Pistis Sophia: The Second Book

Pistis Sophia: The Second Book

continued

Section 17: Of the powers of the light and their emanation and ascension

1 "Ieou is the overseer of the light, who emanated from the beginning from the pure light of the first tree; the guardian also of them that are on the right emanated from the second tree; the two leaders emanated also from the pure and select light of the third and fourth trees in the treasure of light; Melchisedec also emanated from the fifth tree; Sabaôth, the good, also, whom I have called my father, emanated from Ieou, the overseer of the light. "These six, then, by the command of that first mystery, the last of the supporters made to dwell in the region of those of the right, according to the regulation of the assembly in the light which is above the æons of the rulers, in the worlds and in every race which they include, of each of which I will tell you the mystery [lit., thing] which hath been placed above his head, in the emanation of the pleroma. Because, therefore, of the sublimity of the mystery which hath been placed in each, they shall be fellow kings in the first mystery of the first voice of the treasure of light, which shall be in the region of the souls which shall have received the first mystery of the first mystery.

2 "And the virgin of light, and also the great leader of the midst, whom the rulers of the æons have named the great Iaô, after the name of the great ruler who is in their region—he and the virgin of light and the twelve ministers from whom ye received your form, and from whom ye received your power, shall all also be kings with the first saviour of the first voice in the region of souls which shall have received the first mystery of the first mystery in the inheritance of light. "And the fifteen supporters of the seven virgins of light, who are in the midst, shall ascend from the [present] regions of the twelve saviours, with the rest of the angels, each according to his glory, that they may be kings with me in the inheritance of light. And I shall be king over them all in the inheritances of light.

3 "All this, however, which I have narrated unto you, shall not be at this time, but it shall come to pass in the completion of the æons, which is the ascension of the pleroma; this is the complete ascension of the number of perfect souls of the inheritances of light. "Before the completion of the æons, therefore, that which I have narrated unto you shall not take place, but each shall be in his own region where he hath been set since the beginning, until the number of the assembly of perfect souls shall be accomplished. "The seven voices, the five trees, the three amens, the twin saviours, the nine guardians, the twelve saviours, they of the regions of the right, and they of the regions of the left, each shall dwell in the region in which he shall have been placed, until all have arrived to make the perfect number of souls of the inheritance of light.

4 "And all the rulers who shall have repented shall moreover dwell in the region where they have been set, until all have arrived to make up the number of souls of the light. "They will all come, each in his proper time, when he shall receive the mystery. And all will be carried through the rulers who shall have repented, and they will come to the region of those of the midst; and they of the midst will baptise them, and will give unto them the spiritual unction; they will seal them with the seals of their mysteries. And they shall be carried through those of all the regions of the midst, and they shall be carried through the regions of them of the right, and the region of the nine guardians, and the region of the twin saviours, and the region of the three amens, and of the twelve saviours, and the region of the five trees and of the seven voices. Each will give them the seal of its mystery, and they shall enter into all to come to the regions of the inheritance of light, that each may dwell in the region of which he shall have received the mystery in the inheritances of light.

5 "In a word, all the souls of men who shall have received the mystery of light shall take precedence of all the rulers who shall have repented, shall take precedence of all them of the region of those of the midst, and of all the region of them that are on the right; they shall take precedence of all the region of the treasure of light. In a word, they shall take precedence of all those of [that] region, and they shall take precedence of all them of the regions of the first statute. They shall all come in; they shall pass into the inheritance of light into the region of their mystery, that each may dwell in the region of which he shall have received the mystery. And so also they of the region of the midst, and they of the right, and they of the whole region of the treasure, each in the region of the order in which he hath been set from the beginning, until the pleroma should ascend; each of them accomplishing the regulation in which he hath been set, because of the assembly of the souls which have received the mystery, because of this regulation, that their seal should be given to all the souls which shall have received the mystery, and shall have passed through their interior towards the inheritance of light.

