the sphere. And I agitated them greatly. And they were now, from this time, not able to turn themselves to the dregs of their matter in order to swallow it, so that their places might be continually retarded, and so that they might spend a great time as rulers. But when I had taken a third part of their power, I turned their sphere to cause them to spend (a period of) time looking to the left and to spend another (period of) time looking to the right. I turned their whole path and their whole course, and I caused the path of their course to be accelerated, so that they might be purified quickly, and they might go upwards quickly. And I lessened their cycles, and I made their path easier, and it was greatly accelerated, and they were confused in their path, and from this time they were not able to swallow the matter of the dregs of what is purified of their light. And further I lessened their times and their periods, so that the perfect number of souls which will receive mysteries and which will be in the Treasury of the Light should be completed quickly. And unless I had turned their courses and unless I had lessened their periods, they would not have allowed any souls to come to the world, on account of the matter of their dregs which they swallowed, and they would have destroyed a multitude of souls. On account of this now, I have said to you at this time : 'I have lessened the times for the sake of my chosen ones, otherwise none of the souls could have been saved'. But I have lessened the times and the periods for the sake of the perfect number of the souls which will receive mysteries, which are the chosen ones. And had I not lessened their periods, none of the material souls would have been saved, but they would have been consumed in the fire which is in the flesh of the archons. This now is the discourse on which you have questioned me with accuracy".

It happened, however, when Jesus finished saying these words to his disciples, they all prostrated themselves at once, they worshipped him and they said to him : "We are blessed beyond all men, for thou hast revealed to us these great events".

.

CHAPTER 28

Jesus continued again with the discourse, he said to his disciples : "Hear [hear] concerning the things which happened to me among the archons of the twelve aeons, and all their archons and their lords and their powers (exousiai) and their angels and their archangels. Now when they saw the garment of light which was upon me, they and their unpaired ones, each one of them saw the mystery of his name which was in the garment of light which was upon me. They all prostrated themselves together, they worshipped the garment of light which was upon me. And they all cried out at once, saying : 'How has the Lord of All passed through us without our knowing?' And they all sang praises at once to the innermost of the inner. And all their triple-powered ones and their great forefathers and their unbegotten ones and their self-begotten ones and their begotten ones and their gods and their light-sparks and their luminaries, in a word, all their great ones saw the tyrants of their place, that their power was diminished within them, and that they were in a state of weakness. And they were in great fear, to which there was no measure. And they contemplated the mystery of their name in my garment and they tried to come to worship the mystery of their name in my garment, and they were not able, on account of the great light which I had.

But they worshipped at a little distance from me. However, they worshipped the light of my garment, and they all cried out at once as they sang praises to the innermost of the inner.

It happened moreover, when these things happened to the tyrants which are among the archons, they were all enfeebled, they fell down in their aeons, and they became like men of this world who are dead, having no breath within them, as they did moreover at the time when I took away their power from them.

It happened now after this, when I came forth from those aeons, each one of all those who are in the twelve aeons were all bound within their ranks, and they completed their works according to the manner in which I had disposed it, that they should spend six months turned to the left, doing their works in their quadrangles, and their triangles and those in their aspects; and furthermore that they should spend another six months looking to the right, and to their triangles and their quadrangles and those in their aspects.

Furthermore, this is the manner in which those who are in the Heimarmene and the sphere will proceed.

CHAPTER 29

Now it happened after these things I came to the height to the veils of the thirteenth aeon. Now it happened that when I reached their veils, they drew themselves and they opened to me. I entered into the thirteenth aeon, I found the Pistis Sophia below the thirteenth aeon alone, none of them being with her. But she dwelt in that place, sorrow and grieving because she had not been taken to the thirteenth aeon, her place in the height. And furthermore she was sorrowful on account of the torments which the Authades inflicted on her, he being one of the three triple- powered ones. But when I tell you about their extent, I will tell you the mystery of how these things happened.

Now it happened, when the Pistis Sophia saw me shining exceedingly, there being no measure to the light which I had, she was in great agitation and she looked at the light of my garment. She saw the mystery of her name in my garment and the whole glory of its mystery because she was previously in the place of the height in the thirteenth aeon. But she was wont to sing praises to the light in the height which she saw in the veil of the Treasure of the Light.

It happened now when she continued to sing praises to the light in the height, all the archons, which are with the two great triple-powered ones, looked on, and also her invisible one which is paired with her, and the other 22 invisible emanations - since the Pistis Sophia with her partner, with the other 22 emanations make up the 24 emanations , which the great invisible forefather with the two great triple-powered ones has emanated." .

CHAPTER 30

It happened now when Jesus said these things to his disciples, Mariam came forward and said : "My Lord, I heard thee at the time when thou didst say that the Pistis Sophia herself is one of the 24 emanations. How is she not in their place? Moreover thou hast said : 'I found her below the thirteenth aeon'." Jesus answered and said to his disciples : "It happened as the Pistis Sophia was in the thirteenth aeon in the place of all her brethren, the invisible ones who are the 24 emanations of the great invisible one it happened now, through the ordinance of the First Mystery, the Pistis Sophia looked to the height, she saw the light of the veil of the Treasury of the Light, and she desired to go to that place.

And she was not able to go to that place. Moreover she ceased performing the mystery of the thirteenth aeon, but she sang praises to the light of the height which she saw in the light of the veil of the Treasury of the Light.

Now it happened, as she sang praises to the place of the height, all the archons which are in the twelve aeons beneath hated her because she ceased from their mystery, and because she wished to go to the height and to make herself above them all. Now on account of these things they were angry with her, and they hated her. And the great triple-powered Authades - the third triple-powered one who is in the thirteenth aeon, who had been disobedient - had not emanated all that was purified of his inner power, nor had he given what was purified of his light at the time when the archons had given their purification, and he had wished to be lord over the whole thirteenth aeon and those beneath it. Now it happened when the archons of the thirteenth aeon were angry at the Pistis Sophia, who was above them, they hated her greatly. And the great triple-powered Authades, about whom I have just been speaking to you now, was also included among the archons of the twelve aeons, and he also was angry at the Pistis Sophia, and he hated her greatly, because she thought to go to the light which was above him. And he emanated from within himself a great lion-faced power. And from out of the matter within him, he emanated forth a further multitude of material emanations which were very powerful. And he sent them to the places below, to the parts of the Chaos, so that they should pursue the Pistis Sophia there and take her power from her, because she thought to go to the height which is above them all, and because she ceased to perform their mystery, but she remained sorrowing, seeking the light which she saw. And the archons which continued or persisted in performing the mystery hated her. And all the watchers which were at the gates of the aeons also hated her.

It happened now after this, through the ordinance of the first ordinance, the great triple-powered Authades, -who is one of the three triple-powered ones, persecuted the 'Sophia in the thirteenth aeon, so that she should look at the parts below, so that she should see in that place his light power, which has a lion-face, and she should desire it, and come to that place, and her light would be taken from her.

CHAPTER 31

It happened now after this she looked down. She saw his power of light in the parts below, and she did not know that it was that of the triple-powered Authades. But she thought that it was from the light which she had seen from the beginning in the height, which was from the veil of the Treasury of the Light. And she thought to herself : "I will go to that place without my partner, and take the light, and create of it for myself aeons of light, so that I shall be able to go to the Light of Lights which is in the highest height." Now as she was thinking these things, she came forth from her place in the thirteenth aeon, and she came out to the twelve aeons . The archons of the aeons persecuted her, and they were angry with her, because she had thought to have greatness . However, she came forth from the twelve aeons, she came to the places of the Chaos. And she made her way to the light-power with a lion-face in order to swallow it. But all the material emanations of the Authades surrounded her. And the great light-power with a lion-face swallowed the light-powers in the Sophia. And it purified her light and swallowed it, and her matter was cast forth to the Chaos. There existed an archon with a lion- face in the Chaos, whose one half was fire and whose other half was darkness, namely Jaldabaoth, of whom I have spoken to you many times. Now when these things had happened, the Sophia became very greatly weakened. And again that light-power with a lion-face began to take away all the light-powers from the Sophia. And all the material powers of the Authades surrounded the Sophia at the same time, they oppressed her.

CHAPTER 32

The Pistis Sophia cried out very much. She cried out to the Light of Lights which she had seen from the beginning, in which she had believed, and she said this repentance, speaking thus :

1. 'O Light of Lights, in whom I have believed from the beginning, hear my repentance now at this time, O Light; save me, O Light, for wicked thoughts have entered into me.

2. I looked, O Light, to the parts below. I saw a light in that place, and I thought : I will go to that place to receive that light. And I went, and I came to be in the darkness which is in the Chaos below. And I was not able to proceed out to go to my place, because I was oppressed among all the emanations of the Authades. And the lion-faced power took away my inner light.

3. And I cried out for help, and my voice did not penetrate the darkness. And I looked to the height, so that the Light in which I had believed might help me.

4. And when I looked to the height, I saw all the archons of the aeons , that they were numerous and they looked down upon me, rejoicing over me, although I had done nothing evil to them, but they had hated me without cause.

And when the emanations of the Authades saw the archons of the aeons rejoicing over me, they knew that the archons of the aeons would not help me. And those emanations which oppressed me without cause were encouraged. And they took from me the light which I did not take from them. 5. Now at this time, O true Light, thou knowest that I have done these things in my simplicity, thinking that the lion-faced light belonged to thee, and the sin which I have committed is manifest in thy presence.

6. Do not now let me be lacking, O Lord, for I have believed in thy light from the beginning, O Lord, Light of the powers, do not let me now lack my light.

7. For on account of thee and thy light I have come to be in this oppression, and shame has covered me.

8. And because of the delusion of thy light, I have become a stranger to my brothers, the invisible ones, and also to the great emanations of the Barbelo.

9. These things happened to me, O Light, because I was eager for thy dwelling-place. And the anger of the Authades came down upon me - this one who did not obey thy command to emanate from the emanation of his power - because I was in his aeon and not performing his mystery.

10. And all the archons of the aeons mocked me.

11. And I was in that place, sorrowing and seeking the light which I had seen in the height.

12. And the watchers of the gates of the aeons were seeking me, and all those who continued in their mystery mocked me. 13. But I looked up to the height to thee, O Light. And I believed in thee. Now at this time, O Light of Lights, I am oppressed in the darkness of the Chaos. If now thou dost wish to come to save me - great is thy compassion - hear me truly and save me.

14. Save me out of the matter of this darkness, so that I shall not be immersed in it, and that I shall be saved from the emanations of the deity, Authades, which oppress me, and from their evils.

15. Do not allow this darkness to immerse me, and do not allow this lion-faced power to swallow up all my power completely. And do not allow this Chaos to cover over my power.

16. Hear me O Light, for thy mercy is precious, and look down upon me, according to the great compassion of thy light.

17. Do not turn away thy face from me, for I am greatly afflicted.

18. Hear me quickly and save my power.

19. Save me, on account of the archons which hate me, for thou knowest my affliction and my torment, and the torment of my power which they have taken from me.

Those who have put me into all these evils are in thy presence. Deal with them according to thy will.

20. My power looked forth from the midst of the Chaos, and from the midst of the darkness. I looked for my partner, that he should come and fight for me, and he did not come. And I looked that he should come and give power to me, and I did not find him.

21. And when I sought for light, I was given darkness.

And when I sought for my power, I was given matter .

22. Now at this time, O Light of Lights, let the darkness and the matter which the emanations of the Authades have brought upon me become a snare for them, and let them be ensnared therein. And do thou repay them and bring disgrace upon them, so that they do not come to the place of their Authades.

23. Let them remain in darkness and not see the light.

Let them look at the Chaos at all times, and do not let them look at the height.

24. Bring down upon them their vengeance, and let thy judgment seize them.

25. Do not let them go to their place from this time, to their deity, Authades. And do not let his emanations go to their places from this time. Because their god is impious and insolent, because he thought that he had done these wicked things of himself, not knowing that, unless I was humbled according to thy ordinance, he would have had no power over me.

26. But when thou didst humble me, according to thy ordinance, I was persecuted the more. And their emanations inflicted torments upon my humiliation. 27. And they took a light-power from me. And furthermore they began to torment me greatly , in order to take away all the light that was in me. On account of these things into which I was put, do not let them go up to the thirteenth aeon, the place of righteousness.

28. And do not let them be numbered within the portion of those who purify themselves and their light. And do not let them be numbered among those who will repent quickly, so that they will quickly receive mysteries in the light.

29. For they have taken my light from me. And my power has begun to decrease within me. And I lack my light.

30. Now at this time, O Light which art in thee and with me, I sing praises to thy name, O Light, in glory.

31. And may my song of praise, O Light, please thee, like an excellent mystery which is received into the gates of light, which those who will repent, will recite, and whose light they will purify.

32. Now at this time, let all material things rejoice; seek the light, all of you, so that the power of your souls, which is within you, may live.

33. Because the Light has heard the material things, and it will not leave any material things which it has not purified.

34. Let the souls and the material things bless the Lord of all the aeons ; the material things and all things in them. 35. For God will save their souls out of all matter, and a city will be prepared in the light; and all souls which will be saved will dwell in that city, and they will inherit it.

36. And the soul of those who will receive mysteries will be in that place, and they who have received mysteries in his name will be within it'." .

CHAPTER 33

Now it happened, as Jesus said these words to his disciples, he said to them : "This is the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke in the first repentance, as she repented for her sin. And she spoke of all the things which had happened to her. Now at this time, he who has ears to hear, let him hear ." Maria came forward again and said : "My Lord, there are ears to my man of light , and I hear in my light-power, and thy Spirit, which is with me, has made me sober. Hear now, that I may speak concerning the repentance which the Pistis Sophia said, as she spoke of her sin, and all the things which had happened to her. Thy light-power once prophesied about it through David, the prophet, in the 68th Psalm :

1. 'Save me, O God, for the waters have come in to my soul.

2. I have sunk or been immersed by the mire of the abyss, and there was no power. I came to the depths of the sea ; a storm wind overwhelmed me.

3. I have suffered as I cried out. My throat has gone. My eyes have failed as I waited upon God.

4. Those who hate me without cause have become more numerous than the hairs of my head. My enemies that persecute me with violence have become strong. They deprived me of those things which I did not steal.

5. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hidden from thee.

6. Let not them that wait on thee be ashamed on my account, O Lord, Lord of the powers. Let not those that seek thee be put to shame on my account, O Lord, God of Israel, God of the powers.

7. For I have borne disgrace on thy account; shame has covered my face.

8. I have become a stranger to my brothers, a stranger to the sons of my mother.

9. For the zeal of thy house has eaten me up. The reproaches of those who reproach thee have fallen upon me.

10. I bowed down my soul with fasting; it became a reproach to me.

11. I put sackcloth upon myself; I became a proverb to them.

12. They that sat in the gates talked against me ; and they that drink wine sang against me.

13. But I was praying in my soul to thee, O Lord ; it is the time of thy pleasure, O God ; in the magnitude of thy mercy, hear truly for my salvation.

14. Save me from this mire, that I do not sink in it. Let me be saved from those that hate me and from the depths of the waters.

15. Let not the water flood immerse me. Let not the abyss swallow me up ; let not a pit close its mouth over me.

16. Hear me, O Lord, for beneficent is thy mercy; according to the magnitude of thy compassion look down upon me.

17. Turn not away thy face from thy servant, for I am afflicted.

18. Hear me quickly; give heed to my soul and save it.

19. Save me on account of my enemies; for thou knowest my reproach and my shame and my infamy. All that afflict me are before thee.

20. My heart has looked for reproach and wretchedness ; I have looked for one to be sorrowful with me, I did not find him ; and for one to comfort me, I did not meet him.

21. They gave me gall for my food; they made me drink vinegar for my thirst.

22. Let their table become a snare in their presence; and a stumbling block and a retribution and a disgrace. 23. Do thou bend their backs at all times.

24. Pour out upon them thy wrath, and let the fury of thy wrath take hold of them.

25. Let their dwelling-place be made desolate and let there be no inhabitant in their dwelling-places.

26. For they have persecuted him whom thou hast smitten ; they have added to the pain of their blow .

27. They have added iniquity to their iniquities; let them not come into thy righteousness.

28. Let them be effaced from the book of the living, and let them not be written with the righteous.

29. I am a poor man and also a sorrowful one; the salvation of thy face, O God, is that which has accepted me.

30. I will bless the name of God in song, and raise him up in blessing.

31. It will please God more than a young bull which carries horns and hoofs.

32. Let the poor see and rejoice ; seek God that your souls may live.

33. For the Lord has heard the poor and he has not despised those in fetters .

34. Let the heavens and the earth bless the Lord, the sea and all that are within it. 35. For God will save Zion ; and the cities of Judaea will be built, and (men) will dwell there and inherit it.

36. The seed of his servants will take possession of it, and they that love his name will dwell in it'." .

CHAPTER 34

Now it happened when Mariam finished saying these words to Jesus in the midst of the disciples, she said to him ; "My Lord, this is the interpretation of the mystery of the repentance of the Pistis Sophia".

It happened now when Jesus heard Mariam saying these words, he said to her : "Excellent, Mariam, thou blessed one, thou Pleroma or thou all-blessed Pleroma, who will be blessed among all generations" .

CHAPTER 35

Jesus continued again with the discourse. He said : "The Pistis Sophia continued again, she also sang a second repentance, in which she spoke thus :

1. 'O Light of Lights, I have believed in thee. Do not leave me in the darkness until the completion of my time.

2. Help me and save me in thy mysteries. Incline thy ear to me and save me.

3. Let the power of thy light save me and carry me to the aeons on high, for it is thou who savest me and takest me to the height of thy aeons. 4. Save me, O Light, from the hand of this lion-faced power, and from the hands of the emanations of the deity, Authades.

5. For thou, O Light, art the one in whose light I have believed and in whose light I have trusted from the beginning.

6. And I have believed in it from the hour that it emanated me forth. And thou indeed art he who caused me to be emanated forth. And I have indeed believed in thy light from the beginning.

7. And when I believed in thee, the archons of the aeons mocked me, saying : she has ceased in her mystery. It is thou who wilt save me. And thou art my Saviour. And thou art my mystery, O Light.

8. My mouth has been filled with glory, so that I might tell the mystery of thy greatness at all times.

9. Now, O Light, do not leave me in the Chaos during the completion of my whole time. Do not abandon me, O Light.

10. For my whole light-power has been taken away from me. And all the emanations of the Authades have surrounded me. They wanted to take all my light from me completely, and they watched for my power.

11. They were saying at the same time to one another : the light has left her ; let us seize her and take away all the light within her. 12. <illegible>.

13. May those who want to take away my power fall and become powerless. May those who want to take away my light-power from me be wrapped in darkness and exist in powerlessness.

This is the second repentance which the Pistis Sophia said, singing praises to the light." .

CHAPTER 36

It happened now, when Jesus finished saying these words to his disciples, he said : "Do you understand in what manner I am speaking with you?" Peter leapt forward, he said to Jesus : "My Lord, we are not able to suffer this woman who takes the opportunity from us, and does not allow anyone of us to speak, but she speaks many times." Jesus answered, he said to his disciples : "Let him in whom the power of his Spirit has welled up so that he understands what I say, come forward and speak. Nevertheless, thou Peter, I see thy power within thee understands the interpretation of the mystery of the repentance which the Pistis Sophia spoke. Now at this time do thou, Peter, speak the thought of her repentance in the midst of thy brethren." Peter answered, however, he said to Jesus : "Lord, hear, so that I say the thought of her repentance, about which thy power once prophesied through David the prophet, saying her repentance in the 70th Psalm :

1. 'O God, my God, I have trusted in thee; let me never be put to shame.

2. Save me in thy righteousness and deliver me. Incline thy ear to me and save me.

3. Be to me a strong God and a fortified place to save me ; for thou art my strength and my place of refuge.

4. My God, save me from the hand of the sinner, and from the hand of the lawless and the impious.

5. For thou, O Lord, art my endurance; O Lord, thou art my hope from my youth.

6. I have relied upon thee from the womb; thou hast brought me forth from my mother's womb; my memory is of thee at all times.

7. I have become for many like the crazy; thou art my help and my strength, thou art my Saviour, O Lord.

8. My mouth has been filled with blessings, so that I might bless the glory of thy greatness all the day.

9. Cast me not out in the time of my old age; when my soul diminishes, do not forsake me.

10. For my enemies have spoken evil against me; and they who lie in wait for my soul have taken counsel against my soul.

11. Saying at the same time : God has forsaken him ; run and seize him, for there is none to save him.

12. O God, give heed to my help.

13. Let those that slander my soul be brought to shame and diminished; let those who seek evil against me be clothed with shame and disgrace.' This now is the interpretation of the second repentance which the Pistis Sophia said.".

CHAPTER 37

The Saviour answered and said to Peter : " Well done, Peter, this is the interpretation of her repentance. You are blessed beyond all men upon earth, for I have revealed to you these mysteries. Truly, truly, I say to you : I will fulfill you in every pleroma, from the mysteries of the inner to the mysteries of the outer. And I will fill you with Spirit so that you are called Pneumatics, fulfilled in every pleroma. And truly, truly, I say to you that I will give you all the mysteries of all the places of my Father, and all the places of the First Mystery, so that he whom you receive on earth will be received into the light of the height. And he whom you cast out upon earth will be cast out of the Kingdom of my Father which is in heaven . Nevertheless now hear and give ear to all the repentances which the Pistis Sophia said. She continued again and spoke the third repentance, saying :

1. 'O Light of the powers, give heed and save me.

2. May those that want to take away my light from me fail and he in darkness. Let them return to the Chaos, and may those who want to take away my power be put to shame.

3. May those that persecute me and say : we have become lords over her, return quickly to the darkness.

4. May all those who seek after the light rejoice and flourish and may they who want thy mystery say at all times : let the mystery be raised up.

5. Do thou now at this time save me, O Light, for I am lacking in my light, which has been taken away. And I need my power which has been taken from me. Thou, O Light, thou art my Saviour, and thou art my rescuer, O Light.

Save me quickly out of this Chaos'." .

CHAPTER 38

It happened, however, when Jesus finished saying these words to his disciples, saying: "This is the third repentance which the Pistis Sophia said", he said to them : "Let him in whom the Spirit of perception has arisen, come forward and speak with understanding of the repentance which the Pistis Sophia said".

It happened now, before Jesus had finished speaking, Martha came forward, she prostrated herself at his feet, she kissed them. She cried out, she wept aloud in humility, saying: "My Lord, have mercy on me, and be compassionate towards me, and allow me to say the interpretation of the repentance which the Pistis Sophia said". And Jesus gave Martha his hand , he said to her : "Blessed is every man who humbles himself, for to him will mercy be given . Now at this time, Martha, thou art blessed. Never- ' give now the interpretation of the thought of the repentance of the Pistis Sophia".

Martha, however, answered and said to Jesus in the midst of the disciples : "Concerning the repentance which the Pistis Sophia said, O my Lord Jesus, thy light-power which was in David once prophesied in the 69th psalm, saying :

1. O Lord God, give heed to my help.

2. Let those that seek after my soul be put to shame and disgraced.

3. May those that say to me : excellent, excellent, be turned back immediately and put to shame.

4. May all those that seek after thee be glad and rejoice over thee; and may those that love thy salvation say at all times : let God be exalted.

5. But I am poor and I am needy. O Lord, help me ; thou art my help and my defense. O Lord, do not delay.' This now is the interpretation of the third repentance which the Pistis Sophia said, singing praises to the height.".

CHAPTER 39

It happened now when Jesus heard Martha saying these words, he said : "Excellent, Martha, and well done." Jesus continued again with the discourse. He said to his disciples : "The Pistis Sophia continued again with the fourth repentance, saying it when the lion-faced power and all the material emanations with it, which the Authades had sent to the Chaos, had not yet afflicted her for the second time, to take away all the remaining light which was in her. She now said this repentance thus :

1. 'O Light whom I have trusted, hear my repentance; and let my voice come into thy dwelling-place.

2. Do not turn thy image of light away from me, but give heed to me. If they oppress me, save me quickly at the time when I cry to thee.

3. For my time has vanished like a breath, and I have become matter.

4. My light has been taken from me, and my power has dried up. I have forgotten my mystery which I performed at first.

5. Through the voice of fear and the power of the Authades, my power has diminished within me.

6. I have become like a peculiar demon, which dwells in matter, in whom is no light. And I have become like a spirit counterpart which is in a material body, in which there is no light-power.

7. And I have become like a decan, which is upon the air alone.

8. The emanations of the Authades have afflicted me greatly; and my partner has spoken of it thus : in place of the light within her, they have filled her with Chaos .

9. I have swallowed the sweat of my matter myself and the anguish of the tears of the matter of my eyes, lest those that oppress me take away these things also.

10. All these things have happened to me, O Light, through thy ordinance and with thy command. And it is thy ordinance that I should be among these things.

11. Thy ordinance has brought me down, and I have come down like a power of the Chaos.; and my power has congealed within me.

12. But thou, O Lord, art eternal light; and at all times thou dost seek those who are oppressed.

13. Now at this time, O Light, arise and seek after my power and my soul within me. Thy ordinance is completed, which thou hast ordained for me in my affliction. My time has come, that thou shouldst seek after my power and my soul, and this is the time which thou hast ordained to seek me ; 14. For thy saviours have sought after the power which is in my soul, because the number is completed, and that they should save its matter also.

15. And then in that time all the archon. of the material aeons will fear before thy light: and all the emanations of the thirteenth material aeon will fear before the mystery of thy light, that the others may put on themselves what is purified of their light.

16. For the Lord will seek after the power of your souls; he has revealed his mystery.

17. For he will look at the repentance of those who are in the places below; and he has not overlooked their repentance.

18. This is that mystery which has become a type for the race which will be born ; and the race which will be born will sing praises to the height.

19. For the light has looked forth from the height of his light. He will look down upon all matter ; 20. To hear the groaning of those that are bound; to release the power of the souls whose power is bound.

21. To place his name in the soul, and his mystery in the Power .

CHAPTER 40

It happened, however, while Jesus was speaking these words to his disciples, saying to them : "This is the fourth repentance which the Pistis Sophia said; now at this time let him who understands understand" - now it happened when Jesus said these words, John came forward. He kissed (lit. worshipped) the breast of Jesus, he said : "My Lord, command me also and allow, me that I speak the interpretation of the fourth repentance which the Pistis Sophia spoke". Jesus said to John: "I command thee and I allow thee to give (lit, say) the interpretation of the repentance which the Pistis Sophia spoke." John answered, he said : "My Lord Saviour, concerning this repentance which the Pistis Sophia spoke, thy light-power, which was in David, once prophesied about it in the 101st Psalm:

1. 'Lord, hear my prayer and let my voice come to thee

2. Turn not thy face away from me ; incline thy ear to me in the day of my affliction ; hear me quickly in the day when I shall cry to thee

3. For my days have vanished like smoke, and my bones are parched like a stone

4. I am scorched like grass and my heart is dried up ; for I have forgotten to eat my bread

5. From the voice of my groaning my bone has cleaved to my flesh

6. I have become like a pelican in the wilderness. I have become like an owl in a house

7. I have spent nights of vigil; I have become like a sparrow alone upon a roof

8. My enemies have reproached me all day long ; and those that honour me have sworn against me. 9. For I have eaten ashes in place of my bread; I have mixed my drink with tears; 10. In the presence of thy wrath and thy anger; for thou hast lifted me up, thou hast cast me down

11. My days have declined like a shadow, and I am dried up like grass- l2. But thou, O Lord, dost exist for ever ; and thy memory from generation to generation.

13. Do thou arise and be compassionate to Zion; for it is (lit. has happened) time for compassion to her; for the appointed time has come

14. Thy servants have desired her stones; and they will show pity on her land

15. The peoples will fear the name of the Lord and the kings of the earth will fear thy glory

16. For the Lord will build Zion and be manifest in his glory' 17. He has looked upon the prayer of the humble, and he has not despised their petition

18. Let this be written for another generation; and the people which will be created will bless the Lord

19. Because he has looked forth upon his holy height; the Lord has looked forth from heaven upon the earth; 20. To hear the groaning of those that are bound, to release the sons of those who have been killed; 21. To speak the name of the Lord in Zion, and his blessing in Jerusalem

This, my Lord, is the interpretation of the mystery of the repentance which the Pistis Sophia spoke." .

CHAPTER 41

Now it happened when John finished saying these words to Jesus in the midst of his disciples, he said to him : "Excellent, John, thou virgin who wilt rule in the Kingdom of the Light," Jesus, however, continued again with the discourse, he said to his disciples : "it happened again thus : the emanations of the Authades oppressed the Pistis Sophia in the Chaos (es).

They wanted to take away all her light, and the ordinance was not yet completed to bring her forth from the Chaos, and the command had not yet come to me through the First Mystery to save her from the Chaos. Now it happened, when all the material emanations of the Authades oppressed her, she cried out and spoke the fifth repentance, saying :

1. 'O Light of my salvation, I sing praise to thee in the place of the height, and again in the Chaos.

2. I will sing praise to thee in my song, with which I have praised thee in the height, and with which I have praised thee when I was in the Chaos; may it reach thee. And give heed, O Light, to my repentance.

3. My power has been filled with darkness; and my light has come down to the Chaos. 4. I have become like the archons of the Chaos which have gone to the darkness below; I have become like a material body, which has no one in the height who will save it.

5. I have become like material things whose power has been taken from them as they were cast into the Chaos, which thou hast not saved; and they have been destroyed by thy ordinance.

6. Now at this time I have been placed in the darkness below, in dark things and in material things which are dead ; and there is no power within them.

7. Thou hast brought thy ordinance upon me ; with all things which thou hast ordained.

8. And the Spirit has departed and left me; and again, through thy ordinance, the emanations of my aeon have not helped me ; and they have hated me and they have ceased towards me, and yet I am not completely destroyed.

9. And my light has diminished within me, and I have cried out to the light with all the light that is in me ; and I have stretched out my hands to thee.

10. Now at this time, O Light, wilt thou perhaps fulfill thy ordinance in the Chaos? And will the saviours, perhaps, who came according to thy ordinance, arise in the darkness and come and be disciples to thee? 11. Will they, perhaps, say the mystery of thy name in the Chaos? 12. Or will they not rather say thy name in matter of the Chaos, this in which thou wilt not purify? 13. But I have sung praises to thee, O Light, and my repentance will reach thee in the height.

14. May thy light come down upon me.

15. My light has been taken from me and I am in distress on account of the light, from the time when I was emanated forth. And when I looked to the height to the light, I looked down to the light-power which is in the Chaos ; I rose, I came down.

16. Thy ordinance came down upon me, and the fears which thou didst ordain for me, agitated me.

17. And they surrounded me roaring like water, they seized me at once for all my time.

18. And through thy ordinance, thou didst not allow my fellow-emanations to help me ; and thou didst not allow my partner to save me from my afflictions.' This now is the fifth repentance which the Pistis Sophia said in the Chaos, when all the material emanations of the Authades continued to afflict her.".

CHAPTER 42

Now when Jesus said these things to his disciples, he said to them: "He who has ears to hear, let him the things which I will do, and the things which you will see.

And you will bear witness to all things of the Kingdom of Heaven.".

CHAPTER 43

Now when Jesus said these things he said to his disciples : "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Mariam sprang up again, she came to the midst, she stood beside Philip, she said to Jesus : "My Lord, my man of light has ears, and I am prepared to hear by means of my power. And I have understood the word which thou hast spoken. Now at this time, my Lord, hear, so that I speak openly, for thou hast said to us : 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.' Concerning the word which thou didst say to Philip: 'Thou and Thomas and Matthew are the three to whom it has been given, through the First Mystery, to write every word of the Kingdom of the Light, and to bear witness to them'; hear now that I give the interpretation of these words. It is this which thy light-power once prophesied through Moses: 'Through two and three witnesses everything will be established. The three witnesses are Philip and Thomas and Matthew".

Now it happened when Jesus heard these words, he said : Excellent, Maria, this is the interpretation of the word.

Now at this time, do thou, Philip, come forward and give the interpretation of the mystery of the fifth repentance of the Pistis Sophia. And afterwards sit and write every word which I shall speak until the completion of the number of thy part in the words of the Kingdom of the Light, which thou wilt write. After this thou shalt come forward and speak whatever thy Spirit shall understand. Nevertheless now, at this time give the explanation of the mystery of the fifth repentance of the Pistis Sophia.

But Philip answered and said to Jesus : "My Lord, hear that I say the interpretation of her repentance. For thy power once prophesied about it through David in the 87th Psalm, saying :

1. 'O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried to thee by day and night.

2. Let my prayer come before thy presence. Incline thy ear, O Lord, to my petition.

3. For my soul is filled with evil ; my life has approached Amente .

4. I am numbered with those who have gone down to the pit, I have become like a man without a helper.

5. The free among the dead are like the slain who are cast out and sleep in graves, whom now thou dost not remember; and they are destroyed through thy hands.

6. I have been laid in a pit below in darknesses and the shadow of death. 7. Thy anger has pressed down upon me ; and all thy cares have come down upon me. Pause.

8. Thou hast caused those that know me to be distant from me ; they have set me as an abomination to themselves ; they have set me and I did not go.

9. My eye(s) became weak through my poverty; I cried to thee, O Lord, all the day; I spread out my hands to thee.

10. Wilt thou perhaps do thy wonders among the dead? Will shades 1 rise that they confess thee? 11. Will thy name perhaps be spoken in the graves? 12. And thy righteousness in a land which thou hast forgotten? 13. But I have cried to thee, O Lord, and my prayer will reach thee at the hour of daybreak.

14. Turn not thy face away from me.

15. For I am poor; I have been in distress since my youth ; but when I was exalted I humbled myself, and I arose.

16. Thy rages have come down upon me, and thy fears have agitated me.

17. They have surrounded me like water; they have seized me all day.

18. Thou hast caused my companions to be distant from me; and those that know me on account of my wretchedness'*.

This now is the interpretation of the fifth repentance which the Pistis Sophia said when she was afflicted in the Chaos. .

CHAPTER 44

It happened now when Jesus heard these words which Philip said , he said to him : " Excellent, Philip, thou beloved one. Come now at this time, sit and write thy part of every word which I shall say, and what I shall do, and everything which thou shalt see". And immediately Philip sat down and wrote.

It happened furthermore after this Jesus continued again with the discourse. He said to his disciples : " Then the Pistis Sophia cried out to the Light. He forgave her sin, that she had forsaken her place, she had come down to the darkness.

She spoke the sixth repentance in this way, saying : 1. I have sung praises to thee, O Light, in the darkness below.

2.Hear my repentance, and may thy light give heed to the voice of my entreaty.

3. O Light, if thou dost remember my sins I shall not be able to come before thee, and thou wilt forsake me.

4. For thou, O Light, art my Saviour on account of the light of thy name. I have believed in thee, O Light.

5. And my power believed in thy mystery. And furthermore, my power trusted in the light, when it was in those of the height, and it (my power) trusted it (the light) when it (my power) was in the Chaos below.

6. May all the powers within me trust the light, when I am in the darkness below, and may they trust it when they come to the place of the height. 7. For it (the light) is merciful to us and saves us, and there is a great mystery of salvation within it.

8. And it will save all the powers from the Chaos on account of my transgression, because I have forsaken my place, I have come down to the Chaos.' At this time now, he whose understanding (mind) is uplifted , let him understand.".

CHAPTER 45

Now it happened when Jesus finished saying these words to his disciples, he said to them : "Do you understand in what manner I am speaking with you?" Andrew came forward, he said : "My Lord, concerning the interpretation of the sixth repentance of the Pistis Sophia, thy light-power prophesied once, through David, in the 129th Psalm, saying :

1. 'Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord.

2. Hear my voice; let thine ears be inclined to the voice of my supplication.

3. O Lord, if thou givest heed to my iniquities who will be able to stand? 4. For forgiveness is with thee; I have waited for thee, O Lord, for thy name's sake.

5. My soul has waited on thy word.

6. My soul has hoped in the Lord from morni ng until evening; may Israel hope in the Lord from morning until evening. 7. For mercy is in the hand of the Lord, and with him is a great salvation.

8. And he will save Israel out of all his iniquities ".

Jesus said to him : "Excellent, Andrew, thou blessed one.

This is the interpretation of her repentance. Truly, truly, I say to you, I will fulfill you in all the mysteries of the light, and every gnosis, from the innermost of the inner to the outermost of the outer; from the Ineffable to the darkness of darknesses ; and from the Light of Lights to the (? matter) of matter ; from all the gods to the demons ; from all the lords to the decans; from all the powers (exousiai) to the ministers ; from the creation of men to (that off beasts and cattle and reptiles, in order that you be called perfect, fulfilled in every pleroma. Truly, truly, I say to you that, in the place in which I shall be in the Kingdom of my Father, you will also be there with me . And when the perfect number is completed so that the mixture is dissolved, I will command that all the tyrant gods who did not give (up) what is purified of their light be brought. I will command the fire of wisdom, which the perfect ones transmit, to consume those tyrants until they give (up) the last of what is purified of their light." It happened, when Jesus finished saying these words to his disciples, he said to them : "Do you understand in what manner I have spoken to you?" Maria said : "Yes, O Lord, I have understood the discourse which thou hast spoken. Concerning the word now which thou didst say : 'At the dissolving of the whole mixture thou wilt sit upon a light-power, and thy disciples, that is we, we will sit to the right of thee . And thou wilt judge the tyrant gods which did not give (up) what is purified of their light. And the fire of wisdom will consume them until they give (up) the last of the light which is in them.' Now concerning this word, thy light-power once prophesied, through David, in the 81st Psalm, saying : 'God will sit in the assembly of gods and will judge the gods ".

Jesus said to her : "Excellent, Maria.".

CHAPTER 46

Jesus continued again with the discourse, he said to his disciples : "It happened when the Pistis Sophia finished saying the sixth repentance concerning the forgiveness of her transgression, she turned again to the height to see whether her sins were forgiven her, and to see whether she would be brought up from the Chaos. And she was not yet heard, through the command of the First Mystery, that her sin would be forgiven, and that she would be brought out of the Chaos. ( When she turned to the height to see whether her repentance was accepted, she saw all the archons of the twelve aeons mocking her and rejoicing over her, because her repentance was not yet accepted. When she now saw them mocking her, she was very sorrowful, she lifted up her voice to the height, saying in the seventh repentance :

1. 'O Light, I have raised up my power to thee, my Light.

2. I have believed in thee ; do not make me to be despised.

Do not make the archons of the twelve aeons, which hate me, rejoice over me.

3. For all those that believe in thee will not be brought to shame. May those who have taken away my power remain in darkness, and have no profit from it, but have it taken away from them.

4. O Light, show me thy ways, and I will be saved by them ; and show me thy paths, so that I be saved in the Chaos.

5. And lead me in thy light, and may I know, O Light, that thou art my Saviour; I will trust thee in my whole time.

6. Give heed, so that thou savest me, O Light, because thy compassion exists for ever.

7. Concerning my transgression which I have committed from the beginning in my ignorance, do not count it against me, O Light, but rather save me through thy great mystery of forgiveness of sins, for the sake of thy goodness, O Light. 8. For the Light is good and upright. Because of this he (the Light) will allow me (lit. give me my way) to be saved from my transgression.

9. And my powers, which are diminished through fear of the material emanations of the Authades, he will draw out thence by his ordinance. And to my powers, which are diminished through lack of mercy, he will teach his knowledge.

10. For all knowledges of the light are salvations and are mysteries to everyone who seeks the places of his inheritance and his mysteries.

11. For the sake of the mystery of thy name, O Light, forgive my transgression, for it is great.

12. To everyone who trusts the light, he will give the mystery which pleases him.

13. And his soul will exist in the places of the light; and his power will inherit the Treasury of the Light.

14. It is the light which gives power to those that believe in it. And the name of its mystery is for those that trust it.

And it will show them the place of the inheritance which is in the Treasury of the Light.

15. Moreover I have believed in the light at all times, that it is this which will save my feet from the bonds of the darkness. 16.Give heed to me, o Light, and save me, for my name has been taken from me in the Chaos.

17. Beyond all the emanations, my questions and my oppressions are very numerous; save me from my transgression and this darkness.

18. And look upon the distress of my oppression and forgive my transgression.

19. Give heed to the archons of the twelve aeons which hate me with envy.

20. Watch over my power and save me ; and let me not remain in this darkness, for I have believed in thee.

21. And they have committed a great folly for I have believed in thee, O Light.

22. Now at this time, O Light, save my powers from the emanations of the Authades, by which I am oppressed.' Now at this time, he who is sober, let him be sober." Now when Jesus had said these things to his disciples, Thomas came forward, he said: "My Lord, I am sober, I have become more sober, and my Spirit is ready within me. And I rejoice greatly because thou hast revealed to us these words. Nevertheless I have suffered my brothers up till now lest I cause anger in them. But I suffer each one of them to come before thee to say the interpretation of the repentance of the Pistis Sophia. Now at this time, O Lord, concerning the interpretation of the seventh repentance of the Pistis Sophia, thy light-power prophesied about it, through David the prophet, saying it thus in the 24th Psalm : 1. O Lord, I have lifted up my soul to thee, my God.

2. I have relied on thee; let me not be put to shame, nor let my enemies mock at me.

3. Because everyone that waits upon thee will not be put to shame. Let those that commit iniquity without cause be ashamed.

4. O Lord, show me thy ways, and teach me thy paths.

5. Lead me in the way of thy truth, and teach me for thou art my God, my Saviour. I will wait on thee the whole day.

6. Remember thy compassion, O Lord, and thy mercies, for they are from eternity.

7. Remember not the sins of my youth and those of my ignorance. Remember me rather according to the greatness of thy mercy, for the sake of thy beneficence, O Lord.

8. Beneficent and upright is the Lord; because of this, he will teach the sinners on the way.

9. He will guide the compassionate in judgment; he will teach the compassionate his ways.

10. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth for those that seek his righteousness and his witness.

11. For thy name's sake, O Lord, forgive me my sin, (for) it is very great.

12. Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will appoint (the) law for him in the way which he has chosen.

13. His soul will be in good things; and his seed will inherit the earth. 14. The Lord is the strength of those that fear him ; and the name of the Lord, to those that fear him, is that which tells them of his covenant.

15. My eyes are directed to the Lord at all times; for it is he who will draw my feet out of the snare.

16. Look down upon me and have mercy on me ; for I am an only son , l am poor.

17. The afflictions of my heart have multiplied; lead me forth from my necessities.

18. Look upon my humbleness and my distress, and forgive all my sins.

19. Look upon my enemies, for they have multiplied and they have hated me with an unjust hatred.

20. Guard my soul and save me ; let me not be put to shame for I have hoped in thee.

21. The harmless and the upright have joined themselves to me ; for I have waited upon thee, O Lord.

22. O God, save Israel from all his afflictions' ".

When however Jesus heard the words of Thomas, he said to him : "Excellent, Thomas, and well done. This is the interpretation of the seventh repentance of the Pistis Sophia.

Truly, truly, I say to you that all the generations of the world will bless you upon the earth, because I have revealed this to you, and you have received of my Spirit, and you have become understanding and Pneumatic, since you have understood what I have said. And after this I will fill you with all the light and all the power of the Spirit, so that from this time you will understand all those things which will be said to you, and those things which you will see. Yet a little time and I will speak with you of all the things of the height, from the outer to the inner, and from the inner to the outer.".

CHAPTER 47

Jesus continued again with the discourse, he said to the disciples : "Now it happened when the Pistis Sophia said her seventh repentance in the Chaos, the command, through the First Mystery, that I should save her and bring her up from the Chaos, had not yet come forth to me.

But I of myself, out of compassion, without command, I brought her to a place in the Chaos which was a little wider.

And when the material emanations of the Authades knew she had been brought to a place in the Chaos which was a little wider, they ceased a little from oppressing her, thinking she would be brought up from the Chaos completely. Now when these things happened, the Pistis Sophia did not know that it was I who helped her, nor did she know me at all.

But she continued singing praises to the light of the Treasury which she had once seen, and in which she believed. And she thought, furthermore, that it was he who helped her. And it was he to whom she sang praises, thinking that he was the true light. But since she believed in the light which belongs to the true Treasury, for this reason she will be brought up from the Chaos and her repentance will be received. But the ordinance of the First Mystery that her repentance should be received was not yet completed. Therefore hear now, and I will tell you all the things (lit. words) which happened to the Pistis Sophia.

It happened when I brought her to a place in the Chaos, which was a little wider, the emanations of the Authades ceased from oppressing her greatly , thinking she would be brought up from the Chaos completely. Now it happened when the emanations of the Authades knew that the Pistis Sophia was not brought up from the Chaos, they turned again at the same time to oppress her greatly. Because of this she now said the eighth repentance, because they had ceased from oppressing her, and they had turned again to oppress her to the last. She spoke this repentance, saying it thus :

1. 'I have hoped in thee, O Light. Leave me not in the Chaos; save me and deliver me with thy knowledge.

2. Give heed to me and save me. Be to me a Saviour, O Light, and save me and bring me into the presence of thy light.

3. For thou art my Saviour and thou wilt bring me to thy presence. And for the sake of the mystery of thy name, lead me and give me thy mystery. 4. And thou wilt save me as I am ensnared by this lion-faced power; for thou art my Saviour.

5. And I will give what is purified of my light into thy hands; thou hast saved me, O Light, with thy knowledge.

6. Thou hast been angry with those who watch for me, who will not be able to seize me at all. But I have believed in the light.

7. I will rejoice and sing praises, for thou hast had compassion on me ; and thou hast given heed to the oppression in which I am. And thou hast saved me. And also thou wilt deliver my power from the Chaos.

8. And thou didst not leave me to be in the hands of the lion-faced power, but thou hast brought me to a place which is not oppressed'.".

CHAPTER 48

When Jesus had said these things to his disciples, he answered again and said to them : "It happened now when the lion-faced power knew that the Pistis Sophia was not brought up from the Chaos at all, it came again with all the rest of the material/ emanations of the Authades. They oppressed the Pistis Sophia again. Now it happened when they oppressed her, she cried out in this same repentance, in which she spoke thus: 9. Have compassion on me, O Light, for they have oppressed me again. The light within me has been agitated on account of thy ordinance; and my power and my understanding (mind).

10. My power has begun to decrease while I am in these oppressions; and the reckoning of my time while I am in the Chaos. My light has diminished, for they have taken away my power from me, and all the powers within me have been shaken.

11. I have become powerless before 1 all the archons of the aeons which hate me, and before the 24 emanations in whose places I was. And my brother, my partner, feared to help me, on account of those among whom I was held.

12. And all the archons of the height have reckoned me to be matter without light in it. I have become like a material power which has fallen out of the archons.

13. And all those who were in the aeons said : she has become Chaos. And after this the merciless powers surrounded me at the same time, and spoke to take away all my light that was in me.

14. But I trusted thee, O Light, and I said : thou art my Saviour.

15. And my ordinance which thou hast ordained for me is in thy hands; save me from the hands of the emanations of the Authades which oppress me and pursue after me.

16. Send down thy light upon me, for I am nothing before thee; and save me in thy compassion.

17. Let me not be despised, for thou art he to whom I have sung praises, O Light. May the Chaos cover over the emanations of the Authades, and may they be cast down to the darkness. 18. May the mouth be shut of those who, with cunning, want to swallow me ; who say : let us take away all the light within her, although I have done nothing wicked to them'." .

CHAPTER 49

When, however, Jesus had said these things, Matthew came forward and said : "My Lord, thy Spirit has moved me, and thy light has made me sober, so that I should tell the eighth repentance of the Pistis Sophia. For thy power once prophesied about it through David, in the 30th Psalm, saying :

1. 'I have hoped in thee, O Lord. Let me not be put to shame for ever; save me in thy righteousness.

2. Incline thine ear to me; save me quickly, be to me a protecting God and a house of refuge to save me.

3. For thou art my support and my refuge; for the sake of thy name thou wilt guide me and nourish me.

4. And thou wilt bring me forth from this snare which they have hidden for me, for thou art my protector.

5. I will give up my spirit into thy hands. Thou hast saved me, O Lord, God of truth.

6. Thou hast hated those who idly keep to what is vain.

But I have trusted; 7. And I will rejoice over the Lord , and I will be glad over thy mercy; for thou hast looked upon my humbleness, and thou hast saved my soul out of my necessities.

8. Thou hast not shut me in the hands of the enemy ; thou hast set my feet in a wide place.

9. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted; my eye is I troubled with anger; and my soul and my belly.

10. For my years have been spent in distress and my life has been spent in groanings; my power has become weak in poverty, and my bones are troubled.

11. I have become a reproach to all my enemies and my neighbors. I have become a fear to those that know me, and those that saw me ran away from me.

12. I have been forgotten like a corpse in their hearts; and I have become like a broken vessel.

13. I have heard contempt from many at my side who surrounded me ; when they gathered together against me, they took counsel to take away my soul from me.

14. But I have trusted thee, O Lord, I have said : thou art my God.

15. My lots are in thy hands; save me from the hand of my enemies, and deliver me from those that persecute me.

16. Reveal thy face over thy servant, and save me in thy mercy, O Lord.

17. Let me not be put to shame, for I have cried to thee; let the impious be put to shame and turned to Amente.

18. Let the cunning lips be dumb, who speak iniquity against the righteous with pride and contempt'.".

CHAPTER 50

When however Jesus heard these words, he said: "Well done, Matthew. Now at this time truly I say to you, when the perfect number is completed and the All is raised up, I will sit in the Treasury of the Light, and you yourselves will sit on twelve light-powers, until we have set up again all the ranks of the twelve saviors at the place of the inheritance of each one of them." But when he had said these things, he said : "Do you understand what I say?" Maria came forward and said : "O Lord, concerning this, thou didst once say to us in a parable: 'You have endured with me in temptations. I will establish a kingdom for you in the way in which my Father established it for me , so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit upon twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel'." He said to her : "Excellent, Maria." Jesus continued again and said to his disciples : "Now it happened after these things, when the emanations of the Authades oppressed the Pistis Sophia in the Chaos, she spoke the ninth repentance, saying :

1. 'O Light, smite down those who have taken my power away from me ; and take the power from those who have taken mine from me.

2. For I am thy power and thy light ; come and save me. 3. May a great darkness cover over those that oppress me ; say to my power : it is I who will save thee.

4. All those who want to take my light from me completely : may their power fail; those who want to take my light from me completely : may they turn to the Chaos and become powerless.

5. May their power become like dust; and may Jeu, thine angel, smite them down.

6. And if they come to go to the height, may a darkness seize them, so that they stumble and turn to the Chaos; and may thine angel, Jeu, pursue them and send them to the darkness below.

7. For without my having done evil to them, they have ensnared me with a lion-faced power from which their light will be taken; they have oppressed the power within me, which they will not able to take away.

8. Now at this time, O Light, take away what is purified from the lion-faced power, without his knowing; and the thought which the Authades had (lit. thought), to take away my light : take his own away; and let the light of the lion-faced power, which ensnared me, be taken away.

9. My power will flourish in the light and will rejoice because it will save it.

10. And all the parts of my power will say : there is now no Saviour except thee; for it is thou who wilt save me from the hands of the lion-faced power which has taken my power from me. And it is thou who savest me from the hands of those who have taken my power and my light from me.

11. For they stood up against me and told lies about me.

And they say : I know the mystery of the light which is in the height, in which I have believed. And they have compelled me, saying : Tell us the mystery of the light which is in the height, this one which I do not know.

12. And they have repaid me with all these wicked things, because I have believed in the light of the height; and they have made my power to be without light.

13. But when I was compelled, I sat in the darkness, while my soul was humble in sorrow.

14. And, O Light, concerning whom I sing praises to thee, save me ; I know that thou wilt save me, because I have done thy will since I was in my aeon. I have done thy will like the invisible ones who are in my place, and like my partner; and I became sorrowful as I looked, seeking for thy light.

15. Now at this time all the emanations of the Authades have surrounded me ; and have rejoiced over me, and they have oppressed me greatly, without my knowing; and they have run away, they have left me, and they have not been merciful to me.

16. They turned again and tempted me, and they oppressed me with great oppression; they gnashed their teeth at me, wanting to take away my light from me completely.

17. How long now, O Light, dost thou suffer them, that they oppress me ? Save my power from their wicked thoughts, and save me from the lion-faced power, for I alone among the invisible ones am in this place.

18. I will sing praise to thee, O Light, while I am in the midst of all those gathered against me. And I will cry out to thee in the midst of all those that oppress me.

19. Now at this time, O Light, let not those that hate me and want to take away my power from me, rejoice over me; these who hate me, as they move their eyes against me, without my having done anything to them.

20. For indeed they flatter me with sweet words while they seek from me the mysteries of the light which I do not know; speaking to me with cunning against me, and raging against me, because I have believed in the light which is in the height.

21. They have opened their mouths against me ; they have said : Yes. We will take away her light.

22. Now at this time, O Light, thou hast known their cunning ; suffer them not, and let not thy help be far from me.

23. Make haste, O Light, judge me and avenge me. 24. And give judgment to me in thy goodness; now at this time, O Light of Lights, let them not take my light from me.

25. And do not let them say in their hearts : Our power has satisfied itself with her light; and let them not say : We have swallowed her power.

26. But rather let darkness come down upon them; and let those that want to take away my light from me become powerless; and those that say : We will take away her light and her power, let them be covered with Chaos and darkness, 27. Now at this time, save me, that I may rejoice, because I want the thirteenth aeon, the place of righteousness. And I will say at all times : May the light of Jeu, thy angel, give more light.

28. And my tongue will sing praises to thee in thy knowledge, all my time in the thirteenth aeon'.".

CHAPTER 51

It happened when Jesus finished saying these words to his disciples, he said to them : "He who is sober among you, let him give their interpretation." James came forward, he kissed the breast of Jesus and said : "My Lord, thy Spirit has made me sober , and I am willing to give their interpretation. Concerning this, indeed, thy power prophesied once, through David, in the 34th Psalm, speaking thus about the ninth repentance of the Pistis Sophia :

1. 'Judge, O Lord, those who do injustice to me; fight with those who fight with me. 2. Take hold of a weapon and shield, and rise to help me.

3. Draw forth a sword and unsheathe it in the presence of those that afflict me ; say to my soul : I am thy salvation.

4. May they be put to shame and disgrace that seek my soul; may those that think wicked things about me be turned back and be put to shame.

5. May they become like dust before the wind; and may the angel of the Lord pursue them.

6. May their paths become dark and slippery; and may the angel of the Lord afflict them.

7. For, without cause, they have hidden for me a snare to their own destruction; and in vain they have slandered my soul.

8. May the snare which they do not know come to them; and may the net, which they have hidden for me, catch them, and may they fall into this snare.

9. But my soul will rejoice over the Lord, and be glad over its salvation.

10. All my bones will say : O Lord, who can resemble thee? Thou dost save the poor out of the hand of those that are stronger than he ; and thou dost save a poor man and a needy from the hands of those that rob him.

11. Unjust witnesses have arisen; they have questioned me about things which I do not know. 12. They repaid me evil things for good, and childlessness to my soul.

13. But I, when they troubled me, I put on sackcloth, and I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer will return again to my bosom.

14. I was agreeable as if to my neighbor, and as if to my brother ; and I humbled myself like a mourner and a sorrowful one.

15. They have rejoiced over me and have been put to shame. Scourges were gathered against me and I did not know; they were separated and they were not distressed.

16. They tempted me, and they sneered at me contemptuously; they gnashed their teeth against me.

17. O Lord, when wilt thou look down upon me ? Establish my soul away from their wicked deeds; and save my only-begotten one from the lions.

18. I will confess thee, O Lord, in a great congregation, and I will bless thee among countless people.

19. Let not those who are enemies to me unjustly, who hate me without cause and wink with their eyes, rejoice over me.

20. For indeed they speak to me with peaceful words ; and they imagine wrath with cunning. 21. They opened wide their mouths against me and they said : Excellent, our eyes have had a full view of him.

22. Thou hast seen, O Lord, be not silent, O Lord; draw not back from me.

23. Arise, O Lord, give heed to my judgment; give heed to my revenge, my God and my Lord.

24. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness; let them not rejoice over me, my God.

25. Neither let them say : Excellent, our soul; let them not say : We have swallowed him.

26. Let those that rejoice over my misfortunes be put to shame, and disgraced at the same time; let those that speak great words against me be covered with shame and disgrace.

27. Let those that wish my righteousness be glad and rejoice; and may those that wish the peace of his servant say : let the Lord be magnified and lifted up.

28. My tongue will rejoice at thy righteousness and thy glory all the day'.".

CHAPTER 52

When James had said these things, Jesus said : Excellent, well done, James. This is the interpretation of the ninth repentance of the Pistis Sophia. Truly, truly, I say to you that you will become first in the Kingdom of Heaven, before all the invisible ones, and all the gods, and all the archons, which are in the thirteenth aeon, and in the twelfth aeon. But not only you, but also everyone who will perform my mysteries." When he had said these things, he said to them : "Do you understand in what manner I am speaking with you ?" Mariam sprang up again, she said : "Yes, O Lord. This is what thou didst say to us once : 'The last will become first and the first will become last.' Now the first, which were created before us, are the invisible ones, since they existed before mankind, they and the gods and the archons; and the men who will receive mysteries will precede them in the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus said to her : "Excellent, Mariam." Jesus continued again, he said to his disciples: "Now it happened when the Pistis Sophia had said the ninth repentance, the lion-faced power oppressed her again, wanting to take away all the power within her. She cried again to the Light, saying : 'O Light, in whom I have believed from the beginning, for whose sake I have suffered great afflictions, help me.' And in that hour her repentance was accepted. The First Mystery heard her. And I was sent at his command, I came to help her, I brought her up from the Chaos because she had repented, and also because she had believed in the light, and she had suffered these great afflictions and these great dangers. She was deceived by the deity Authades. And she was deceived by nothing except a light-power, because of the likeness of the light in which she believed. Now because of this I was sent, through the command of the First Mystery to help her secretly. But I had not yet come to the place of the aeons at all. But I came forth from the midst of them all without any power knowing; neither the innermost ones of the inner, nor the outermost ones of the outer, except for the First Mystery alone.

Now it happened when I came to the Chaos, to help her, she saw that I was understanding, and that I was shining exceedingly and with compassion towards her. For I was not insolent like the lion-faced power, which had taken away the power of light from the Sophia, and which had also afflicted her, to take away all the light within her. Now the Sophia saw me, that I was shining ten thousand times more than the lion-faced power, and that I had great compassion towards her. And she knew that I was from out of the height of heights, in the light of which she had believed from the beginning. The Pistis Sophia took courage and she spoke the tenth repentance, saying :

1. 'I have cried out to thee, O Light of Lights, in my affliction, and thou hast heard me.

2. O Light, save my power from unjust and iniquitous lips, and from cunning snares. 3. The light which was taken away from me with a cunning snare will not be brought to thee.

4. For the snares of the Authades are widespread, with the traps of the merciless.

5. Woe to me, for my dwelling was far off and I was in the dwellings of the Chaos.

6. My power was in places which were not mine.

7. And I flattered those merciless ones, and when I flattered them, they attacked me without cause'." .

CHAPTER 53

Now when Jesus had said these things to his disciples, he said to them : "Now at this time let him whose spirit moves him, come forth and say the interpretation of the tenth repentance of the Pistis Sophia." Peter answered and said : "O Lord, concerning this also, thy power prophesied once, through David, in the l19th Psalm, saying :

1. 'I cried to thee, O Lord, in my affliction and thou didst hear me.

2. O Lord, save my soul from unjust lips and from a cunning tongue.

3. What will be given to thee and what will be taken from thee with a cunning tongue? 4. The arrows of the strong are sharpened, together with the coals of the desert.

5. Woe on me, for my dwelling was far off. I dwelt in the dwellings of Kedar. 6. My soul has been a sojourner in many places.

7. I was peaceful with those who hate peace. When I spoke with them they fought me without cause.' Now at this time, O Lord, this is the interpretation of the tenth repentance of the Pistis Sophia, which she said when the material emanations of the Authades oppressed her, they and his lion-faced power, and when they afflicted her greatly." Jesus said to him : "Excellent, Peter, and well done. This is the interpretation of the tenth repentance of the Pistis Sophia.".

CHAPTER 54

Jesus continued again with the discourse, he said to his disciples: "Now it happened when the lion-faced power saw me approaching the Pistis Sophia, that I was shining exceedingly, it was more angry, and it emanated from itself another multitude of very powerful emanations. Now when these things happened, the Pistis Sophia spoke the eleventh repentance, saying :

1. 'Why has the strong power risen among the wicked? 2. Its thought took the light away from me at all times.

And like sharp iron they took power from me.

3. I preferred to come down to the Chaos more than to remain in the place of the thirteenth aeon, the place of righteousness.

4. And they wanted to take me by cunning, that they might swallow all my light.

5. Because of this now, the light will take all their light, and also their whole matter will be destroyed. And he will take their light, and he will not let them exist in the thirteenth aeon, their dwelling place, and he will not let their names be in the place of those that will live.

6. And the 24 emanations will see what has happened to thee, O lion-faced power, and they will fear and they will not be disobedient, but they will give what is purified of their light.

7. And they will see thee, and they will rejoice over thee and they will say : Behold an emanation which has not given what is purified of its light, that it might be saved, but it boasts of the magnitude of the light of its power, because it did not emanate the power within it ; and it said : I will take away the light of the Pistis Sophia, this which will be taken from her.' Now at this time, let him in whom his power has arisen come forward and give the interpretation of the eleventh repentance of the Pistis Sophia." Then Salome came forward and said : "My Lord, concerning this, thy light-power once prophesied, through David, in the 51st Psalm, saying : I. "why does the mighty, boast of his evil? 2. Thy tongue has devised injustice all the day; like a sharp cutting knife thou hast practiced deceit.

3. Thou hast loved evil more than goodness; thou host loved injustice more than to speak righteousness. 4. Thou hast loved all words of subterfuge and a cunning tongue, 5. For this reason God will destroy thee completely, He will uproot thee; and he will draw thee from thy dwelling, and he will pluck out thy root and cast it outside of those that are living, Pause.

6. The righteous will see and will fear; and they will mock at him and say : 7. Behold a man who did not make God his helper, but he trusted in his great wealth and he had power upon his vanity.

8. But I am like a fruit-bearing olive tree in the House of God ; I have trusted in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

9. And I will give thanks to thee, for thou hast dealt with me ; and I will wait upon thy name, for it is beneficent in the presence of thy holy ones.' Now at this time, my Lord, this is the interpretation of the eleventh repentance of the Pistis Sophia. As thy light-power moved me, I said it according to thy will." Now it happened when Jesus heard these words which Salome said, he said : "Excellent, Salome. Truly, truly , I say to you that I will complete you in all mysteries of the Kingdom of the Light.".

CHAPTER 55

Jesus, however, continued again with the discourse.

He said to his disciples : "It happened now after these things I entered into the Chaos, shining exceedingly, in order that I might take away the light of that lion-faced power.

As I was of exceeding light, it was afraid, it cried out to its deity, Authades, to help it. And at that hour the deity Authades looked forth from the thirteenth aeon, he looked down upon the Chaos. He was exceedingly angry, wishing to help his lion-faced power. And at that hour the lion-faced power and all its emanations turned to the Pistis Sophia, wishing to take away all the light which was in the Sophia.

It happened now when they oppressed the Sophia, she cried out to the height, she cried out to me, that I should help her. Now it happened when she looked to the height, she saw the Authades who was very angry, and she was afraid.

She said the twelfth repentance because of the Authades and his emanations. But she cried out to me, saying thus :

1. 'O Light, forget not my song of praise.

2. For the Authades and his lion-faced power opened their mouths against me, they dealt cunningly with me. 3. And they surrounded me, wishing to take away my power; and they hated me because I sang praises to thee.

4. Instead of loving me, they slandered me, but I sang praises.

5. They planned to take away my power because I sang praises to thee, O Light. And they hated me because I loved thee.

6. Let the darkness come over the Authades, and may the archon of the outer darkness remain at his right hand.

7. And when thou dost judge him, take his power away from him ; and that which he thought - to take away my light from me - do thou take his from him.

8. And may all his powers of his light within him diminish; and may another one take his greatness in the three triple-powered ones.

9. May all the powers of his emanations become without light; and may his matter be without light in it.

10. May his emanations remain in the Chaos, and may they not be allowed to go to their place; may their light which is in them diminish, and let them not be allowed to go up to the thirteenth aeon, their place.

11. May the paralemptes, the purifier of the lights, purify all the lights which are in the Authades; and may he take them from them.

12. May the archons of the darkness below rule over his emanations, and let not anyone receive him to himself in his place ; and let not anyone hear the power of his emanations in the Chaos.

13. May the light which is in his emanations be taken away, and may their name be removed from the thirteenth aeon; indeed rather may his name be taken away from that place for ever.

14. And upon the lion-faced power, may there be brought the sin of him who emanated it in the presence of the light; and may the iniquity, of the matter which brought him (the Authades) forth not be erased.

15. And may their sin immediately be in the presence of the eternal light ; and may they not be allowed to see, and may their name be removed from every place; 16. Because they did not spare me, and they oppressed the one whose light and power they took away. And afterwards they put me among them, wishing to take away all my light from me.

17. They loved to come down to the Chaos; may they be within it, and not be brought forth from this time hence.

They did not want the place of righteousness as dwelling place, and they will not be taken to it from this time forth.

18. He put on the darkness like a garment; and it (the darkness) went into him like water, and it went into all his powers like oil.

19. May he wrap himself in the Chaos like a garment, and gird himself with the darkness like a leather girdle at all times. 20. While these things happen to those who brought these things upon me on account of the light; and they said: let us take away all her power.

21. But thou, O Light, have compassion on me, on account of the mystery of thy name; and save me in the beneficence of thy mercy.

22. Because they have taken away my light and my power, and my power is shaken within me, and I have not been able to stand upright in their midst, 23. I have become like matter which has fallen; I have been cast on this side and that, like a demon which is in the air.

24. My power has been destroyed, for I possess no mystery ; and my matter has faded because of my light, for they took it away.

25. And as for me, they mocked me ; they looked at me as they winked about me.

26. Help me according to thy compassion.' Now at this time, he whose spirit is eager, let him come forward and say the interpretation of the twelfth repentance of the Pistis Sophia.".

CHAPTER 56

Andrew however came forward, he said : "My Lord and Saviour, thy light-power prophesied once, through David, concerning this repentance which the Pistis Sophia said, and spoke in the 108th Psalm, saying :

1. 'O God, do not be silent to my praise.

2. For the mouths of the sinner and the cunning, they have opened against me ; they have spoken about me with a cunning tongue.

3. And they surround me with words of hatred; and they have fought against me without a cause.

4. Instead of loving me, they slandered me, but I prayed.

5. They established for me evil in the place of good, and hatred in the place of my love.

6. Set a sinner over him, and let the devil stand at his right hand.

7. When he is judged, may he come forth condemned, and may his prayer become sin.

8. May his days be diminished, and may another take his office.

9. May his sons become orphans, and may his wife become a widow.

10. May his sons be moved, and may they be turned out and beg ; may they be cast forth from their house.

11. May the creditor search all his belongings; and may strangers rob all his efforts.

12. May there not exist for him anyone who gives him a hand, or who is compassionate to his orphans.

13. May his sons be blotted out; and may his name be blotted out in one generation. 14. May the sin of his fathers be remembered in the presence of the Lord ; and let not the iniquity of his mother be blotted out.

15. May they be in the presence of the Lord at all times ; and may his memory be wiped out from the earth.

16. Because he did not remember to show mercy; and he pursued a poor man and a wretched one, and he persecuted one who was afflicted, to kill him.

17. He loved cursing and may it come to him; he did not wish to bless and may it be removed from him.

18. He put on cursing like a garment, and it went to his interior like water; it became like oil in his bones.

19. May it be to him like the garment with which he will wrap himself; and like a girdle with which he will gird himself at all times.

20. This is the dealing for those that slander me before the Lord, and those that speak lawless things into my soul.

21. But thou, O Lord, Lord show mercy on me, on account of thy name; save me.

22. For I am a poor man and I am a wretched one ; my heart is agitated within me.

23. I have been taken into the midst like a shadow which goes down; I am blown forth like locusts. 24. My knees are weak with lasting; and my flesh is changed on account of the (lack of) oil.

25. But I have become a mockery to them; they saw me and they shook their heads.

26. Help me, O Lord God, and save me, according to thy mercy.

27. May they know that this is thy hand, and thou hast created it, O Lord.' This is the interpretation of the twelfth repentance which the Pistis Sophia said, as she was in the Chaos.".

CHAPTER 57

Jesus continued again, however, with the discourse.

He said to his disciples : "It happened again after these things, the Pistis Sophia cried out to me, saying : 'O Light of Lights, I have transgressed against the twelve aeons. I came down from them. For this reason I have said the twelve repentances, one according to each aeon. Now at this time, O Light of Lights, forgive me my transgression, for it is very great.

Because I left the places of the height. I came to dwell in the places of the Chaos.' Now when the Pistis Sophia finished saying these things, she continued again with the thirteenth repentance, saying :

1. 'Hear me as I sing praises to thee, O Light of Lights.

Hear me as I say the repentance of the thirteenth aeon, the place from which I came down, so that the thirteenth repentance of the thirteenth aeon be completed. These (aeons) ( against which I have transgressed, from them I came down.

2. Now at this time, O Light of Lights, hear me as I sing praises to thee in the thirteenth aeon, my place from which I came forth.

3. Save me, O Light, in thy great mystery and forgive my transgression in thy forgiveness.

4. And give me the baptism and forgive my sins and purify me from my transgression.

5. And this my transgression is the lion-faced power, which was not hidden from thee at any time, for on account of it I came down.

6. And I alone among the invisible ones, in whose place I existed, transgressed, and I came down to the Chaos.

I transgressed before thee so that thy ordinance should be fulfilled.' The Pistis Sophia now said these things. Now at this time let him whose spirit moves him to understand her words, come forth and give their thought." Martha came forward and said: "My Lord, my spirit moves me to give the interpretation of those things which the Pistis Sophia said. Concerning them, thy power once prophesied through David in the 50th Psalm, speaking thus :

1. 'Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great pity; according to the multitude of thy mercies blot out my sin .

2. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. 3. And my sin is present to me at all times.

4. That thou shouldst be justified in thy words and victorious when thou judgest me.' This is the explanation of the words which the Pistis Sophia said." Jesus said to her : ""Excellent, well done Martha, thou blessed one".

CHAPTER 58

Jesus however continued again with the discourse.

He said to his disciples : "Now it happened when the Pistis Sophia said these words, the time was fulfilled that she should be brought forth from the Chaos. And by myself alone, without the First Mystery', I brought forth from myself a light-power, I sent it down to the Chaos that it should bring the Pistis Sophia up from the deep places of the Chaos and bring her to the upper place of the Chaos, until the command came forth from the First Mystery that she should be brought up from the Chaos completely. And my light-power brought the Pistis Sophia up to the upper places of the Chaos. Now it happened when the emanations of the Authades knew that the Pistis Sophia was brought up to the upper places of the Chaos, they followed her upwards, wanting to take her again to the lower places of the Chaos. And my light-power, which I had sent to bring the Sophia up from the Chaos, gave light exceedingly. Now it happened when the emanations of the Authades followed the Sophia when she was brought to the upper places of the Chaos, she sang praises again and she cried out to me, saying : I. 'I will sing praises to thee, O Light, for I wanted to come to thee. I will sing praises to thee, O Light, for thou art my Saviour.

2. Leave me not in the Chaos. Save me, O Light of the height, for thou art he to whom I have sung praises.

3. By thyself thou hast sent to me thy light and thou hast saved me. Thou hast brought me to the upper places of the Chaos.

4. May the emanations of the Authades which follow me fall down to the lower places of the Chaos. And let them not come to the upper places so that they see me.

5. And may a great darkness cover them over and may a cloud of darkness come to them. And let them not see me in the light of thy power which thou hast sent to me to save me, lest they gain power over me again.

6. And their plan which they thought of, to take away my power, let it not happen for them. And according to how they spoke against me to take away my light from me, take theirs rather instead of mine.

7. And they have spoken to take away all my light. And they were not able to take it, for thy light-power was with me ; 8. Because they deliberated without thy ordinance, O Light.

On account of this they were not able to take away my light.

9. Because I have believed in the light, I will not fear; and the light is my Saviour, and I will not fear.' Now at this time let him whose power is elevated say the interpretation of the words which the Pistis Sophia said." But it happened when Jesus finished saying these words to his disciples, Salome came forward. She said : "My Lord, my power compels me to say the interpretation of the words which the Pistis Sophia said. Thy power prophesied once through Solomon, saying thus :

1. I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, for thou art my God.

2. Leave me not, O Lord, for thou art my hope.

3. Thou hast given me thy judgment freely, and I have been saved through thee.

4. May those that persecute me fall and let them not see me.

5. May a cloud of smoke cover their eyes, and may a misty air darken them; and let them not see the day, lest they seize me.

6. May their counsels become powerless; and may those things which they have devised come upon them, 7. They have devised a counsel, and it has not happened for them.

8. And they, the powerful, are vanquished; and those things which they prepared with evil intent are cast down .

9. My hope is in the Lord and I will not fear ; for thou art my God, my Saviour'. " Now it happened when Salome finished saying these words, Jesus said to her : "Excellent, Salome, and well done.

This is the interpretation of the words which the Pistis Sophia said.".

CHAPTER 59

Jesus continued again, however, with the discourse.

He said to his disciples : "Now it happened when the Pistis Sophia finished saying these words in the Chaos, I caused the light-power which I had sent to save her, I caused it to become a crown of light on her head, so that from this hour the emanations of the Authades would have no power over her. And when it became a crown of light on her head, all the evil materials which were in her were moved, and they were all purified within her; they were destroyed and came to be in the Chaos, while the emanations of the Authades saw them and they rejoiced. And what was purified of the pure light within the Sophia gave power to the light of my light-power which had become a crown on her head. Now it happened further, as it surrounded the pure light within the Sophia, her pure light was not (left) without 1 the crown of the flame of the light-power, so that the emanations of the Authades did not steal it.

Now when these things had happened, the pure light-power within the Sophia began to sing praises; but she sang praises to my light-power which had become a crown on her head.

She sang praises, saying thus :

1. 'The light has become a crown on my head and I will not be (left) without it, so that the emanations of the Authades do not steal it from me.

2. And even if all the materials move, I however will not move.

3. And even if all my materials are destroyed and remain in the Chaos - these which the emanations of the Authades see - I however will not be destroyed.

4. For the light is with me, and I myself am with the light.' But the Pistis Sophia said these words. Now at this time let him who understands the thought of these words come forward and give their interpretation." Mary, the mother of Jesus, came forward. She said : "My son according to the world, my God and my Saviour according to the height, command me that I give the explanation of the words which the Pistis Sophia said." But Jesus answered and said : "Thou also, Mary, thou hast received form which is in the Barbelo according to the matter, and thou hast received likeness which is in the on her head. Now it happened further, as it surrounded the pure light within the Sophia, her pure light was not (left) without the crown of the flame of the light-power, so that the emanations of the Authades did not steal it.

Now when these things had happened, the pure light-power within the Sophia began to sing praises; but she sang praises to my light-power which had become a crown on her head.

She sang praises, saying thus :

1. 'The light has become a crown on my head and I will not be (left) without it, so that the emanations of the Authades do not steal it from me.

2. And even if all the materials move, I however will not move.

3. And even if all my materials are destroyed and remain in the Chaos - these which the emanations of the Authades see - I however will not be destroyed.

4. For the light is with me, and I myself am with the light.' But the Pistis Sophia said these words. Now at this time let him who understands the thought of these words come forward and give their interpretation." Mary, the mother of Jesus, came forward. She said : "My son according to the world, my God and my Saviour according to the height, command me that I give the explanation of the words which the Pistis Sophia said." But Jesus answered and said : "Thou also, Mary, thou hast received form which is in the Barbelo according to the matter, and thou hast received likeness which is in the Virgin of the Light according to the light, thou and the other Mary, the blessed one. And for thy sake the darkness exists and furthermore, from thee has come forth the material body in which I exist, which I have cleaned and purified. Now at this time I command thee to give the interpretation of the words which the Sophia said.

However Mary, the mother of Jesus, answered, she said : "My Lord, thy light-power once prophesied about these words through Solomon in the 19th Ode and said :

1. 'The Lord is upon my head like a crown and I shall not be without him.

2. They plaited for me the true crown , and it caused thy branches to sprout in me.

3. For it is not like a withered crown which does not sprout; but thou livest upon my head and thou dost sprout upon me.

4. Thy fruits are full and ripe, filled with thy salvation'. " Now it happened when Jesus heard these words which Mary his mother spoke , he said to her : "Excellent, well done.

Truly, truly, I say that they will bless thee from end to end of the earth , for the pledge of the First Mystery was entrusted to thee. And by means of that pledge all those of the earth and all those of the height will be saved. And that pledge is the beginning and the end." .

CHAPTER 60

Jesus however continued with the discourse. He said to his disciples : '"lt happened when the Pistis Sophia said the thirteenth repentance, moreover at that hour the ordinance was completed of all the afflictions which had been ordained for the Pistis Sophia, because of the completion of the First Mystery , which had been since the beginning. And the time came that she should be saved from the Chaos and brought forth from all the darknesses. For her repentance was received by the First Mystery'. And that Mystery sent me a great light-power from the height, so that I should help the Pistis Sophia and bring her up from the Chaos. But I looked to the aeons of the height , I saw the light-power which the First Mystery had sent to me so that I should save the Sophia from the Chaos. Now it happened, when I saw it coming forth from the aeons and it hastened towards me -- but I was above the Chaos - another light-power also came forth from me, in order to help the Pistis Sophia. And the light-power which came forth from the height through the First Mystery came down upon the light-power which came forth from me. And they met one another and became a great outpouring of light." Now when Jesus had said these things to his disciples he said: "Do you understand the manner in which I am speaking with you?" Mariam sprang up, she said : "My Lord, I understand what thou dost say. Concerning the interpretation of these words, thy light-power once prophesied through David in the 84th Psalm, saying : 10. 'Mercy and truth have met one another, and righteousness and peace have kissed one another.

11. Truth has sprouted from the earth and righteousness has looked forth from heaven.' Now mercy is the light-power which came forth through the First Mystery, for the First Mystery, heard the Pistis Sophia, and had mercy on her in all her afflictions. Truth, on the other hand, is the power which came forth from thee, because thou didst fulfill the truth that thou shouldst save her (the Pistis Sophia) from the Chaos. And furthermore, righteousness is the power which came forth through the First Mystery, which will guide the Pistis Sophia. And again peace is the power which came forth from thee, because it will go into the emanations of the Authades and take away from them the lights which they took from the Pistis Sophia; that is, thou dost gather them within the Sophia and dost make them to be at peace with her power.

Truth, on the other hand, is the power which came forth from thee when thou wast in the lower places of the Chaos.

Concerning this, thy power spoke through David thus: 'Truth has sprouted from the earth', because thou wast in the lower places of the Chaos. Righteousness, on the other hand, which looked forth from heaven, is the power which came forth from the height, through the First Mystery, and which entered into the Sophia.".

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Now it happened when Jesus heard these words, he said: "Excellent, Mariam, thou blessed one who wilt inherit the whole Kingdom of the Light." After these things Mary, the mother of Jesus, also came forward and said: "My Lord and my Saviour, command me also that I answer this discourse." Jesus said: "I will not prevent him whose spirit has become understanding, but I urge him the more to speak the thought which has moved him. Now at this time, Mary, my mother according to the matter, to whom I was entrusted, I command thee that thou also sayest the thought of the discourse." Mary answered, however, and said : "My Lord, concerning the word which thy power prophesied through David : 10. 'Mercy and truth have met one another; righteousness and peace have kissed one another.

11. Truth has sprouted from the earth and righteousness has looked forth from heaven.' Thy power once prophesied in these words about thee.

When thou wast small, before the Spirit came upon thee, while thou wast in a vineyard with Joseph, the Spirit came forth from the height ø, he came to me into my house, he resembled thee. And I did not recognize him and I thought that he was thou. And the Spirit said to me : 'Where is Jesus, my brother, that I meet him ?' And when he said these things to me, I was confused and I thought that he was a phantom to tempt me. But I took him, I bound him to the leg of the bed in my house, until I came out to you in the field, thou and Joseph, and I found you in the vineyard, as Joseph was hedging the vineyard with reeds. Now it happened, when thou didst hear me speaking the word to Joseph, thou didst understand the word and thou didst rejoice. And thou didst say : 'Where is he that I may see him? Or else I await him in this place'. But it happened when Joseph heard thee saying these words, he was agitated and we came up at the same time, we went into the house. We found the Spirit bound to the bed. And we looked at thee with him, we found thee like him. And he that was bound to the bed was released, he embraced thee, he kissed thee. And thou also, thou didst kiss him and you became one.

This now is the discourse and its interpretation. Mercy is the Spirit which came forth from the height, through the First Mystery, because he (the First Mystery) had mercy on the race of men. He sent his Spirit that it should forgive the sins of the whole world so that they (men) should receive mysteries and inherit the Kingdom of the Light. Truth, on the other hand, is the power which was entrusted to me; when it came forth from the Barbelo, it became for thee a material body. And it preached about the place of the truth . Righteousness is thy Spirit which has brought the mysteries forth from the height, to give them to the race of mankind. Peace, on the other hand, is the power which was entrusted to thy material body ,, according to the world, which baptised the race of mankind until they became strangers to sin. And it made them to be at peace with thy Spirit, and they came to be at peace with the emanations of the light. That is, righteousness and peace have kissed one another. And as it was said : 'Truth has sprouted from the earth': truth however is thy material body , which sprouted from me, according to the earth of mankind, and which has preached about the place of the truth. And also as it was said: 'Righteousness (looked forth) from heaven': righteousness is the power which looked forth from the height, which will give the mysteries of the light to the race of mankind. And they will become righteous and good and inherit the Kingdom of the Light." Now it happened when Jesus heard these words which Mary his mother said, he said : "Excellent, well done, Mary. ".

CHAPTER 62

The other Mary came forward and said : "My Lord, suffer me and be not angry with me, for since the time that thy mother spoke with thee concerning the interpretation of these words, my power has agitated me that I should come forward and also say the interpretation of these words. " Jesus said to her : "I command thee to say their interpretation." Maria said : "My Lord : 'Mercy and truth have met one another'. Now mercy is the Spirit which came down upon thee when thou didst receive baptism from John . Now mercy is the Spirit of Godhood which came forth upon thee, which had mercy upon the race of mankind. It came down, it met the power of Sabaoth the Good which is within thee and which has preached on the places of the truth. But it is said furthermore : 'Righteousness and peace have kissed one another. Now righteousness is the Spirit of the light, which came down upon thee, bringing the mysteries of the height in order to give them to the race of mankind. Peace, on the other hand, is the power of Sabaoth the Good which is within thee. It is this which baptised and forgave the race of mankind and made them to be at peace with the Sons of the Light . And furthermore, as thy power has said through David : 'Truth has sprouted from the earth' : that is, the power of Sabaoth the Good, [as it said : 'It sprouted from the earth'] it is this which sprouted from Mary thy mother, the earth-dweller . On the other hand, righteousness which looked forth from heaven ~ is the Spirit which is in the height, which has brought forth all the mysteries from the height. It gave them to the race of mankind, and they became righteous and good and they inherited the Kingdom of the Light." It happened however when Jesus finished hearing these words which Mariam spoke, he said; "Excellent, Mariam, thou inheritor of the light." Mary, the mother of Jesus, came forward again. She prostrated herself at his feet, she kissed them, and she said : "My Lord and my Son and my Saviour, be not angry with me, but forgive me that I say the interpretation of these words a second time: 'Mercy and truth have met one another'. I am Mary thy mother, and Elisabeth, the mother of John whom I met . Now mercy is the power in me of the Sabaoth which came forth from me , which is thou.

Thou hast had mercy on the whole race of mankind. On the other hand, truth is the power which was in Elisabeth, which is John who came and preached on the true way, which is thou, before whom he preached. And furthermore: 'Mercy and truth have met one another' : that is thou, my Lord, who didst meet John on the day when thou didst receive baptism . But furthermore, thou and John are righteousness and peace, which kissed one another.

'Truth has sprouted from the earth and righteousness has looked forth from heaven': that is the time when thou didst do service to thyself. Thou didst take the type of Gabriel, thou didst look down upon me from heaven , thou didst speak with me; and when thou didst speak with me thou didst sprout from me . That is, the truth which is the power of Sabaoth the Good which is in thy material body - that is the truth which sprouted from the earth. " Now it happened when Jesus heard these words which Mary, his mother, spoke, he said : "Excellent and well done.

This is the interpretation of all the words about which my light-power once prophesied through David the prophet.

These, however, are the names which I will give from the endless one. Write them with a sign so that the sons of God will be manifest from here. This is the name of the immortal one : []; and this is the name of the voice by which the perfect man is moved : [] But these are the interpretations of the names of these mysteries : the first name which is uuu, its interpretation is []; the second which is ppp, its interpretation is []; the third which is [], its interpretation is ooo, the fourth which is [], its interpretation is vvv, the fifth which is ôôô, its interpretation is aaa. That which is on the throne is uuu; this is the interpretation of the second : aaaa,aaaa,aaaa ; this is the interpretation of the whole name .

[THE NOTE OF A SCRIBE]

A note by a later hand, copied from another scripture. |125.(Now these are the names which I will give from the Boundless onward. Write them with a sign, that the Sons of God may be revealed from here on.