6 "Now, therefore, O Mary, this is the matter on which thou didst question me with earnestness and confidence. Now, then, moreover, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Section 18: Mary interpreteth the narrative from the Scriptures

1 It came to pass, therefore, when Jesus had finished speaking these words, that Mary Magdalene came forward and said: "Master, my indweller of light hath ears, and I comprehend every word which thou speakest. Now, therefore, O Master, concerning the word which thou hast spoken, to wit, 'All the souls of human kind which shall receive the mysteries of light, shall, in the inheritances of light, take precedence of all the rulers who shall repent, and all them of the region of those who are on the right, and the whole region of the treasure of light'; concerning this word, my Master, thou hast said unto us aforetime, 'The first shall be last and the last shall be first,' that is, the 'last' are the whole race of men who shall be first in the light-kingdom; so also they that are in the region of the height are the 'first.' For this cause, therefore, O Master, didst thou say unto us, 'He that hath ears to hear, let him hear,' that is to say, that thou wouldst know whether we comprehended all the words which thou hast spoken unto us. Thus, then, O Master, stands the matter."

2 It came to pass, therefore, when Mary had finished saying these words, that the saviour was greatly astonished at the exposition of the words which she had given, for she had become pure spirit entirely. And Jesus answered again and said unto her: "Well said, O spiritual and pure Mary; this is the interpretation of the word." It came to pass, therefore, after all these things, that Jesus continued in his conversation, and said unto his disciples: "Hearken, while I speak unto you concerning the glory of them that are in the height, how they are, just as I have spoken to you concerning them up to this day. "Now, therefore, when I shall have brought you to the region of the last supporter, who encircles the treasure of light, when I shall have brought you to the region of this last supporter, in order that ye may see the glory in which he is, the region of the inheritance of light will seem to you simply like a city of this world, because of the magnitude of the last supporter, and because of the mighty light in which he is.

3 "Hereafter I will speak unto you further concerning the glory of the supporter who is above the little supporter; but I will not tell you of the region of them that are above all the supporters; for there is no kind of language for them in this world, nor any similitude in this world like unto them, to compare them therewith; there is neither quality nor light which resembleth them, not only in this world, but also no comparison in those of the height of righteousness from their lowest region upwards. For this cause, therefore, it is not possible to describe them in this world, because of the stupendous glory of them of the height, and because of their transcendently immeasurable quality. Therefore, indeed, there is no possibility of speaking of them in this world." It came to pass, therefore, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward, and said unto Jesus: "Master, be not wroth with me if I question thee, for I importune thee many a time and oft. Now, therefore, O Master, be not wroth with me if I question thee on every matter with earnestness and confidence; for my brethren will preach it unto the race of human kind, that they may hear and repent, and be saved from the harsh judgments of the evil rulers, that they may enter into the height and inherit the kingdom of light; for, O my Master, not only are we compassionate among ourselves, but we are also merciful minded to the whole race of human kind, that they may be saved from these harsh judgments. Now, therefore, O Master, this is why we question on every matter with earnestness and confidence, that my brethren may tell it forth to the whole human race, that they may not fall into the hands of the malignant rulers of the outer darkness."

Section 19: Mary further questioneth Jesus

1 It came to pass, when Jesus had heard the word which Mary spake, that the saviour answered with great compassion for her, and said unto her: "Ask what thou wilt, and I will reveal it unto thee with earnestness and certainty, and without parable." It came to pass, therefore, when Mary had heard these words which the saviour spake, that she rejoiced with great rejoicing, and was in exceeding gladness; she said unto Jesus: "Master, by how much, then, is the second supporter greater than the first supporter? By what distance is the former separated from the latter? Or, again, how many times is the former more radiant than the latter?" Jesus answered and said unto Mary in the midst of the disciples: "Amen, amen, I say unto you, the second supporter is removed from the first supporter by an immeasurable distance, both with regard to height above and depth below, with regard to length and breadth; for he is enormously removed by a mighty distance which is not to be measured either by angels, or archangels, or gods, or invisibles. And the former is greater than the latter most exceedingly, by a measure which is not to be reckoned either by angels, or archangels, or gods, or invisibles. And the former is more radiant than the latter by a measure utterly impossible to compute; for there is no means of measuring the light which is in him, no possibility of computing it either by angels, or archangels, or gods, or invisibles, as I have already said unto you on another occasion.