This is the name of the Immortal: aaa, ???; and this is the name of the Voice, for the sake of which the Perfect Man hath set himself in motion: iii. And these are the interpretations of the names of these mysteries: the first [name], which is aaa, its interpretation is fff; the second, which is mmm or ???, its interpretation is aaa; the third, which is ps ps ps, its interpretation is ooo; the fourth, which is fff, its interpretation is nnn; the fifth, which is ddd, its interpretation is aaa. He on the throne is aaa. This is the interpretation of the second: aaaa, aaaa, aaaa; this is the interpretation of the whole name.)

End of the First Book of Pistis Sophia

Pistis Sophia: Book Two

Chapter 63

John also came forward, he said : " O Lord, command me also that I say the interpretation of the words which thy light-power once prophesized through David." But Jesus answered and said to John: "Thou also, John, I command thee to say the interpretation which my light-power prophesized through David.:

10. " Mercy and truth have met one another, and righteousness and peace has kissed one another."

11." Truth has sprouted from the earth and righteousness has looked forth from heaven."

John answered, however, and said : "This is the word which thou hast said to us once : " I came forth from the height, I entered into Sabaoth the Good , I embraced the light-power within him." Now at this time : " Mercy and truth have met one another." Thou art the mercy which was sent forth from the places of the height through thy Father, the First Mystery, who looks within. He sent thee that thou shouldst have mercy on the whole world. Truth, on the other hand, is the power of Sabaoth the Good  which bound itself to thee, which thou didst cast to the left, thou, the First Mystery which looks forth. The Little Sabaoth the Good received it, he cast it into the matter of Barbelo, and he preached on the true place of the truth in all the places of those of the left. Now it is that the matter of the Barbelo which is a body to thee today. "And righteousness and peace have kissed eachother." Righteousness is thou who didst bring all the mysteries through the Father, the First Mystery who looks within, and thou didst baptise the power of Sabaoth the Good . And thou didst come to the place of the archons , thou didst give to them the mysteries of the height and they became righteous and good. Peace, on the other hand , is the power of Sabaoth, namely thy soul which entered into the matter of Barbelo. And all the archons of the six aeons of Jabraoth have made peace with the mystery of the light. And: "Truth which has sprouted from the earth." . This is the power of Sabaoth the Good which came  forth from the place of the right, which is outside the Treasury of the light, and which went to the place of those of the left. It entered the matter of the Barbelo, and it preached to them the mysteries of the place of the truth. Righteousness, on the other hand, which looked froth from heaven is thou, the First Mystery, which looked forth, having come forth from the spaces of the height with the mysteries of the kingdom of light. And thou didst come down upon the garment of light which thou didst receive from the hand of Barbelo ; thou didst come down upon him who is Jesus our Saviour, like a dove. Now it happened when John had spoken these words, the First Mystery who looks forth said to him : "Excellent, John, thou beloved brother."

Chapter 64

The First Mystery continued again, saying : " Now it happened, the power which came forth from the height, namely I myself, whom my Father sent to save the Pistis Sophia from the Chaos - now I with the other power which came forth from me and the soul which I received from Sabaoth the Good , they came towards one another , they made one outpouring of light which was exceedingly bright, I called Gabriel and Michael down from the aeons, by the command of my Father, the First Mystery who looks within, and I gave them the outpouring of light. I caused them to go down to the Chaos to help the Pistis Sophia, and to take the light-powers which the emanations of the Authades had taken from her, to take them from them and to give them to the Pistis Sophia. And in the hour that they brought the outpouring of light down to the Chaos, it gave light exceedingly to the whole Chaos, and it spread in all their (the emanations?) places. And when the emanations of the Authades saw the great light of that outpouring, they were all afraid together. And that outpouring drew forth from them all the light-powers which they had taken from the Pistis Sophia. And the emanations of the Authades did not dare to take hold of that outpouring of light in the dark Chaos; nor were they able to take hold of it by the artifice of the Authades who had hold of the emanations. And Gabriel and Michael brought the outpouring of the light over the body of the matter of the Pistis Sophia. And they cast into her all her lights which had been taken from her. And the body of her matter received light completely. And furthermore, all her powers within her, whose light  had been taken away, received light and they ceased to lack light, because they received their light which had been taken from them, because the light was given to them by me. And Michael and Gabriel, who served me and brought the outpouring of light to the Chaos, will give the mysteries of the light to them ; these are they who were entrusted with the outpouring of light which I gave to them, I brought it to the Chaos. Michael and Gabriel did not take any light for themselves from the lights of the Pistis Sophia , which they took away from the emanations of the Authades. Now it happened when my outpouring of light cast into the Pistis Sophia all her light-powers whch it took away from the emanations of the Authades, she became completely lighted. And also the light-powers which were in the Pistis Sophia, which the emanations of the Authades did not take away, rejoiced again and they were filled with light. And the lights which were cast into Pistis Sophia gave life to the body of her matter which had no light in it, which was about to be destroyed or was being destroyed, and they set up all its powers which were about to be dissolved. And they received light-power for themselves, they became as they were at first and they increased in perception of the light. And all the light-powers of the Sophia recognised one another through my outpouring of light. And they were saved through the light of that outpouring. And my outpouring of light, when it took the lights from the emanations of the Authades, which had taken them from the Pistis Sophia, it cast them into the Pistis Sophia. And it turned itself and came up out of the Chaos." Now when the First Mystery said to the disciples that  those things happened to the Pistis Sophia in the Chaos, he answered and said to them : "Do you understand in what manner I am speaking to you?"

Chapter 65

Peter came forward and said: "My Lord, concerning the interpretation of the words which thou hast spoken, thy light-power once prophesized through Solomon in his Ode:

7. "There went forth an outpouring, it became a great broad river.
 

8. It gathered all things; it turned towards the Temple.

9.It could not be restrained with restrainers and buildings, nor could the artificers of those who restrain water restrain it.

10.It was brought over the whole earth and it took hold of all things.

11.Those who were on the dry sand were given to drink, their thirst was relieved and quenched when they were given to drink by the hand of the Most High.

12.Blessed are the servers of that drink to whom the water of the Lord is entrusted.

13.They have changed dry lips;  those that were fainting received joy of heart. Souls were given life, and breath was cast in so that they did not die.

14.They have set upright limbs that had fallen ; they have given power to their feebleness, and light to their eyes.

15.For they have all known themselves in the Lord; and they have been saved through a water of eternal life."

Hear now, my Lord, and I will give the discourse openly. As thy power prophesied through Solomon : "There went forth and outpouring, it became a great, broad river." : that is, the outpouring of the light was spread out in the Chaos in all the places of the emanations of the Authades. And again, the word which they power spoke through Solomon: "It gathered all things, it brought them over to the Temple." : that is, it gathered out of the emanations of the Authades all the light-powers which they had taken from the Pistis Sophia, and it cast them into the Pistis Sophia again. And the word which thy power spoke; "It could not be restrained with restrainers and buildings" : that is, the emanations of the  Authades were not able to restrain the outpouring of light in the walls of the darkness of the Chaos. And the word which it spoke : "It was brought over the whole earth and filled all things." : that is, when Gabriel and Michael had brought it over the body of the Pistis Sophia, they cast into her all lights which the emanations of the Authades had taken away from her, and the body of her matter gave light. And the word which it spoke: "Those who were on dry sand were given to drink." : that is, all those received light who were in the Pistisn Sophia, those whose light was taken away at first. And the word which it spoke: "And their thirst was relieved and quenched.": that is, her powers ceased to lack light and they were satisfied with light, because they were given their light which had been taken from them. And again, as thy power spoke: "They were given to drink by the hand of the Most High" : that is, they were given light by the outpouring of light which came forth from me,
the First Mystery. And as thy power spoke : "Blessed are the servers of that drink" : that is the word, which thou didst say: Michael and Gabriel who have served brought the outflowing of the light to the Chaos and furthermore they brought her up. They will give to them the mysteries of the light of the height, these to whom the outpouring of light was entrusted. And furthermore as thy power spoke: "They changed dry lips": that is, Gabriel and Michael have not taken for themselves from the lights of the Pistis Sophia, which they seized from the emanations of the Authades, but they cast tem into the Pistis Sophia. And again the word which it spoke: "Those that were fainting received joy of heart." : that is, all the other powers of the Pistis Sophia, those that were not taken away  by the emanations of the Authades, rejoiced greatly and they were filled with light through their fellow lights, because they were cast into them. And the word which thy power spoke:
"Souls were given life, breath was cast in so that they did not die": that is, when they cast the lights into the Pistis Sophia, they gave life to the body of her matter, from which its lights had been taken at first and which were about to perish. And again the word which thy power spoke : "They have set upright limbs, that have fallen, or lest they fall." : that is, when they cast her lights into her, they set upright all her powers which were about to collapse. And furthermore as thy light-power spoke : "They have given power to their feebleness": that is, they have received their light again and they have become as they were at first. And again the word which it said : "They have given light to their eyes." : that is, they have received perception in the light, and they have known the outpouring of light , that it belongs to the height. And again the word which it spoke : "They have all known themselves in the Lord." : that is, all the powers of the Pistis Sophia have known one another through the outpouring of light. And again the word which it spoke : "They have been  saved through a water of eternal life." : that is, they have been saved through the wole outpouring of light. And the word which it spoke : "The outpouring of light gathered all things and gathered it in the Temple." : that is, when the outpouring of light took all the lights of the Pistis Sophia and seized them from the emanations of the Authades, it cast them into the Pistis Sophia, and it turned itself, it came forth from the Chaos. It came down upon thee, thou who art the Temple. This is the interpretation of all the words which thy power spoke through the Ode of Solomon."Now it happened when the First Mystery heard these words
which Peter said, he said to him :"Excellent, thou blessed one, Peter, this is the interpretation of the words which were spoken."

 Chapter 66

The First Mystery however continued again  with the discourse. He said "Now it happened before I brought the Pistis Sophia up from the Chaos, because I was not yet commanded by my Father, the First Mystery who looks within, now at that time after this the emanations of the Authades knew that my outpouring of light had taken away from them the light-powers which they had taken away from the Pistis Sophia, and had cast them (the outpouring of light had cast them) into the Pistis Sophia. And furthermore when they saw the Pistis Sophia lighted as she was from the beginning, they were angry against the Pistis Sophia. And they cried again to their Authades, that he should come and help them, so that they should take away the powers which were in the Pistis Sophia once again. And the Authades sent out of the height, out of
the thirteenth aeon, he sent another great light-power. It came down to the Chaos like a flying arrow, in order that he (the Authades) should help his emanations, so that they should take the lights from the Pistis Sophia once again. And when the light-power came down, the emanations of the Authades, which were in the Chaos and afflicted the Pistis Sophia, were encouraged greatly.And they again pursued the Pistis Sophia with a great terror and a great disturbance. And some of the emanations of the Authades afflicted her. For one of them changed to the form of a basilisk, having seven heads; again another changed to the form of a dragon; with the other previous power of the Authades which has a lion-face; and with all his other very numerous emanations. And they came together, they oppressed the Pistis Sophia. And again they brought her to the places below the Chaos. And again they agitated her greatly. Now it happened when they agitated her, she ran from them, she came to the upper places of the Chaos. And the emanations of the Authades pursued her, they agitated her greatly. Now it happened after these things Adamas, the Tyrant, looked forth from the twelve aeons. He also was angry with the Pistis Sophia, because she wished to go to the Light of Lights which was above them all; because of this he was angry with her. Now it happened when Adamas, the Tyrant, looked forth from the twelve aeons, he saw the emanations of the Authades oppressing the Pistis Sophia until they took away all her light from her. But it happened when the power of the Adamas came down to the Chaos to the presence of all the emanations of the Authades - now it happened when that demon came down to the Chaos - he threw the Pistis Sophia down. And the lion-faced power and the serpent-face and the basilisk-face and the dragon-face and all the other emanations of the Authades, which were very numerous, surrounded the Pistis Sophia at one time, wishing to take her inner powers once again. And they oppressed
the Pistis Sophia greatly, and they threatened her. Now it happened when they oppressed her and when they agitated her greatly, she cried again to the light and she sang praises, saying:

1."O Light, who hast helped me, may thy light come down upon me.

2. For thou art my shelter and I come to thee, O Light, believing in thee, O Light.

3. For thou art my Saviour from the emanations of the Authades and Adamas, the Tyrant, and it is thou who wilt save me from all his powerful threats."

However, when the Pistis Sophia had said these things, then again through the command of my Father, the First Mystery who looks within, I sent again Gabriel and Michael and the great outpouring of light, that they should help the Pistis Sophia. And I commanded Gabriel and Michael that they should carry the Pistis Sophia upon their hands, lest her feet touch the darkness below. And again I commanded them that they should guide her in the places of Chaos from whence they would bring her out. Now it happened when the angels went down to the Chaos, they and the outpouring of light, that it was exceedingly shining, there being no measure to the light which it had, they were afraid and they released the Pistis Sophia. And the great outpouring of light surrounded the Pistis Sophia on every side of her, on her left, and on her right, and on every side of her, and it made a crown of light for her head. Now it happened when the outpouring of light
surrounded the Pistis Sophia, she took courage very greatly. And it (the outpouring) did not cease surrounding her on very side. And she was not afraid of the emanations of the Authades , which were in the Chaos. Nor again was she afaid of the other new power of the Authades which he had cast down into the Chaos like a flying arrow. Nor did she tremble at the demonic power of Adamas which came forth from the aeons. And again through my command, I, the First Mystery who look forth, my outpouring of light which surrounded the Pistis Sophia on all sides gave light exceedingly. And the Pistis Sophia remained in the midst of the light, while a great light was on her left and on her right and on all sides, and it was a crown upon her head. And all the emanations of the Authades were not able to change their faces again, nor were they able to bear the impact of the great light of my outpouring which was a crown of light for her head. And all the emanations of the Authades, a multitude of them fell at her right because she was greatly lighted, and another multitude fell at her left; and they were not able to approach the Pistis Sophia at all because of  the great light. Rather they all fell upon one another or they all came close to one another. And they were not able to do any evil to the Pistis Sophia, because she trusted in the light. And through the command of my Father, the First Mystery who looks within, I also came down to the Chaos shining exceedingly.I made my way to the lion-faced power which was shining greatly, and I took away all its light
from within it. And I restrained all the emanations of the Authades so that from this hour they did not go to their place, namely the Thirteenth Aeon. And I took the power from all the emanations of the Authades, and they all fell powerless into the Chaos. And I brought the Pistis Sophia forth on the right of Gabriel and Michael. And the great outpouring of light
went again into her. And the Pistis Sophia saw with her eyes her enemies, that I had taken their light-power from them. And I brought forth the Pistis Sophia from the Chaos,  while she trampled on the emanation of the Authades with a serpent-face; and furthermore she trampled upon the emanation with a basilisk-face with seven heads ; and she trampled upon the power with a lion-face, and the dragon-face. I caused the Pistis Sophia to  remain standing upon the emanation of the Authades. But the one with a basilisk-face and seven heads was stronger than them all in its evil. And I, the First Mystery, stood upon it. And I took away all the powers within it, I destroyed all its matter, so that from this hour no seed from it should arise."

 Chapter 67

When, however, the First Mystery said these things to the disciples, he answered, saying: "Do you understand in what manner I speak with you?" James came forward and said: "My Lord, concerning the interpretation of the words which
thou hast spoken, thy light-power prophesied about them, through David in the 90th psalm:

1."He that dwells in the help of the Highest will be under the shadow of the God of Heaven.
2. He will say to the Lord : Thou art my shelter and my refuge, my God in whom I have trusted.
3. For he will save me from the snare of the hunters and a powerful word.
4. He will overshadow thee with his breast and under his wings thou will trust. His truth will surround thee like a shield.
5. Thou shalt not fear from terror by night and from an arrow that flies by day.
6. From anything which walks in darkness; from a demonic blow at midday.
7. A thousand will fall at thy left and ten thousand at thy right, but they will not approach thee.
8. Rather thou wilt observe them with thy eyes and see the reward of sinners.
9. For thou, O Lord, art my hope ; thou hast set the Highest as thy refuge.
10. No evil will approach thee, no scourge will enter thy dwelling.
11. For he will command his angels concerning thee, that they guard thee in all thy ways.
12. They will bear upon thee upon their hands lest thou strikest a stone with thy foot.
13. Thou wilt thread upon the serpent and basilisk, and thou wilt trample upon the lion and dragon.
14. Because he has trusted in me I will save him ; I will overshadow him because he has known my name.
15. He will cry to me and I will hear him; I will be with him in his affliction, and I will save him and honour him.
16. I will increase him with many days, I will teach him my salvation.

This, O Lord, is the interpretation which thou didst speak. Hear now that I speak openly. Now the word which thy power spoke through David : "He that dwells in the help of the Highest will be under the shadow of the God of heaven.": that is, when the Sophia trusted in the light, she was under the light of the outpouring of light which came from the height through thee. And the word which thy power spoke through David : " I will say to the Lord: Thou art my shelter and my refuge, my God in whom I have trusted." : that is, the word with which the Pistis Sophia sang praises : "O Light, I believe in thee, thou art my Saviour from the emanations of the Authades and Adamas, the Tyrant;  and it is tho who wilt save me from their powerful threats.". And furthermore the word which thy power spoke through David : "He will overshadow thee under his breast, and under his wings thou wilt trust." that is, the Pistis Sophia was in the light of the outpouring of light which came forth from thee, and she continued to be encouraged by the light upon her left and her right, which are the
wings of the outpouring of light. And the word  which thy light-power prophesied through David: "Truth will surround thee like a shield.": that is the light of the outpouring of light which surrounded the Pistis Sophia on all sides like a shield. And the word which thy power spoke: "He shall not fear from terror by night.": that is, that the Pistis Sophia did not fear the terrors and disturbances which were contained in the Chaos which is the night. And the word which thy power spoke : "He shall not fear an arrow that flies by day": that is, that the Pistis Sophia did not fear the power which the Authades finally sent from the height, which came to the Chaos like an arrow which flies. Now thy light-power said : "Thou shalt not fear an arrow that flies by day" , because that power came forth from the tirteenth(Schmidt suggests that this is an error in the manuscript and that it is supposed to be the Twelft) aeon. He is lord over the twelft aeon and it is he who lights all the aeons ; because of this he has said "the day". And the word which thy power spoke : "He will not fear anything which walks in the darkness.": that is, the Pistis Sophia did not fear the emanationn with a serpent-face, which causes fear to the Pistis Sophia in the Chaos which is the darkness. And the word which thy power said : " He shall not fear a demonic blow at midday.": that is the Pistis Sophia did not fear the demonic emanation of Adamas the Tyrant, which cast the Pistis Sophia down with a great blow, which came forth from Adamas from the twelft aeon. Because of this thy
power said: "He shall not fear a demonic blow at midday." "Midday", because it came from the twelfth aeon, which is the hour of midday. And furthermore "Night" because it came forth from the Chaos, which is the night, and it came forth from the twelfth aeon, which is the middle between the two. Because of this thy light-power said "the hour of midday", because the twelve aeons are in the middle between the thirteenth aeon and the Chaos. And the word which thy light-power spoke through David: " A thousand will fall at his left and ten thousand at his right, and they will not approach him.": that is, when the emanations of the Authades which were very numerous were not able to bear the great light of the outpouring of light, a multitude of them fell at the left of the Pistis Sophia and a multitude fell at her right. And they were not able  to approach her to corrupt her. And the word which thy light-power spoke through David : "Rather thou wilt observe them with thine eyes and see the reward of sinners, for thou , O Lord, art my hope.":  that is, the Pistis Sophia observed with her eyes her enemies, namely the emanations of the Authades which had all fallen upon one another. Not only did she observe them with her eyes, but thou also, my Lord, the First Mystery, thou didst take away the light-power which was in the lion-faced power ; and further thou didst take away the power of all the emanations of the Authades, and thou didst restrain them in that Chaos, that they should not go to their place from that hour. Now because of this, the Pistis Sophia observed with her eyes her enemies, namely the emanations of the Authades, in everything which David prophesied about the Pistis Sophia, saying : "Rather thou wilt observe them with thy eyes and see the reward of sinners.". Not only did she observe them with her eyes, that they fell against one another in the Chaos, but she also saw their reward with which they were rewarded. As the emanations of  the Authades thought to take away the light of the Sophia from her, thou didst reward them and repay them. And thou didst take away the light-power which is in them, instead of the lights of the Sophia who believed in the light of the height. And as thy light-power said through David : " Thou hast set the Most High as thy refuge. No evil will able to approach thee, and no scourge will enter thy dwelling." : that is, when the Pistis Sophia believed in the light and was oppressed, she sang praises to it, and the emanations of the Authades were not able to do any evil to her, nor were they able to corrupt her, and they were not able to approach her at all. And the word which thy power said through David: "He will command his angels concerning thee, that they guard thee in all thy ways ; and they will bear thee upon their hands, lest thou strike a stone with thy foot.": that is furthermore the word : "Thou didst command Gabriel and Michael that they should guide the Sophia in all the places of the Chaos until they bring her up, and that they should raise her upon their hands, lest her feet touch the darkness below and those of the darkness below seize her." And the word which thy light-power spoke through David : "Thou wilt thread upon the serpent and basilisk, and thou wilt trample upon the lion and dragon. Because he has trusted in me, I will save him and I will overshadow him because he has known my name." : that is the word: "When the Pistis Sophia came to emerge from the Chaos, she trampled upon the emanations
of the Authades. She trampled upon those with serpent-faces and upon those with basilisk-faces having seven heads. And she trampled upon the lion-faced power and that with a dragon-face, because she believed in the light she was saved from them all." This, my Lord, is the interpretation of the words which thou hast spoken."

 Chapter 68

It happened when the First Mystery heard these words, he said: "Excellent, James,  thou beloved one." The First Mystery continued again, however, with the discourse. He said to the disciples: " It happened when I brought the Pistis Sophia
forth from the Chaos, she cried out again saying:

1."I have been saved from the Chaos and released from the bonds of darkness. I have come to thee, O Light.

2. For thou hast been light on every side of me as thou didst save and help me.

3. And the emanations of the Authades, as they rose against me, thou didst prevent them through thy light. And they were not able to approach me, because thy light was with me, and saving me through thy outpouring of light.

4. For because the emanations of the Authades oppressed me, they took away my power from me, they cast me into the Chaos there being no light in me. I became like matter which is heavy, before them.

5. And after these things an outpouring power came to me from thee, saving me; it gave light on my left and on my right, and it surrounded me on every side, so that no part of me was without light.

6. And thou hast clothed me with the light of thy outpouring. And thou hast purified from me all my materials because of thy light.

7. And thy outpouring of light is that which has raised me, and it has taken away from me the emenations of the Authades, which afflicted me.

8. And in thy light I became courageous and a pure light of thy outpouring.

9. And the emanations of the Authades which oppressed me have gone far from me, and I have become lighted in thy great power, fr thou dost save me at all times."

This is the repentance which the Pistis Sophia said when she came out of the Chaos and was released from the bonds of the Chaos. Now at this time, he who has ears to hear, let him hear."

 Chapter 69

Now it happened when the First Mystery finished saying these words to the disciples, Thomas came forward and said:
"My Lord, my man of light has ears and my mind has understood the words which thou hast said. Now at this time command me that I give the interpretation of the words clearly." But the First Mystery answered and said to Thomas:
"I command thee to give the interpretation of the song of praise in which the Pistis Sophia sang praises to me."
Thomas however answered and said : "My Lord, concerning the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke because she was saved from the Chaos, thy light-power once prophesied about it through Solomon, the son of David, in his Odes, thus:"

1. I have been saved from the bonds; I have fled to thee, O Lord.
2. For thou hast been a right hand to me ; saving me, saving me and helping me.
3. Thou hast prevented those that rise against me; and they have not been revealed because thy face was with me, saving me with thy grace.
4. I was despised in the presence of a multitude; and they cast me forth; I became like lead in their presence.
5. There has been for me a power from thee, helping me; for thou hast placed lamps on my right side and on my left side, lest any side of me should be without light.
6. Thou hast sheltered me with the shadow of thy mercy; and I became raised above garments of skin.
7. It was thy right hand which raised me and thou hast taken away sickness from me.
8. I have become powerful in thy truth and purified in righteousness.
9. Those that rose against me have gone far from me; and I have been justified in thy beneficence, for thy rest exists for ever and ever."

Now, O my Lord, this is the interpretation of the repentance which the Pistis Sophia spoke when she was saved from the Chaos. Hear now and I will say it openly.

Now the word which thy light-power spoke through Solomon: " I have been saved from my bonds; I have fled to thee , O Lord": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia spoke; "I have been released from the bonds of darkness; I have come to thee, O Light". And the word which thy power spoke: "Thou hast been a right hand to me; saving me and helping me." And the word which thy light-power spoke: "Thou hast prevented those that rise against me and they have not been revealed.": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "And the emanations of the Authades, which rose against me, thou didst prevent them through thy light ; and they were not able to approach me." And the word which thy power spoke: "For thy face was with me, saving me with thy grace": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said : "Because thy light was with me , saving me through thy outpouring of light." And the word which thy power spoke : " I was despised in the presence of a multitude and they cast me forth." that is the word which Pistis Sophia said: "For the emanations of the Authades oppressed me and they took away my power from me ; and I was despised before them and they cast me into the Chaos, there being no light in me."  And the word which thy power spoke: " I became like lead in their presence": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "When they took away my lights from me I became like matter (hylè) which was heavy, before them." And the word which thy power spoke: "There has been for me a power from thee, helping me.": that is the word which the PIstis Sophia said; "And after these things a light-power came to me from thee, saving me". And the word which thy power spoke: " Thou hast palced lamps on my right side and on my left side, lest any side of me should be without light.": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "Thy power gave light on my right and my left, and It surrounded me on every side of me, so that no part of me was without light.". And the word which thy power spoke: "Thou hast sheltered me in the shadow of thy mercy": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "And thou hast clothed me with the light of thy outpouring". And the word which thy power spoke: "I became raised above garments of skin"; that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "I have been purified from all my evil materials, and I have become raised over them in thy light." And the word which thy power spoke through Solomon: "It was thy right hand which raised me and it took away sickness from me": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: " And thy outpouring of light is that which has raised me in thy light, and it has taken away from me the emanations of the Authades which afflicted me". And the word which thy power spoke: "I have become powerful in thy truth and purified in thy righteousness": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: " And in thy light I became powerful and a pure light in thy outpouring".  And the word which thy power spoke: "Those that rose against me have gone far from me.": that is the word which the PIstis Sophia said: " And the emanations  of the Authades which oppressed me have gone far from me". And the word which thy light-power spoke through Solomon: "And I have been justified in thy benefience, for thy rest exists for ever and ever": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "I have been saved in thy benefience, for thou dost save everyone."

Now, O my Lord, this is the whole interpretation of the repentance which the Pistis Sophia spoke when she was saved from the Chaos, and she was released from the bonds of darkness.

 Chapter 70

Now it happened when the First Mystery heard Thomas saying these words, he said to him: "Excellent, well done Thomas, thou blessed one. This is the interpretation of the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke."

The First Mystery, however, continued again. He said to the disciples: "But the Pistis Sophia continyed again, she sang praises to me, saying:

1. I sing praise to thee; through thy ordinance thou didst bring me forth from the aeon on high, which is above, and thou didst bring me to the places below.
2. And again through thy ordinance thou didst save me from the places below; and through thyself thou hast there taken the matter which is my light-power, and I saw it.
3. And thou hast dispelled from me the emantions of the Authades which oppressed me, and they were hostile to me; and thou didst give to me the authority that I should be released from the bonds of the emanations of the Adamas.
4. And thou hast smitten the basilisk with seven heads,  thou hast cast it out with my hands; and trhou has set me up over its matter. Thou hast destroyed it, lest its seed rise up from this hour.
5. And thou wast with me giving power to me in all these things; and thy light surrounded me in all places, and through thyself thou hast made all the emanations of the Authades powerless.
6. For thou hast taken away from them the power of their light; and thou hast made straight my way to bring me forth from the Chaos.
7. And thou hast removed me out of the material darknesses and thou hast taken away from them all my powers, the light which had been taken.
8. Thou hast cast into them (my powers) pure light; and to all my members, in which there was no light, thou hast given pure light out of the light of the height.
9. And thou hast made straight the way for them (my members); and the light of thy face has become for me imperishable life.
10. Thou hast brought me above the Chaos, the place of the Chaos and the destruction, so that all the materials within it which are in that place should be released, so that all my powers should be renewed in thy light and that thy  light should be within them all.
11. Thou hast placed the light of thy outpouring in me. I have become purified light. This again is the second song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke. Now let him who understands this repentance come forth and say it."

 Chapter 71

Now it happened when the First Mystery finished saying these words, Matthew came forward and said: " I have understood the interpretation  of the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke. Now at this time command me that I say it openly."

The First Mystery, however, answered and said: "I command thee, Matthew, to give the interpretation of the song of
praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke."

Matthew, however, answered and said: Concerning the interpretation of the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke,
thy light-power once prophesied about it through the Ode of Solomon, thus:

1. He who brought me down from the high places which are above has brought me up from the places in the depth below.
2. He who there has taken those that are in the midst has taught me of them.
3. He who has dispelled my enemies and my adversaries has given me authority over bonds, to release them.
4. He who has smitten the serpent with seven heads with my hands has set me up over its root, so that I might wipe out its seed.
5. And thou wast with me, helpingt me. In all places thy name surrounded me.
6. Thy right hand has destroyed the poison of the slanderer (lit. Satanas); thy hand has made th way for thy faithful ones.
7. Thou hast freed them from the graves and thou hast removed them from the midst of corpses.
8. Thou hast taken the dead bones and thou hast clothed them with a body; and to those that do not move thou hast given energy of life.
9. Thy way has become indestructible, and thy face.
10. Thou hast brought thy aeon to destruction that all things should be dissolved and be made new and that thy light should become a foundation for them all.
11. Thou hast built thy wealth upon them, and they have become a holy dwelling place.

This now, my Lord, is  the interpretation of the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke. Hear now that I say it openly. The word which thy power spoke through Solomon: "He who brought me down from the high places which are above also brought me forth from the places in the depth below.": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "I sing praise to thee; through thy ordinance  thou didst bring me forth from the aeon on high which is above, and thou didst bring me t the places below. And again through thy ordinance thou didst save me and bring me out of the places below." And the word which thy power spoke through Solomon: " He who there has taken those that are in the midst has taught me of them": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: " And again through thyself thou hast caused the matter in the midst of
my power to be purified, and I saw it". And again the word which thy power spoke through Solomon: "He who has dispelled my enemies and my adversaries" : that is the word which the Pistis sophia said: " And thou hast dispelled from me the emantions of the Authades which oppressed me, and were hostile to me". And the word which thy power said: "He who gave to me his wisdom over bonds, to release them.": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said : " And he gave me his wisdom to release me from the bonds of those emanations." And the word which thy power spoke: "He who has smitten the serpent with my hands, has set me up over its matter. Thou hast destroyed it that its seed may not rise up from this hour". And the word which thy power spoke: " And thou wast to me helping me": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "And thou was with me giving power to me in al these things.". And the word which thy power spoke: "In all places thy name surrounded me" : that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "And thy light surrounded me in all their places." And the word which thy power spoke: "Thy right hand has destroyed the poison of the slanderer": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "And through thyself the emanations of the Authades were made powerless. For thou hast taken away from them the light of their power.". And the word which thy power spoke: " Thy hand has made the way for thy faithful ones": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia spoke: "Thou hast made straight my way, to bring me forth from the Chaos because I have believed in thee". And the word which thy power spoke: " Thou hast freed them from the graves and hast removed them from the midst of the corpses.": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: " And thou hast freed me from the Chaos and thou hast removed me out of the material darknesses which are the dark emanations in the Chaos, the light of which thou hast taken away from them." And the word which thy power spoke: " Thou hast
taken dead bones and thou hast clothed them with a body; and to those that do not move thou hast given energy of life": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia spoke: "Thou hast taken all my powers in which there was no light, thou hast put into them pure light. And to all my members in which no light moved, thou hast given living light from thy height." And the word which thy power spoke: "Thy way has become indestructible, and thy face." : that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: " And thou hast made straight thy way for me, and the light of thy face has become for me imperishable life."
And the word which thy power spoke: " Thou hast brought thy aeon  to destruction, that all things should be dissolved and made new.":  that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: "Thou hast brought me, thy power, above the Chaos and above the destruction, so that all the materials which are in that place should be dissolved, and that all my powers should
be renewed in the light."  And the word which thy power spoke: "And thy light becomes a foundation for them all": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: " And thy light has been in them all". And the word which thy light-power which thy light-power spoke through Solomon: "Thou hast placed thy wealth upon it, and it has become a holy dwelling place": that is the word which the Pistis Sophia said: " Thou hast made fast the light of thy outpouring upon me, and I have become purified light." This now, my Lord, is the interpretation of the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia said."

 Chapter 72

Now it happened whan the First Mystery heard these words which Matthew spoke, he said: "Excellent, Matthew, and well done, thou beloved one. This is the interpretation of the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke."

The First Mystery however continued again, he said: "The Pistis Sophia, however, continued again in this song of praise,
she said:

1. I will say that thou art the light which is on high, for thou didst save me, and thou hast brought me to thyself. And thou didst not allow the emanations of the Authades, which are my enemies, to take away my light.

2. O Light of Lights, I have sung praises to thee; thou hast saved me.
3. O Light, thou hast brought my power up from the Chaos, thou hast saved me from among those that go down to the darkness.

The Pistis Sophia said these words also. Now at this time, he whose mind has become understanding to understand the words which the Pistis Sophia spoke, let him come forward and give their interpretation"

Now it happened when the First Mystery finished saying these words to the discipls, Mary came forward. She said: "My Lord, my mind is understanding at all times that I should come forward at any time and give the interpretation of the words which she spoke, but I am afraid of Peter, for he threatens me and he hates our race."

But when she said these things, the First Mystery said to her: "Everyone who will be filled with the Spirit of light to come forward and give the interpretation of those things which I say, him will no one be able to prevent. Now at this time, O Maria, give the interpretation of the words which the Pistis Sophia said."

Now Maria answered and said to the First Mystery in the midst of the disciples: "My Lord, concerning the interpretation of the words which the Pistis Sophia spoke, thy light-power once prophesied through David thus:

1. I will exalt thee, O Lord, for thou hast received me and thou hast not given to my enemies to rejoice over me.
   2. O Lord, my God, I have cried to thee and thou didst heal me.
   3. O Lord thou hast brought my soul up from Amente; thou hast saved me from those who go down to the pit."

Chapter 73

However, when Maria had said these things, the First Mystery said to her: "Excellent, well done, Maria, thou blessed one."

But he continued again with the discourse. He said to the disciples: " The Pistis Sophia continued again with this song of praise, she said:

1. The Light has become my Saviour.
2. And it has turned my darkness into light for me. And it has rent the Chaos which surrounded me. It has girded me with light."

Now it happened when the First Mystery finished speaking these words, Martha came forward and said: "My Lord, thy power prophesied once, through David, concerning these words, saying:

10. The Lord has become my helper.
11. He has turned my lament into rejoicing for me, he has rent my sackcloth,
      he has girded me with gladness."

It happened, however, when the First Mystery finished hering these words which Martha spoke, he said: "Excellent, and well done, Martha"

But the First Mystery continued again, he said to the disciples: "The Pistis Sophia continued again with the song of praise, and she said:

1. My Power, sing praise to the Light and forget not all the powers of the light which he has given to thee.
2. And all the powers within me, sing praise to the name of his holy mystery.
3. Who forgives all thy transgressions, who saves thee from all thy oppressions with which the emanations of the Authades have afflicted thee.
4. Who has saved thy light from the emanations of the Authades which belong to destruction; who has crowned thee with light in his compassion until he saves thee.
5. Who has filled thee with pure light; and thy beginning will be renewed like an invisible one of the height.

With these words the Pistis Sophia sang praises because she was saved. And she remembered all the things which I had done for her."

 Chapter 74

Now it happened when the First Mystery finished saying these words to the disciples, he said to them: " He who understands the interpretation of these words, let him come forward and speak openly."

Maria came forward again and said: " My Lord, concerning these words with which the Pistis Sophia sang praises,
thy light-power prophesied them through David, thus;

1. Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2. Bless the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his rewards.
3. Who forgives all thy iniquities and who heals all thy sicknesses.
4. Who saves thy life from destruction, who crowns thee with mercy and compassion.
5. Who satisfies thy desire with good things; thy youth will be renewed like that of an eagle."

Now it happened when the First Mystery heard these words which Maria spoke, he said: "Excellent, O Maria, thou blessed one."

Now it happened after these things, the First Mystery continued again with the discourse, he  said to the disciples: " I took the Pistis Sophia. I brought her out to a place which is below the thirteenth aeon. And I gave to her a new mystery of the light, which is not that of her own aon, the place of the invisible ones. And I gave to her a song of praise of the light so that from this time the archons of the aeons would not be able to have power over her. And I set her in that place until I should come for her and take her to her place which is in the height.

Now it happened when I set her in that place, she spoke again this song of praise,
saying thus:

1. In faith I have believed in the Light; and he remembered me, he heard my song of praise.
2. He brought my power out of the Chaos of all the matter, and the darkness below. And he brought me out, he placed me in an aeon on high which is strong; he has set me on the way which leads to my place.
3. And he gave me a new mystery which is not that of my aeon; and he gave me a song of praise of the light. Now at this time, O Light, all the archons of the light will see what thou hast done for me, and they wil be afraid, and they will believe in thy light.

Now the Pistis Sophia spoke this song of praise, rejoicing because she was brought out of the Chaos, and she was brought to the places which are below the thirteenth aeon.

Now at this time, he whose mind moves him to understand the interpretation of the thought in the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke, let him come forward and say it."

Andrew came forward, he said: "My Lord, this is what thy light-power once prophesied through David, saying:

1. I waited with endurance for the Lord; he gave heed to me and he heard my supplication.
2. He brought my soul up from the pit of wretchedness and the miry clay; he has set my feet upon a rock and he has directed my steps.
3. He has put a new song into my mouth, a blessing for our God. Many will see and will be afraid, and will hope in the Lord."

Now it happeend when Andrew gave the thought of the Pistis Sophia, the First Mystery said to him: "Excellent, Andrew, thou blessed one."

 Chapter 75

However he (the First Mystery) continued again with the discourse. He said to the disciples: "These are all the events which happened to the Pistis Sophia. Now it happened when I brought her to the place which is below the thirteenth aeon, I was about to go to the light and to abandon her, she said to me: "O Light of Lights, thou wilt go to the light and abandon me, and Adamas, the Tyrant, will know that thou hast abandoned me, and he will know that there is no one who will save me. He will come again to me to this place, he and all his archons who hate me. And the Authades will again give
power to his lion-faced emanation, that they all come and oppress me at the same time and take away all my light from me, so that I become powerless, and I also become without light. Now at this time, O Light and my Light, take the power of the light from me, so that I become powerless, take the power of their light from them, so that they have not the power to oppress me from this time."

Now it happened when I heard these words which the Pistis Sophia said, I answered her, saying; "My Father who emanated me has not yet commanded me to take away their light from them, but I will seal the places of the Authades,
and all his aeons which hate thee, because thou hast believed in the light. And furthermore I will seal the places of Adamas and his archons, so that none of them are able to wage war on thee until their time is completed, and until the appointed time comes fwhen my Father commands me to take away their light from them."

 Chapter 76

But after this I said to her again: " Hear that I speak with thee about their time, in which these things will happen which I have said to thee. They will happen when the three times are completed."

The Pistis Sophia answered, she said to me: "O Light, by what shall I known when the three times will happen, that I may rejoice and be glad, because the time has arrived that thou takest me to my place? And furthermore I will rejoice because the time has come that thou wilt take away the light-power from all those that hate me because I have believed in thy light."

However, I answered again and said to her: "When thou seest the gate of the Treasury of the great Light - this which opens to the thirteenth aeon, namely the left - when that gate is opened the three times are completed."

The Pistis Sophia answered again, she said: "O Light, by what shall I know, when I am in this place, that gate has been opened?"

But I answered her and said to her: "When the gate is opened, those who are in all the aeons will know, because of the
great light which will happen in all their places. Nevertheless see, I have now established that they (the archons) will not dare anything evil against thee, until the three times are completed. But thou wilt have the authority there to go to their
twelve aeons at the same time which pleases thee, and to return again, and to come to thy place in which thou art this time, which is below the thirteenth aeon. But thou wilt not have authority to go within the gate of the height which is in the
thirteenth aeon, to go within to thy place from which thou didst come forth. Nevertheless, when the three times are now completed, the Authades and all his archons will oppress thee again to take away thy light from thee. He will be angry with thee, thinking that  thou hast restrained his power in the Chaos, and thinking that thou hast taken away the light (of his power) from it. He will now be infuriated against thee to take away thy light from thee, so that he may send it down to the Chaos and put it into those emanations of his, so that they should have power to come out of the Chaos, and to come to his (the Authades) place. But Adamas will begin these things. But I will take away all thy powers from him and give them to thee, and I will come and take them. Now at the moment when they oppress thee at that time, sing praises to the light and I will not delay to help thee. And I will come to thee in haste to the places below thee. And I will come to this place
in which I have established thee, which is below the thirteenth aeon, until I take thee to thy place from which thou didst come forth".

Now it happened when the Pistis Sophia heard these words which I spoke to her, she rejoiced with great joy. But I sent her in the place which is below the thirteenth aeon, I went to the light, I abandoned her.

 Chapter 77

The First Mystery however spoke to the disciples of all these events, for they happened to the Pistis Sophia. And he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, speaking all these words in the midst of the disciples. He continued again however, he said to them: "But it happened again after all these things, as I was in the world of mankind, as I was sitting by the wayside that is this place, namely the  Mount of Olives, before I had yet been sent my garment - which I had left behind in the 24th mystery from within, but the first from without, which is the great incomprehensible one in which I shone - and before I went to the height to receive my second garment, as I was sitting before you in this place which is the Mount of Olives,  the time was completed of which I had spoken to the Pistis Sophia thus: "Adamas and all his archons will oppress thee."

Now it happened when that time came - I however was in the world of mankind, sitting before you in this place which is the Mount of Olives - Adamas looked forth from the twelve Aeons. He looked down to the places of the Chaos, he saw his demonic power which was in the Chaos with no light at all in it, for I had taken away its light from it. And he saw it, that it was dark and not able to come to his place, namely the twelve aeons. Adamas again remembered Pistis Sophia and he was exceedingly angry with her,  for he thought that it was she who had restraned his power in the Chaos, and he thought that it was she who had taken away its light from it (the power of Adamas). And he was very wrathful and added anger to anger. He emanated forth a dark emanation and another chaotic and wicked one which was powerful, so that through them he should agitate the Pistis Sophia. And he created a dark place in his place, so that he should oppress the Sophia within it. And he took many of his archons, they pursued the Pistis Sophia to bring her to the dark Chaos which he had created. And the two dark emanations which Adamas had emanated oppressed her in that place, and they agitated
her until they took away all her light from her. And Adamas took the light of the Pistis Sophia , and he gave it to the two dark and powerful emanations to take to the great Chaos which is chaotic, so that perhaps it (the power) would be able to come to his place, for it had become very dark because I had taken away its light-power from it. Now it happened when they pursued the Pistis Sophia, she cried out again, she sang praises to the light since I had said to her: "When thou art oppressed and dost praise me, I will come in haste to help thee."

Now it happened when she was oppressed - but I sat before you in this place which is the Mount of Olives - she sang praises to the light, saying:

1. O Light of Lights, I have believed in thee. Save me from all these archons which pursue me, and help me.
2. Lest they take away my light from me, like the lion-faced power, for thy light and thy outpouring are not with me to save me. Rather Adamas was angry with me, saying to me: It is thou who hast restrained my power in the Chaos.
3. Now O Light of Lights, If I have done this - If I have restrained it, If I have done anything unjust to that power.
4. If I have oppressed it as it has oppressed me - may all these archons which pursue me take my light from me and leave me empty.
5. And may the enemy Adamas pursue my power and seize it and take away my light  from me, and cast it into his dark power which is in the Chaos; and  may he place my power in the Chaos.
6. Now O Light, seize me in thy anger, and raise thy power against my enemies which has risen against me at last.
7. Save me quickly, according to what thou hast said: "I will help thee.".

 Chapter 78

Now it happened when the First Mystery finished saying these words to the disciples, he said: "He who has understood these words which I have said, let him come forward and give their explanation."

James came forward and said: "My Lord, concerning this song of praise which the Pistis Sophia has sung, thy light-power once prophesied it, through David, in the 7th Psalm, thus:

1. O Lord my God, I have trusted thee; save me from those that pursue me, and deliver me.
2. Lest he seize my soul like a lion; while there is no one who delivers and saves.
3. O Lord my God, If I have done this; if there is injustice at my hands;
4. If I have repaid those who repaid me with evil things, may I fall down empty through my enemies.
5. And may the enemy pursue my soul and seize it, and trample my life upon the earth, and take my glory to be in the dust.
6. Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath, be exalted in the boundary of my enemies. Arise in the commandment which thou hast decreed."

Now it happened when the First Mystery heard these words which James spoke, he said: "Excellent, James, thou beloved one."

 Chapter 79

However, the First Mystery continued, he said to the disciples: " Now it happened when the Pistis Sophia finished saying the words of this song of praise, she turned back to see whether the Adamas and his archons had turned back to go to their aeon. And she saw them as they were pursuing her. She turned to them and said to them:

1. Why do you pursue me and say: there is no one to be a help to me, to save me from you?
2.  Now at this time the light is a true judge and a strong one. But he is long-suffering until the time of which he has spoken to me thus: I will come and help thee; and he will not bring his wrath upon you at all times. And this is the time of which he has spoken to me.
3.  Now at this time, if you do not turn yourselves back and cease to pursue me, the light will prepare his power, and he will prepare with all his powers.
4.  And he has prepared with his power, that he may take away your light which is within you, so that you become dark; and he has created his powers, that he may take away your power from you and you be destroyed."

But when the Pistis Sophia had said these things, she looked to the place of Adamas. She saw the dark and chaotic place which had created. And she saw furthermore the dark emanations, of exceeding strenght, which Adamas had emanated, so that they should seize the Pistis Sophia and should cast her down to the Chaos which he had created, and should oppress her in that place, and should agitate her until they took her light away from her.

Now it happened when the Pistis Sophia saw those two dark emanations  and the dark place which Adamas had created, she was afraid and she cried out to the light, saying:

1. O Light, behold Adamas the violent is angry. He has created a dark emanation, and furthermore he has emanated another chaotic one.
2. And he has created another dark and chaotic one; and he has prepared it.
3. Now at this time O Light, the Chaos which he has created so that he should cast me into it and take away my light-power from me - take away his light from him.
4. And the thought which he conceived to take away my light, let his be (taken) from him. And the violence which he has spoken, to take away my lights from me - take away all his lights.

These are the words which the Pistis Sophia spoke in her song of praise. Now at this time he who is sober in spirit, let him come forward and give the interpretation of the words (which the Pistis Sophia spoke) in her song of praise."

 Chapter 80

Martha came forward again and said: "My Lord, I am sober in spirit, and I understand these words which thou dost speak. Now at this time command me that I give their interpretation openly."

The First Mystery , however, answered and said to Martha: " I command thee, Martha, that thou givest the interpretation of the words which the Sophia said in her song of praise."

Martha, however, answered and said: "My Lord, these are the words which thy light-power once prophesied through
David in the 7th Psalm:

11. God is a righteous judge, and strong and long-suffering, who does not bring down his wrath every day.
12.  If you do not turn round he will sharpen his sword; he has bent his bow and made it ready.
13. He has prepared in it instruments of death; he has made his arrows for those who will be burnt.
14. Behold, violence has travailed; he has conceived trouble, he has given birth to iniquity.
15. He has dug a pit, he has hollowed it; he will fall into the hole which he has made.
16. His trouble will return upon his head and his violence will come down upon the crown of his head."

But when Martha had spoken these things, the First Mystery which looks forth said to her: "Excellent,m well done, Martha, thou blessed one."

 Chapter 81

Now it happened when Jesus finished saying to his disciples all the events which had happened to the Pistis Sophia when
she was in the Chaos, and the manner in which she had sung praises to the Light until he had saved her and brought her out of the Chaos, and brought her into the twelfth aeon, and the manner in which he had saved her from all her oppressions with which the archons of the Chaos had oppressed her, because she desired to go to the light, Jesus continued again with the discourse. He said to his disciples:" Now it happened after all these things, I took the Pistis Sophia, I brought her into the thirteenth aeon. And I was shining exceedingly , there being no measure  to the light which I had. I came into the place of the 24 invisible ones and I was shining exceedingly.And they were agitated with great agitation. They looked and saw the Sophia who was with me. They recognised her, but as for me they did not recognise who I was. But they thought of me as being an emanation of the Land of the Light. Now it happened when the Sophia saw her fellow invisible ones she rejoiced with great joy and she was very glad. She wished to tell them the wonders which I had done for her on the earth of mankind below, until I saved her. She came  to the midst of the invisible ones, she sang praises to me in their midst, saying:

1. I will give thanks to thee, O Light, for thou art a Saviour, and     thou art a deliverer at all times.
2. I will speak this song of praise to the light, for he has saved me and he has delivered me out of the hands of the archons, my enemies.
3. And thou hast saved me from all the places. And thou hast saved me from the height and the depth of the Chaos, and from the aeons of the archons, my enemies.
4. And when I came forth from the height I went astray in places in which there was no light. And I was not able to return to the thirteenth aeon, my dwelling place.
5. For there was no light in me, nor power. For my power had weakened completely.
6. And the ligh saved me from all my afflictions. I saing praises tgo the light; he heard me when I was afflicted.
7. He guided me in the creation of the aeons in order to bring me to the thirteenth aeon, my dwelling place.
8. I will give thanks to thee, O Light, for thou hast saved me, and for thy wonders among the race of mankind.
9. When I lacked my power thou didst give power to me ; and when I lacked my light thou didst fill me with purified light.
10. I have been in the darkness and the shadow of the Chaos, bound with the strong bonds of the Chaos, and there was no light in me.
11. I have caused wrath to the ordinance of light, I have transgressed; I have caused anger to the ordinance of the light, for I came forth from my place.
12. And when I came down I lacked my power, and I was without light; and 0there was no one to help me.
13. And when I was afflicted I sang praises to the light, and he saved me from my afflictions.
14. And furthermore he broke all my bonds, he brought me out of the darkness and the oppressions of the Chaos.
15. I will thank thee, O Light, for thou hast saved me; and thy wonders exist among the race of mankind.
16. Thou hast broken the high gates of the darkness and the strong bars of the Chaos.
17. And thou didsy cause me to turn away from the place in which I transgressed; and furthermore my power was taken because I transgressed.
18. And I desisted from the mysteries; I went down to the gates of the Chaos.
19. And when they afflicted me I sang praises to the light; he saved me from all my afflictions.
20. Thou didst send thy outpouring  of light; it gave power to me and it saved me from all my oppressions.
21. I will thank thee, O Light, for thou hast saved me; and thy wonders are among the race of mankind."

Now this is the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke as she was in the midst of the 24 invisible ones, wishing that they should know all the wonders which I had done for her. And she wished that they should know that I went to the world of mankind, I gave them the mysteries of the height. Now at this time, he who is elevated in his thought, let him come forward and say the interpretation of the song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke. " 

CHAPTER 82

It came to pass then, when Jesus |179. had finished saying these words, that Philip came forward and said: "Jesus, my Lord, my thought is exalted, and I have understood the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. The prophet David hath prophesied concerning it aforetime in the one-hundred-and-sixth Psalm, saying:

Philip interpreteth the song from Psalm cvi."'1. Give ye thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his grace is eternal.

"'2. Let the delivered of the Lord say this, for it is he who hath delivered them out of the hand of their foes.

"'3. He hath gathered them together out of their lands, from the east and from the west and from the north and from the sea.

"'4. They wandered round in the desert, in a waterless country; they found not the way to the city of their dwelling-place.

"'5. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

"'6. He saved them out of their necessities. They cried unto the Lord and he hearkened unto them in their affliction.

"'7. He led them on a straight way, that they might go to the region of their dwelling-place.

"'8. Let them give thanks unto the Lord for

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his graciousness and his wondrous works unto the children of men.

"'9. For he hath satisfied a hungering soul; he hath filled a hungering soul with good things,

"'10. Them who sat in darkness and the shadow of death, who were fettered in misery and iron.

"'11. For |180. they had provoked the word of God and made wroth the determination of the Most High.

"'12. Their heart was humbled in their miseries; they become weak and no one helped them.

"'13. They cried unto the Lord in their affliction; he saved them out of their necessities.

"'14. And he led them out of the darkness and the shadow of death and brake their bonds asunder.

"'15. Let them give thanks unto the Lord for his graciousness and his wondrous works unto the children of men.

"'16. For he hath shattered the gates of brass and burst the bolts of iron asunder.

"'17. He hath taken them unto himself out of the way of their iniquity. For they were brought low because of their iniquities.

"'18. Their heart abhorred all manner of meat and they were near unto the gates of death.

"'19. They cried unto the Lord in their affliction and he saved them out of their necessities.

"'20. He sent his word and healed them and freed them from their miseries.

"'21. Let them give thanks unto the Lord for

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his graciousness and his wondrous works unto the children of men.'

"This then, my Lord, is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. Hearken, therefore, my Lord, that I may say it clearly. The word in Booth which David hath spoken: 'Give ye thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his grace is eternal,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'I will give thanks unto thee, O Light, for thou art a saviour and thou art a deliverer for all time.'

"And the word which hath David spoken: |181. 'Let the delivered of the Lord say this, for he hath delivered them out of the hand of their foes,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'I will utter this song to the Light, for it hath saved me and saved me out of the hand of the rulers, my foes.' And the rest of the Psalm.

"This then, my Lord, is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered in the midst of the four-and-twenty invisibles, desiring that they should know all the wondrous works which thou hast done for her, and desiring that they should know that thou hast given thy mysteries to the race of men."

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard Philip say these words, that he said: "Well said, blessed Philip. This is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

CHAPTER 83

Mary questioneth Jesus.It came to pass then again, after all this, that Mary came forward, adored the feet of Jesus and said: "My Lord, be not wroth with me, if I

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question thee, because we question concerning everything with precision and certainty. For thou hast said unto us aforetime: 'Seek that ye may find, and knock that it may be opened unto you. For every one who seeketh shall find, and to every one who knocketh it shall be opened.' Now, therefore, my Lord, who is it whom I shall seek, or who is it at whom we shall knock? Or |182. who rather is able to give us the decision upon the words concerning which we shall question thee? Or who rather knoweth the power of the words concerning which we shall question? Because thou in the mind hast given us mind of the Light and hast given us sense and an exceedingly exalted thought; for which cause, therefore, no one existeth in the world of men nor any one in the height of the æons, who can give the decision on the words concerning which we question, save thee alone, who knoweth [sic] the universe, who is perfected in the universe; because we do not question in the manner in which the men of the world question, but because we question in the gnosis of the Height which thou hast given unto us, and we question moreover in the type of the excellent questioning which thou hast taught us, that we may question therein. Now, therefore, my Lord, be not wroth with me, but reveal unto me the matter concerning which I shall question thee."

It came to pass, when Jesus had heard Mary Magdalene say these words, that he answered and said unto her: "Question concerning what thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee with precision and certainty. Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: Rejoice in great joy and exult

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most exceedingly. If ye question concerning all with precision, then shall I exult most exceedingly, because ye question concerning all with precision and question in the manner in which it beseemeth to question. Now, therefore, question concerning what thou wouldst question, |183. and I will reveal it unto thee with joy."

It came to pass then, when Mary had heard the Saviour say these words, that she rejoiced in great joy and exulted most exceedingly and said unto Jesus: "My Lord and Saviour, of what manner then are the four-and-twenty invisibles and of what type, or rather of what quality are they, or of what quality is then their light?"

CHAPTER 84

Of the glory of the four-and-twenty invisibles.And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "What is there in this world which is like unto them, or rather what region is there in this world which is comparable to them? Now, therefore, to what am I to liken them, or rather what am I to say concerning them? For nothing existeth in this world to which I shall be able to liken them, and no form existeth in it which is able to be like them. Now, therefore, nothing existeth in this world which is of the quality of the heaven. [But] am?n, I say unto you: Every one of the invisibles is nine times greater than the heaven and the sphere above it and the twelve æons all together, as I have already said unto you at another time. And no light existeth in this world which is more excellent than the light of the sun. Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: The four-and-twenty invisibles shine ten-thousand times more than the light of the sun which is in this world, as I have already|184. said unto you at another time. For the light

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of the sun in its shape in truth is not in this world, for its light pierceth through many veils and regions. But the light of the sun in its shape in truth, which is in the region of the Virgin of Light, shineth ten-thousand times more than the four-and-twenty invisibles and the great invisible forefather and also the great triple-powered god, as I have already said unto you at another time.

"Now, therefore, Mary, there is no form in this world, nor any light, nor any shape, which is comparable to the four-and-twenty invisibles, so that I may liken it to them. But yet a little while and I will lead thee and thy brethren and fellow-disciples into all the regions of the Height and will lead you into the three spaces of the First Mystery, save only the regions of the space of the Ineffable, and ye shall see all their shapes in truth without similitude.

"And if I lead you into the height and ye shall see the glory of them of the height, then will ye be in very great amazement.

Of the glory of the Fate."And if I lead you into the region of the rulers of the Fate, then will ye see the glory in which they are, and because of their overtowering great glory ye will deem this world before you as darkness of darknesses, and |185. ye will look at the whole world of men, how it will have the condition of a speck of dust for you because of the great distance it is far distant from it, and because of the great condition it is considerably greater than it.

Of the glory of the twelve æons."And if I lead you into the twelve æons, then will ye see the glory in which they are; and because of the great glory the region of the rulers of the Fate will count for you as the darkness

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of darknesses, and it will have for you the condition of a speck of dust because of the great distance it is far distant from it and because of the great condition it is considerably greater than them, as I have already said unto you at another time.

Of the glory of the thirteenth æon."And if I lead you moreover into the thirteenth æon, then will ye see the glory in which they are; the twelve æons will count for you as the darkness of darknesses, and ye shall look at the twelve æons, how it [sc. their region] will have for you the likeness of a speck of dust because of the great distance it is far distant from it, and because of the great condition it is considerably greater than the former.

Of the glory of the Midst."And if I lead you into the region of those of the Midst, then will ye see the glory in which they are; the thirteen æons will count for you as the darkness of darknesses. And again ye will look at the twelve æons |186. and upon the whole Fate and the whole ordering and all the spheres and all the others in which they are; they will have for you the condition of a speck of dust because of the great distance it [sc. their region] is distant from it and because of the great condition it is considerably greater than the former.

Of the glory of the Right."And if I lead you into the region of those of the Right, then will ye see the glory in which they are; the region of those of the Midst will count for you as the night which is in the world of men. And if ye look at the Midst, it will have for you the condition of a speck of dust because of the great distance the region of those of the Right is considerably distant from it.

"And if I lead you into the Light-land, that

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Of the glory of the Treasury.is into the Treasury of the Light, and ye see the glory in which they are, then will the region of those of the Right count for you as the light at mid-day in the world of men, when the sun is not out; and if ye look at the region of those of the Right, it will have for you the condition of a speck of dust because of the great distance the Treasury of the Light is distant from it.

Of the glory of the Inheritance."And if I lead you into the region of those who have received the inheritances and have received the mysteries of the Light, and ye see the glory of the Light in which they are, then the Light-land will count for you as the light of the sun which is in the world of men. And if ye look upon the Light-land, |187. then will it count for you as a speck of dust because of the great distance the Light-land is distant from it, and because of the greatness [by which] it is considerably greater than the former."

CHAPTER 85

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene started forward and said: "My Lord, be not wroth with me if I question thee, because we question thee concerning all with precision."

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "Question concerning what thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee in openness without similitude, and all concerning which thou questionest, I will say unto thee with precision and certainty. I will perfect you in all power and all fulnesses, from the interior of the interiors to the exterior of the exteriors, from that Ineffable to the darkness of darknesses, so that ye shall be called 'the fulnesses perfected

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in all gnoses.' Now, therefore, Mary, question concerning what thou mayest question, and I will reveal it to thee with great joy and great exultation."

Mary again questioneth Jesus.It came to pass then, when Mary had heard the Saviour say these words, that she rejoiced in exceedingly great joy and exulted, and said: "My Lord, will then the men of the world who have received the mysteries of the Light, |188. be superior to the emanations of the Treasury in thy kingdom? For I have heard thee say: If I lead you into the region of those who have received the mysteries of the Light, then will the region of the [emanations of the] Light-land count for you as a speck of dust because of the great distance in which it is distant from it, and because of the great light in which it is,'--that is the Light-land is the Treasury, the region of the emanations,--will therefore then, my Lord, the men who have received the mysteries, be superior to the Light-land and superior to those [emanations] in the kingdom of the Light?"

CHAPTER 86

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "Finely indeed dost thou question concerning all with precision and certainty. But hearken, Mary, that I may speak with thee about the consummation of the æon and the ascension of the universe. It will not yet take place; but I have said unto you: 'If I lead you into the region of the inheritances of those who shall receive the mystery of the Light, |189. then will the Treasury of the Light, the region of the emanations, count for you as a speck of dust only and as the light of the sun by day.'

"I have therefore said: 'This will take place

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Of the twelve saviours and their regions in the Inheritance.at the time of the consummation [and] of the ascension of the universe.' The twelve saviours of the Treasury and the twelve orders of every one of them, which are the emanations of the seven Voices and of the five Trees, they will be with me in the region of the inheritances of the Light; being kings with me in my kingdom, and every one of them being king over his emanations, and moreover every one of them being king according to his glory, the great according to his greatness and the little according to his littleness.

"And the saviour of the emanations of the first Voice will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the first mystery of the First Mystery in my kingdom.

"And the saviour of the emanations of the second Voice will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the second mystery of the First Mystery.

"In like manner also will the saviour of the emanations of the third Voice be in the region of the souls of those who have received the third mystery of the First Mystery in the E inheritances of the Light.

"And the saviour of the emanations of the fourth Voice of the Treasury of the Light will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the fourth mystery of the First Mystery in the inheritances of the Light.

"And the fifth saviour of the fifth Voice of the Treasury of the Light will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the fifth mystery of the First Mystery in the inheritances of the Light.

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"And the sixth saviour of the emanations of the sixth Voice of the Treasury of the Light will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the sixth mystery of the First Mystery.

"And the seventh saviour of the emanations of the seventh Voice of the Treasury of the Light will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the seventh mystery of the First Mystery in the Treasury [sic] of the Light.

"And the eighth saviour, that is the saviour of the emanations of the first Tree of the Treasury of the Light, will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the I eighth mystery of the First Mystery in the inheritances of the Light.

"And the ninth saviour, that is the saviour of the emanations of the second Tree of the Treasury of the Light, will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the ninth mystery of the First Mystery in the inheritances of the Light.

"And the tenth saviour, that is the saviour of the emanations of the third Tree of the Treasury of the Light, will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the tenth mystery of the First Mystery in the inheritances of the Light.

"In like manner also the eleventh saviour, that is the saviour of the fourth Tree of the Treasury of the Light, will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the eleventh mystery of the First Mystery in the inheritances of the Light.

"And the twelfth saviour, that is the saviour of the emanations of the fifth Tree of the Treasury of the Light, will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery in the inheritances of the Light.

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Of the ascension of those of the Treasury into the Inheritance."And the seven |192. Am?ns and the five Trees and the three Am?ns will be on my right, being kings in the inheritances of the Light. And the Twin-saviours, that is the Child of the Child, and the nine guards will bide also at my left, being kings in the inheritances of the Light.

Of their respective ranks in the kingdom."And every one of the saviours will rule over the orders of his emanations in the inheritances of the Light as they did also in the Treasury of the Light.

"And the nine guards of the Treasury of the Light will be superior to the saviours in the inheritances of the Light. And the Twin-saviours will be superior to the nine guards in the kingdom. And the three Am?ns will be superior to the Twin-saviours in the kingdom. And the five Trees will be superior to the three Am?ns in the inheritances of the Light.

Of the powers of the Right, and their emanation and ascension."And Yew and the guard of the veil of the Great Light, and the receiver of Light and the two great guides and the great Saba?th, the Good, will be kings in the first saviour of the first Voice of the Treasury of the Light, [the saviour] who will be in |193. the region of those who have received the first mystery of the First Mystery. For in sooth Yew and the guard of the region of those of the Right and Melchisedec, the great receiver of the Light, and the two great guides have come forth out of the purified and utterly pure light of the first Tree up to the fifth.

"Yew in sooth is the overseer of the Light, who hath come forth first out of the pure light of the first Tree; on the other hand the guard of the veil of those of the Right hath come forth out of the second Tree; and the two guides again

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have come forth out of the pure and utterly purified light of the third and fourth Trees of the Treasury of the Light; Melchisedec again hath come forth out of the fifth Tree; on the other hand Saba?th, the Good, whom I have called my father, hath come forth out of Yew, the overseer of the Light.

"These six then by command of the First Mystery the last Helper hath caused to be in the region of those of the Right, for the economy of the ingathering of the upper light out of the æons of the rulers and out of the worlds and all races in them,--of every one of whom I will tell you the employment over which he hath been set in the expansion of the universe. Because, therefore, of the importance of the employment over which they have been set, |194. they will be fellow-kings in the first [saviour] of the first Voice of the Treasury of the Light, who will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the first mystery of the First Mystery.

Of the powers of the Midst and their ascension."And the Virgin of Light and the great guide of the Midst, whom the rulers of the æons are wont to call the Great Yew after the name of a great ruler who is in their region,--he and the Virgin of Light and his twelve ministers, from whom ye have received your shape and from whom ye have received the power, they all will be kings with the first saviour of the first Voice in the region of the souls of those who will receive the first mystery of the First Mystery in the inheritances of the Light.

"And the fifteen helpers of the seven virgins of the Light who are in the Midst, they will expand themselves in the regions of the twelve saviours,

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and the rest of the angels of the Midst, every one of them according to his glory, will rule with me in the inheritances of the Light. And I shall rule over them all in the inheritances of the Light.

But this shall not take place till the consummation of the æon."All this then which I have said unto you, will not take place at this time, but it will take place at the consummation of the æon, that is at the ascension of the universe; that is at the dissolution of the universe and at the total ascension of the numbering |195. of the perfect souls of the inheritances of the Light.

"Before the consummation, therefore, this which I have said unto you, will not take place, but every one will be in his own region, into which he hath been set from the beginning, until the numbering of the ingathering of the perfect souls is completed.

"The seven Voices and the five Trees and the three Am?ns and the Twin-saviours and the nine guards and the twelve saviours and those of the region of the Right and those of the region of the Midst, every one will abide in the region in which they have been set, until the numbering of the perfect souls of the inheritances of the Light shall be raised up all together.

"And also all the rulers who have repented, they also will abide in the region into which they have been set, until the numbering of the souls of the Light shall be raised up all together.

Of the ascension of the souls of the perfect."[The souls] will all come, every one at the time when he will receive the mysteries; and all the rulers who have repented, will pass through and come into the region of the Midst. And those of the Midst will baptize them and give unto them the spiritual unction and seal them with the

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seals of their mysteries. And they will pass through those of all the regions of the Midst, and they will pass through the region of the Right and the interior of the region of the nine guards and the interior of the region of the Twin-saviours and the interior of the region of the three |196. Amens and of the twelve saviours and the interior of the five Trees and of the seven Voices. Every one giveth unto them his seal of his mystery, and they pass into the interior of them all and go to the region of the inheritances of the Light; and every one bideth in the region up to which he hath received mysteries in the inheritances of the Light.

Of the rank of the souls of the perfect."In a word, all the souls of men who shall receive the mysteries of the Light, will precede all the rulers who have repented, and they will precede all those of the region of the Midst and those of the whole region of the Right, and they will precede those of the whole region of the Treasury of the Light. In a word, they will precede all those of the region [of the Treasury], and they will precede all those of the regions of the first Commandment, and they will pass into the interior of them all and go into the Inheritance of the Light up to the region of their mystery; and every one abideth in the region up to which he hath received mysteries. And those of the region of the Midst and of the Right and those of the whole region of the Treasury, every one abideth in the region of the order into which he hath been set from the beginning on, until the universe shall be raised up. And every one of them accomplisheth his economy to which he hath been set, in respect of the ingathering of the souls who

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have received the mysteries, in respect of this economy, so that they may seal |197. all the souls who will receive the mysteries and who will pass through their interior towards the Inheritance of the Light.

"Now, therefore, Mary, this is the word concerning which thou dost question me with precision and certainty. For the rest now then, who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

CHAPTER 87

"It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words, that Mary Magdalene started forward and said:

Mary interpreteth the discourse from the scriptures."My Lord, my indweller of light hath ears and I comprehend every word which thou sayest. Now, therefore, my Lord, on account of the word which thou hast spoken: 'All the souls of the race of men who shall receive the mysteries of the Light, will go into the Inheritance of the Light before all the rulers who will repent, and before those of the whole region of the Right and before the whole region of the Treasury of the Light,'--on account of this word, my Lord, thou hast said unto us aforetime: 'The first will be last and the last will be first,'--that is, the 'last' are the whole race of men which will enter into the Light-kingdom sooner than all those of the region of the Height, who are the first.' On this account, therefore, my Lord, hast thou said unto us: 'Who hath ears to hear, let him hear,'--that is thou desirest to know whether we |198. comprehend every word which thou speakest. This, therefore, is the word, my Lord."

It came to pass then, when Mary had finished saying these words, that the Saviour was greatly astonished at the definitions of the words which

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she spake, for she had become pure spirit utterly. Jesus answered again and said unto her: "Well said, spiritual and pure Mary. This is the solution of the word."

CHAPTER 88

It came to pass then again after all these words, that Jesus continued in the discourse and said unto his disciples: "Hearken, that I may discourse with you concerning the glory of those of the Height, how they are, according to the manner in which I discoursed with you unto this day.

Of the last Helper."Now, therefore, if I lead you into the region of the last Helper, who surroundeth the Treasury of the Light, and if I lead you into the region of that last Helper and ye see the glory in which he is, then will the region of the Inheritance of the Light count for you only for the size of a city of the world, because of the greatness in which the last Helper is, and because of the great light in which he is.

That the regions beyond the Helpers are indescribable."And thereafter I will discourse with you also concerning the glory of the Helper who is above the little Helper. But I shall not be able to discourse with you concerning the regions of those who are above all Helpers; |199. for there existeth no type in this world, to describe them, for there existeth in this world no likeness which is like unto them, that I may compare them therewith, nor greatness nor light which is like unto them, not only in this world, but they also have no likeness with those of the Height of Righteousness from their region upwards. On this account, therefore, there existeth in fact no manner of describing them in this world because of the great glory of those of the Height and because of the

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great immeasurable greatness. On this account, therefore, there existeth no manner to describe it in this world."

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, be not wroth with me if I question thee, because I trouble repeatedly. Now, therefore, my Lord, be not wroth with me if I question thee concerning all with precision and certainty. For my brethren will herald it among the race of men, so that they may hear and repent and be saved from the violent judgments of the evil rulers and go to the Height and inherit the Light-kingdom; because, my Lord, we are compassionate not only towards ourselves, but compassionate towards the whole race of men, so that they may be saved from all the violent judgments. Now, therefore, my Lord, on this account we question concerning all with certainty; for my brethren herald it to the whole race of men, |200. in order that they may escape the violent rulers of the darkness and be saved out of the hands of the violent receivers of the outer-most darkness."

It came to pass, when Jesus had heard Mary say these words, that the Saviour answered in great compassion towards her and said unto her: "Question concerning what thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee with precision and certainty and without similitude."

CHAPTER 89

Mary further questioneth Jesus.It came to pass then, when Mary had heard the Saviour say these words, that she rejoiced with great joy and exulted exceedingly and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, by how much

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greatness then is the second Helper greater than the first Helper? By how much distance is he distant from him, or rather how many times more does he shine than the latter?"

Of the second Helper.Jesus answered and said unto Mary in the midst of the disciples: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: The second Helper is distant from the first Helper in great immeasurable distance in regard to the height above and the depth below and the length and the breadth. For he is exceedingly distant from him in great immeasurable distance through the angels and all the archangels and through the gods and all the invisibles. And he is very considerably greater than the latter in an incalculable measure |201. through the angels and archangels and through the gods and all the invisibles. And he shineth more than the latter in an utterly immeasurable measure, there being no measure for the light in which he is, and no measure for him through angels and archangels and through the gods and all the invisibles, as I have already said unto you at another time.

Of the third, fourth, and fifth Helpers."In like manner also the third Helper and fourth and fifth Helper,--one is greater than the other . . . and shineth more than the latter and is distant from him in a great immeasurable distance through the angels and archangels and the gods and all the invisibles, as I have already said unto you at another time. And I will tell unto you also the type of every one [of them] at their expansion."

CHAPTER 90

Mary again questioneth Jesus.It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward again, continued and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, in what type will

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be those who have received the mystery of the Light, in the midst of the last Helper?"

Of those who receive the mystery in the last Helper.And Jesus answered and said unto Mary in the midst of the disciples: "They who have received the mystery of the Light, if they come out of the body of the matter of the rulers, then will every one be in his order according to the mystery which he hath received. Those who have received the higher mysteries, will abide in the higher order; those who have received the lower mysteries will be in the lower orders. In a word, up to what region every one hath received mysteries, there will he abide in his order in the Inheritance of the Light. For which cause I have said unto you aforetime: 'Where your heart is, there will your treasure be,'--that is up to what region every one hath received mysteries, there shall he be."

It came to pass, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that John came forward and said unto Jesus: "My Lord and my Saviour, give me also commandment that I discourse before thee, and be not wroth with me if I question concerning all with precision and certainty; for thou, my Lord, hast promised me in a promise to make revelation unto us of all concerning which I shall question thee. Now, therefore, my Lord, hide nothing from us at all in the matter on which we shall question thee."

And Jesus answered in great compassion and said unto John: "To thee also, blessed John, and beloved, I give commandment to speak the word which pleaseth thee, and I will reveal it unto thee face to face without similitude, and I

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will say unto thee |203. all on which thou wilt question me with precision and certainty."

John questioneth Jesus.And John answered and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, will then every one abide in the region up to which he hath received the mysteries, and hath he no power to go. into other orders which are above him; and hath he no power to go into the orders which are below him?"

CHAPTER 91

And Jesus answered and said unto John: "Finely indeed do ye question on all with precision and certainty. But now, therefore, John, hearken that I may discourse with thee. Every one who hath received mysteries of the Light, will abide in the region up to which every one hath received mysteries, and he hath not the power to go into the height into the orders which are above him.

Of the first Commandment."So that he who hath received mysteries in the first Commandment, hath the power to go into the orders which are below him, that is into all the orders of the third [?] space; but he hath not the power to go into the height to the orders which are above him.

Of the first space."And he who shall receive the mysteries of the First Mystery, which is the four-and-twentieth mystery from without and the head of the first space which is without,--he hath the power to go into all the orders which are without him; but he hath not the power to go into the regions which are above him or to pass through them.

Of the second space."And of those who have received the mysteries in the orders of the four-and-twenty mysteries, |204. every one will go into the region in which he hath received mysteries, and he will have the

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power to pass through all the orders and spaces which are without him; but he hath not the power to go into the higher orders which are above him or to pass through them.

Of the third space."And he who hath received mysteries in the orders of the First Mystery which is in the third space, hath the power to go into all the lower orders which are below him and to pass through all; but on the other hand he hath not the power to go into the regions which are above him or to pass through them.

Of the Thrice-spirituals."And he who hath received mysteries of the first Thrice-spiritual, which ruleth over the four-and-twenty mysteries all together which rule over the space of the First Mystery, of whose region at the expansion of the universe I will tell you--he, therefore, who shall receive the mystery of that Thrice-spiritual, hath the power to go down into all orders which are below him; but he hath not the power to go into the height into the orders which are above him, that is into all the orders of the space of the Ineffable.

"And he who hath received the mystery of the second Thrice-spiritual, hath the power to go into all the orders of the first Thrice-spiritual |205. and to pass through them all and all their orders which are in them; but he hath not the power to go into the higher orders of the third Thrice-spiritual.

"And he who hath received the mystery of the third Thrice-spiritual, which ruleth over the three Thrice-spirituals and the three spaces of the First Mystery all together, [hath the power to go into all the orders which are below him]; but he hath not the power to go into the height

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into the orders which are above. him, that is into the orders of the space of the Ineffable.

Of the master-mystery."And he who hath received the master-mystery of the First Mystery of the Ineffable, that is the twelve mysteries of the First Mystery all together, which rule over all the spaces of the First Mystery, he, therefore, who shall receive that mystery, hath the power to pass through all the orders of the spaces of the three Thrice-spirituals and the three spaces of the First Mystery and all their orders, and hath the power to pass through all the orders of the inheritances of the Light, to pass through them from without within and from within without and from above below and from below |206. above and from the height to the depth and from the depth to the height and from the length to the breadth and from the breadth to the length; in a word, he hath the power to pass through all the regions of the inheritances of the Light, and he hath the power to bide in the region where he pleaseth, in the Inheritance of the Light-kingdom.

"And am?n, I say unto you: That man will at the dissolution of the world be king over all the orders of the Inheritance of the Light. And he who shall receive that mystery of the Ineffable which I am,

Of the gnosis of the master-mystery."That mystery knoweth why the darkness hath arisen and why the light hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the darkness of the darknesses hath arisen and why the light of the lights hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the chaos hath arisen and why the treasury of the light hath arisen.

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"And that mystery knoweth why the judgments have arisen and why the light-land and the region of the inheritances of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the chastisements of the sinners have arisen and why the rest of the kingdom of the light hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth |207. why the sinners have arisen and why the inheritances of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the impious have arisen and why the good have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the chastisements and judgments have arisen and why all the emanations of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the sins have arisen and why the baptisms and the mysteries of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the fire of chastisement hath arisen and why the seals of the light, so that the fire should not harm them, have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why wrath hath arisen and why peace hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why slander hath arisen and why songs of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the prayers of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why cursing hath arisen and why blessing hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why knavery hath arisen and why deceit hath arisen.

"And that mystery |208. knoweth why the slaying hath arisen and why the quickening of the souls hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why adultery

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and fornication have arisen and why purity hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why intercourse hath arisen and why continence hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why insolence and boasting have arisen and why humbleness and meekness have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why tears have arisen and why laughter hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why slander hath arisen and why good report hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why appreciation hath arisen and why disdain of men hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why murmuring hath arisen and why innocence and humbleness have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why sin hath arisen and why purity hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why strength hath arisen and why weakness hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why |209. motion of body hath arisen and why its utility hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why poverty hath arisen and why wealth hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the freedom [?] of the world hath arisen and why slavery hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why death hath arisen and why life hath arisen."

CHAPTER 92

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that they rejoiced in great joy and exulted when they heard Jesus say these words.

And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto them: "Hearken, therefore, now still

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further, O my disciples, so that I discourse with you concerning the whole gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable.

Of the gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable."That mystery of the Ineffable knoweth why unmercifulness hath arisen and why mercifulness hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why ruin hath arisen and why everlasting eternity hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the reptiles have arisen and why they will be destroyed.

"And that mystery knoweth why the wild beasts have arisen |210. and why they will be destroyed.

"And that mystery knoweth why the cattle have arisen and why the birds have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the mountains have arisen and why the precious stones therein have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of gold hath arisen and why the matter of silver hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of copper hath arisen and why the matter of iron and of stone hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of lead hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of glass hath arisen and why the matter of wax hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why herbs, that is the vegetables, have arisen and why all matters have arisen.

"And the mystery knoweth why the waters of the earth and all things in them have arisen and why also the earth hath arisen.

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"And that mystery knoweth why the seas |211. and the waters have arisen and why the wild beasts in the seas have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of the world hath arisen and why it [the world] will be utterly destroyed."

CHAPTER 93

Jesus continued again and said unto his disciples: "Yet further, O my disciples and companions and brethren, let every one be sober in the spirit which is in him, let him understand and comprehend all the words which I shall say unto you; for from now on will I begin to discourse with you concerning all the gnoses of that Ineffable.

"That mystery knoweth why the west hath arisen and why the east hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the south hath arisen and why the north hath arisen.

Yet further, O my disciples, hearken and continue to be sober and hearken to the total gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable.

"That mystery knoweth why the demons have arisen and why mankind hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the heat hath arisen and why the pleasant air hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the stars have arisen and why the clouds have arisen. |212.

"And that mystery knoweth why the earth became deep and why the water came thereon.

"And that mystery knoweth why the earth became dry and why the water came thereon.

"And that mystery knoweth why famine hath arisen and why superfluity hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the hoar-frost

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hath arisen and why the healthful dew hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the dust hath arisen and why the delightsome freshness hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the hail hath arisen and why the pleasant snow hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the west wind hath arisen and why the east wind hath arisen.

("And that mystery knoweth why the fire of the height hath arisen and why the waters have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the east wind hath arisen. [? miscopied.])

"And that mystery knoweth why the south wind hath arisen and why the north wind hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the stars of the heaven and the |213. disks of the light-givers have arisen and why the firmament with all its veils hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the rulers of the spheres have arisen and why the sphere with all its regions hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the rulers of the æons have arisen and why the æons with their veils have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the tyrant rulers of the æons have arisen and why the rulers who have repented have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the servitors have arisen and why the decans have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the angels

have arisen and why the archangels have arisen.

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"And that mystery knoweth why the lords have arisen and why the gods have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the jealousy in the height hath arisen and why concord hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why hate hath arisen and why love hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why discord hath arisen and why concord hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why avarice |214. hath arisen and why renunciation of all hath arisen and love of possessions hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why love of the belly hath arisen and why satiety hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the paired have arisen and why the unpaired have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why impiety hath arisen and why fear of God hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the light-givers have arisen and why the sparks have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the thrice-powerful have arisen and why the invisibles have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the fore-fathers have arisen and why the purities have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the great self-willed hath arisen and why his faithful have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the great triple-powerful hath arisen and why the great invisible forefather hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the thirteenth æon hath arisen and why the region |215. of those of the Midst hath arisen.

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"And that mystery knoweth why receivers of the Midst have arisen and why the virgins of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the ministers of the Midst have arisen and why the angels of the Midst have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the light-land hath arisen and why the great receiver of the light hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the guards of the region of the Right have arisen and why the leaders of them have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the gate of life hath arisen and why Saba?th, the Good, hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the region of the Right hath arisen and why the light-land, which is the treasury of the light, hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the emanations of the light have arisen and why the twelve saviours have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the three gates of the treasury of the light have arisen and why the nine guards have arisen.

"And |216. that mystery knoweth why the twin-saviours have arisen and why the three Am?ns have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the five Trees have arisen and why the seven Am?ns have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the Mixture which existeth not, hath arisen and why it is purified."

CHAPTER 94

And Jesus continued again and said unto his disciples: "Still further, O my disciples, be

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sober and let every one of you bring hither the power of sensing the Light before him, that ye may sense with sureness. For from now on I will discourse with you concerning the whole region in truth of the Ineffable and concerning the manner, how it is."

The disciples lose courage.It came to pass then, when the disciples had heard Jesus utter these words, that they gave way and let go entirely.

Then Mary Magdalene came forward, threw herself at the feet of Jesus, kissed them and wept aloud and said: "Have mercy upon me, my Lord, for my brethren have heard and let go of the words which thou saidest unto them. Now, therefore, my Lord, concerning the gnosis of all the things which thou hast said, that they are in the mystery |217. of the Ineffable; but I have heard thee say unto me: 'From now on I will begin to discourse with you concerning the total gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable,'--this word, therefore, which thou saidest, thou hast not gone forward to complete the word. For this cause, therefore, my brethren have heard and have let go and ceased to sense in what manner thou discoursest with them. Concerning the word which thou saidest unto them, now, therefore, my Lord, if the gnosis of all this is in that mystery, where is the man who is in the world, who hath the ability to understand that mystery with all its gnoses and the type of all these words which thou hast spoken concerning it?"

CHAPTER 95

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard Mary say these words and knew that the disciples had heard and had begun to let go, that he encouraged them and said unto them: "Grieve

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no more, my disciples, concerning the mystery of, the Ineffable, thinking that ye will not understand it. Am?n, I say unto you: That mystery is yours, and every one's who will give ear unto you, so that they renounce this whole world and the whole matter therein and renounce all the evil thoughts therein and renounce all the cares of this æon.

Jesus explaineth that that mystery is really simpler than all mysteries."Now, therefore, I say unto you: |218. For every one who will renounce the whole world and all therein and will submit himself to the godhead, that mystery is far easier than all the mysteries of the Light-kingdom and it is sooner to understand than them all and it is easier [?] than them all. He who reacheth unto the gnosis of that mystery, renounceth this whole world and all the cares therein.

"For this cause have I said to you aforetime: 'All ye who are heavy under your burden, come hither unto me, and I will quicken you. For my burden is easy and my yoke is soft.' Now, therefore, he who will receive that mystery, renounceth the whole world and the cares of all the matter therein. For this cause, therefore, my disciples, grieve not, thinking that ye will not understand that mystery. Am?n, I say unto you: That mystery is far sooner to understand than all mysteries. And am?n, I say unto you: That mystery is yours and every one's who will renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein.

"Now, therefore, hearken, my disciples and my companions and my brethren, that I may urge you on to the gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable |219. concerning which I discourse with you,

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because I have in Booth gotten as far as to tell you the whole gnosis at the expansion of the universe; for the expansion of the universe is its gnosis.