2 "In like manner, the third supporter and the fourth and the fifth are greater the one than the other an infinite number of times; they are more radiant the one than the other, and are removed the one from the other by a stupendous distance, immeasurable by angels, and archangels, by gods and all invisibles, as I have already said unto you on another occasion. Moreover, I will tell unto you the type of each of them in their emanation." It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward again, she continued [in her questioning] and said unto Jesus: "Master, of what type in the midst of the last supporter, will be they that shall have received the mystery of light?" And Jesus answered and said unto Mary in the midst of the disciples: "They who shall have received the mystery of light, when they shall have quitted the body of the matter of the rulers, each of them shall be in his order, according to the mystery which he shall have received. They who shall have received a high mystery, shall be in a high order; and they who shall have received a low mystery, in a low order; in a word, of whatever regions each shall have received the mystery, he shall dwell in its order in the inheritance of light. For which cause I said unto you aforetime, 'In the region where is your heart, there also shall your treasure be'; that is to say, in the region of which each shall have received the mystery, there shall be rest."

3 It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that John came forward, and said unto Jesus: "My Master and saviour, give me also commandment to speak in thy presence, and be not wroth with me if I question thee on every matter with earnestness and confidence; for, O Master, thou hast promised to reveal unto us all that we should ask. Now, therefore, O Master, hide nothing from us at all of that on which we question thee." And Jesus answered with great compassion, and said unto John: "To thee, also, O blessed John, the well-beloved, I give commandment to speak the word which thou desirest, and I will reveal it unto thee face to face, without parable, and I will tell thee all that thou askest me with earnestness and certainty." And John answered and said unto Jesus: "Master, concerning the region, then, in which each shall have received the mystery and where he will have to rest, will there be no power of quitting it for other higher orders; and will there be no power of entering lower orders?"

4 And Jesus answered and said unto John: "Well, indeed, do ye question on every matter with earnestness and confidence; now, therefore, John, hearken while I speak unto thee. Whosoever shall have received the mystery of the light, every one will remain in the region where he shall have received the mystery, and will not have the power of going into the heights, into the higher orders.

Section 20: Of the first statute

1 "Thus he who shall have received the mystery in the first statute, shall have the power of going into the lower orders, which are all the orders of the third space; but will not have the power of going towards the height into the higher orders. "And he who shall have received the mystery of the first mystery looking without, which is the four and twentieth mystery and the head of the first space towards the exterior—he, then, shall have the power of going into all the exterior orders; but he will not have the power of going into the higher regions or of exploring them. "And they who shall have received the mystery in the orders of those four and twenty mysteries, each shall enter into the region where he shall have received the mystery, and each will have the power of exploring all the exterior orders and spaces; but will not have the power of going into the higher orders or of exploring them.

2 "And he who shall have received the mystery in the orders of the first mystery which is in the third space, shall have the power of going into all the lower orders, and of exploring them all, but he will not have the power of going into the higher regions or of exploring them. "And he who shall have received the mystery of the first trispiritual, which is above the four and twenty mysteries, one after the other, which belong to the space of the first mystery, of which I will tell you the regions in the emanation of the pleroma—he, then, who shall have received the mystery of this trispiritual, shall have the power of descending into all the lower orders; but he will not have the power of going into the height, to the higher orders, which are all the orders of the space of the ineffable. "And he who shall have received the mystery of the second trispiritual, shall have the power of going into all the orders of the first trispiritual, and of exploring them all and all the orders that are therein; but he will not have the power of going into the orders of the height of the third trispiritual.