"But now then hearken that I may discourse with you progressively concerning the gnosis of that mystery.

Of the rending asunder and emanation of the powers of the universe."That mystery knoweth wherefor the five Helpers have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless [pl.].

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the great Light of lights hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the first Commandment hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath divided itself into the seven mysteries and wherefor it is named the first Commandment and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Great Light of the Impressions of the Light hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath set itself up without emanations and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the First Mystery, that is the four-and-twentieth mystery from without, hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it imitated in itself the twelve mysteries according to the number of the numbering of the Uncontainables |220. and Boundless and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.

Of those of the second space of the Ineffable."And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve Immoveables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves with all

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their orders and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Unwaverables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves up, divided into twelve orders, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless, which belong to the orders of the space of the Ineffable.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Incomprehensibles, which pertain to the second space of the Ineffable, have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve Undesignatables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves up after all the orders of the Unindicatables, themselves being uncontainable and boundless, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor these Unindicatables have rent themselves asunder,--[they] who have not indicated themselves nor brought themselves into publicity according to the economy of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and wherefor they have come forth |221. from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Super-deeps have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have distributed themselves, being a single order, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve orders of the Unspeakables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have

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divided themselves, being three portions, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the Imperishables, being their twelve orders, have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have settled themselves, being expanded in a single order, and wherefor they have divided themselves and formed different orders, being uncontainable and boundless, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Impassables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves up, being twelve boundless spaces, and have settled themselves, being three orders of spaces, according to the economy of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve Uncontainables, which belong to the orders |222. of the One and Only, the Ineffable, have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless, until they were brought to the space of the First Mystery, which is the second space.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the four-and-twenty myriads of Praise-singers have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have extended themselves outside the veil of the First Mystery, which is the twin-mystery, that which looketh within and without, of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the

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[paragraph continues] Uncontainables have rent themselves asunder--[those], which I have just named, which are in the regions of the second space of the Ineffable, which is the space of the First Mystery, and wherefor those Uncontainables and Boundless have come forth from the Fatherless.

Of those of the first space of the Ineffable."And that mystery knoweth wherefor the four-and-twenty mysteries of the first Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they are called the four-and-twenty spaces of the first Thrice-spiritual and wherefor they have come forth from the second Thrice-spiritual.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the four-and-twenty mysteries of the |223. second Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the third Thrice-spiritual.

"And that mystery knoweth why the four-and-twenty mysteries of the third Thrice-spiritual--that is the four-and-twenty spaces of the third Thrice-spiritual--have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the five Trees of the first Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have extended themselves, standing one behind the other and moreover bound one to the other with all their orders, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the five Trees of the second Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

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"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the five Trees of the third Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth why the Fore-uncontainables of the first Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Fore-uncontainables of the second Trispiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor |224. they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the Fore-uncontainables of the third Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the first Thrice-spiritual from below--those who belong to the orders of the One and Only, the Ineffable hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath come forth from the second Thrice-spiritual.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the third Thrice-spiritual--that is the first Thrice-spiritual from above--hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath come forth from the twelfth Pro-thrice-spiritual, which is in the last region of the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the regions which are in the space of the Ineffable, and all those in them, have expanded themselves, and wherefor they have come forth from the last Limb of the Ineffable.

"And that mystery knoweth itself, wherefor it hath rent itself asunder to come forth from the Ineffable,--that is from That which ruleth them

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all and which expanded them all according to |225. their orders.

CHAPTER 96

Jesus promiseth to explain further all in detail."Of all these then will I speak unto you at the expansion of the universe--in a word, all those whom I have spoken of unto you: those who will arise and those who will come, those who emanate, and those who come forth, and those who are without over them, and those who are implanted in them, those who will contain the region of the First Mystery and those who are in the space of the Ineffable--of these will I speak unto you, because I will reveal them unto you, and I will speak of them unto you according to every region and according to every order, at the expansion of the universe. And I will reveal unto you all their mysteries which rule over them all, and their Pro-thrice-spirituals and their Super-thrice-spirituals which rule over their mysteries and their orders.

Of the mystery succinctly."Now, therefore, the mystery of the Ineffable knoweth wherefor all these have arisen of whom I have spoken unto you in openness, and through which all these have arisen. It is the mystery which is in them all; and it is the out-going of them all, and it is the up-going of them all, and it is the setting-up of them all.

"And the mystery of the Ineffable is the mystery which is in all these of whom I have spoken unto you, and of whom I will speak unto you at the expansion of the universe. And it is the mystery which is in them all, and it is the one only mystery of the Ineffable and the gnosis of all these |226. of whom I have spoken unto you, and of whom I will speak unto you, and of whom I have not spoken. Of these will I speak unto

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you at the expansion of the universe and of their total gnosis one with another, wherefor they have arisen. It is the one and only word of the Ineffable.

"And I will tell you the expansion of all mysteries and the types of every one of them and the manner of their completion in all their figures. And I will tell you the mystery of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and all its types, all its figures and its whole economy, wherefor it hath come forth from the last Limb of the Ineffable. For that mystery is the setting-up of them all.

Of the one and only word of the Ineffable."And that mystery of the Ineffable is moreover also a one and only word, which existeth in the speech of the Ineffable, and it is the economy of the solution of all the words which I have spoken unto you.

"And he who will receive the one and only word of that mystery which I shall now say unto you, and all its types and all its figures, and the manner of accomplishing its mystery,--for ye are perfect and all-perfect and ye will accomplish the whole gnosis of that mystery with its whole economy, for unto you all mysteries are entrusted,--hearken, therefore, now, that I may tell you that mystery, which is [ . . .?].

Of the ascension of the soul of him who shall receive the one and only mystery."He |227. then, who shall receive the one and only word of that mystery, which I have told you, if he cometh forth out of the body of the matters of the rulers, and if the retributive receivers come and free him from the body of matter of the rulers,--that is those [receivers] who free from the body all out-going souls,--when, therefore, the retributive receivers free the soul which

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hath received this one and only mystery of the Ineffable, which I have just told you, then will it straightway, if it be set free from the body of matter, become a great light-stream in the midst of those receivers, and the receivers will be exceedingly afraid of the light of that soul, and the receivers will be made powerless and fall down and desist altogether for fear of the great light which they have seen.

"And the soul which receiveth the mystery of the Ineffable, will soar into the height, being a great light-stream, and the receivers will not be able to seize it and will not know how the way is fashioned upon which it will go. For it becometh a great light-stream and soareth into the height, and no power is able to hold it down at all, nor |228. will they be able to come nigh it at all.

"But it will pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the emanations of the Light, and it will not give answers in any region, nor giveth it any apologies, nor giveth it any tokens; neither will any power of the rulers nor any power of the emanations of the Light be able to come nigh that soul. But all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the emanations of the Light,--every one singeth unto it praises in their regions, in fear of the light of the stream which envelopeth that soul, until it passeth through them all, and goeth to the region of the inheritance of the mystery which it hath received,--that is to the mystery of the One and Only, the Ineffable,--and until it becometh one with its Limbs. Am?n, I say unto you: It will be in all the regions in the time a man shooteth an arrow.

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Of the rank of such a soul."Now, therefore, am?n, I say unto you: Every man who will receive that mystery of the Ineffable and accomplish it in all its types and all its figures,--he is a man in the world, but he towereth above all angels and will tower still more above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all archangels and will tower still more above |229.them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all tyrants and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all lords and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all gods and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all light-givers and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all pure [ones] and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all triple-powers and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all forefathers and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all invisibles and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the great invisible forefather and will raise himself above him.

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"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all those of the Midst and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the emanations of the Treasury of the Light and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the Mixture |230. and will raise himself entirely above it.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the whole region of the Treasury and will raise himself entirely above it.

"He is a man in the world, but he will rule with me in my kingdom.

"He is a man in the world, but he is king in the Light.

"He is a man in the world, but he is not one of the world.

"And am?n, I say unto you: That man is I and I am that man.

Such souls are one with the First Mystery."And at the dissolution of the world, that is when the universe will be raised up and when the numbering of the perfect souls will be raised up all together, and when I am king in the midst of the last Helper, being king over all the emanations of the Light and king over the seven Am?ns and the five Trees and the three Am?ns and the nine guards, and being king over the Child of the Child, that is the Twin-saviours, and being king over the twelve saviours and over the whole numbering of the perfect souls who shall receive the mysteries in the Light,--then will all men who shall receive the mysteries in the Ineffable, be fellow-kings with me and will sit on my right and on my left in my kingdom.

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"And am?n, I say unto you: Those men are I, and I am they.

"On this account have I said unto you aforetime: 'Ye will sit on your |231. thrones on my right and on my left in my kingdom and will rule with me.'

"On this account, therefore, I have not hesitated nor have I been ashamed to call you my brethren and my companions, because ye will be fellow-kings with me in my kingdom. This, therefore, I say unto you, knowing that I will give you the mystery of the Ineffable; that is: That mystery is I, and I am that mystery.

Of the dignity of the thrones in the kingdom."Now, therefore, not only will ye reign with me, but all men who shall receive the mystery of the Ineffable, will be fellow-kings with me in my kingdom. And I am they, and they are I. But my throne will tower over them. [And] because ye will suffer sorrows in the world beyond all men, until ye herald forth all the words which I shall speak unto you, your thrones shall be joined to mine in my kingdom.

"On this account I have said unto you aforetime: 'Where I shall be, there will be also my twelve ministers.' But Mary Magdalene and John, the virgin, will tower over all my disciples and over all men who shall receive the mysteries in the Ineffable. And they will be on my right and on my left. And I am they, and they are I.

"And they will be like unto you in all things save that your thrones will tower over theirs, and my throne |232. will tower over yours.

"And all men who will find the word of the Ineffable,--am?n, I say unto you: The men

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Of the gnosis of the word of the Ineffable.who shall know that word, will know the gnosis of all these words which I have spoken unto you, both those of the depth and those of the height, those of the length and those of the breadth; in a word, they will know the gnosis of all these words which I have spoken unto you and which I have not yet spoken unto you, which I will speak unto you, region by region and order by order, at the expansion of the universe.

"And am?n, I say unto you: They will know in what manner the world is established, and they will know in what type all those of the height are established, and they will know out of what ground the universe hath arisen."

CHAPTER 97

When then the Saviour had said this, Mary Magdalene started forward and said: "My Lord, bear with me and be not wroth with me, if I question on all things with precision and certainty. Now, therefore, my Lord, is then another the word of the mystery of the Ineffable and another the word of the whole gnosis?"

The Saviour answered and said: "Yea, another is the mystery of the Ineffable and another the word of the whole gnosis."

And Mary answered again and said unto the Saviour: "My Lord, bear with me, if I question thee, and be not wroth with me. Now, therefore, my Lord, unless we live and know the gnosis of the whole word of the Ineffable, shall we not be able to inherit the Light-kingdom?"

Of the distinction between the gnosis of the universe and the mysteries of the Light.And the Saviour answered |233. and said unto Mary: "Surely; for every one who shall receive a mystery of the Light-kingdom, will go and inherit up to the region up to which he hath received mysteries. But he will not know the

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gnosis of the universe, wherefor all this hath arisen, unless he knoweth the one and only word of the Ineffable, which is the gnosis of the universe. And again in openness: I am the gnosis of the universe. And moreover it is impossible to know the one and only word of the gnosis, unless a man first receive the mystery of the Ineffable. But all the men who shall receive mysteries in the Light,--every one will go and inherit up to the region up to which he hath received mysteries.

"On this account I have said unto you aforetime: 'He who hath faith in a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward, and he who hath faith in a righteous [man] will receive a righteous [man's] reward,'--that is: Every one will go to the region up to which he hath received mysteries. He who receiveth a lesser mystery, will inherit the lesser mystery, and he who receiveth a higher mystery, will inherit the higher regions. And every one will abide in his region in the light of my kingdom, and every one will have power over the orders which are below him, but he will not have the power to go to the orders which are above him; but he will abide in the region of the Inheritance of the Light |234. of my kingdom, being in a great light immeasurable for the gods and all the invisibles, and he will be in great joy and great jubilation.

"But now, therefore, hearken, that I may discourse with you concerning the grandeur of those who shall receive the mysteries of the First Mystery.

"He, therefore, who shall receive the [first] mystery of that First Mystery, and it shall be

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Of the ascension of the souls of those who receive the twelve mysteries of the First Mystery.at the time that he cometh out of the body of the matter of the rulers,--then the retributive receivers come and lead the soul of that man out of the body. And that soul will become a great light-stream in the hands of the retributive receivers; and those receivers will be afraid of the light of that soul. And that soul will go upwards and pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the emanations of the Light. And it will not give answers nor apologies nor tokens in any single region of the Light nor in any single region of the rulers; but it will pass through all the regions and cross over them all, so that it goeth and ruleth over all the regions of the first saviour.

"In like manner also he who shall receive the second mystery of the First Mystery and the third and fourth, until he shall receive the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery, if it shall be at the time |235. that he cometh out of the body of the matter of the rulers,--then the retributive receivers come and lead the soul of that man out of the body of matter. And those souls will become a great light-stream in the hands of the retributive receivers; and those receivers will be afraid of the light of those souls and will become powerless and fall on their faces. And those souls will straightway soar upwards and cross over all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the emanations of the Light. They will not give answers nor apologies nor tokens in any single region; but they will pass through all the regions and will cross over them all and rule over all the regions of the twelve saviours, so that they who receive the second mystery of the First

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Mystery, will rule over all the regions of the second saviour in the inheritances of the Light.

"In like manner also those who receive the third mystery of the First Mystery and the fourth and fifth and sixth up to the twelfth,--every one will rule over all the regions of the saviour up to whom he hath received the mystery.

"And he who shall receive in sequence the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery, that is the master-mystery concerning which I discourse with you,--|236. and he who, therefore, shall receive those twelve mysteries which belong to the First Mystery, if he goeth forth out of the world, will pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the Light, being a great light-stream, and he will moreover rule over all the regions of the twelve saviours; but they will not be able to be like unto those who receive the one and only mystery of the Ineffable. But he who shall receive those mysteries will abide in those orders, because they are exalted, and he will abide in the orders of the twelve saviours."

CHAPTER 98

Mary again questioneth Jesus.It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward, kissed the feet of Jesus and said unto him: "My Lord, bear with me and be not wroth with me, if I question thee; but have mercy upon us, my Lord, and reveal unto us all things on which we shall question thee. Now, therefore, my Lord, how doth the First Mystery possess twelve mysteries, [and] the Ineffable possess a one and only mystery?"

Of the three mysteries and five mysteries.Jesus answered and said unto her: "Indeed it possesseth a one and only mystery, yet that mystery constituteth three mysteries, although

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it is the one and only mystery; but the type of every one of them is different. And moreover it constituteth five mysteries, although it is a one and only [one]; but the type of every one is different. So that these five mysteries are alike with one another in the mystery |237. of the kingdom in the inheritances of the Light; but the type of each of them is different. And their kingdom is higher and more exalted than the whole kingdom of the twelve mysteries together of the First Mystery; but they are not alike in the kingdom [with the one and only mystery] of the First Mystery in the Light-kingdom.

"In like manner also the three mysteries are not [?] alike in the Light-kingdom; but the type of every one of them is different. And they themselves also are not alike in the kingdom with the one and only mystery of the First Mystery in the Light-kingdom; and the type of every one of the three of them, and the type of the configuration of each of them, is different from one another.

Of the first mystery."The first [mystery of the First Mystery],--if thou accomplishest its mystery altogether and standest and accomplishest it finely in all its figures, then dost thou come straightway out of thy body, become a great light-stream and pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the Light, while all are in fear of that soul, until it cometh to the region of its kingdom.

Of the second mystery."The second mystery of the First Mystery, on the other hand,--|238. if thou accomplishest it finely in all its figures,--the man, therefore, who shall accomplish its mystery, if he speaketh that

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mystery over the head of any man who goeth forth out of the body, and he speaketh it into his two ears, if indeed the man who goeth forth out of the body hath received mysteries for the second time and is sharing in the word of truth,--am?n, I say unto you: That man, if he goeth forth out of the body of matter, then will his soul become a great light-stream and pass through all the regions, until it cometh to the kingdom of that mystery.

Of its efficacy for the uninitiated."But if that man hath received no mysteries and is not sharing in the words of truth,--if he who accomplisheth that mystery, speaketh that mystery over the head of a man who cometh forth out of the body and who hath received no mysteries of the Light, and shareth not in the words of truth,--am?n, I say unto you: That man, if he cometh forth out of the body, will be judged in no region of the rulers, nor can he be chastized in any region at all, nor will the fire touch him, because of the great mystery of the Ineffable which is with him.

"And they will hasten quickly and hand him over one to another in turn and lead him from region to region and |239. from order to order, until they bring him before the Virgin of Light, while all the regions are in fear of the mystery and the sign of the kingdom of the Ineffable which is with him.

"And if they bring him before the Virgin of Light, then the Virgin of Light will see the sign of the mystery of the kingdom of the Ineffable which is with him; the Virgin of Light marvelleth and proveth him, but suffereth them not to bring him to the Light, until he accomplisheth the total

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citizenship of the light of that mystery, that is the purities of the renunciation of the world and also of the total matter therein.

"The Virgin of Light sealeth him with a higher seal, which is this [ . . .? ], and letteth him in that month in which he hath come out of the body of matter, light down into a body which will be righteous and find the godhead in truth and the higher mysteries, so that he may inherit them and inherit the Light eternal, which is the gift of the second mystery of the First Mystery of the Ineffable.

Of the third mystery."The third mystery of that Ineffable on the other hand,--the man indeed who shall accomplish that mystery, not only if he [himself] cometh forth out of the body, will he inherit the kingdom of the mystery, but if he complete that mystery and accomplish it with |240. all its figures, that is if he go through with that mystery and accomplish it finely and pronounce the name of that mysteryOf its efficacy. over a man who cometh forth out of the body and hath known that mystery,--let the former have delayed or rather not have delayed,--one who is in the dire chastisements of the rulers and in their dire judgments and their manifold fires,--am?n, I say unto you: The man who hath come forth out of the body,--if the name of this mystery is pronounced on his behalf, they will hasten quickly to bring him over and hand him over one to another, until they bring him before the Virgin of Light. And the Virgin of Light will seal him with a higher. seal, which is this [ . . .?], and in that month will she let him light down into the righteous body which will find the godhead in truth and the higher mystery, so that

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he inherit the Light-kingdom. This, therefore, is the gift of the third mystery of the Ineffable.

Of the three and five mysteries."Now, therefore, every one who shall receive one of the five mysteries of the Ineffable,--if he cometh forth out of the body and inheriteth up to the region of that mystery, then is the kingdom of those five mysteries higher than the kingdom of the twelve mysteries of the First Mystery, and it is higher than all the mysteries |241. which are below them. But those five mysteries of the Ineffable are alike with one another in their kingdom, yet are they not alike with the three mysteries of the Ineffable.

"He on the other hand who receiveth of the three mysteries of the Ineffable, if he cometh forth out of the body, will inherit up to the kingdom of that mystery. And those three mysteries are alike with one another in the kingdom and they are higher and more exalted than the five mysteries of the Ineffable in the kingdom, but they are not alike with the one and only mystery of the Ineffable.

Of the mysteries of the three spaces"He on the other hand who receiveth the one and only mystery of the Ineffable, will inherit the region of the whole kingdom according to its whole glory, as I have already told you at another time. And every one who shall receive the mystery which is in the space of the universe of the Ineffable, and all the other mysteries which are united in the Limbs of the Ineffable, concerning which I have not yet spoken unto you, and concerning their expansion and the manner of their setting-up and the type of every one, how it is and wherefor it is named the Ineffable or wherefor it standeth expanded with all its

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[paragraph continues] Limbs and how many Limbs are in it and all its economies, |242. of which I will not tell you now, but when I come to the expansion of the universe I will tell you all severally,--to wit, its expansions and its description, how it is, and the aggregation [?] of all its Limbs, which belong to the economy of the One and Only, the unapproachable God in truth,--up to what region, therefore, every one shall receive the mysteries in the space of the Ineffable, up to that region will he inherit up to which he hath received. And those of the whole region of the space of that Ineffable give no answers in that region, nor give they apologies, nor give they tokens, for they are without tokens and they have no receivers, but they pass through all the regions, until they come to the region of the kingdom of the mystery which they have received.

"In like manner also those who shall receive mysteries in the second space, they have no answers nor apologies, for they are without tokens in that world, which is the space of the first mystery of the First Mystery.

"And those of the third space, which is without, which is the third space from without [? within],--every region in that space hath |243. its receivers and its explanations and its apologies and its tokens, which I will one day tell you when I come to speak of that mystery, that is when I shall have told you of the expansion of the universe.

Of the reign of a thousand years of the Light."Albeit at the dissolution of the universe, that is when the number of the perfect souls is completed and the mystery [through] which the universe altogether hath risen, is completed, I

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will pass a thousand years according to the years of the Light, being king over all the emanations of the Light and over the whole number of the perfect souls who have received all mysteries."

CHAPTER 99

It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward and said: "My Lord, how many years of the years of the world is a year of the Light?"

What is a year of the Light.Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "A day of the Light is a thousand years in the world, so that thirty-six-myriads of years and a half-myriad of years of the world are a single year of the Light.

"I shall, therefore, pass a thousand years of the Light being king in the midst of the last Helper, and being king over all the emanations of the Light and over the whole number of the perfect souls who have received the mysteries of the Light.

Of those of the first space in the kingdom of the thousand years."And ye, my disciples, and every one who shall receive the mystery of the Ineffable, will |244. abide with me on my right and on my left, being kings with me in my kingdom.

"And they who shall receive the three mysteries of that Ineffable, will be fellow-kings with you in the Light-kingdom; but they will not be alike with you and with those who receive the mystery of the Ineffable, but they will rather abide behind you, being kings.

"And they who receive the five mysteries of the Ineffable, will also abide behind the three mysteries, being also kings.

"And moreover they who receive the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery, will also again

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abide behind the five mysteries of the Ineffable, being also kings according to the order of every one of them.

"And all who receive of the mysteries in all the regions of the space of the Ineffable, will also be kings and abide before those who receive the mystery of the First Mystery, expanded according to the glory of every one of them, so that those who receive the higher mysteries, will abide in the higher regions, and those who receive the lower mysteries, will abide in the lower regions, being kings in the light of my kingdom.

"These alone are the allotment of the kingdom of the first space of the Ineffable. |245.

Of those of the second space."They on the other hand who receive all the mysteries of the second space, that is of the space of the First Mystery, will again abide in the light of my kingdom, expanded according to the glory of every one of them, and every one of them being in the mystery up to which he hath received. And those who receive the higher mysteries, will also abide in the higher regions, and those who receive the lower mysteries, will abide in the lower regions in the light of my kingdom.

"This is the allotment of the second king for those who receive the mystery of the second space of the First Mystery.

Of those of the third space, the first from without."Those on the other hand who receive the mysteries of the third space, that is of the first space from without, those again will abide behind the second king, expanded in the light of my kingdom, according to the glory of every one of them, every one abiding in the region up to which he hath received mysteries, so that those who receive the higher mysteries, will abide in the

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higher regions, and those who receive the lower mysteries, will abide in the lower regions.

"These are the three allotments of the Light-kingdom.

"The mysteries of these three allotments of the Light are exceedingly numerous. Ye shall find them in the two great Books of Yew. But I will give you and tell you the great mysteries |246. of every allotment, those which are higher than every region, that is the heads according to every region and according to every order which will lead the whole race of men into the higher regions, according to the space of the Inheritance.

Of the Books of Yew."Of the rest of the lower mysteries, therefore, ye have no need; but ye will find them in the two Books of Yew, which Enoch hath written whilst I spake with him out of the tree of gnosis and out of the tree of life in the paradise of Adam.

"Now, therefore, when I shall have explained unto you the whole expansion, I will give you and tell you the great mysteries of the three allotments of my kingdom, that is the heads of the mysteries which I will give you and tell you in all their figures and all their types and in their ciphers and the seals of the last space, that is the first space from without. And I will tell you the answers and the apologies and the tokens of that space.

"The second space which is within, possesseth no answers nor apologies nor tokens nor ciphers nor seals; but it possesseth only types and figures."

CHAPTER 100

When the Saviour had finished saying all this unto his disciples, |247. Andrew came forward and said: "My Lord, be not wroth with me, but have

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mercy upon me and reveal unto me the mystery of the word concerning which I shall question thee, for it hath been hard for me and I have not understood it."

The Saviour answered and said unto him: "Question concerning that on which thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee face to face without similitude."

Andrew questioneth Jesus.And Andrew answered and said: "My Lord, I am astonished and marvel exceedingly, how the men who are in the world and in the body of this matter, if they come forth out of this world, will pass through these firmaments and all these rulers and all lords and all gods and all these great invisibles and all those of the region of the Midst and those of the whole region of the Right and all the great [ones] of the emanations of the Light, and enter into them all and inherit the Light-kingdom. This matter, therefore, is hard for me."

That the disciples and the powers are all from the same Mixture.When then Andrew had said this, the spirit of the Saviour was roused in him; he cried out and said: "How long am I to endure you? How long am I to bear with you? Have ye then not even yet understood and are ye ignorant? Know ye then not and do ye not understand that ye and all angels and all archangels and the gods and the lords and all the rulers and all the great invisibles |248. and all those of the Midst and those of the whole region of the Right and all the great [ones] of the emanations of the Light and their whole glory,--that ye all one with another are out of one and the same paste and the same matter and the same substance, and that ye all are out of the same Mixture.

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"And at the commandment of the First Mystery the Mixture was constrained, until all the great [ones] of the emanations of the Light and all their glory purified themselves, and until they purified themselves from the Mixture. And they have not purified themselves of themselves, but they have purified themselves by necessity according to the economy of the One and Only, the Ineffable.

"They indeed have not at all suffered and have not at all changed themselves in the regions, nor at all torn themselves asunder nor poured themselves into bodies of different kinds and from one into another, nor have they been in any affliction at all.

Of transcorporation and purification."Ye then in particular are the refuse of the Treasury and ye are the refuse of the region of the Right and ye are the refuse of the region of those of the Midst and ye are the refuse of all the invisibles and of all the rulers; in a word, ye are the refuse of all these. And ye are in great sufferings and great afflictions in your being poured from one into another of different kinds of bodies |249. of the world. And after all these sufferings ye have struggled of your-selves and fought, having renounced the whole world and all the matter therein; and ye have not left off seeking, until ye found all the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light, which have purified you and made you into refined light, exceedingly purified, and ye have become purified light.

"For this cause have I said unto you aforetime: 'Seek, that ye may find.' I have, therefore, said unto you: Ye are to seek after the mysteries of the Light, which purify the body

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of matter and make it. into refined light exceedingly purified.

Of the purifying mysteries."Am?n, I say unto you: For the sake of the race of men, because it is material, I have torn myself asunder and brought unto them all the mysteries of the Light, that I may purify them, for they are the refuse of the whole matter of their matter; else would no soul of the total race of men have been saved, and they would not be able to inherit the kingdom of the Light, if I had not brought unto them the purifying mysteries.

"For the emanations of the Light have no need of the mysteries, for they are purified; but it is the race of men which hath need of them, because they all are material refuse For this cause, therefore, have I said unto you aforetime: 'The healthy have no need |250. of the physician, but the sick,'--that is: Those of the Light have no need of the mysteries, for they are purified lights; but it is the race of men which hath need of them, for [they] are material refuse [pl.].

"For this cause, therefore, herald to the whole race of men, saying: Cease not to seek day and night, until ye find the purifying mysteries; and say unto the race of men: Renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein. For he who buyeth and selleth in the world and he who eateth and drinketh of its matter and who liveth in all its cares and in all its associations, amasseth other additional matters to the rest of his matter, because this whole world and all therein and all its associations are material refuse [pl.], and they will make enquiry of every one concerning his purity.

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"For this cause, therefore, I have said unto you aforetime: Renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein, that ye may not amass other additional matter to the rest of your matter in you. For this cause, therefore, herald it to the whole race of men, saying: Renounce the whole world and all its associations, |251. that ye may not amass additional matter to the rest of your matter in you; and say unto them: Cease not to seek day and night and remit not yourselves until ye find the purifying mysteries which will purify you and make you into a refined light, so that ye will go on high and inherit the light of my kingdom.

That all who are purified will be saved."Now, therefore, Andrew and all thy brethren thy co-disciples, because of your renunciations and all your sufferings which ye have endured in every region, and because of your changes in every region and of your being poured from one into another of different kinds of bodies and because of all your afflictions, and after all this ye have received the purifying mysteries and are become refined light exceedingly purified,--for this cause, therefore, ye will go on high and penetrate into all the regions of all the great emanations of the Light and be kings in the Light-kingdom for ever.

That finally they will be higher than all powers."But if ye come forth out of the body and come on high and reach unto the region of the rulers, then will all the rulers be seized with shame before you, because ye are the refuse of their matter and have become light more purified than them all. And |252. if ye reach unto the region of the Great Invisible and unto the region of those of the Midst and of those of the Right and unto

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the regions of all the great emanations of the Light, then will ye be revered among them all, because ye are the refuse of their matter and are became light more purified than them all. And all the regions will sing praises before you, until ye come to the region of the kingdom.

"This is the answer to the words on which ye question. Now, therefore, Andrew, art thou still in unfaith and unknowing?" 1

Jesus pardoneth the ignorance of Andrew.When then the Saviour said this, Andrew knew clearly, not only he but also all the disciples knew with precision that they should inherit the Light-kingdom. They all threw themselves down together at Jesus' feet, cried aloud, wept and besought the Saviour, saying: "Lord, forgive our brother the sin of unknowing."

The Saviour answered and said: "I forgive and will forgive; for this cause, therefore, hath the First Mystery sent me, that I may forgive every one his sins."

CHAPTER 101

[THE CONCLUSION OF ANOTHER BOOK]

Of the Limbs of the Ineffable."AND those who are worthy of the mysteries which abide in the Ineffable, which are those which have not gone forth,--these exist before the First Mystery, and to use a likeness and similitude, that ye may understand it, they are as the Limbs of the Ineffable. And every one existeth according to the dignity of its glory: the head according

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to the dignity of the head and the eye according to the dignity |253. of the eyes and the ear according to the dignity of the ears and the rest of the Limbs [in like fashion]; so that the matter is manifest: There is a multitude of limbs but one only body. Of this indeed have I spoken in a pattern and similitude and likeness, but not in a form in truth; nor have I revealed the word in truth, but the mystery [only] of the Ineffable.

The Saviour is their treasury."And all the Limbs which are in it,--according to the word with which I have made comparison,--that is, those which abide on the mystery of the Ineffable, and those which abide in it, and also the three spaces which are after them according to the mysteries,--of all these in truth and verity I am their treasury beside whom there is no other treasury, who hath not his like in the world; but there are still words and mysteries and other regions.

Of the dignity of those who have received the mysteries."Now, therefore, blessed is he who hath found the [words of the] mysteries [of the first space] which is from without; and he is a god who hath found these words of the mysteries of the second space, which is in the midst; and he is a saviour and an uncontainable who hath found the words of the mysteries of the third space, which is within, and he is more excellent than the universe and like unto those who are in that third space. Because he hath found the mystery in which they are and in which they stand,--|254. for this cause, therefore, is he like unto them. He on the other hand who hath found the words of the mysteries which I have described unto you according to a likeness, that they are the Limbs of the Ineffable,--am?n, I say unto you: That man who hath

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found the words of these mysteries in divine truth, is the first in truth and like unto him [sc. the First, i.e. the Ineffable], for through those words and mysteries . . . and the universe itself standeth through that First. For this cause he who hath found the words of those mysteries, is like unto the First. For it is the gnosis of the gnosis of the Ineffable concerning which I have discoursed with you this day."

Pistis Sophia: Book Three

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CHAPTER 102

Of the proclamation of the disciples.JESUS continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: "When I shall have gone into the Light, then herald it unto the whole world and say unto them: Cease not to seek day and night and remit not yourselves until ye find the mysteries of the Light-kingdom, which will purify you and make you into refined light and lead you into the Light-kingdom.

What men should renounce."Say unto them: Renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein and all its care and all its sins, in a word all its associations which are in it, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from all the chastisements which are in the judgments.

"Say unto them: Renounce murmuring, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the fire of the dog-faced [one].

"Say unto them: Renounce eavesdropping [?], that ye may [be worthy of the mysteries of the Light] and be saved from the judgments of the dog-faced [one].

"Say unto them: Renounce litigiousness [?], that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the chastisements of Ari?l.

"Say unto them: Renounce false slander, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the

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[paragraph continues] Light and be saved from the fire-rivers of the dog-faced [one].

"Say unto them: Renounce false witness, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and that ye may escape and be saved from the fire-rivers of the dog-faced [one].

"Say unto them: Renounce pride and haughtiness, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the fire-pits of Ari?l.

"Say unto them: Renounce belly-love, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the judgments of Amente.

"Say unto them: Renounce babbling, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the fires of Amente.

"Say unto them: |256. Renounce craftiness, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the chastisements which are in Amente.

"Say unto them: Renounce avarice, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the fire-rivers of the dog-faced [one].

"Say unto them: Renounce love of the world, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the pitch- and fire-coats of the dog-faced [one].

"Say unto them: Renounce pillage, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the fire-rivers of Ari?l.

"Say unto them: Renounce evil conversation, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the chastisements of the fire-rivers . . . .

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"Say unto them: Renounce wickedness, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the fire-seas of Ari?l.

"Say unto them: Renounce pitilessness, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the judgments of the dragon-faced [ones].

"Say unto them: Renounce wrath, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the fire-rivers of the dragon-faced [ones.]

"Say unto them: Renounce cursing, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the fire-seas of the dragon-faced [ones].

"Say unto them: Renounce thieving, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the bubbling seas of the dragon-faced [ones]. |257.

"Say unto them: Renounce robbery, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from Yaldabaoth.

"Say unto them: Renounce slandering, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the fire-rivers of the lion-faced [one].

"Say unto them: Renounce fighting and strife, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the seething rivers of Yaldabaoth.

"Say unto them: Renounce all unknowing, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the servitors of Yaldabaoth and the fire-seas.

"Say unto them: Renounce evil doing, that

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ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from all the demons of Yaldabaoth and all his judgments.

"Say unto them: Renounce sloth, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the seething pitch-seas of Yaldabaoth.

"Say unto them: Renounce adultery, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light-kingdom and be saved from the sulphur- and pitch-seas of the lion-faced [one].

"Say unto them: Renounce murder, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the crocodile-faced ruler,--this one who is in the cold, |258. is the first chamber of the outer darkness.

"Say unto them: Renounce pitilessness and impiety, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the rulers of the outer darkness.

"Say unto them: Renounce atheism, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the howling and grinding of teeth.

"Say unto them: Renounce [magic] potions, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the great cold and the hail of the outer darkness.

"Say unto them: Renounce blasphemy, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from the great dragon of the outer darkness.

"Say unto them: Renounce the doctrines of error, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and be saved from all the chastisements

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of the great dragon of the outer darkness.

"Say unto those who teach the doctrines of error and to every one who is instructed by them: Woe unto you, for, if ye do not repent and abandon your error, ye will go into the chastisements of the great dragon and of the outer darkness, which is exceedingly evil, and never will ye be cast [up] into the world, but will be non-existent until the end. |259.

"Say unto those who abandon the doctrines of truth of the First Mystery: Woe unto you, for your chastisement is sad compared with [that of] all men. For ye will abide in the great cold and ice and hail in the midst of the dragon and of the outer darkness, and ye will never from this hour on be cast [up] into the world, but ye shall be frozen up [?] in that region and at the dissolution of the universe ye will perish and become non-existent eternally.

The boundaries of the ways of the worthy."Say rather to the men of the world: Be calm, that ye may receive the mysteries of the Light and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"Say unto them: Be ye loving-unto-men, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the Light and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"Say unto them: Be ye gentle, that ye may receive the mysteries of the Light and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"Say unto them: Be ye peaceful, that ye may receive the mysteries of the Light and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"Say unto them: Be ye merciful, that ye may receive the mysteries of the Light and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

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"Say unto them: Give ye alms, that ye may receive the mysteries of the Light and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"Say unto them: Minister unto the poor and the sick and distressed, that ye may receive the mysteries |260. of the Light and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"Say unto them: Be ye loving-unto-God, that ye may receive the mysteries of the Light and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"Say unto them: Be ye righteous, that ye may receive the mysteries [of the Light] and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"Say unto them: Be good, that ye may receive the mysteries [of the Light] and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"Say unto them: Renounce all, that ye may receive the mysteries of the Light and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

"These are all the boundaries of the ways for those who are worthy of the mysteries of the Light.

Unto whom are the mysteries of the Light to be given."Unto, such, therefore, who have renounced in this renunciation, give the mysteries of the Light and hide them not from them at all, even though they are sinners and they have been in al! the sins and all the iniquities of the world, all of which I have recounted unto you, in order that they may turn and repent and be in the submission which I have just recounted unto you. Give unto them the mysteries of the Light-kingdom and hide them not from them at all;The mysteries are for the forgiveness of sins. for it is because of sinfulness that I have brought the mysteries into the world, that I may forgive all their sins which they have committed from the beginning on. For this cause

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have I said unto you aforetime: 'I am not come to call the righteous.' Now, |261. therefore, I have brought the mysteries that [their] sins may be forgiven for every one and they be received into the Light-kingdom. For the mysteries are the gift of the First Mystery, that he may wipe out the sins and iniquities of all sinners."

CHAPTER 103

Mary questioneth the Saviour.It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that Mary came forward and said to the Saviour: "My Lord, will then a righteous man who is perfected in all righteousness, and that man who hath no sin at all, will such an one be tormented in the chastisements and judgments or not? Or will rather that man be brought into the kingdom of heaven or not?"

Of the soul of the righteous man who hath not received the mysteries at death.And the Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "A righteous man who is perfected in all righteousness and who hath never committed any sin of any kind, and such an one who never hath received mysteries of the Light, if the time is at hand when he goeth forth out of the body, then straightway come the receivers of one of the great triple-powers,--those among whom there is a great [one],--snatch away the soul of that man from the hands of the retributive receivers and spend three days circling with it in all the creatures of the world. After three days they lead it down into the chaos, so as to lead it into all the chastisements of the judgments and to dispatch it to all the judgments. The fires of the chaos do not trouble it greatly; but they will trouble it partly for a short time.

"And with haste they take pity on it quickly, to lead it up out of the chaos and lead it on the

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way of the midst through all the rulers. And they [sc. the rulers] do not chastize it in their harsh judgments, but the fire of their regions troubleth it partly. And if it shall be brought into the region of Yachthanabas, the pitiless, then will he indeed not be able to chastize it in his evil judgments, but he holdeth it fast a short time, while the fire of his chastisements troubleth it partly.

And again they take pity on it quickly, and lead it up out of those regions of theirs and they do not bring it into the æons, so that the rulers of the æons do not carry it away ravishingly; they bring it on the way of the sun and bring it before the Virgin of Light. She proveth it and findeth that it is pure of sins, but letteth them not bring it to the Light, because the sign of the kingdom of the mystery is not with it. But she sealeth it with a higher seal and letteth it be cast down into the body |263. into the æons of righteousness,--that body which will be good to find the signs of the mysteries of the Light and inherit the Light-kingdom for ever.

"If on the contrary he hath sinned once or twice or thrice, then will he be cast back into the world again according to the type of the sins which he hath committed, the type of which I will tell you when I shall have told you the expansion of the universe.

"But am?n, am?n, I say unto you: Even if a righteous man hath committed no sins at all, he cannot possibly be brought into the Light-kingdom, because the sign of the kingdom of the mysteries is not with him. In a word, it is impossible to bring souls into the Light without the mysteries of the Light-kingdom."

CHAPTER 104

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John questioneth Jesus.It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that John came forward and said: "My Lord, suppose a sinning and a law-breaking man is replete in all iniquities, and he hath ceased from these for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and renounced the whole world and the whole matter therein, and we give him from the be-ginning onwards the mysteries of the Light which are in the first space from without, and if he receiveth the mysteries, and after a little while again if he returneth and transgresseth, and thereafter again if he turneth and ceaseth from all sins and turneth and |264. renounceth the whole world and the whole matter therein, so that he cometh again and is in great repentance, and if we know truly in truth that he longeth after God, so that we give him the second mystery of the first space which is from without;--in like manner if he turneth anew and transgresseth and is again in the sins of the world, and again if he thereafter turneth and ceaseth from the sins of the world and again renounceth the whole world and the whole matter therein and again is in great repentance, and we know it with certainty that he is not a play-actor, so that we turn and give him the mysteries of the beginning, which [are] in the first space from without;--in like manner, if he turneth again and sinneth and is in every type [of sin];--desirest thou that we forgive him unto seven times and give him the mysteries which are in the first space from without, unto seven times or not?"

The Saviour answered again and said unto John: "Not only forgive him unto seven times,

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The disciples are to forgive many times seven times.but am?n, I say unto you: Forgive him unto many times seven times, and every time give him the mysteries from the beginning onwards which are in the first space from without. Perchance ye win the soul of that brother and he inheriteth the Light-kingdom.

"For this cause, therefore, when ye questioned me aforetime, |265. saying: 'If our brother sin against us, desirest thou that we forgive him unto seven times?'--I answered and spake unto you in a similitude, saying: 'Not only unto seven times, but unto seventy times seven.'

"Now, therefore, forgive him many times and every time give him the mysteries which are in the first space which is from without. Perchance ye win the soul of that brother and he inheriteth the Light-kingdom.

Of the reward of the savers of souls."Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: He who shall keep in Life and save only one soul, besides the dignity which he possesseth in the Light-kingdom, he will receive yet another dignity for the soul which he hath saved, so that he who shall save many souls, besides the dignity which he possesseth in the Light he will receive many other dignities for the souls which he hath saved."

CHAPTER 105

John continueth his questioning.When then the Saviour had said this, John started forward and said: "My Lord, bear with me if I question thee, for from now on I will begin to, question thee on all things concerning the manner, how we are to herald it to mankind.

"If, therefore, I give that brother a mystery out of the mysteries of the beginning which are in the first space from without, and if I give him many mysteries and he doeth not what |266. is

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worthy of the kingdom of heaven,--desirest thou that we let him pass through to the mysteries of the second space? Perchance we win the soul of that brother, and he turneth, repenteth and inheriteth the Light-kingdom. Desirest thou that we let him pass through to the mysteries [which are in the second space] or not?"

That the mysteries shall be given again unto a repentant brother even up to the three of the second space.And the Saviour answered and said unto John: "If it is a brother who is not play-acting, but in truth longeth after God, if ye have given him many times the mysteries of the beginning and because of the necessity of the elements of the Fate he hath not done what is worthy of the mysteries of the Light-kingdom, then forgive him, let him pass through and give him the first mystery which is in the second space. Perchance ye win the soul of that brother.

"And if he hath not done what is worthy of the mysteries of the Light and hath committed transgression and divers sins, and thereafter hath turned; again and been in great repentance and hath renounced the whole world and ceased from all the sins of the world, and ye know with certainty that he doth not play-act but in truth longeth after God, then turn ye anew, forgive him, let him pass on through and give him the second mystery in the second |267. space of the First Mystery. Perchance ye win the soul of that brother and he inheriteth the Light-kingdom.

"And again if he hath not done what is worthy of the mysteries, but hath been in transgression and divers sins, and thereafter again hath turned and been in great repentance and hath renounced the whole world and the whole matter therein and ceased from the sins of the world, so that

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ye know truly that he is not play-acting but longeth truly after God, then turn ye anew, forgive him and receive his repentance, because the First Mystery is compassionate and merciful-minded; let also that man pass through and give him the three mysteries together which are in the second space of the First Mystery.

The limit of the power of the disciples to forgive sins."If that man [then] transgresseth and is in divers sins, from that moment onwards ye are not to forgive him nor to receive his repentance; but let him be among you as a stumbling-block and as a transgressor.

"For, am?n, I say unto you: Those three mysteries will be witnesses for his last repentance, and he hath not repentance from this moment onwards. For, am?n, I say unto you: The soul of that man will not |268. be cast back into the world above from this moment onwards, but will be in the abodes of the dragon of the outer darkness.

A former saying explained."For regarding the souls of such men I have spoken unto you aforetime in a similitude, saying: 'If thy brother sinneth against thee, bring him over between thee alone and him. If he hearkeneth unto thee, thou wilt win thy brother; if he hearkeneth not unto thee, take with thee yet another. If he hearkeneth not unto thee and the other, bring him to the assembly. If he hearken not unto the others, let him be for you as a transgressor and as a stumbling-block.'--That is: If he is not usable in the first mystery, give him the second; and if he is not usable in the second give him the three, assembled together, which is 'the assembly'; and if he is not usable in the third mystery, let him be for you as a stumbling-block and as a transgressor.

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Of the master-mystery of the forgiveness of sins."And the word which I have spoken unto you aforetime: 'So that through two to three witnesses every word may be established,'--it is this: Those three mysteries will witness for his last repentance. And am?n, |269. I say unto you: If that man repenteth, no mystery can forgive him his sins, nor can his repentance be received, nor can he at all be hearkened to through any mystery, save through the first mystery of the First Mystery and through the mysteries of the Ineffable. It is these alone which will receive the repentance of that man and forgive his sins; for those mysteries in sooth are compassionate and merciful-minded and forgiving at every time."

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John continueth his questioning.When then the Saviour had said this, John continued again and said to the Saviour: "My Lord, suppose an exceedingly sinful brother who hath renounced the whole world and the whole matter therein and all its sins and all its cares, and we shall prove him and know that he is not in deceit and play-acting but that in uprightness and in truth he longeth [after God], and we know that he hath become worthy of the mysteries of the second space or of the third,--desirest thou that we give him of the mysteries of the second space and of the third, before he hath at all received mysteries of the Inheritance of the Light or not? Desirest thou that we give or not?"

Further of the forgiveness of sins.And the Saviour answered and said unto John in the midst of the disciples: "If ye know with certainty that that man |270. hath renounced the whole world and all its cares and all its associations and all its sins, and if ye know in truth that he

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is not in deceit, neither that he was play-acting nor that he was curious to know the mysteries, how they are brought to pass, but that he longeth after God in truth, hide them not from such an one, but give him of the mysteries of the second and third space and try even of what mystery he is worthy; and that of which he is worthy, give him and hide it not from him, for if ye hide it from him, ye may be guilty of a great condemnation.

"If ye give him once [of the mysteries] of the second space or of the third and he turneth again and sinneth, ye are to continue again the second time up to the third time. If he still sinneth, ye shall not continue to give him, for those three mysteries will be witnesses unto him for his last repentance. And am?n, I say unto you: He who shall give that man anew mysteries of the second space or of the third, is guilty of a great condemnation. But let him be for you as a transgressor and as a stumbling-block.

"Am?n, I say unto you: The soul of that man cannot be cast back into the world |271. from this moment onwards; but his habitation is in the midst of the jaws of the dragon of the outer darkness, the region of howling and grinding of teeth. And at the dissolution of the world his soul will be frozen up [?] and perish in the violent cold and exceedingly violent fire and will be non-existent eternally.

"Even if he yet again turneth and renounceth the whole world and all its cares and all its sins, and he is in great citizenship and great repentance, no mystery can receive from him his repentance; nor can it hearken unto him, to have mercy

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upon him and receive his repentance and forgive his sins, save the mystery of the First Mystery and the mystery of the Ineffable. It is these alone which will receive the repentance of that man and forgive his sins; for in sooth those mysteries are compassionate and merciful-minded and forgiving of sins at every time."

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John continueth his questioning.And when the Saviour had said this, John continued again and said: "My Lord, bear with me, if I question thee, and be not wroth with me, for I question concerning all things with surety and certainty for knowledge of the manner, how we are to herald it to the men of the world."

And the Saviour answered and said unto John: "Question concerning all things on which thou questionest, and I will reveal them unto thee, face to face |272. in openness without similitude, or with surety."

And John answered and said: "My Lord, if we go forth and herald it and come into a city or a village, and if the men of that city come forth to meet us without our knowing who they are, and if they receive us unto themselves in great deceit and great play-acting and bring us into their house, desiring to make trial of the mysteries of the Light-kingdom, and if they play-act with us in submission and we suppose that they long after God, and we give them the mysteries of the Light-kingdom, and if we thereafter know that they have not done what is worthy of the mystery, and we know that they have play-acted with us, and have been deceitful against us and that they have also made a show of the mysteries region by region, making trial of us

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and also of our mysteries,--what is then the thing which will befall such?"

Of pretenders who receive the mysteries.And the Saviour answered and said unto John: "If ye come into a city or a village, where ye enter into the house and they receive you unto themselves, give them a mystery. If they are worthy, ye will win their souls and they will inherit the Light-kingdom; but if they are not worthy but are deceitful against you, and if they also make a show of the mysteries, making trial of you and also of the mysteries, then invoke |273. the first mystery of the First Mystery which hath mercy on every one, and say: Thou Mystery, which we have given unto these impious and iniquitous souls who have not done what is worthy of thy mystery but have made a show of us, turn back [then] the mystery unto us and make them for ever strangers to the mystery of thy kingdom. And shake ye off the dust of your feet as a witness against them, saying: May your souls be as the dust of your house. And am?n, I say unto you: In that hour all the mysteries which ye have given unto them, will return unto you, and all the words and all the mysteries of the region up to which they have received figures, will be taken from them.

A former saying explained."Concerning such men, therefore, have I aforetime spoken unto you in similitude, saying: 'Where ye enter into a house and are received, say unto them: Peace be with you. And if they are worthy, let your peace come upon them; and if they are not worthy, let your peace return unto you,'--that is: If those men do what is worthy of the mysteries and in truth long after God, give them the mysteries of the Light-kingdom;

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but if they play-act with you and are deceitful against you, without your having known it, |274. and if ye give them the mysteries of the Light-kingdom, and again thereafter they make a show of the mysteries and they make also trial of you and also of the mysteries, then perform the first mystery of the First Mystery, and it will turn back unto you all the mysteries which ye have given unto them, and it will make them strangers to the mysteries of the Light for ever.

"And such men will not be led back to the world from this moment onwards; but am?n, I say unto you: Their dwelling is in the midst of the jaws of the dragon of the outer darkness. And if they still at a time of repentance renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein and all the sins of the world, and they are in entire submission to the mysteries of the Light, no mystery can hearken unto them nor forgive their sins, save this same mystery of the Ineffable, which hath mercy on every one and forgiveth every one his sins."

CHAPTER 108

Mary again questioneth Jesus.It came to pass, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that Mary adored the feet of Jesus and kissed them. Mary said: "My Lord, bear with me, if I question thee, and be not wroth with me."

The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Question concerning what thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it |275. unto thee in openness."

And Mary answered and said: "My Lord, suppose a good and excellent brother whom we have filled with all the mysteries of the Light, and that brother hath a brother or kinsman, in a

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word he hath in general [any] man, and this [man] is a sinner and impious or better he is no sinner, and such an one hath gone out of the body, and the heart of the good brother is grieved and mourneth over him, that he is in judgments and chastisements,--now, therefore, my Lord, what are we to do to remove him out of the chastisements and harsh judgments?"

And the Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Concerning this word, therefore, I have already spoken unto you at another time, but hearken that I may say it again, so that ye may be perfected in all mysteries and be called 'the perfected in every fulness.'

How the souls of those who have come out of the body may be helped by those on earth."Now, therefore, all men, sinners or better who are no sinners, not only if ye desire that they be taken out of the judgments and violent chastisements, but that they be removed into a righteous body which will find the mysteries of the godhead, so that it goeth on high and inheriteth the Light-kingdom,--then perform the third mystery of the Ineffable |276. and say: Carry ye the soul of this and this man of whom we think in our hearts, carry him out of all the chastisements of the rulers and haste ye quickly to lead him before the Virgin of Light; and in every month let the Virgin of Light seal him with a higher seal, and in every month let the Virgin of Light cast him into a body which will be righteous and good, so that it goeth on high and inheriteth the Light-kingdom. "And if ye say this, am?n, I say unto you: All who serve in all the orders of the judgments of the rulers, hasten to hand over that soul from one to the other, until they lead it before the Virgin of Light. And the Virgin of Light sealeth

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it with the sign of the kingdom of the Ineffable and handeth it over unto her receivers, and the receivers will cast it into a body which will be righteous and find the mysteries of the Light, so that it will be good and goeth on high and inheriteth the Light-kingdom. Lo, this is it on which ye question me."

CHAPTER 109

Mary continueth her questioning.And Mary answered and said: "Now, therefore, my Lord, hast thou then not brought mysteries into the world that man |277. may not die through the death which is appointed him by the rulers of the Fate,--be it that it is appointed one to die by the sword or die by the waters or through tortures and torturings and acts of violence which are in the law, or through any other evil death,--hast thou then not brought mysteries into the world that man may not die with them through the rulers of the Fate, but that he may die by a sudden death, so that he endure no sufferings through such kinds of death? For they are exceedingly numerous who persecute us because of thee, and numerous those who persecute us because of thy name, in order that, if they torture us, we may speak the mystery and straightway go out of the body without having endured any sufferings at all."

How he who possesseth the mysteries can come forth out of the body without suffering.The Saviour answered and said unto all his disciples: "Concerning this word on which ye question me, I have spoken unto you at another time; but hearken again that I may say it unto you anew: Not only ye, but every man who will accomplish that first mystery of the First Mystery of the Ineffable,--he who, therefore, shall perform that mystery and accomplish it in all its figures and all its types and all its stations, in

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performing it, he will not come out of the body; but after he hath accomplished that mystery in all its figures |278. and all its types, thereafter then at every time when he shall speak the name of that mystery, he will save himself from all that which is appointed him by the rulers of the Fate. And in that hour he will come forth out of the body of the matter of the rulers, and his soul will become a great light-stream, so that it soareth on high and penetrateth all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the Light, until it reacheth the region of its kingdom. Neither giveth it answers nor apologies in any region at all, for it is without tokens."

CHAPTER 110

When then Jesus had said this, Mary continued, threw herself at Jesus' feet, kissed them and said: "My Lord, still will I question thee. Reveal [it] unto us and hide [it] not from us."

Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "Question on what ye question, and I will reveal [it] unto you in openness without similitude."

Mary continueth her questioning.Mary answered and said: "My Lord, hast thou then not brought mysteries into the world because of poverty and riches, and because of weakness and strength, and because of . . . and healthy bodies, in a word because of all such, so that, if we go into the regions of the land, and they do not have faith in us and they hearken not unto our words, and we perform any such mysteries in those regions, they may know truly in truth that we |279. herald the words [of the God] of the universe?"

The Saviour answered and said unto Mary in the midst of the disciples: "Concerning this mystery on which ye question me, I have given

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it unto you at another time; but I will repeat it and speak the word unto you:

The mystery of the raising of the dead."Now, therefore, Mary, not only ye, but every man who shall accomplish the mystery of the raising of the dead,--that which healeth the demons and all pains and all sicknesses and the blind and the lame and the maimed and the dumb and the deaf, which I have given unto you aforetime,--he who shall receive [that] mystery and accomplish it, thereafter then, if he ask for all things, for poverty and riches, for weakness and strength, for . . . and healthy body, and for all healings of the body and for the raising of the dead and for healing the lame and the blind and the deaf and the dumb and all sicknesses and all pains,--in a word, he who shall accomplish that mystery and ask for all the things which I have just said, then will they quickly come to pass for him."

The disciples became frenzied at the sublimity of the prospect.When then the Saviour had said this, the disciples came forward, cried out all together and said: "O Saviour, thou hath made us very exceedingly frenzied because of the great deeds of which thou tellest us; and because thou hast borne up our souls, they have pressed to go forth out of us |280. unto thee, for we issue from thee. Now, therefore, because of these great deeds of which thou tellest us, our souls have become frenzied and they have pressed very exceedingly, yearning to go forth out of us on high to the region of thy kingdom."

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How the disciples shall make proclamation.When then the disciples had said this, the Saviour continued again and said unto his disciples: "If ye go into cities or kingdoms or countries, proclaim first unto them, saying:

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Search ever and cease not, until ye find the mysteries of the Light which will lead you into the Light-kingdom. Say unto them: Beware of the doctrines of error. For many will come in my name and say: It is I. And it is not I, and they will lead many astray.

What mysteries they shall give."Now, therefore, unto all men who come unto you and have faith in you and hearken unto your words and do what is worthy of the mysteries of the Light, give the mysteries of the Light and hide them not from them. And unto him who is worthy of the higher mysteries, give them, and to him who is worthy of the lower mysteries, give them, and hide not anything from any one.

The mystery of the raising of the dead not to be given to any."The mystery of the raising of the dead and of the healing of the sick, on the other hand, give unto no one nor give instruction in it, for that mystery belongeth to the rulers, it and all its namings. For this cause, therefore, give it |281. unto no one, nor give instruction in it until ye establish the faith in the whole world, in order that, if ye come into cities or into countries, and they do not receive you unto themselves, and do not have faith, and do not hearken unto your words, ye may raise the dead in those regions and heal the lame and the blind and manifold of sicknesses in those regions. And through all such they will have faith in you, that ye herald the God of the universe, and will have faith in all the words of you. For this cause, therefore, have I given unto you that mystery, until ye establish the faith in the whole world."

When then the Saviour had said this, he continued again in the discourse and said unto Mary: "Now, therefore, hearken, Mary, concerning the

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word on which thou hast questioned me: Who constraineth the man until he sinneth? Now, therefore, hearken:

Of the constitution of man."Is the babe born, the power is feeble in it, and the soul is feeble in it, and also the counterfeiting spirit is feeble in it; in a word, the three together are feeble, without any one of them sensing anything, whether good or evil, because of the load of forgetfulness which is very heavy. Moreover the body also is feeble. And the babe eateth of the delights of the world of the rulers; and the power draweth into itself from the portion of the power which |282. is in the delights; and the soul draweth into itself from the portion of the soul which is in the delights; and the counterfeiting spirit draweth into itself from the portion of the evil which is in the delights and in its lusts. And on the other hand the body draweth into itself the matter which senseth not, which is in the delights. The destiny on the contrary taketh nothing from the delights, because it is not mingled with them, but it departeth again in the condition in which it cometh into the world.

"And little by little the power and the soul and the counterfeiting spirit grow, and every one of them senseth according to its nature: the power senseth to seek after the light of the height; the soul on the other hand senseth to seek after the region of righteousness which is mixed, which is the region of the commixture; the counterfeiting spirit on the other hand seeketh after all evils and lusts and all sins; the body on the contrary senseth nothing unless it taketh up force out of the matter.

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"And straightway the three develop sense, every one according to its nature. And the retributive receivers assign the servitors to follow them and be witnesses of all the sins which they commit, with a view to the manner and method how they will chastize them in the judgments.

Of the counterfeiting spirit."And after this the counterfeiting spirit |283. contriveth and senseth all sins and the evil which the rulers of the great Fate have commanded for the soul, and it maketh them for the soul.

"And the inner power stirreth the soul to seek after the region of the Light and the whole god-head; and the counterfeiting spirit leadeth away the soul and compelleth it continually to do all its lawless deeds, all its mischiefs and all its sin, and is persistently allotted to the soul and is hostile to it, and making it do all this evil and all these sins.

"And it goadeth on the retributive servitors, so that they are witnesses in all the sins which it will make it do. Moreover also if it will rest in the night [or] by day, it stirreth it in dreams or in lusts of the world, and maketh it to lust after all the things of the world. In a word, it driveth [?] it into all the things which the rulers have commanded for it and it is hostile to the soul, making it do what pleaseth it not.

"Now, therefore, Mary, this is in fact the foe of the soul, and this compelleth it until it doeth all sins.

The state of the sinful soul after death."Now, therefore, if |284. the time of that man is completed, first cometh forth the destiny and leadeth the man unto death through the rulers and their bonds with which they are bound through the Fate.

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"And thereafter the retributive receivers come and lead that soul out of the body. And thereafter the. retributive receivers spend three days circling round with that soul in all the regions and dispatch it to all the æons of the world. And the counterfeiting spirit and the destiny follow that soul; and the power returneth to the Virgin of Light.

"And after three days the retributive receivers lead down that soul to the Amente of the chaos; and when they bring it down to the chaos, they hand it over to those who chastize. And the retributive receivers return unto their own regions according to the economy of the works of the rulers concerning the coming-forth of the souls.

"And the counterfeiting spirit becometh the receiver of the soul, being assigned unto it and transferring it according to the chastisement because of the sins which it hath made it commit, and is in great enmity to the soul.

"And when the soul hath finished the chastisements in the chaos according to the sins |285. which it hath committed, the counterfeiting spirit leadeth it forth out of the chaos, being assigned unto it and transferring it to every region because of the sins which it hath committed; and it leadeth it forth on the way of the rulers of the midst. And when it reacheth them, [the rulers] question it on the mysteries of the destiny; and if it hath not found them, they question their destiny. And those rulers chastize that soul according to the sins of which it is guilty. I will tell you the type of their chastisements at the expansion of the universe.

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How a sinful soul is brought back to birth."When, therefore, the time of the chastisements of that soul in the judgments of the rulers of the midst shall be completed, the counterfeiting spirit leadeth the soul up out of all the regions of the rulers of the midst and bringeth it before the light of the sun according to the commandment of the First Man, Yew, and bringeth it before the judge, the Virgin of Light. And she proveth that soul and findeth that it is a sinning soul, and ceaseth her light-power into it for its standing-upright and because of the body and the community of sense,--the type of which I will tell you at the expansion of the universe. And the Virgin of Light sealeth that soul and handeth it over to one of her receivers |286. and will have it cast into a body which is suitable to the sins which it hath committed.

"And am?n, I say unto you: They will not discharge that soul from the changes of the body until it hath yielded its last circuit according to its merit. Of all these then will I tell you their type and the type of the bodies into which it will be cast according to the sins of each soul. All this will I tell you when I shall have told you the expansion of the universe."

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Of the ascension after death of the good soul that hath received the mysteries.Jesus continued again in the discourse and said: "If on the contrary it is a soul which hath not hearkened unto the counterfeiting spirit in all its works, but hath become good and hath received the mysteries of the Light which are in the second space or even those which are in the third space which is within, when the time [of the coming-forth] of that soul out of the body is completed, then the counterfeiting spirit followeth that soul, it and the destiny; and

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it followeth it on the way on which it will go above.

"And before it removeth itself above, it uttereth the mystery of the undoing of the seals and all the bonds of the counterfeiting spirit with which the rulers have bound it to the soul; and when it is uttered, the bonds of the counterfeiting spirit undo themselves, and it ceaseth to come into that soul and releaseth the soul according to the commandments which |287. the rulers of the great Fate have commanded it, saying: 'Release not this soul until it tell thee the mystery of the undoing of all the seals with which we have bound thee to the soul.'

"If then the soul shall have uttered the mystery of the undoing of the seals and of all the bonds of the counterfeiting spirit, and if it ceaseth to come into the soul and ceaseth to be bound to it, then it uttereth in that moment a mystery and releaseth the destiny to its region to the rulers who are on the way of the midst. And it uttereth the mystery and releaseth the counterfeiting spirit to the rulers of the Fate to the region in which it was bound to it.

"And in that moment it becometh a great light-stream, shining exceedingly, and the retributive receivers who have led it forth out of the body, are afraid of the light of that soul and fall on their faces. And in that moment that soul becometh a great light-stream, it becometh entirely wings of light, and penetrateth all the regions of the rulers and all the orders of the Light, until it reacheth the region of its kingdom up to which it hath received mysteries.

"If on the other hand it is a soul which hath

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Of the state after death of one who hath received the mysteries, and yet hath transgressed.received mysteries in the first space which is without, and if after it |288. hath received the mysteries it hath accomplished them, it [then] turneth and committeth sin after the accomplishing of the mysteries, and if the time of the coming-forth of that soul is completed, then the retributive receivers come to lead that soul out of the body.

"And the destiny and the counterfeiting spirit follow that soul. Because the counterfeiting spirit is bound to it with the seals and the bonds of the rulers, it followeth thus that soul which travelleth on the ways with the counterfeiting spirit.

"It uttereth the mystery of the undoing of all the bonds and all the seals with which the rulers have bound the counterfeiting spirit to the soul. And when the soul uttereth the mystery of the undoing of the seals, straightway the bonds of the seals which are bound in the counterfeiting spirit to the soul undo themselves. And when the soul uttereth the mystery of the undoing of the seals, straightway the counterfeiting spirit undoeth itself and ceaseth to be assigned to the soul. And in that moment the soul uttereth a mystery and restraineth the counterfeiting spirit and the destiny and dischargeth them which follow it. But no one of them is in its power; |289. but it is in their power.

"And in that moment the receivers of that soul come with the mysteries which it hath received, come and snatch that soul out of the hands of the retributive receivers, and the [latter] receivers go back to the works of the rulers for the purpose of the economy of the leading-forth of the souls.

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"And the receivers of that soul on the other hand who belong to the Light, become wings of light for that soul and become vestures of light for it and they do not lead it into the chaos, because it is not lawful to lead into the chaos souls which have received mysteries, but they lead it on the way of the rulers of the midst. And when it reacheth the rulers of the midst, those rulers meet the soul, they being in great fear and violent fire and with different faces, in a word in great immeasurable fear.

"And in that moment the soul uttereth the mystery of their apology. And they are exceedingly afraid and fall on their faces, being in fear of the mystery which it hath uttered, and of their apology. |290. And that soul surrendereth their destiny, saying unto them: Take your destiny!The apology of the rulers of the ways of the midst. I come not to your regions from this moment onwards. I have become a stranger unto you for ever, being about to go unto the region of my inheritance.

"And when the soul shall have said this, the receivers of the Light fly with it on high and lead it into the æons of the Fate, it giving every region its apology and its seals,--which I will tell you at the expansion of the universe. And it giveth the counterfeiting spirit to the rulers and telleth them the mystery of the bonds with which it is bound to it, and sayeth unto them: There haveThe apology of the rulers of the Fate. ye your counterfeiting spirit! I come not to your region from this moment onwards. I have become a stranger unto you for ever. And it giveth every one his seal and his apology.

"And when the soul shall have said this, the receivers of the Light fly with it on high and lead

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Of the ascension of that soul into the Inheritance.it |291. out of the æons of the Fate and lead it up into all the æons [above], it giving to every region its apology and the apology of all the regions and the seals to the tyrants of the king, the Adamas. And it giveth the apology of all the rulers of all the regions of the Left,--whose collective apologies and seals I will one day tell you when I shall tell you the expansion of the universe.

"And moreover those receivers lead that soul to the Virgin of Light and that soul giveth the Virgin of Light the seals and the glory of the songs of praise. And the Virgin of Light and also the seven other virgins of the Light together prove that soul and find together their signs in it and their seals and their baptisms and their chrism. And the Virgin of Light |292. sealeth that soul and the receivers of the Light baptize that soul and give it the spiritual chrism; and every one of the virgins of the Light sealeth it with her seals.

"And moreover the receivers of the Light hand it over to the great Saba?th, the Good, who is at the gate of the Life in the region of those of the Right, who is called 'Father.' And that soul giveth him the glory of his songs of praise and his seals and his apologies. And Saba?th, the Great and Good, sealeth it with his seals. And the soul giveth its science and the glory of the songs of praise and the seals to the whole region of those of the Right. They all seal it with their seals; and Melchisedec, the great Receiver of the Light who is in the region of those of the Right, sealeth that soul and all the receivers of Melchisedec seal that soul and lead it into the Treasury of the Light.

"And it giveth the glory and the honour and

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the laud of the songs of praise and. all the seals of all the regions of the Light. And all those of the region of the Treasury of the Light seal it with their seals and it goeth unto the region of the Inheritance."

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When then the Saviour had said this unto his disciples |293. he said unto them: "Understand ye in what manner I discourse with you?"

Mary interpreteth from former sayings.And Mary again started forward and said: "Yea, my Lord, I understand in what manner thou dost discourse with me, and I will comprehend them all [sc. thy words]. Now, therefore,

concerning these words which thou sayest, my mind hath brought forward four thoughts in me and my light-man hath led me and exulted and seethed, desiring to come forth out of me and enter into thee. Now, therefore, my Lord, hearken that I may tell thee the four thoughts which have arisen in me.

"The first thought hath arisen in me concerning the word which thou hast spoken: 'Now, therefore, the soul giveth the apology and seal unto all the rulers who are in the region of the king, the Adamas, and giveth the apology and the honour and the glory of all their seals and the songs of praise to the region of the Light,'--concerning this word then thou hast spoken unto us aforetime, when they brought thee the piece ofThe piece of money which was brought unto Jesus. money and thou didst see that it was of silver and copper and didst ask: 'Whose is this image?' They said: 'The king's.' And when thou sawest that it was of silver and copper mixed, thou saidst: 'Give therefore the king's unto the king and God's unto God,'--that is: If the soul receiveth mysteries, it giveth the apology to

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all the rulers and to the region |294. of the king, the Adamas; and the soul giveth the honour and the glory to all those of the region of the Light. And the word: 'It hath glistened, when thou didst see that it is made up of silver and copper,'--it is the type thereof, that in it [sc. the soul] is the power of the Light, which is the refined silver, and that in it is the counterfeiting spirit, which is the material copper. This, my Lord, is the first thought.

"The second thought is on the other hand that which thou hast just said unto us concerning the soul which receiveth the mysteries: 'If it cometh into the region of the rulers of the way of the midst, they come forth to meet it in exceedingly great fear and they are afraid of it. And the soul giveth the mystery of the fear unto them and they are afraid before it. And it giveth the destiny to its region, and it giveth the counterfeiting spirit to its own region, and it giveth the apology and the seals to every one of the rulers who are on the ways, and it giveth the honour and the glory and the laud of the seals and the songs of praise to all those of the region of the Light,'--concerning this word, my Lord, thou hast spoken aforetime through the mouth of our brotherA saying of Paul. Paul: 'Give tax to whom tax is due, give fear to whom fear is due, give tribute to whom tribute is due, give honour to whom honour is due, and give laud to whom laud is due, and owe not any other anything,' |295.--that is, my Lord: The soul which receiveth mysteries, giveth apology to all regions. This, my Lord, is the second thought.

"The third thought on the other hand concerning the word which thou hast aforetime spoken

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The foes of one's own house.unto us: 'The counterfeiting spirit is hostile to the soul, making it do all sins and all mischiefs, and it transferreth it in the chastisements because of all the . sins which it hath made it commit; in a word, it is hostile to the soul in every way,'--concerning this word, therefore, thou hast said unto us aforetime: 'The foes of the man are the dwellers in his house,'--that is: The dwellers in the house of the soul are the counterfeiting spirit and the destiny, which are hostile to the soul the whole time, making it commit all sin and all iniquities. Lo this, my Lord, is the third thought.

"The fourth thought on the other hand concerning the word which thou hast said: 'If the soul goeth forth out of the body and travelleth on the way with the counterfeiting spirit, and if it hath not found the mystery of the undoing of all the bonds and the seals which are bound to the counterfeiting spirit, so that it may cease to haunt or be assigned to it,--if it then hath not found it, the counterfeiting spirit leadeth the soul to the Virgin of Light, the judge; and the judge, the Virgin of Light, proveth the soul and findeth |296. that it hath sinned and, as she also hath not found the mysteries of the Light with it, she handeth it over to one of her receivers, and her receiver leadeth it and casteth it into the body, and it cometh not out of the changes of the body before it hath yielded its last circuit,'--concerning this word, then, my Lord, thou hast said unto us aforetime: 'Be reconciled with thy foe as longA former saying concerning rebirth. as thou art on the way with him, lest perchance thy foe hand thee over to the judge and the judge hand thee over to the servant and the servant

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cast thee into prison, and thou shalt not come forth out of that region till thou hast yielded the last farthing.'

"Because of this manifestly is thy word: Every soul which cometh forth out of the body and travelleth on the way with the counterfeiting spirit and findeth not the mystery of the undoing of all the seals and all the bonds, so that it may undo itself from the counterfeiting spirit which is bound to it,--that soul which hath not found mysteries of the Light and hath not found the mysteries of detachment from the counterfeiting spirit which is bound to it,--if then it hath not found it, the counterfeiting spirit leadeth that soul to the Virgin of Light, and the Virgin of Light, yea that judge, handeth over that soul |297. to one of her receivers, and her receiver casteth it into the sphere of the æons, and it cometh not out of the changes of the body before it hath yielded the last circuit which is appointed for it. This then, my Lord, is the fourth thought."

CHAPTER 114

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard Mary say these words, that he said: "Well said, all-blessed Mary, spiritual [one]. These are the solutions of the words which I have spoken."

Mary continueth to question Jesus.Mary answered and said: "Still, my Lord, do I question thee, because from now on I will begin to question thee on all things with sureness. For this cause, therefore, my Lord, be patient with us and reveal unto us all things on which we shall question thee for the sake of the manner, how my brethren are to herald it to the whole race of men."

And when she had said this to the Saviour,

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the Saviour answered and said unto her in great compassion towards her: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: Not only will I reveal unto you all things on which ye shall question me, but from now on I will reveal unto you other things on which ye have not thought to question, which have not entered into the heart of man, and which also all the gods, who are below man, know not. Now, therefore, Mary, question on what thou mayest question, and I will reveal it unto thee face to face without similitude."

CHAPTER 115

And Mary answered and said: "My Lord, in what type then do |298. the baptisms forgive sins? I heard thee say: 'The retributive servitors follow the soul, being witnesses to it for all the sins which it committeth, that they may convict it in the judgments.' Now, therefore, my Lord, do the mysteries of the baptisms wipe out the sins which are in the hands of the retributive servitors, so that they forget them? Now, therefore, my Lord, tell unto us the type, how they forgive sins; nay, we desire to know it with sureness."

Of the retributive servitors.And the Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Finely hast thou spoken. The servitors indeed are they who bear witness to all sins; but they abide in the judgments, seizing the souls and convicting all the souls of sinners who have received no mysteries; and they keep them fast in the chaos, chastizing them. And those retributive receivers cannot overstep the chaos to reach to the orders which are above the chaos, and convict the souls which come forth out of those regions. Now then it is not lawful to use force on the souls which receive mysteries, and lead them into

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the chaos, so that the retributive servitors may convict them. But the retributive servitors convict the |299. souls of the sinners and they keep fast those who have received no mysteries which may lead them out of the chaos. The souls on the other hand which receive mysteries,--they have no power of convicting them, because they do not come forth out of their regions, and also, if they come forth into their regions, they are not able to obstruct them; nay, they cannot lead them into that chaos.

How the soul of the sinner is stamped with his sins."Hearken moreover that I may tell you the word in truth, in what type the mystery of baptism forgiveth sins. Now, therefore, if the souls sin when they are still in the world, the retributive servitors indeed come and are witnesses of all the sins which the soul committeth, lest in sooth they should come forth out of the regions of the chaos, in order that they may convict them in the judgments which are outside the chaos. And the counterfeiting spirit becometh witness of all the sins which the soul shall commit, in order that it may convict it in the judgments which are outside the chaos, not only that it may bear witness of them, but--all the sins of the souls--it sealeth the sins and maketh them fast on to the soul, in order that all the rulers of the chastisements of the sinners may recognize it, that it is a sinning soul, and that they may know of the number of sins which it hath committed, by the seals which the counterfeiting spirit hath made fast on to it, so that it shall be chastized according to |300. the number of sins which it hath committed. This do they with all sinning souls.

"Now, therefore, he who shall receive the

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How the baptisms purify sins.mysteries of the baptisms, then the mystery of them becometh a great, exceedingly violent, wise fire and it burneth up the sins and entereth into the soul secretly and consumeth all the sins which the counterfeiting spirit hath made fast on to it. And when it hath finished purifying all the sinsThe separation of the portions by the mystery of baptism. which the counterfeiting spirit hath made fast on to the soul, it entereth into the body secretly and pursueth all the pursuers secretly and separateth them off on the side of the portion of the body. For it pursueth the counterfeiting spirit and the destiny and separateth them off from the power and from the soul and putteth them on the side of the body, so that it separateth off the counterfeiting spirit and the destiny and the body into one portion; the soul and power on the other hand it separateth into another. The mystery of baptism on the contrary remaineth in the midst of the two, continually separating them from one another, so that it maketh them clean and purifieth them, in order that they may not be stained by matter.

"Now, therefore, Mary, this is the way in which the mysteries of the baptisms forgive sins and all iniquities."

CHAPTER 116

When then |301. the Saviour had said this, he said unto his disciples: "Understand ye in what manner I discourse with you?"

Mary interpreteth the same from a former saying.Then Mary started forward and said: "Yea, my Lord, in truth I enquire closely into all the words which thou sayest. Concerning the word then of the forgiveness of sins thou hast spoken unto us in similitude aforetime, saying: 'I am come to cast fire on the earth,' and again: 'What will I that it burn?' And again thou hast distinguished

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it clearly, saying: 'I have a baptism, to baptize in it; and how shall I endure until it is accomplished? Think ye I am come to cast peace on the earth? Nay, but I am come to cast division. For from now on five will be in one house; three will be divided against two, and two against three.' This, my Lord, is the word which thou hast spoken clearly.

"The word indeed which thou hast spoken: 'I am come to cast fire on the earth, and what will I that it burn?'--that is, my Lord: Thou hast brought the mysteries of the baptisms into the world, and thy pleasure is that they should consume all the sins of the soul and purify them. And thereafter again thou hast distinguished it clearly, saying: 'I have a baptism, to baptize in it; and |302. how shall I endure until it is accomplished?'--that is: Thou wilt not remain in the world until the baptisms are accomplished and purify the perfect souls.

"And moreover the word which thou hast spoken unto us aforetime: 'Think ye I am come to cast peace on the earth? Nay, but I am come to cast division. For from now on five will be in one house; three will be divided against two, and two against three,'--that is: Thou hast brought the mystery of the baptisms into the world, and it hath effected a division in the bodies of the world, because it hath separated the counterfeiting spirit and the body and the destiny into one portion; the soul and the power on the other hand it hath separated into another portion;--that is: Three will be against two, and two against three."

And when Mary had said this, the Saviour

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said: "Well said, thou spiritual and light-pure Mary. This is the solution of the word."

CHAPTER 117

Mary further questioneth Jesus.Mary answered again and said: "My Lord, I will still continue to question thee. Now, therefore, my Lord, bear with me questioning thee. Lo, in openness have we known the type in which the baptisms forgive sins. Now on the other hand the mystery of these three spaces and the mysteries of this First Mystery and the mysteries of the Ineffable, in what type do they forgive sins? Do they forgive in the type |303. of the baptisms, or not?"

Of the forgiveness of sins according to the higher mysteries.The Saviour answered again and said: "Nay, but all the mysteries of the three spaces forgive the soul in all the regions of the rulers all the sine which the soul hath committed from the beginning onwards. They forgive it, and moreover they forgive the sins which it thereafter will commit, until the time up to which every one of the mysteries shall be effective,--the time up to which every one of the mysteries shall be effective I will tell you at the expansion of the universe.

"And moreover the mystery of the First Mystery and the mysteries of the Ineffable forgive the soul in all the regions of the rulers all the sins and all the iniquities which the soul hath committed; and [not only] do they forgive it all, but they impute unto it no sin from this hour unto all eternity, because of the gift of that great mystery and its prodigiously great glory."

CHAPTER 118

When then the Saviour had said this, he said unto his disciples: "Understand ye in what manner I speak with you?"

And Mary answered again and said: "Yea, my Lord, already have I seized on all the words

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Mary interpreteth the same from Psalm xxxi.which thou sayest. Now, therefore, my Lord, concerning the word which thou sayest: |304. 'All the mysteries of the three spaces forgive sins and cover their [sc. the souls'] iniquities,'--David, the prophet, then hath prophesied aforetime concerning this word, saying: 'Blessed are they whose sins are forgiven and whose iniquities are covered.'

"And the word which thou hast spoken: 'The mystery of the First Mystery and the mystery of the Ineffable forgive all men who shall receive those mysteries, not only the sins which they have committed from the beginning onwards, but also they impute them not to them from this hour unto all eternity,'--concerning this word David hath prophesied aforetime, saying: 'Blessed are those to whom the Lord God will not impute sins,'--that is: Sins will not be imputed from this hour to those who have received the mysteries of the First Mystery and who have received the mystery of the Ineffable."

He said: "Well said, Mary, thou spiritual and light-pure Mary. This is the solution of the word."

And Mary continued again and said: "My Lord, if the man receiveth mysteries from the mysteries |305. of the First Mystery and again turneth and sinneth and transgresseth, and if he thereafter again turneth and repenteth and prayeth in any [mystery] of his mystery, will it be forgiven him, or not?"

The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: Every one who shall receive the mysteries of the First Mystery,

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Of forgiveness even unto twelve times of those who have received the mysteries of the First Mystery.if he again turneth and transgresseth twelve times and again twelve times repenteth, praying in the mystery of the First Mystery, it will be forgiven.

"But if after the twelve times he again transgresseth and turneth and transgresseth, it will not be forgiven him for ever, so that he should turn himself to any [mystery] of his mystery; and this [man] hath not repentance unless he receiveth the mysteries of the Ineffable, which have compassion at every time and forgive at every time."

CHAPTER 119

Mary continued again and said: "My Lord, but if on the other hand they who have received the mysteries of the First Mystery, turn and transgress, and if they come out of the body before they have repented, will they inherit the kingdom or not, because indeed they have received the gift of the First Mystery?"

Of such initiated who sin and die without repentance.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: Every man who hath received mysteries in the First Mystery, | having transgressed for the first and the second and the third time, and if he cometh out of the body before he hath repented, his judgment is far sorer than all the judgments; for his dwelling is in the midst of the jaws of the dragon of the outer darkness, and at the end of all this he will be frozen up [?] in the chastisements and perish for ever, because he hath received the gift of the First Mystery and hath not abided in it [sc. the gift].

Of the unending forgiveness of those who have received the mystery of the Ineffable.Mary answered and said: "My Lord, all men who shall receive the mysteries of the mystery of the Ineffable, and have turned again, have transgressed and have ceased in their faith, and again thereafter, when they are still in life,

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have turned and have repented, how many times will it be forgiven them?"

The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: To every man who shall receive the mysteries of the Ineffable, not only if he transgresseth once, turneth again and repenteth, will it be forgiven, but if at any time he transgresseth, and if, when still in life, he turneth again and repenteth, without play- acting, and again if he turneth and repenteth and prayeth in any of his mysteries, then will it be forgiven him, because he hath received of the gift of the mysteries of |307. the Ineffable, and moreover because those mysteries are compassionate and forgive at every time."

And Mary answered again and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, those who shall receive the mysteries of the Ineffable, and have again turned, have transgressed and have ceased in their faith and are moreover come out of the body before they have repented, what will befall such?"

Of such initiated who sin and die without repentance.And the Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: All men who shall receive the mysteries of the Ineffable, blessed indeed are the souls which shall receive of those mysteries; but if they turn and transgress and come out of the body before they have repented, the judgment of those men is sorer than all the judgments, and it is exceedingly violent, even if those souls are new and it is their first time for coming into the world. They will not return to the changes of the bodies from that hour onwards and will not be able to do anything, but they will be cast out into the outer

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darkness and perish and be non-existent for ever."

CHAPTER 120

And when the Saviour had said this, he said unto his disciples: "Understand ye in what manner I speak with you?"

Mary interpreteth the same from a former saying.Mary answered |308. and said: "I have seized on the words which thou hast said. Now, therefore, my Lord, this is the word which thou hast said: 'They who shall receive the mysteries of the Ineffable,--blessed indeed are those souls;

but if they turn, transgress, and cease in their faith, and if they go forth out of the body without having repented, they are no more fit from this hour onwards to return to the changes of the body, nor for anything at all, but they are cast out into the outer darkness, they will perish in that region and be non-existent for ever,'--concerning [this] word thou hast spoken unto us aforetime, saying: 'Salt is good; but if the salt becometh sterile, with what are they to salt it? It is fit neither for the dunghill nor for the earth; but they throw it away,'--that is: Blessed are all the souls which shall receive of the mysteries of the Ineffable; but if they once transgress, they are not fit to return to the body henceforth from this hour onwards nor for anything at all, but they are cast into the outer darkness and perish in that region."

And when she had said this, the Saviour said: "Well said, thou spiritual light-pure Mary. This is the solution of the word."

And Mary continued again |309. and said: "My Lord, all men who have received the mysteries of the First Mystery and the mysteries of the Ineffable, those who have not transgressed, but

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whose faith in the mysteries was in sincerity, without play-acting,--they then have again sinned through the compulsion of the Fate and have again turned and repented and again prayed in any of the mysteries, how often will it be forgiven them?"

Of the unending compassion of the great mysteries for the repentant.And the Saviour answered and said unto Mary in the midst of his disciples: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: All men who shall receive the mysteries of the Ineffable and moreover the mysteries of the First Mystery, sin every time through the compulsion of the Fate, and if they, when they are still in life, turn and repent and abide in any of their mysteries, it will be forgiven them at every time, because those mysteries are compassionate and forgiving for all time. For this cause then have I said unto you before: Those mysteries will not only forgive them their sins which they have committed from the beginning onwards, but they do not impute them to them from this hour onwards,--of which I have said unto you that they receive repentance at any time, and that they also will forgive the sins which they commit anew.

Of the unrepentant."If on the other hand those who shall receive mysteries of |310. the mystery of the Ineffable and of the mysteries of the First Mystery, turn and sin and come out of the body without having repented, then they will be even as those will be who have transgressed and not repented. Their dwelling also is in the midst of the jaws of the dragon of the outer darkness and they will perish and be non-existent for ever. For this cause have I said unto you: All men who shall receive the mysteries, if they knew the time when they come

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out of the body, would watch themselves and not sin, in order that they may inherit the Light-kingdom for ever."

CHAPTER 121

When then the Saviour had said this unto his disciples, he said unto them: "Understand ye in what manner I speak with you?"

Mary interpreteth from a former saying.Mary answered and said: "Yea, my Lord, with precision have I precisely followed all the words which thou hast said. Concerning this word then thou hast spoken unto us aforetime: 'If the house-holder knew at what hour in the night the thief cometh to break into the house, he would keep awake and not suffer the man to break into his house.'"

When then Mary had said this, the Saviour said: "Well said, thou spiritual Mary. This is the word."

The Saviour continued again and said unto his disciples: "Now, therefore, herald ye unto all men who shall receive mysteries in the Light, and speak |311. unto them, saying: Keep watch over yourselves and sin not, lest ye heap evil on evil and go out of the body without having repented and become strangers to the Light-kingdom for ever."

When the Saviour had said this, Mary answered and said: "My Lord, great is the compassion of those mysteries which forgive sins at every time."

If even men on earth are compassionate, how much more then the highest mysteries?The Saviour answered and said unto Mary in the midst of the disciples: "If to-day a king who is a man of the world, giveth a gift to men of his like, and also forgiveth murderers and those who have intercourse with males, and the rest of the very grievous sins which are deserving of death,--if it becometh him who is a man of the

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world, to have done this, much more then have the Ineffable and the First Mystery, who are the lords of the universe, the authority to act in all things as it pleaseth them, that they forgive every one who shall receive mysteries.

"Or if on the other hand a king to-day investeth a soldier with a royal vesture and sendeth him into foreign regions, and he committeth murders and other grievous sins which are deserving of death, then they will not impute them to him, and are not able to do him any evil because he is invested with the royal vesture,--how much more then those who wear the mysteries of the vestures of the Ineffable and those of the First Mystery, who are lords over all those of the height and all those of the depth!"

CHAPTER 122

Jesus trieth Peter.Thereafter Jesus saw a woman who came to make repentance. |312. He had baptized her three times, and yet she had not done what was worthy of the baptisms. And the Saviour desired to try Peter, to see if he was compassionate and forgiving, as he had commanded them. He said unto Peter: "Lo, three times have I baptized this soul, and yet at this third time she hath not done what is worthy of the mysteries of the Light. Wherefor then cloth she make her body good for nothing? Now, therefore, Peter, perform the mystery which cutteth off the souls from the inheritances of the Light; perform that mystery in order that it may cut off the soul of this woman from the Inheritance of the Light."

When then the Saviour had said this, he tried [Peter] to see whether he was compassionate and forgiving.

When then the Saviour had said this, Peter

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said: "My Lord, let her yet this time, that we may give her the higher mysteries; and if she is fit, then hast thou let her inherit the Light-kingdom, but if she is not fit, then hast thou [to] cut her off from the Light-kingdom."

When then Peter had said this, the Saviour knew that Peter was compassionate as he and forgiving.

When then all this was said, the Saviour said unto his disciples: "Have ye understood all these words and the type |313. of this woman?"

Mary interpreteth the incident from a former saying.Mary answered and said: "My Lord, I have understood the mysteries of the things which have fallen to this woman's lot. Concerning the things then which have fallen to her lot, thou hast spoken unto us aforetime in similitude, saying: 'A man owned a fig-tree in his vineyard; and he came to look for its fruit, and he found not a single one on it. He said to the vine-dresser: Lo, three years do I come to look for fruit on this fig-tree, and I have not any produce at all from it. Cut it down then; why doth it make the ground also good for nothing? But he answered and said unto him: My lord, have patience with it still this year, until I dig round it and give it dung; and if it beareth in another year, thou hast let it, but if thou dost not find any [fruit] at all, then hast thou [to] cut it down.' Lo, my Lord, this is the solution of the word."

The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Well said, spiritual [one]. This is [the solution of] the word."

CHAPTER 123

Mary continued again and said unto the Saviour: "My Lord, a man who hath received mysteries and hath not done what is worthy of

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them, but he hath turned and hath sinned, thereafter he hath again repented and hath been in great repentance,--is it then lawful for my brethren to renew for him the mystery which he hath received, or |314. rather give him a mystery out of the lower mysteries,--is it lawful, or not?"

In the case of repentance only higher mysteries than those previously received can remit sins.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: Neither the mystery which he hath received, nor the lower hearken unto him, to forgive his sins; but it is the mysteries which are higher than those which he hath received, which hearken unto him and forgive his sins. Now, therefore, Mary, let thy brethren give him the mystery which is higher than that which he hath received, and they are to accept his repentance from him and forgive his sins,--the latter indeed, because he hath received it once more, and the former, because he hath towered over them [the lower mysteries] upward,--the latter indeed hearkeneth not unto him to forgive his sin; but it is the mystery which is higher than that which he hath received, that forgiveth his sins. But if on the other hand he hath received the three mysteries in the two spaces or in the third from within, and he hath turned and transgressed, no mystery hearkeneth unto him to help him in his repentance, neither the higher nor the lower, save the mystery of the First Mystery and the mysteries of the Ineffable,--it is they which hearken unto him and accept his repentance from him."

Mary answered and said: "My Lord, a man who hath received mysteries up to two or three |315. in the second or third space, and he hath not transgressed, but is still in his faith in uprightness

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and without play-acting, [what will befall him]?"

There is no limit to the number of mysteries the faithful may receive.And the Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Every man who hath received mysteries in the second and in the third space, and hath not transgressed, but is still in his faith without play-acting, it is lawful for such an one to receive mysteries in the space which pleaseth him, from the first to the last, because they have not transgressed."

CHAPTER 124

Mary continued again and said: "My Lord, a man who hath known the godhead and hath received of the mysteries of the Light, and hath turned and transgressed and done lawlessly and hath not turned to repent, and a man on the other hand who hath not found the godhead nor known it, and that man is a sinner and moreover impious, and they both have come out of the body,--which of them will get more suffering in the judgments?"

The fate of the gnostic who sinneth is more terrible than that of the ignorant sinner.The Saviour answered again and said unto Mary: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto thee: The man who hath known the godhead and hath received the mysteries of the Light, and sinned and hath not turned to repent, he will get suffering in the chastisements of the judgments in great sufferings and |316. judgments exceedingly far more in comparison with the impious and law-breaking man who hath not known the godhead. Now, therefore, who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Mary interpreteth the same from a former saying.When then the Saviour had said this, Mary started forward and said: "My Lord, my light-man hath ears, and I have understood the whole word which thou hast spoken. Concerning this word then thou hast spoken unto us in a similitude:

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[paragraph continues] 'The slave who knew the will of his lord and made not ready nor did the will of his lord, will receive great blows; but he who knew not and did not, will be deserving of less. For from every one to whom more is entrusted, of him will more be demanded, and to whom much is handed over, of him much is required,'--that is, my Lord: He who knew the godhead and hath found the mysteries of the Light and hath transgressed, will be chastized in a far greater chastisement than he who hath not known the godhead. This, my Lord, is the solution of the word."

CHAPTER 125

Mary continued again and said unto the Saviour: "My Lord, if the faith and the mysteries shall have revealed themselves,--now, therefore, if souls come into the world in many circuits and are neglectful of receiving mysteries, hoping that, if they come into the world at any other circuit, they will receive them, will they not then be in danger |317. of not succeeding in receiving the mysteries?"

Of those who procrastinate, saying they have many births before them.The Saviour answered and said unto his disciples: "Herald unto the whole world and say unto men: Strive thereafter that ye may receive the mysteries of the Light in this time of affliction and enter into the Light-kingdom. Join not one day to another, or one circuit to another, hoping that ye may succeed in receiving the mysteries if ye come into the world in another circuit.

"And these know not when the number of the perfect souls will be at hand; for if the number of the perfect souls shall be at hand, I will now shut the gates of the Light, and no one from this hour onwards will enter in, nor will

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any one hereafter go forth, for the number of the perfect souls is completed and the mystery of the First Mystery is completed, for the sake of which the universe hath arisen,--that is: I am that Mystery.

Of the time of the completion."And from this hour onwards no one will be able to enter into the Light and no one be able to go forth. For at the completion of the time of the number of the perfect souls, before I have set fire to the world, in order that it may purify the æons and the veils and the firmaments and the whole earth and also all the matters which are on it, mankind |318. will be still existing.

Those who procrastinate are excluded from the Light."At that time then the faith will reveal itself still more and the mysteries in those days. And many souls will come by means of the circuits of the changes of the body, and coming back into the world are some of those in this present time who have hearkened unto me, how I taught, who at the completion of the number of the perfect souls will find the mysteries of the Light and receive them and come to the gates of the Light and find that the number of the perfect souls is complete, which is the completion of the First Mystery and the gnosis of the universe. And they will find that I have shut the gates of the Light and that it is impossible that any one should enter in or that any one should go forth from this hour.

Their entreaties at the gates of Light."Those souls then will knock at the gates of the Light, saying: Lord, open unto us! And I will answer unto them: I know you not, whence ye are. And they will say unto me: We have received of thy mysteries and fulfilled thy whole teaching and thou hast taught us on the high

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ways. And I will answer and say unto them: I know you not, who ye are, ye who are doers of iniquity and of evil even unto now. Wherefor go into the outer darkness. And |319. from that hour they will go into the outer darkness, there where is howling and grinding of teeth.

"For this cause then, herald unto the whole world and say unto them: 'Strive thereafter, to renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein, that ye may receive the mysteries of the Light before the number of the perfect souls is completed, in order that they may not make you stop before the gates of the Light and. lead you away into the outer darkness.'

"Now, therefore, who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Mary interpreteth the same.When then the Saviour had said this, Mary started forward again and said: "My Lord, not only hath my light-man ears, but my soul hath heard and understood all the words which thou sayest. Now, therefore, my Lord, concerning the words which thou hast spoken: 'Herald unto the men of the world and say unto them: Strive thereafter, to receive the mysteries of the Light, in this time of affliction, that ye may inherit the Light-kingdom. . . .

Pistis Sophia: Book Four

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CHAPTER 126

AND Mary continued again and said unto Jesus: "In what type is the outer darkness; or rather how many regions of chastisement are there in it?"

Of the dragon of the outer darkness.And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "The outer darkness is a great dragon, whose tail is in his mouth, outside the whole world and surrounding the whole world. And there are many regions of chastisement within it. There are twelve mighty |320. chastisement-dungeons and a ruler is in every dungeon and the face of the rulers is different one from another.

Of the rulers of the twelve dungeons and their names."And the first ruler, who is in the first dungeon, hath a crocodile's face, whose tail is in his mouth. And out of the jaws of the dragon cometh all ice and all dust and all cold and all different diseases. This [is] he who is called with his authentic name in his region 'Enchthonin.'

"And the ruler who is in the second dungeon,--a cat's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'Charachar.'

"And the ruler who is in the third dungeon,--a dog's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'Archar?ch.'

"And the ruler who is in the fourth dungeon,--a serpent's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'Achr?char.'

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"And the ruler who is in the fifth dungeon,--a black bull's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'March?r.'

"And the ruler who is in the sixth dungeon,--a wild boar's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region 'Lamcham?r.'

"And the ruler who is in the seventh dungeon, |321.--a bear's face is his authentic face. This [is] he who is called in his region with his authentic name 'Luchar.'

"And the ruler of the eighth dungeon,--a vulture's face is his authentic face, whose name in his region is called 'Lara?ch.'

"And the ruler of the ninth dungeon,--a basilisk's face is his authentic face, whose name in his region is called 'Arche?ch.'

"And in the tenth dungeon is a multitude of rulers, and every one of them hath seven dragon's heads in his authentic face. And he who is over them all is in his region with his name called Xarmar?ch.'

"And in the eleventh dungeon is a multitude of rulers,--and every one of them hath seven cat-faced heads in his authentic face. And the great one over them is called in his region R?char.'

"And in the twelfth dungeon is an exceedingly great multitude of rulers, and every one of them hath seven dog-faced heads in his authentic face. And the great one over them is called in his region 'Chr?ma?r.'

"These rulers then of these twelve dungeons are inside the dragon of the outer darkness, each and every one |322. of them hath a name every hour, and every one of them changeth his face every

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Of the doors of the dungeons.hour. And moreover every one of these dungeons hath a door opening upwards, so that the dragon of the outer darkness hath twelve dark dungeons, and every dungeon hath a door opening upwards. And an angel of the height watcheth each of the doors of the dungeons,--whom Yew, the First Man, the overseer of the Light,The angels who watch the doors. the envoy of the First Commandment, hath established as watchers of the dragon, so that the dragon and the rulers of his dungeons which are in him, may not mutiny."

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When the Saviour had said this, Mary Magdalene answered and said: "My Lord, will then the souls which shall be led into that region, be led through these twelve doors of the dungeons, every one according to the judgment of which it is deserving?"

What souls pass into the dragon, and how.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "No soul at all will be led into the dragon through these doors. But the soul[s] of the blasphemers and of those who are in the doctrines of error and of all who teach doctrines of error, and of those who have intercourse with males, and of those stained and impious men and of atheists and murderers and adulterers and sorcerers,--all such souls then, if while still in life they do not repent but |323. remain persistently in their sin, and all the souls which have stayed behind without, that is those which have had the number of the circuits which are appointed them in the sphere, without having repented,--well, at their last circuit will those souls, they and all the souls of which I have just told you, be led out of [?] the jaws of the tail of the dragon into the dungeons of the outer darkness. And when those souls of the doors of the dungeons.

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have been led into the outer darkness into the jaws of his tail, he turneth his tail into his own mouth and shutteth them in. Thus will the souls be led into the outer darkness.

The nature of the names of the dragon."And the dragon of the outer darkness hath twelve authentic names on his doors, a name on every one of the doors of the dungeons. And these twelve names are different one from another; but the twelve are one in the other, so that he who speaketh one name, speaketh all. These then will I tell you at the expansion of the universe. Thus then is fashioned the outer darkness,--that is the dragon."

When then the Saviour had said this, Mary answered and said |324. unto the Saviour: "My Lord, are then the chastisements of that dragon far more terrible compared with all the chastisements of the judgments?"

Of the severity of the chastisements of the dragon.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Not only are they more painful compared with all the chastisements of the judgments, but all the souls which are led into that region, will be frozen up [?] in the violent cold and the hail and exceedingly violent fire which is in that region, but also at the dissolution of the world, that is at the ascension of the universe, those souls will perish through the violent cold and the exceedingly violent fire and be non-existent for ever."

Mary answered and said: "Woe unto the souls of sinners! Now, therefore, my Lord, is the fire in the world of mankind fiercer, or the fire in Amente?"

Of the degrees of the fires of the chastisements.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Am?n, I say unto thee: The fire in Amente is nine times fiercer than the fire in mankind.

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"And the fire in the chastisements of the great chaos is nine times more violent than that in Amente.

"And the fire in the chastisements of the rulers who [are] on the way of the midst, is nine times more violent than the fire of the chastisements in the great chaos.

"And the fire |325. in the dragon of the outer darkness and in all the chastisements in him is seventy times more violent than the fire in all the chastisements and in all the judgments of the rulers who [are] on the way of the midst."

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The disciples bewail the fate of sinners.And when the Saviour had said this unto Mary, she smote her breast, she cried out and wept, she and all the disciples together, and said: "Woe unto sinners, for their chastisements are exceedingly numerous!"

Mary came forward, she fell down at the feet of Jesus, kissed them and said: "My Lord, bear with me if I question thee, and be not wroth with me, that I trouble thee oft; for from now on I will begin to question thee on all things with determination."

The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Question concerning all things on which thou desirest to question, and I will reveal them unto thee in openness without similitude."

Mary further questioneth Jesus.Mary answered and said: "My Lord, if a good man hath accomplished all the mysteries and he hath a kinsman, in a word he hath a man, and that man is an impious [one] who hath committed all sins and is deserving of the outer darkness, and he hath not repented, or he hath completed his number of circuits in the changes of the body, and that man hath done nothing useful,

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and he hath come out of. the body, and we have known certainly of him, that he hath sinned |326. and is deserving of the outer darkness,--what are we to do with him, to save him from the chastisements of the dragon of the outer darkness, and that he may be removed into a righteous body which shall find the mysteries of the Light-kingdom, in order that it may be good and go on high and inherit the Light-kingdom?"

How to save the souls of sinners.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "If a sinner is deserving of the outer darkness, or hath sinned according to the chastisements of the rest of the chastisements and hath not repented, or a sinning man who hath completed his number of circuits in the changes of the body and hath not repented,--if then these men of whom I have spoken, shall come out of the body and be led into the outer darkness, now, therefore, if ye desire to remove them out of the chastisements of the outer darkness and all the judgments and to remove them into a righteous body which shall find the mysteries of the Light, that it may go on high and inherit the Light-kingdom,--then perform this same mystery of the Ineffable which forgiveth sins at every time, and when ye have finished performing the mystery then say:

A summary of the formulæ."The soul of such or such a man of whom I think in my heart,--if it is in the region of the chastisements of the dungeons of the outer darkness, or if it is in the rest of the chastisements of the dungeons of the outer darkness and in the rest of the chastisements |327. of the dragons,--then is it to be removed out of them all. And if it hath completed its number of its circuits of the changes,

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then is it to be led before the Virgin of Light, and the Virgin of Light is to seal it with the seal of the Ineffable and cast it down in whatever month into a righteous body which shall find the mysteries of the Light, so that it may be good, go on high and inherit the Light-kingdom. And moreover if it hath completed the circuits of changes, then is that soul to be led before the seven virgins of the Light who [are set] over the baptisms, and they are to apply them to the soul and seal it with the sign of the kingdom of the Ineffable and lead it into the orders of the Light.

"This then will ye say when ye perform the mystery.

"Am?n, I say unto you: The soul for which ye shall pray, if it indeed is in the dragon of the outer darkness, he will draw his tail out of his mouth and let go that soul. And moreover if it is in all the regions of the judgments of the rulers, am?n, I say unto you: The receivers of Melchisedec will with haste snatch it away, whether the dragon let it go or it is in the judgments of the rulers; in a word, the receivers of Melchisedec |328. will snatch it away out of all the regions in which it is, and will lead it into the region of the Midst before the Virgin of Light, and the Virgin of Light proveth it and seeth the sign of the kingdom of the Ineffable which is on that soul.

"And if it hath not yet completed its number of circuits in the changes of the soul, or [in the changes] of the body, the Virgin of Light sealeth it with an excellent seal and hasteth to have it cast down in any month into a righteous body which shall find the mysteries of the Light, be good and go on high into the Light-kingdom.

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"And if that soul hath had its number of the circuits, then the Virgin of Light proveth it, and doth not have it chastized, because it hath had its number of circuits, but handeth it over to the seven virgins of the Light. And the seven virgins of the Light prove that soul, baptize it with their baptisms and give it the spiritual chrism and lead it into the Treasury of the Light and put it in the last order of the Light until the ascension of all the perfect souls. And when they prepare to draw apart the veils of the region of those of the Right, they cleanse that soul anew and purify it and put it in the orders of the first saviour who [is] in the |329. Treasury of the Light."

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It came to pass then, when the Saviour had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary answered and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, I have heard thee say: 'He who shall receive of the mysteries of the Ineffable or who shall receive of the mysteries of the First Mystery,--they become flames of light-beams and light-streams and penetrate all the regions until they reach the region of their inheritance.'"

Of the light beams and light-streams.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "If they receive the mystery when still in life, and if they come out of the body, they become light-beams and light-streams and penetrate all the regions until they reach the region of their inheritance.

"But if they are sinners and are come out of the body and have not repented, and if ye perform for them the mystery of the Ineffable, in order that they may be removed out of all the chastisements and be cast into a righteous body, which is good and inheriteth the Light-kingdom or is

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brought into the last order of the Light, then they will not be able to penetrate the regions, because they do not perform the mystery [themselves]. But the receivers of Melchisedec follow them and lead them before the Virgin of Light. And |330. the servitors of the judges of the rulers make frequent haste to take those souls and hand them over from one to the other until they lead them before the Virgin of Light."

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Mary pleadeth for those who have neglected the mysteries.And Mary continued and said unto the Saviour: "My Lord, if a man hath received the mysteries of the Light which [are] in the first space from without, and when the time of the mysteries up to which they reach, is completed, and if that man continueth anew to receive mysteries of the mysteries which [are] within the mysteries which he hath already received, and moreover that man hath become negligent, not having prayed in the prayer which taketh away the evil of the victuals which he eateth and drinketh, and through the evil of the victuals he is bound to the axle of the Fate of the rulers and through the necessity of the elements he hath sinned anew after the completion of the time up to which the mystery reacheth,--because he hath become negligent and hath not prayed in the prayer which taketh away the evil of the souls and purifieth them,--and that man is come out of the body before he hath repented anew and anew received the mysteries of the mysteries which [are] within the mysteries which he hath already received,--those which accept repentance from him and forgive his sins,--and when he I came forth out of the body and we knew with certainty that they have carried him into the midst of the

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dragon of the outer darkness because of the sins which he committed, and that that man hath no helper in the world nor any one compassionate, that he should perform the mystery of the Ineffable until he should be removed out of the midst of the dragon of the outer darkness and led into the Light-kingdom,--now, therefore, my Lord, what will befall him until he save himself from the chastisements of the dragon of the outer darkness? By no means, O Lord, abandon him, because he hath endured sufferings in the persecutions and in the whole godhood in which he is.

"Now, therefore, O Saviour, have mercy with me, lest one of our kinsmen should be in such a type, and have mercy with all the souls which shall be in this type; for thou art the key which openeth the door of the universe and shutteth the door of the universe, and thy mystery comprehendeth them all. Have then mercy, O Lord, with such souls. For they have called on the name of thy mysteries, [were it but] for one single day, and have truly had faith in them and were not in play-acting. Give them then, O Lord, a gift in thy goodness and give them rest in thy mercy."

When then Mary had said this, the Saviour called her most exceedingly blessed because of the words |332. which she had spoken. And the Saviour was in great compassion and said unto Mary: "Unto all men who shall be in this type of which thou hast spoken, unto them while they [are] still in life, give ye the mystery of one of the twelve names of the dungeons of the dragon of the outer darkness,--those which I will give you when I have ended explaining unto you the universe

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from within without and from without within.

Of the efficacy of the names of the twelve angels."And all men who shall find the mystery of one of the twelve names of that dragon of the outer darkness, and all men even if they are very great sinners, and they have first received the mysteries of the Light and thereafter have transgressed, or they have performed no mystery at all, then if they have completed their circuits in the changes, and if such men go forth out of the body without having repented anew, and if they are led into the chastisements which [are] in the midst of the dragon of the outer darkness, and remain in the circuits and remain in the chastisements in the midst of the dragon,--these, if they know the mystery of one of the twelve names of the angels while they are in life and are in the world, and if they speak one of their names while they are in the midst of the chastisements of the dragon,--then, at the hour when they shall speak it, the whole dragon will be tossed about and most exceedingly convulsed, and the door of the dungeon in which the souls |333. of those men are, openeth itself upward, and the ruler of the dungeon in which those men are, casteth the souls of those men out of the midst of the dragon of the outer darkness, because they have found the mystery of the name of the dragon.

The souls who know the names escape and are taken to Yew."And when the ruler casteth out souls, straight-way the angels of Yew, the First Man, who watch the dungeons of that region, hasten to snatch away those souls to lead them before Yew, the First Man, the Envoy of the First Commandment. And Yew, the First Man, seeth the souls and proveth them; he findeth that they have completed

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their circuits and that it is not lawful to bring them anew into the world, for it is not lawful to bring anew into the world all souls which are cast into the outer darkness. [But] if they have not yet completed their number of circuits in the changes of the body, the receivers of Yew keep them with them until they perform for them the mystery of the Ineffable, and remove them into a good body which shall find the mysteries of the Light and inherit the Light-kingdom.

Of their subsequent fate."But if Yew proveth them and findeth that they have completed their circuits and that it is not lawful to [re]turn them anew to the world, and that also the sign of the Ineffable |334. is not with them, then Yew hath compassion upon them and leadeth them before the seven virgins of the Light. They baptize them with their baptisms, but they do not give them the spiritual chrism. And they lead them into the Treasury of the Light, but they do not put them in the orders of the Inheritance, because no sign and no seal of the Ineffable is with them. But they save them from all chastisements and put them into the light of the Treasury, separated and apart by themselves alone until the ascension of the universe. And at the time when they will draw apart the veils of the Treasury of the Light, they cleanse those souls anew and purify them most exceedingly and give them anew mysteries and put them in the last order which [is] in the Treasury, and those souls will be saved from all the chastisements of the judgments."

And when the Saviour had said this, he said unto his disciples: "Have ye understood in what manner I discourse with you?"

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Mary interpreteth the same from a former saying.Mary then answered and said "My Lord, this is the word which thou hast spoken unto us aforetime, in a similitude, saying: 'Make to yourselves a friend out of the Mam?n of unrighteousness, so that if ye remain behind, he may receive you into I the everlasting tents.' Who then is the Mam?n of unrighteousness, if not the dragon of the outer darkness? This is the word: He who shall understand the mystery of one of the names of the dragon of the outer darkness, if he remaineth behind in the outer darkness or if he hath completed the circuits of the changes, and speaketh the name of the dragon, he will be saved and go up out of the darkness and be received into the Treasury of the Light. This is the word, my Lord."

Of the cup of forgetfulness.The Saviour answered again and said unto Mary: "Well said, spiritual and pure [one]. This is the solution of the word."

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Mary continued again and said: "My Lord, doth the dragon of the outer darkness come into this world or doth he not come?"

Of the light of the sun and the darkness of the dragon.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "When the light of the sun is outside [? above the world], he covereth the darkness of the dragon; but if the sun is below the world, then the darkness of the dragon abideth as veiling of the sun and the breath of the darkness cometh into the world in form of a smoke in the night,--that is, if the sun withdraweth into himself his rays, then indeed the world is not able to endure the darkness of the dragon in its true form; otherwise would it be dissolved and go to ruin withal."

When the Saviour had said this, Mary continued again and said unto the Saviour: "My

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[paragraph continues] Lord, still do I question thee and |336. hide [it] not from me. Now, therefore, my Lord, who compelleth then the man until he sinneth?"

The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "It is the rulers of the Fate who compel the man until he sinneth."

Mary answered and said unto the Saviour: "My Lord, surely the rulers do not come down to the world and compel the man until he sinneth?"

Of the cup of forgetfulness.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "They do not come down in this manner into the world. But the rulers of the Fate, when an old soul is about to come down through them, then the rulers of that great Fate who [are] in the regions of the head of the æons,--which is that region which is called the region of the kingdom of Adamas, and which is that region which is in face of the Virgin of Light,--then the rulers of the region of that head give the old soul a cup of forgetfulness out of the seed of wickedness, filled with all the different desires and all forgetfulness. And straightway, when that soul shall drink out of the cup, it forgetteth all the regions to which it hath gone, |337. and all the chastisements in which it hath travelled. AndOf the counterfeiting spirit. that cup of the water of forgetfulness becometh body outside the soul, and it resembleth the soul in all [its] figures and maketh [itself] like it,--which is what is called the counterfeiting spirit.

Of the fashioning of a new soul."If on the other hand it is a new soul which they have taken out of the sweat of the rulers and out of the tears of their eyes, or far rather out of the breath of their mouths,--in a word, if it is one of the new souls or one of such souls, if it is one out of the sweat, then the five great

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rulers of the great Fate take up the sweat of all the rulers of their æons, knead it together withal, portion it and make it into a soul. Or far rather if it is refuse of the purification of the Light, then Melchisedec taketh it up from the rulers. The five great rulers of the great Fate knead the refuse together, portion it and make it into different souls, so that every one of the rulers of the æons, every one of them putteth his portion into the soul. For this cause they knead it jointly, so that all may [par]take of the soul.

"And the five great rulers, if they portion it and make it into souls, bring it out of the sweat |338. of the rulers. But if it is one out of the refuse of the purification of the Light, then Melchisedec, the great Receiver of the Light, taketh it [sc. the refuse] up from the rulers, or far rather if it is out of the tears of their eyes or out of the breath of their mouth,--in a word, out of such souls, when the five rulers portion it and make it into different souls,--or far rather if it is an old soul, then the ruler who is in the head of the æons, himself mixeth the cup of forgetfulness with the seed of wickedness, and he mixeth it with every one of the new souls at the time when he is in the region of the head. And that cup of forgetfulness becometh the counterfeiting spirit for that soul, and bideth outside the soul, being a vesture for it and resembling it in every way, being envelope as vesture outside it.

Of the in-breathing of the power."And the five great rulers of the great Fate of the æons and the ruler of the disk of the sun and the ruler of the disk of the moon inbreathe within into that soul, and there cometh forth out

of them a portion out of my power which the

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last Helper hath cast into the Mixture. And the portion of that power remaineth within in the soul, |339. unloosed and existing on its own authority for the economy unto which it hath been inset, to give sense unto the soul, in order that it may seek after the works of the Light of the Height always.

"And that power is like the species of the soul in every form and resembleth it. It cannot be outside the soul, but remaineth inside it, as I have commanded it from the beginning. When I willed to cast it into the first Commandment, I gave it commandment to remain outside [? inside] the souls for the economy of the First Mystery.

Jesus promiseth to reveal all in detail."And so I will tell you at the expansion of the universe all these words concerning the power and also concerning the soul, after what type they are fashioned, or what ruler fashioneth them, or what are the different species of the souls. And so will I tell you at the expansion of the universe how many fashion the soul. And I will tell you the name of all of them who fashion the soul. And I will tell you the type, how the counterfeiting spirit and the destiny have been prepared. And I will tell you the name of the soul before it is purged, and moreover its name when it hath been purged and become pure. And I will tell you the name of the counterfeiting spirit; and I will tell you the name of the destiny. And I will tell you the name of all the bonds with which the rulers bind the counterfeiting spirit |340. to the soul. And I will tell you the name of all the decans who fashion the soul in the bodies of the soul in the world; and I will tell you in what

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manner the souls are fashioned. And I will tell you the type of every one of the souls; and I will tell you the type of the souls of the men and of those of the birds and of those of the wild beasts and of those of the reptiles. And. I will tell you the type of all the souls and of those of all the rulers which are sent into the world, in order that ye may be completed in all gnosis. All this will I tell you at the expansion of the universe. And after all this I will tell you wherefor all this hath come to pass.

Of the light-power and the counterfeiting spirit."Hearken, therefore, that I may discourse with you concerning the soul according as I have said: The five great rulers of the great Fate of the æons and the rulers of the disk of the sun and the rulers of the disk of the moon breathe into that soul, and there cometh out of them a portion of my power, as I have just said. And the portion of that power remaineth within the soul, so that the soul can stand. And they put |341. the counterfeiting spirit outside the soul, watching it and assigned to it; and the rulers bind it to the soul with their seals and their bonds and seal it to it, that it may compel it always, so that it continually doeth its mischiefs and all its iniquities, in order that it may be their slave always and remain under their sway always in the changes of the body; and they seal it to it that it may be in all the sin and all the desires of the world.

The parents we are to abandon."For this cause, therefore, have I in this manner brought the mysteries into this world which undo all the bonds of the counterfeiting spirit and all the seals which are bound to the soul,--those which make the soul free and free it from its

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parents the rulers, and make it into refined light and lead it up into the kingdom of its father, the first Issue, the First Mystery, for ever.

"For this cause therefore, have I said unto you aforetime: 'He who doth not abandon father and mother and come and follow after me, is not worthy of me.' I have, therefore, said at that time: Ye are to abandon your parents the rulers, that I may make you sons of the First Mystery for ever."

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Salome is in doubt.And when |342. the Saviour had said this, Salome started forward and said: "My Lord, if our parents are the rulers, how standeth it written in the Law of Moses: 'He who shall abandon his father and his mother, let him die the death'? Hath not thus the Law made statement thereon?"

And when Salome had said this, the light-power in Mary Magdalene bubbled up in her and she said to the Saviour: "My Lord, give commandment unto me that I discourse with my sister Salome to tell her the solution of the word which she hath spoken."

It came to pass then, when the Saviour had heard Mary say these words, that he called her most exceedingly blessed. The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "I give commandment unto thee, Mary, that thou speak the solution of the word which Salome hath spoken."

Mary removeth the doubt of Salome.And when the Saviour had said this, Mary started forward to Salome, embraced her and said unto her: "My sister Salome, concerning the word which thou hast spoken: It standeth written in the Law of Moses: 'He who shall abandon his father and his mother, let him die the death,'--now, therefore, my sister Salome,

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the Law hath not said this concerning the soul nor concerning the body nor concerning the counterfeiting spirit, for all these are sons |343. of the rulers and are out of them. But the Law hath said this concerning the power which hath came forth out of the Saviour, and which is the light-man within us to-day. The Law hath moreover said: Every one who shall remain without the Saviour and all his mysteries, his parents, will not only die the death but go to ruin in destruction."

When then Mary had said this, Salome started forward to Mary and embraced her anew. Salome said: "The Saviour hath power to make me understanding like thyself."

It came to pass, when the Saviour had heard the words of Mary, that he called her most exceedingly blessed. The Saviour answered and said unto Mary in the midst of his disciples: "Hearken, therefore, Mary, who it is who compelleth the man until he sinneth.

Of the charge given to the counterfeiting spirit."Now, therefore, the rulers seal the counterfeiting spirit to the soul, [but] so that it doth not agitate it every hour, making it do all sins and all iniquities. And they give commandment moreover unto the counterfeiting spirit, saying: 'If the soul cometh out of the body, do not agitate it, being assigned to it and transferring it to all the regions of the judgments, region by region, on account of all the sins which thou hast made it do, in order that it may be chastized in all the regions of the judgments, so that it may not be able to go |344. on high to the Light and return into changes of the body.'

"In a word, they give commandment to the

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counterfeiting spirit, saying: 'Do not agitate it at all at any hour unless it doth not speak mysteries and undo all the seals and all the bonds with which we have bound thee to it. [But] if it sayeth the mysteries and undoeth all the seals and all the bonds and [sayeth] the apology of the region, and if it cometh, then let it go forth, for it belongeth to those of the Light of the Height and hath become a stranger unto us and unto thee, and thou wilt not be able to seize it from this hour onwards. If on the contrary it sayeth not the mysteries of the undoing of thy bonds and of thy seals and of the apologies of the region, then seize it and let it not out; thou shalt transfer it to the chastisements and all the regions of the judgments on account of all the sins which thou hast made it do. After this lead [such souls] before the Virgin of Light, who sendeth them once more into the circuit.'

Of the charge given to the servitors."The rulers of the great Fate of the æons hand these over to the counterfeiting spirit; and the rulers summon the servitors of their æons, to the number of three-hundred-and-sixty-and-five, and give them the soul and the counterfeiting spirit, which are bound to one another. The counterfeiting spirit is the without of the soul, and the compound of the power is the within of the soul, being within both of them, in order that they may be able to stand, for |345. it is the power which keepeth the two up-right. And the rulers give commandment to the servitors, saying unto them: This is the type which ye are to put into the body of the matter of the world.' They say unto them indeed: 'Put the compound of the power, the within of the soul, within them

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all, that they may be able to stand, for it is their up-rightness, and after the soul put the counterfeiting spirit.'

Of conception."Thus they give commandment to their servitors, that they may deposit it into the bodies of the antitype. And following this fashion the servitors of the rulers bring the power and the soul and the counterfeiting spirit, bring them down to the world, and pour [them] out into the world of the rulers of the midst. The rulers of the midst look after the counterfeiting spirit; and also the destiny, whose name is Moira, leadeth the man until it hath him slain through the death appointed unto him, which the rulers of the great Fate have bound to the soul. And the servitors of the sphere bind the soul and the power and the counterfeiting spirit and the destiny. And they portion them all and make them into two portions and seek after the man and also after the woman in the world to whom they have given signs, in order that they may |346. send them into them. And they give one portion to the man and one portion to the woman in a victual of the world or in a breath of the air or in water or in a kind which they drink.

"All this I will tell unto you and the species of every soul and the type, how they enter into the bodies, whether of men or of birds or of cattle or of wild beasts or of reptiles or of all the other species in the world. I will tell you their type, in what type they enter into men; I will tell it you at the expansion of the universe.

"Now, therefore, when the servitors of the rulers cast the one portion into the woman and the other into the man in the fashion which I

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Of the compulsion of the parents.have told you, then the servitors secretly compel them, even if they are removed at very great distance from one another, so that they concert to be in a concert of the world. And the counterfeiting spirit which is in the man, cometh to the portion which is entrusted to the world in the matter of his body, and lifteth it and casteth it down into the womb of the woman [into the portion] which is entrusted to the seed of wickedness.

Of the process of gestation."And in that hour the three-hundred-and-sixty-and-five servitors of the rulers go into her womb and take up their abode in it. The servitors bring the two portions the one to the other, and moreover the servitors withhold |347. the blood of all the food of the woman which she will eat and which she will drink, and they withhold [it] in the womb of the woman up to forty days. And after forty days they knead the blood of the power of all the food and knead it well in the woman's womb.

"After forty days they spend another thirty days in building its members in the image of the body of the man; each buildeth a member. I will tell you the decans who will build it [sc. the body]; I will tell them you at the expansion of the universe.

Of the incarnation of the soul."If then after this the servitors shall have completed the whole body and all its members in seventy days, after this the servitors summon into the body which they have built,--first indeed they summon the counterfeiting spirit; thereafter they summon the soul within them; and thereafter they summon the compound of the power into the soul; and the destiny they put outside

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them all, as it is not blended with them, [but] following them and accompanying them.

Of the sealing of the plasm."And after this the servitors seal them one to the other with all the seals which the rulers have given them. [And] they seal the day on which they have taken up their abode in the womb of the woman,--they seal [it] on the left hand |348. of the plasm; and they seal the day on which they have completed the body, on the right hand; and they seal the day on which the rulers have handed it over to them, on the middle of the skull of the body of the plasm; and they seal the day on which the soul hath come forth out of the rulers, they seal it on the [left of] the skull of the plasm; and they seal the day on which they kneaded the members and separated them for a soul, they seal it on the right of the skull of the plasm; and the day on which they have bound the counterfeiting spirit to it [the soul], they seal on the back of the skull of the plasm; and the day on which the rulers have breathed the power into the body, they seal on the brain which is in the midst of the head of the plasm and also on the inside [? the heart] of the plasm; and the number of years which the soul will spend in the body, they seal on the forehead which is on the plasm. And so they seal all those seals on the plasm. I will tell you the names of all these seals at the expansion of the universe; and after the expansion of the universe I will tell you wherefor all hath come to pass. And, if ye could understand it, I am that mystery.

"Now, therefore, the servitors complete the whole man. And of all these seals with which they have sealed the body, |349. the servitors carry the

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whole peculiarity and bring it to all the retributive rulers who [are] over all the chastisements of the judgments; and these hand it over to their receivers, in order that they may lead their souls out of the bodies,--they hand over to them the peculiarity of the seals, in order that they may know the time when they are to lead the souls out of the bodies, and in order that they may know the time when they are to bring to birth the body, so that they may send their servitors in order that they may draw near and follow the soul and bear witness of all the sins it shall do,--they and the counterfeiting spirit,--on account of the manner and way, how they shall chastize it in the judgment.

Of the destiny."And when the servitors have given the peculiarity of the seals to the retributive rulers, they withdraw themselves to the economy of their occupations which is appointed unto them through the rulers of the great Fate. And when the number of months of the birth of the babe is completed, the babe is born. Small in it is the compound of the power, and small in it is the soul; and small in it is the counterfeiting spirit. The destiny on the contrary is large, as it is not mingled into the body for their economy, but followeth the soul |350. and the body and the counterfeiting spirit, until the time when the soul shall come forth out of the body, on account of the type of death by which it shall slay it [the body] according to the death appointed for it by the rulers of the great Fate.

Of how a man cometh by his death."Is he to die by a wild beast, the destiny leadeth the wild beast against him until it slay him; or is he to die by a serpent, or is he to fall

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into a pit by mischance, or is he to hang himself, or is he to die in water, or through such [kinds of death], or through another death which is worse or better than this,--in a word, it is the destiny which forceth his death. upon him. This is the occupation of the destiny, and it hath no other occupation but this. And the destiny followeth every man until the day of his death."

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Mary answered and said: "To all men then who are in the world, will all which is appointed them through the Fate, whether good or bad or sin or death or life,--in a word, will all which is appointed them through the rulers of the Fate, have to come unto them?"

There is no escape from the destiny.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Am?n, I say unto you: All which is appointed unto every one through the Fate, whether all good or all sins,--in a word, all which is appointed them, cometh unto them.

Of the keys of the mysteries."For this cause, therefore, have I brought |351. the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; otherwise no flesh in the world would be saved. For without mysteries no one will enter into the Light-kingdom, be he a righteous or a sinner.

"For this cause, therefore, have I brought the keys of the mysteries into the world, that I may free the sinners who shall have faith in me and hearken unto me, so that I may free them from the bonds and the seals of the æons of the rulers and bind them to the seals and the vestures and the orders of the Light, in order that he whom I shall free in the world from the bonds and the seals of the æons of the rulers, may be freed in the Height from the bonds and seals of the æons of the rulers, and in order that he whom I

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shall bind in the world to the seals and the vestures and the orders of the Light, may be bound in the Light-land to the orders of the inheritances of the Light.

"For the sake of sinners, therefore, have I torn myself asunder at this time and have brought them the mysteries, that I may free them from the æons of the rulers and bind them to the inheritances of the Light, and not only the sinners, but also the righteous, in order that I may give them the mysteries and that they may be taken into the Light, for without mysteries they cannot |352. be taken into the Light.

The mysteries are for all men."For this cause, therefore, I have not hidden it, but I have cried it aloud clearly. And I have not separated the sinners, but I have cried it aloud and said it unto all men, unto sinners and righteous, saying: 'Seek that ye may find, knock that it may be opened unto you; for every one who seeketh in truth, will find, and who knocketh, to him it will be opened.' For I have said unto all men: They are to seek the mysteries of the Light-kingdom which shall purify them and make them refined and lead them into the Light.

A prophecy of John the Baptizer."For this cause, therefore, hath John the Baptizer prophesied concerning me, saying: 'I indeed have baptized you with water unto repentance for forgiveness of your sins. He who cometh after me, is stronger than me. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will purify his floor. The chaff indeed he will consume with unquenchable fire, but the wheat he will gather into his barn.' The power in John hath prophesied concerning me, knowing that I would bring the mysteries into the world and purify the sins of

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the sinners who shall have faith in me and hearken unto me, and make them into refined light and lead them into the Light."

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When then Jesus had said this, Mary answered and said: "My Lord, if men go to seek and they come upon the doctrines of error, I whence then are they to know whether they belong to thee or not?"

The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "I have said unto you aforetime: 'Be ye as skilful money-changers. Take the good, throw the bad away.'

The criterion of orthodoxy."Now, therefore, say unto all men who would seek the godhead: 'If north wind cometh, then ye know that there will be cold; if south wind cometh, then ye know that there will be burning and fervent heat.' Now, therefore, say unto them: 'If ye have known the face of the heaven and of the earth from the winds, then know ye exactly, if then any come now unto you and proclaim unto you a godhead, whether their words have harmonized and fitted with all your words which I have spoken unto you through two up to three witnesses, and whether they have harmonized in the setting of the air and of the heavens and of the circuits and of the stars and of the light-givers and of the whole earth and all on it and of all waters and all in them.' Say unto them: 'Those who shall come unto you, and their words fit and harmonize in the whole gnosis with that which I have said unto you, I will receive as belonging unto us.' This is what ye shall say unto men, if ye make proclamation unto them in order that they may guard themselves from the doctrines of error. |354.

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The Books of Yew."Now, therefore, for the sake of sinners have I rent myself asunder and am come into the world, that I may save them. For even for the righteous, who have never done any evil and have not sinned at all, it is necessary that they should find the mysteries which are in the Books of Yew, which I have made Enoch write in Paradise, discoursing with him out of the tree of the Gnosis and out of the tree of the Life. And I made him deposit them in the rock Ararad, and set the ruler Kalapataur?th, who is over Skemm?t, on whose head is the foot of Yew, and who surroundeth all æons and Fates,--I set up that ruler as watcher over the Books of Yew on account of the flood, and in order that none of the rulers may be envious of them and destroy them. These will I give you, when I shall have told you the expansion of the universe."

When then the Saviour had said this, Mary answered and said: "My Lord, who now then is the man in the world who hath not sinned at all, who is pure of iniquities? For if he is pure of one, he will not be able to be pure of another, so that he may find the mysteries which are in the Books of Yew? For I say: A man in this world will not be able to be pure of sins; for if he is pure of one, he will not be able to be pure of another."

Few only will accomplish the mystery of the First Mystery.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "I say unto you: They will find one in a thousand and two in ten-thousand for the accomplishment of the mystery of the First Mystery. This will I tell unto you when I have explained to you the expansion of the universe. For this cause, therefore, I have rent myself asunder and have brought

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the mysteries into the world, because all are under sin and all are in need of the gift of the mysteries."

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Mary answered and said unto the Saviour: "My Lord, before thou didst come to the region of the rulers and before thou didst come down into the world, hath no soul entered into the Light?"

No soul had entered into the Light before the coming of the First Mystery.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you Before I did come into the world, no soul hath entered into the Light. And now, therefore, when I am come, I have opened the gates of the Light and opened the ways which lead to the Light. And now, therefore, let him who shall do what is worthy of the mysteries, receive the mysteries and enter into the Light."

Mary continued and said: "But, my Lord, I have heard that the prophets have entered into the Light."

Of the prophets.The Saviour continued and said unto Mary: "Am?n, am?n, I say unto you: No prophet hath entered into the Light; but the rulers of the æons have discoursed with them out of the æons and given them the mystery of the æons. And when I came to the regions of the æons, I have turned Elias and sent him into the body of John the Baptizer, and the rest also I turned into righteous bodies, which will find the mysteries |356. of the Light, go on high and inherit the Light-kingdom.

Of the patriarchs."Unto Abraham on the other hand and Isaac and Jacob I have forgiven all their sins and their iniquities and have given them the mysteries of the Light in the æons and placed them in the region of Yabra?th and of all the rulers who have repented. And when I go into the Height and

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am on the point of going into the Light, I will carry their souls with me into the Light. But, am?n, I say unto you, Mary: They will not go into the Light before I have carried thy soul and those of all thy brethren into the Light.

Of the souls of the righteous from Adam to Jesus."The rest of the patriarchs and of the righteous from the time of Adam unto now, who are in the æons and all the orders of the rulers, when I came to the region of the æons, I have through the Virgin of Light made to turn into bodies which will all be righteous,--those which will find the mysteries of the Light, enter in and inherit the Light-kingdom."

Mary answered and said: "Blessed are we before all men because of these splendours which thou hast revealed unto us."

The Saviour answered and said unto Mary and all the disciples: "I will still reveal unto you all the splendours of the Height, from the interiors of the interiors to the exteriors of the exteriors, |357. that ye may be perfected in all gnosis and in all fulness and in the height of the heights and the depths of the depths."

The disciples know of a surety that Jesus is the Great Initiator.And Mary continued and said to the Saviour: "Lo, my Lord, we have openly, exactly and clearly known that thou hast brought the keys of the mysteries of the Light-kingdom, which forgive souls sins and purify them and make them into refined light and lead them into the Light."

A FIFTH BOOK

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The disciples gather round Jesus.IT came to pass then, when Jesus our Lord had been crucified and had risen from the dead on the third day, that his disciples gathered round him, adored him and said: "Our Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have abandoned father and mother and the whole world and have followed thee."

The invocation of Jesus.At that time Jesus stood with his disciples on the water of the Ocean and made invocation with this prayer, saying: "Hear me, my Father, father of all fatherhood, boundless Light: ae?iou? ia? a?i ?ia psin?ther thern?ps n?psither zagour? pagour? nethmoma?th nepsioma?th marachachtha th?barrabau tharnachachan zorokothora ieou [= Yew] saba?th."

The grouping of the disciples.And while Jesus said this, |358. Thomas, Andrew, James and Simon the Cananite were in the west with their faces turned towards the east, and Philip and Bartholomew were in the south turned towards the north, and the rest of the disciples and the women-disciples stood back of Jesus. But Jesus stood at the altar.

The interpretation of ia?.And Jesus made invocation, turning himself towards the four corners of the world with his disciples, who were all clad in linen garments, and saying: "ia? ia? ia?." This is its interpretation: i?ta, because the universe hath gone

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forth; alpha, because it will turn itself back again; ?mega, because the completion of all the completeness will take place.

He continueth to make invocation.And when Jesus had said this, he said: "iaphtha iaphtha mouna?r mouna?r ermanou?r ermanou?r." That is: "O father of all fatherhood of the boundless [spaces], hear me for the sake of my disciples whom I have led before thee, that they may have faith in all the words of thy truth, and grant all for which I shall invoke thee; for I know the name of the father of the Treasury of the Light."

The apocalypse of the heavens.Again did Jesus,--that is Aberamenth?,--make invocation, speaking the name of the father of the Treasury of the Light, and said: "Let all the mysteries of the rulers and the authorities and the angels and the archangels and all powers and |359. all things of the invisible god Agrammachamarei and Barb?l? draw near the Leech [Bdella] on one side and withdraw to the right."

And in that hour all the heavens went to the west, and all the æons and the sphere and their rulers and all their powers flew together to the west to the left of the disk of the sun and the disk of the moon.

The figures of the disk of the sun and of the moon.And the disk of the sun was a great dragon whose tail was in his mouth and who reached to seven powers of the Left and whom four powers in the form of white horses drew.

And the base of the moon had the type of a ship which a male and a female dragon steered and two white bulls drew. The figure of a babe was on the stern of the moon who guided the dragons who robbed the light from the rulers. And on its prow was a cat's face.

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And the whole world and the mountains and the seas fled together to the west to the left.

Jesus and the disciples are transported to the ways of the midst.And Jesus and his disciples remained in the midst in an aëry region on the ways of the way of the midst, which lieth below the sphere. And they came to the first order of the way of the midst. And Jesus stood in the air of its region with his disciples.

The disciples of Jesus said unto him: "What is this region |360. in which we are?

Of the repentant and unrepentant rulers.Jesus said: "These are the regions of the way of the midst. For it came to pass, when the rulers of Adamas mutinied and persistently practised congress, procreating rulers, archangels, angels, servitors and decans, that Yew, the father of my father, came forth from the Right and bound them to a Fate-sphere.

"For there are twelve æons; over six Saba?th, the Adamas, ruleth, and his brother Yabra?th ruleth over the other six. At that time then Yabra?th with his rulers had faith in the mysteries of the Light and was active in the mysteries of the Light and abandoned the mystery of congress. But Saba?th, the Adamas, and his rulers have persisted in the practice of congress.

"And when Yew, the father of my father, saw that Yabra?th had faith, he carried him and all the rulers who had had faith with him, took him unto himself out of the sphere and led him into a purified air in face of the light of the sun between the regions of those of the midst and between [?] the regions of the invisible god. He posted him there with the rulers who had had faith in him.

"But he carried Saba?th, the Adamas, and his

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rulers who had not been active in the mysteries of the Light, but have been persistently active in the mysteries of congress, and inbound them into the sphere.

Of the hierarchies of the un-repentant rulers and the names of their five regents."He bound eighteen-hundred rulers in every æon, and set three-hundred-and-sixty |361. over them, and he set five other great rulers as lords over the three-hundred-and-sixty and over all the bound rulers, who in the whole world of mankind are called with these names: the first is called Kronos, the second Ares, the third Herm?s, the fourth Aphrodit?, the fifth Zeus."

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Of the powers which Yew bound into the five regents.Jesus continued and said: "Hearken then, that I may tell you their mystery. It came to pass then, when Yew had thus bound them, that he drew forth a power out of the great Invisible and bound it to him who is called Kronos. And he drew another power out of Ipsantachounchaïnchouche?ch, who is one of the three triple-powered gods, and bound it to Ares. And he drew a power out of Chaïnch???ch, who also is one of the three triple-powered gods, and bound it to Herm?s. Again he drew a power out of the Pistis the Sophia daughter of Barb?l? and bound it to Aphrodit?.

Of the functions of Zeus, the chief regent."And moreover he perceived that they needed a helm to steer the world and the æons of the sphere, so that they might not wreck it [the world] in their wickedness. He went into the Midst, drew forth a power out of the little Saba?th, the Good, him of the Midst, and bound it to Zeus, because he is a good [regent], so that he may steer them in his goodness. And he set thus established the circling of his order, |362. that he should spend thirteen [? three] months in every æon

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confirming [it], so that he may set free all the rulers over whom he cometh, from the evil of their wickedness. And he gave him two æons, which are in face of those of Herm?s, for his dwelling.

The incorruptible names of the regents."I have told you for the first time the names of these five great rulers with which the men of the world are wont to call them. Hearken now then that I may tell you also their incorruptible names, which are: ?rimouth correspondeth to Kronos; Mounichounaph?r correspondeth to Ares; Tarpetanouph correspondeth to Hermes; Ch?si correspondeth to Aphrodit?; Ch?nbal correspondeth to Zeus. These are their incorruptible names."

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And when the disciples had heard this, they fell down, adored Jesus and said "Blessed are we beyond all men, because thou hast revealed unto us these great wonders."

They continued, besought him and said: "We beseech thee, reveal unto us: What are then these ways?"

Mary questioneth Jesus on the ways of the midst.And Mary drew nigh unto him, fell down, adored his feet and kissed his hands and said: "Yea, my Lord, reveal unto us: What is the use of the ways of the midst? For we have heard from thee that they are set over great chastisements. How then, my Lord, will we remove or escape from them? Or in what way do they seize the souls? Or |363.how long a time do they spend in their chastisements? Have mercy upon us, our Lord, our Saviour, in order that the receivers of the judgments of the ways of the midst may not carry off our souls and judge us in their evil judgments, so that we ourselves may inherit

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the Light of thy father and not be wretched and destitute of thee."

Of the mysteries which Jesus will give unto his disciples.When then Mary said this weeping, Jesus answered in great compassion and said unto them: "Truly, my brethren and beloved, who have abandoned father and mother for my name's sake, unto you will I give all mysteries and all gnoses.

"I will give you the mystery of the twelve æons of the rulers and their seals and their ciphers and the manner of invocation for reaching their regions.

"I will give you moreover the mystery of the thirteenth æon and the manner of invocation for reaching their regions, and I will give you their ciphers and their seals.

"And I will give you the mystery of the baptism of those of the Midst and the manner of invocation for reaching their regions, and I will announce unto you their ciphers and their seals.

"And I will give you the baptism of those of the Right, our region, and its ciphers and its seals and the manner of invocation for reaching thither.

"And I will give you the great mystery of the Treasury of the Light and |364. the manner of invocation for reaching thither.

"I will give you all the mysteries and all the gnoses, in order that ye may be called 'children of the fulness, perfected in all the gnoses and all the mysteries.' Blessed are ye beyond all men on earth, for the children of the Light are come in your time."

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Jesus continued in the discourse and said: "It came to pass then thereafter, that the father of my father,--that is Yew,--came and took

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Of the constitution of the way of the midst.other three-hundred-and-sixty rulers from the rulers of Adamas who had not had faith in the mystery of the Light, and bound them into these aërial regions, in which we are now, below the sphere. He established another five great rulers over them,--that is these who are on the way of the midst.

Of Parapl?x."The first ruler of the way of the midst is called Parapl?x, a ruler with a woman's shape, whose hair reacheth down to her feet, under whose authority stand five-and-twenty archdemons which rule over a multitude of other demons. And it is those demons which enter into men and seduce them, raging and cursing and slandering; and it is they which carry off hence and in ravishment the souls and dispatch them through their dark smoke and their evil chastisements."

Mary said: |365. "I shall behave badly to question thee. Be not wroth with me if I question on all things."

Jesus said: "Question what thou wilt."

Mary said: "My Lord, reveal unto us in what manner they carry off hence the souls in ravishment, that also my brethren may understand it."

Of Yew and Melchisedec.Jesus,--that is Aberamenth?,--said: "Since indeed the father of my father,--that is Yew,--is the fore-minder of all the rulers, gods and powers who have arisen out of the matter of the Light of the Treasury, and Zorokothora Melchisedec is the envoy to all the lights which are purified in the rulers, leading them into the Treasury of the Light,--these two alone are the great Lights, and their ordinance is that they down go to the rulers and purify them, and that Zorokothora Melchisedec carrieth away the purification of

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the lights which they have purified in the rulers and leadeth them into the Treasury of the Light,--when the cipher and the time of their ordinance cometh, that they go down to the rulers and oppress and constrain them, carrying away the purification from the rulers.

"But straightway when they shall cease from the oppressing and constraining and return to the regions of the Treasury of the Light, it cometh to pass that, if they reach the regions of the Midst, Zorokothora Melchisedec carrieth off the lights and leadeth them unto |366. the gate of those of the Midst and leadeth them into the Treasury of the Light, and that Yew withdraweth himself into the regions of those of the Right.

How the demon rulers carry off souls."Up to the time of the cipher for them to come forth again, the rulers mutiny through the wrath of their wickedness, going straightway up to the lights, because they [Yew and Melchisedec] are not with them at that time, and they carry off the souls which they may be able to snatch away in ravishment, and destroy them through their dark smoke and their evil fire.

The chastisements of Parapl?x."At that time then this authority, with name Parapl?x, along with the demons which stand under her, carrieth off the souls of the violently passionate, of cursers and of slanderers and dispatcheth them through the dark smoke and destroyeth them through her evil fire, so that they begin to be undone and dissolved. One-hundred-and-thirty-and-three years and nine months do they spend in the chastisements of her regions, while she tormenteth them in the fire of her wickedness.

"It cometh to pass then after all these times,

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when the sphere turneth itself and the little Saba?th, Zeus, cometh to the first of the æons of the sphere, which is called in the world the Ram of Boubastis, that is of Aphrodit?; [and] when she [Boubastis] cometh to the seventh house of the sphere, that is to the Balance, then the veils which are between those of the Right and those of the Left, draw themselves aside, and there looketh from the height out of those of the Right the |367. great Saba?th, the Good; and the whole world and the total sphere [become alarmed] before he hath looked forth. And he looketh down on the regions of Parapl?x, so that her regions may be dissolved and perish. And all the souls which are in her chastisements, are carried and cast back [up] into the sphere anew, because they are ruined in the chastisements of Parapl?x."

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Of Ariouth the Ethiopian."He continued in the discourse and said: "The second order is called Ariouth the Æthiopian, a female ruler, who is entirely black, under whom stand fourteen other [arch]demons which rule over a multitude of other demons. And it is those demons which stand under Ariouth the Æthiopian, that enter into strife-seekers until they stir up wars and murders arise, and they harden their heart and seduce it to wrath in order that murders may arise.

"And the souls which this authority will carry off in ravishment, pass one-hundred-and-thirteen years in her regions, while she tormenteth them through her dark smoke and her wicked fire, so that they come nigh unto destruction.

"And thereafter, when the sphere turneth itself, and the little Saba?th, the Good, who is called

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in the world Zeus, cometh, and he cometh to the fourth æon of the sphere, that is the Crab, and Boubastis, who is called in the world Aphrodit?, cometh into the tenth æon of the sphere which is called the |368. Goat, at that time the veils which are between those of the Left and those of the Right, draw themselves aside, and Yew looketh forth to the right; the whole world becometh alarmed and is agitated together with all the æons of the sphere. And he looketh on the dwellings of Ariouth the Ethiopian, so that her regions are dissolved and ruined, and all the souls which are in her chastisements are carried off and cast back into the sphere anew, because they are ruined through her dark smoke and her wicked fire."

Of Triple-faced Hekat?.He continued further in his discourse and said: "The third order is called Triple-faced Hekat?, and there are under her authority seven-and-twenty [arch]demons, and it is they which enter into men and seduce them to perjuries and lies and to covet that which doth not belong to them.

"The souls then which Hekat? beareth hence in ravishment, she handeth over to her demons which stand under her, in order that they may torment them through her dark smoke and her wicked fire, they being exceedingly afflicted through the demons. And they spend one-hundred-and-five years and six months, being chastized in her wicked chastisements; and they begin to be dissolved and destroyed.

"And thereafter, when the sphere turneth itself, and the little Saba?th, the Good, he of the Midst, who is called in the world Zeus, cometh, and he cometh to the |369. eighth æon of the sphere

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which is called the Scorpion, and when Boubastis, whom they call Aphrodit?, cometh, and she cometh to the second æon of the sphere which is called the Bull, then the veils which are between those of the Right and those of the Left draw themselves aside and Zorokothora Melchisedec looketh out of the height; and the world and the mountains are agitated and the æons become alarmed. And he looketh on all the regions of Hekat?, so that her regions are dissolved and destroyed, and all the souls which are in her chastisements, are carried off and cast back anew into the sphere, because they are dissolved in the fire of her chastisements."

Of Parhedr?n Typhon.He continued and said: "The fourth order is called Parhedr?n Typh?n, who is a mighty ruler, under whose authority are two-and-thirty demons. And it is they which enter into men and seduce them to lusting, fornicating, adultery and to the continual practice of intercourse. The souls then which this ruler will carry off in ravishment, pass one-hundred-and-twenty-and-eight years in his regions, while his demons torment them through his dark smoke and his wicked fire, so that they begin to be ruined and destroyed.

"It cometh to pass then, when the sphere turneth itself and the little Saba?th, the Good, he of the Midst, who is called Zeus, cometh, and when he cometh to the ninth æon of the sphere which is called the Archer, and when Boubastis, who is called in the world Aphrodit?, cometh, and she cometh to the third æon of the sphere which is called the Twins, then the veils which are between those of the Left and those of the Right, draw themselves aside, and there looketh

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forth Zarazaz, whom the rulers call with the name of a mighty ruler of their regions 'Maskelli,' and he looketh on the dwellings of Parhedr?n Typh?n, so that his regions are dissolved and destroyed. And all the souls which are in his chastisements are carried and cast back anew into the sphere, because they are reduced through his dark smoke and his wicked fire."

Of Yachthanabas.Again he continued in the discourse and said unto this disciples: "The fifth order, whose ruler is called Yachthanabas, is a mighty ruler under whom standeth a multitude of other demons. It is they which enter into men and bring it about that they have respect of persons,--treating the just with injustice, and favour the cause of sinners, taking gifts for a just judgment and perverting it, forgetting the poor and needy,--they [the demons] increasing the forgetfulness in their souls and the care for that which |371. bringeth no benefit, in order that they may not think of their life, so that when they come out of the body, they are carried in ravishment.

"The souls then which this ruler will carry off in ravishment, are in his chastisements one-hundred-and-fifty years and eight months; and he destroyeth them through his dark smoke and his wicked fire, while they are exceedingly afflicted through the flames of his fire.

"And when the sphere turneth itself and the little Saba?th, the Good, who is called in the world Zeus, cometh, and he cometh to the eleventh æon of the sphere which is called the Water-man, and when Boubastis cometh to the fifth æon of the sphere which is called the Lion, then the veils which are between those of the Left and those

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of the Right, draw themselves aside, and there looketh out of the height the great Ia?, the Good, he of the Midst, on the regions of Yachthanabas, so that his regions are dissolved and destroyed. And all the souls which are in his chastisements are carried off and cast back anew into the sphere, because they are ruined in his chastisements.

"These then are the doings of the ways of the midst concerning which ye have questioned me."

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The disciples beseech Jesus to have mercy upon sinners.And when the disciples had heard this, they fell down, adored him and said: "Help us now, Lord, and have mercy upon us, in order that we may be preserved from these wicked chastisements which are prepared for the sinners. Woe |372. unto them, woe unto the children of men! For they grope as the blind in the darkness and see not. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, in this great blindness in which we are. And have mercy upon the whole race of men; for they have lain in wait for their souls, as lions for their prey, making it [sc. the prey] ready as food for their [sc. the rulers'] chastisements because of the forgetfulness and unknowing which is in them. Have mercy then upon us, our Lord, our Saviour, have mercy upon us and save us in this great stupefaction."

Jesus encourageth his disciples.Jesus said unto his disciples: "Be comforted and be not afraid, for ye are blessed, because I will make you lords over all these and put them in subjection under your feet. Remember that I have already said unto you before I was crucified: 'I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.' Now, therefore, I say unto you: I will give them unto you."

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Jesus and his disciples ascend higher.When then Jesus said this, he chanted a song of praise in the great name. The regions of the ways of the midst hid themselves, and Jesus and his disciples remained in an air of exceedingly strong light.

He breatheth into their eyes.Jesus said unto his disciples: "Draw near unto me." And they drew near unto him. He turned himself towards the four corners of the world, said the great name over their heads, blessed them and breathed into their eyes.

Jesus said unto them: "Look up and see what ye may see."

Their eyes are opened.And they raised their eyes and saw a |373. great, exceedingly mighty light, which no man in the world can describe.

He said unto them anew: "Look away out of the light and see what ye may see."

They said: "We see fire, water, wine and blood."

Jesus explaineth the vision of fire and water, and wine and blood.Jesus,--that is Aberamenth?,--said unto his disciples: "Am?n, I say unto you: I have brought nothing into the world when I came, save this fire, this water, this wine and this blood. I have brought the water and the fire out of the region of the Light of the lights of the Treasury of the Light; and I have brought the wine and the blood out of the region of Barb?l?. And after a little while my father sent me the holy spirit in the type of a dove.

"And the fire, the water and the wine are for the purification of all the sins of the world. The blood on the other hand was for a sign unto me because of the human body which I received in the region of Barb?l?, the great power of the

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invisible god. The breath on the other hand advanceth towards all souls and leadeth them unto the region of the Light.

The same explained from former sayings."For this cause have I said unto you: 'I am come to cast fire on the earth,'--that is: I am come to purify the sins of the whole world with fire.

"And for this cause have I said to the Samaritan woman: 'If thou knewest of the gift of God, and who it is who saith unto thee: Give me to drink,--thou wouldst ask, and he would give thee |374. living water, and there would be in thee a spring which welleth up for everlasting life.'

"And for this cause I took also a cup of wine, blessed it and give it unto you and said: 'This is the blood of the covenant which will be poured out for you for the forgiveness of your sins.'

"And for this cause they have also thrust the spear into my side, and there came forth water and blood.

"And these are the mysteries of the Light which forgive sins; that is to say, these are the namings and the names of the Light."

Jesus and his disciples descend to earth.It came to pass then thereafter that Jesus gave command: "Let all the powers of the Left go to their regions." And Jesus with his disciples remained on the Mount of Galilee. The disciples continued and besought him: "For how long then hast thou not let our sins which we have committed, and our iniquities be forgiven and made us worthy of the kingdom of thy father?

And Jesus said unto them: "Am?n, I say

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Jesus promiseth to give them the mystery of the forgiveness of sins.unto you: Not only will I purify your sins, but I will make you worthy of the kingdom of my father. And I will give you the mystery of the forgiveness of sins, in order that to him whom ye shall forgive on earth, it will be forgiven in heaven, and he whom ye shall bind on earth, will be bound in heaven. I will give you the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, in order that ye your-selves may perform them [sc. the mysteries] for men."

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The mystic offering.And Jesus |375. said unto them: "Bring me fire and vine branches." They brought them unto him. He laid out the offering, and set down two wine-vessels, one on the right and the other on the left of the offering. He disposed the offering before them, and set a cup of water before the wine-vessel on the right and set a cup of wine before the wine-vessel on the left, and laid loaves according to the number of the disciples in the middle between the cups and set a cup of water behind the loaves.

Jesus stood before the offering, set the disciples behind him, all clad with linen garments, and in their hands the cipher of the name of the father of the Treasury of the Light, and he made invocationThe invocation. thus, saying: "Hear me, O Father, father of all fatherhood, boundless Light: ia? iou? ia? a?i ?ia psin?ther ther?psin ?psither nephthoma?th nephioma?th marachachtha marmarachtha i?ana menaman aman?i (of heaven) israi am?n am?n soubaibai appaap am?n am?n deraarai (behind) am?n am?n sasarsartou am?n am?n koukiamin miai am?n am?n iai iai touap am?n am?n am?n main mari mari? marei am?n am?n am?n.

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"Hear me, O Father, father of all fatherhood. I invoke you yourselves ye forgivers of sins, ye purifiers of iniquities. |376. Forgive the sins of the souls of these disciples who have followed me, and purify their iniquities and make them worthy to be reckoned with the kingdom of my father, the father of the Treasury of the Light, for they have followed me and have kept my commandments.

"Now, therefore, O Father, father of all fatherhood, let the forgivers of sins come, whose names are these: siphirepsnichieu zenei berimou sochabrich?r euthari na nai (have mercy upon me) dieisbalm?rich meunipos chirie entair mouthiour smour peuch?r oouschous minionor isochobortha.

"Hear me, invoking you, forgive the sins of these souls and blot out their iniquities. Let them be worthy to be reckoned with the kingdom of my father, the father of the Treasury of the Light.

"I know thy great powers and invoke them: auer bebr? athroni ? oureph e ?ne souphen knitousochre?ph mau?nbi mneu?r sou?ni ch?chete?ph ch?che ete?ph mem?ch an?mph.

"Forgive [sing.] the sins of these souls, blot out their iniquities which they have knowingly and unknowingly committed, which they have committed in fornication and adultery unto this day; forgive them then and make them worthy to be reckoned with the kingdom of my father, so that they are worthy to receive of this offering, holy Father.

If thou then, Father, hast heard me and forgiven the sins of these souls |377. and blotted out  their iniquities, and hast made them worthy to

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be reckoned with thy kingdom, mayest thou give me a sign in this offering."

And the sign which Jesus had said [? besought] happened.

The rite is consummated.Jesus said unto his disciples: "Rejoice and exult, for your sins are forgiven and your iniquities blotted out, and ye are reckoned with the kingdom of my father."

And when he said this, the disciples rejoiced in great joy.

Directions as to the future use of the rite.Jesus said unto them: "This is the manner and way and this is the mystery which ye are to perform for the men who have faith in you, in whom is no deceit and who hearken unto you in all good words. And their sins and their iniquities will be blotted out up to the day on which ye have performed for them this mystery. But hide this mystery and give it not unto all men, but unto him who shall do all the things which I have said unto you in my commandments.

"This then is the mystery in truth of the baptism for those whose sins are forgiven and whose iniquities are blotted out. This is the baptism of the first offering which showeth the way to the region of Truth and to the region of the Light."

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Of three other mystic rites.Thereafter his disciples said unto him: "Rabbi, reveal unto us the mystery of the Light of thy father, since we heard thee say: 'There is still a fire-baptism and there is still a baptism of the holy spirit of the Light, and there is |378. a spiritual chrism; these lead the souls into the Treasury of the Light.' Tell us, therefore, their mystery, so that we ourselves may inherit the kingdom of thy father."

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Of the highest mysteries and of the great name.Jesus said unto them: "There is no mystery which is more excellent than these mysteries on which ye question, in that it will lead your souls into the Light of the lights, into the regions of Truth and Goodness, into the region of the Holy of all holies, into the region in which there is neither female nor male, nor are there forms in that region, but a perpetual indescribable Light. Nothing more excellent is there, therefore, than these mysteries on which ye question, save only the mystery of the seven Voices and their nine-and-forty powers and their ciphers. And there is no name which is more excellent than them all, the name in which are all names and all lights and all powers.

Of the efficacy of that name."Who then knoweth that name, if he cometh out of the body of matter, nor smoke nor darkness nor authority nor ruler of the Fate-sphere nor angel nor archangel nor power can hold down the soul which knoweth that name; but if it cometh out of the world and sayeth that name to the fire, it is quenched and the darkness withdraweth.

"And if it sayeth it to the demons |379. and to the receivers of the outer darkness and their rulers and their authorities and their powers, they will all sink down and their flame will burn and they will cry out: 'Holy, holy art thou, most holy of all holies.'

"And if one sayeth that name to the receivers of the wicked chastisements and their authorities and all their powers and also to Barb?l? and the invisible god and the three triple-powered gods, straightway if one will say this name in those regions, they will all fall one on another, will be undone and destroyed and cry out: 'O Light

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of all lights, which is in the boundless lights, remember us and purify us.'"

And when Jesus had finished saying these words, all his disciples cried out, wept with loud sobbing, saying: . . .

.          .          .          .          .          .

[LACUNA OF EIGHT LEAVES.]

A SIXTH BOOK

Chapter 144

.          .          .          .          .          .

Of the chastisement of the curser.. . . [and lead them forth to the fire-rivers and fire-seas] and take vengeance on it therein for another six months and eight days. Thereafter they lead it up on the way of the midst, and every one of the rulers of the way of the midst chastizeth it in his chastisements another six months and eight days. Thereafter they lead it to the Virgin of Light, who judgeth the good and the evil, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the coons of the sphere. And the servitors of the sphere lead it forth to a water which is below the sphere; and it becometh |380. a seething fire and eateth into it, until it purifieth it utterly.

"And then cometh Yaluham, the receiver of Saba?th, the Adamas, who handeth the souls the cup of forgetfulness, and he bringeth a cup filled with the water of forgetfulness and handeth it to the soul, and it drinketh it and forgetteth all regions and all the regions to which it hath gone. And they cast it down into a body which will spend its time continually troubled in its heart.

"This is the chastisement of the curser."

Mary continued and said: "My Lord, the man

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who persistently slandereth, if he cometh out of the body, whither shall he get or what is, his chastisement?"

Of the chastisement of the slanderer.Jesus said: "A man who persistently slandereth, if his time is completed through the sphere, that he cometh out of the body, then Abiout and Charm?n, the receivers of Ari?l, come, lead his soul out of the body and spend three days going round with it and instructing it concerning the creatures of the world.

"Thereafter they lead it below into Ameute before Ari?l, and he chastizeth it in his chastisements eleven months and twenty-and-one days.

"Thereafter they lead it into the chaos before. Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons, and every one of his demons fall upon it another eleven months and twenty-and-one days, scourging it with fiery whips.

"Thereafter |381. they lead it into fire-rivers and boiling fire-seas, to take vengeance on it therein another eleven months and twenty-and-one days.

"And thereafter they carry it on to the way of the midst, and every one of the rulers on the way of the midst chastizeth it in his chastisements another eleven months and twenty-and-one days.

"Thereafter they carry it to the Virgin of Light, who judgeth the righteous and the sinners, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the æons of the sphere. And the servitors of the sphere will lead it to a water which is below the sphere; and it becometh

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a seething fire and eateth into it until it purifieth it utterly.

"And Yaluham, the receiver of Saba?th, the Adamas, bringeth the cup of forgetfulness and handeth it to the soul, and it drinketh it and forgetteth all regions and all things and all the regions through which it hath gone. And they deliver it unto a body which will spend its time being afflicted.

"This is the chastisement of the slanderer."

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Mary said: "Woe, woe, unto sinners!"

Salome answered and said: "My Lord Jesus, a murderer who hath never committed any sin but murdering, if he cometh out of the body, what is his chastisement?

Of the chastisement of the murderer.Jesus answered and said: "A murderer who |382. hath never committed any sin but murdering, if his time is completed through the sphere, that he cometh out of the body, the receivers of Yaldabaoth come and lead his soul out of the body and bind it by its feet to a great demon with a horse's face, and he spendeth three days circling round with it in the world.

"Thereafter they lead it into the regions of the cold and of the snow, and they take vengeance on it there three years and six months.

"Thereafter they lead it down into the chaos before Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons, and every one of his demons scourgeth it another three years and six months.

"Thereafter they lead it down into the chaos before Persephon? and take vengeance on it with her chastisements another three years and six months.

"Thereafter they carry it on to the way of

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the midst, and every one of the rulers of the way of the midst taketh vengeance on it with the chastisements of its regions another three years and six months.

"Thereafter they lead it unto the Virgin of Light, who judgeth the righteous and the sinners, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she commandeth that it shall be cast into the outer darkness until the time when the darkness of the midst shall be upraised; it [the soul] will be destroyed and dissolved.

"This is the chastisement of the murderer."

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Peter protesteth against the women.Peter said: "My Lord, let the women |383. cease to question, in order that we also may question."

Jesus said unto Mary and the women: "Give opportunity to your men brethren, that they also may question."

Peter answered and said: "My Lord, a robber and thief, whose sin is this persistently, when he cometh out of the body, what is his chastisement?"

Of the chastisement of the thief.Jesus said: "If the time of such an one is completed through the sphere, the receivers of Ad?nis come after him, and lead his soul out of the body, and they spend three days circling round with it and instructing it concerning the creatures of the world.

"Thereafter they lead it down into the Amente before Ari?l, and he taketh vengeance on it in his chastisements three months, eight days and two hours.

"Thereafter they lead it into the chaos before Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons, and every one of his demons taketh vengeance on it another three months, eight days and two hours.

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"Thereafter they lead it on to the way of the midst, and every one of the rulers of the way of the midst taketh vengeance on it through his dark smoke and his wicked fire another three months, eight days and two hours.

"Thereafter they lead it up unto the Virgin of Light, who judgeth the righteous and the sinners, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the æons of the sphere. And they lead it forth into a water which is below the sphere; |384. and it becometh a seething fire and eateth into it until it purifieth it utterly.

"Thereafter cometh Yaluham, the receiver of Saba?th, the Adamas, bringeth the cup of forget-fulness and handeth it unto the soul; and it drinketh it and forgetteth all things and all the regions to which it had gone. And they cast it into a lame, halt and blind body.

"This is the chastisement of the thief."

Andrew answered and said: "An arrogant, overweening man, when he cometh out of the body, what will happen to him?"

Of the chastisement of the arrogant.Jesus said: "If the time of such an one is completed through the sphere, the receivers of Ari?l come after him and lead out his soul [out of the body] and spend three days travelling round in the world [with it] and instructing it concerning the creatures of the world.

"Thereafter they lead it down into the Amente before Ari?l; and he taketh vengeance on it with his chastisements twenty months.

"Thereafter they lead it into the chaos before Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons; and

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he and his demons, one by one, take vengeance on it another twenty months.

"Thereafter they carry it on to the way of the midst; and every one of the rulers of the way of the midst taketh vengeance on it another twenty months.

"And thereafter they lead it unto the Virgin of Light, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the æons of the sphere. And the servitors of the sphere |385. lead it into a water which is below the sphere; and it becometh a seething fire and eateth into it until it purifieth it.

"And Yaluham, the receiver of Sabaoth, the Adamas, cometh and bringeth the cup with the water of forgetfulness and handeth it to the soul; and it drinketh and forgetteth all things and all the regions to which it had gone. And they cast it up into a lame and deformed body, so that all despise it persistently.

"This is the chastisement of the arrogant and overweening man."

Thomas said: "A persistent blasphemer, what is his chastisement?"

Of the chastisement of the blasphemer.Jesus said: "If the time of such an one is completed through the sphere, the receivers of Yaldabaoth come after him and bind him by his tongue to a great demon with a horse's face; they spend three days travelling round with him in the world, and take vengeance on him.

"Thereafter they lead him into the region of the cold and of the snow, and take vengeance on him there eleven years.

"Thereafter they lead him down into the

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chaos before Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons, and every one of his demons taketh vengeance on him another eleven years.

"Thereafter they lead him into the outer darkness until the day when the great ruler with the dragon's face |386. who encircleth the darkness, shall be judged. And that soul becometh frozen up [?] and destroyed and dissolved.

"This is the judgment of the blasphemer."

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Bartholomew said: "A man who hath intercourse with a male, what is his vengeance"

Of the chastisement of him who hath intercourse with males.Jesus said: "The measure of the man who hath intercourse with males and of the man with whom he lieth, is the same as that of the blasphemer.

"When then the time is completed through the sphere, the receivers of Yaldabaoth come after their soul, and he with his forty-and-nine demons taketh vengeance on it eleven years.

"Thereafter they carry it to the fire-rivers and seething pitch-seas, which are full of demons with pigs' faces. They eat into them and take vengeance on [?] them in the fire-rivers another eleven years.

"Thereafter they carry them into the outer darkness until the day of judgment when the great darkness is judged; and then they will be dissolved and destroyed."

Thomas said: "We have heard that there are some on the earth who take the male seed and the female monthly blood, and make it into a lentil porridge and eat it, |387. saying: 'We have faith in Esau and Jacob.' Is this then seemly or not?"

Jesus was wroth with the world in that hour

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Of the chastisement of a foul act of sorcery.and said unto Thomas: "Amen, I say: This sin is more heinous than all sins and iniquities. Such men will straightway be taken into the outer darkness and not be cast back anew into the sphere, but they shall perish, be destroyed in the outer darkness in a region where there is neither pity nor light, but howling and grinding of teeth. And all the souls which shall be brought into the outer darkness, will not be cast back anew, but will be destroyed and dissolved."

John answered [and said]: "A man who hath committed no sin, but done good persistently, but hath not found the mysteries to pass through the rulers, when he cometh out of the body, what will happen unto him"

Of the after-death state of the righteous man who path not been initiated.Jesus said: "If the time of such an one is completed through the sphere, the receivers of Bainchoooch, who is one of the triple-powered gods, come after his soul and lead his soul with joy and exultation and spend three days circling round with it and instructing it concerning the creations of the world with joy and exultation.

"Thereafter they lead it down into the Amente and instruct it concerning the instruments of chastisement in the Amente; but they will not take vengeance on it therewith. But they will only instruct it concerning them, and the smoke of the flame of the chastisements catcheth it only a little.

"Thereafter they carry it up unto the way of the midst and instruct it concerning the chastisements of the ways of the midst, the smoke from the flame catching it a little.

"Thereafter they lead it unto the Virgin of Light, and she judgeth it and depositeth it with

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the little Sabaoth, the Good, him of the Midst, until the sphere turneth itself, and Zeus and Aphrodite come in face of the Virgin of Light, while Kronos and Ares come behind her.

"At that hour she taketh that righteous soul and handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the peons of the sphere. And the servitors of the sphere lead it forth into a water which is below the sphere; and a seething fire ariseth and eateth into it until it purifieth it utterly.

"Thereafter cometh Yaluham, the receiver of Sabaoth, the Adamas, who giveth the cup of forgetfulness unto the souls, and he bringeth the water of forgetfulness and handeth it to the soul; [and it drinketh it] and forgetteth all things and all the regions to which it had gone.

Of the cup of wisdom."Thereafter there cometh a receiver of the little Saba?th, the Good, him of the Midst. He himself bringeth a cup filled with thoughts and wisdom, and soberness is in it; [and] he handeth it to the soul. And they cast it into a body which can neither sleep nor forget because of the cup of soberness which hath been handed unto it; but |389. it will whip its heart persistently to question about the mysteries of the Light until it find them, through the decision of the Virgin of Light, and inherit the Light for ever."

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Mary said: "A man who hath committed all sins and all iniquities and hath not found the mysteries of the Light, will he receive the chastisements for them all at once?"

A sinner suffereth for each separate sin.Jesus answered: "Yea, he will receive it; if he hath committed three sins, he will receive chastisement for three."

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John said: "A man who hath committed all sins and all iniquities, but at last hath found the mysteries of the Light, is it possible for him to be saved?"

Even the greatest of sinners, if he repent, shall inherit the kingdom.Jesus said: "Such a man who hath committed all sins and all iniquities, and he findeth the mysteries of the Light, and performeth and fulfilleth them and ceaseth not nor doeth sins, will inherit the Treasury of the Light."

Of the time favourable for the birth of those who shall find the mysteries.Jesus said unto his disciples: "When the sphere turneth itself, and Kronos and Ar?s come behind the Virgin of Light and Zeus and Aphrodite come in face of the Virgin, they being in their own æons, then the veils of the Virgin draw themselves aside and she falleth into joy in that hour when she seeth these two light-stars before her. And all the souls which she shall cast at that hour into the circuit of the æons of the sphere, that |390. they may come into the world, will be righteous and good and find at this time the mysteries of the Light; she sendeth them anew that they may find the mysteries of the Light.

"If on the other hand Ares and Kronos come in face of the Virgin and Zeus and Aphrodite behind her, so that she seeth them not, then all the souls which she shall cast in that hour into the creatures of the sphere, will be wicked and wrathful and do not find the mysteries of the Light."

The disciples beseech Jesus to have mercy upon them.When then Jesus said this unto his disciples in the midst of the Amente, the disciples cried and wept, [saying]: "Woe, woe unto sinners, on whom the negligence and the forgetfulness of the rulers lie until they come out of the body and are led to these chastisements! Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, son of the Holy

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[paragraph continues] [One], and have compassion with us, that we may be saved from these chastisements and these judgments which are prepared for the sinners; for we also have sinned, our Lord and our Light."

[A LATER POSTSCRIPT]

The proclamation of the apostles.. . . the righteous [man]. They went forth three by three to the four zones of heaven and they proclaimed the goodness of the kingdom in the whole world, the Christ inworking with them through the words of confirmation and the signs  and the wonders which followed them. And thus was known the kingdom of God on the whole earth and in the whole world of Israel as a witness for all the nations which are from the rising unto the setting [of the sun].

[TWO LINES ERASED.]

THE END.

PISTIS SOPHIA;
A GNOSTIC MISCELLANY: BEING FOR THE MOST PART EXTRACTS FROM THE BOOKS OF THE SAVIOUR,
TO WHICH ARE ADDED EXCERPTS FROM A COGNATE LITERATURE; ENGLISHED
By G. R. S. Mead.
London: J. M. Watkins
[1921]
Biographical data: G. R. S. (George Robert Stow) Mead [1863-1933]
Scanned, proofed, and formatted at sacred-texts.com, June 2005,
by John Bruno Hare. This text is in the public domain in the United States because it was published prior to 1923.

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