3 "And he who shall have received the mystery of the third trispiritual, which leadeth to the three trispirituals and the three spaces of the first mystery, one after the other [shall enter therein]; but he will not have the power of going into the height, to the higher orders, which are the orders of the space of the ineffable. "But he who shall have received the absolute Mystery of the first mystery of the ineffable, that is to say, the twelve mysteries of the first mystery, one after another, which bring him into the spaces of the first mystery—he, then, who shall have received this mystery, shall have the power of exploring all the orders of the spaces of the three trispirituals and of the three spaces of the first mystery, and also all their orders; and he shall have the power of exploring all the orders of the inheritance of light, of exploring from without within, and from within without, from above below, and from below above, from the height to the depth, and from the depth to the height, from the length to the breadth, and from the breadth to the length; in a word, he shall have the power of exploring all the regions of the inheritances of light, and he shall have the power of remaining in the region which he shall choose, in the inheritance of the light-kingdom.

4 "Amen, I say unto you, this man, in the dissolution of the world, shall be king over all the orders of the inheritance of light; and he who shall have received the mystery of the ineffable, that man is myself. "That mystery knoweth why there is darkness, and why light. "That mystery knoweth why there is the darkness of darknesses, and why the light of lights. "That mystery knoweth why the chaos existeth, and why the treasure of light. "That mystery knoweth why there are judgments, and why the light-world hath been created together with the region of the inheritances of light. "That mystery knoweth why are all the punishments of sinners, and why the rest of the kingdom of light. "That mystery knoweth why there are sinners, and why inheritances of light. "That mystery knoweth why there are unrighteous, and why there are good. "That mystery knoweth why there are sentences of punishment, and why are all the emanations of light.

5 "That mystery knoweth why sin existeth, and why there are baptisms and mysteries of light. "That mystery knoweth why the fire of punishment existeth, and why there are seals of light to escape the burning of the fire. "That mystery knoweth why blasphemy existeth, and why there are songs to the light. "That mystery knoweth why there are prayers to the light. "That mystery knoweth why cursing existeth, and why blessing. "That mystery knoweth why killing existeth, and why the enlivening of souls. "That mystery knoweth why adultery and fornication exist, and why there is purity. "That mystery knoweth why there is intercourse, and why continence. "That mystery knoweth why there is pride and boasting, and why humility and gentleness. "That mystery knoweth why there are tears, and why laughter. "That mystery knoweth why there is slander, and why good conversation. "That mystery knoweth why there is readiness to hear, and why disregard.

6 "That mystery knoweth why there is murmuring, and why simpleness and holiness. "That mystery knoweth why there is sin, and why purity. "That mystery knoweth why there is strength, and why weakness. "That mystery knoweth why there is bodily impropriety, and why decency. "That mystery knoweth why there is poverty, and why riches. "That mystery knoweth why there is wealth in the world, and why bondage. "That mystery knoweth why there is death, and why life."

Section 21: The gnosis of the mystery of the ineffable continued

1 It came to pass, therefore, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that they rejoiced with great joy, and were in gladness on hearing his words. And Jesus continued further in his conversation, and said unto them: "Hearken, therefore, now further, O my disciples, while I tell you the whole gnosis of the mystery of the ineffable. "That mystery of the ineffable knoweth why there is pitilessness, and why compassion. "That mystery knoweth why there is destruction, and why everlasting increase. "That mystery knoweth why there are reptiles, and why they shall be destroyed. "That mystery knoweth why there are wild beasts, and why they shall be destroyed. "That mystery knoweth why there are beasts of burden, and why birds. "That mystery knoweth why there are mountains, and why there are precious stones therein. "That mystery knoweth why there is the matter of gold, and why that of silver.

2 "That mystery knoweth why there is the matter of brass, and why that of iron and steel. "That mystery knoweth why there is the matter of lead. "That mystery knoweth why there is the matter of glass, and why the matter of wax. "That mystery knoweth why there are herbs and plants, and why all matters exist. "That mystery knoweth why there are waters on the earth, and why all the things that are in them, and why there is also earth. "That mystery knoweth why there are the seas with their waters, and why the wild denizens in the seas. "That mystery knoweth why there is the matter of the world, and why it shall be utterly resolved." And Jesus continued further in his conversation, and said unto his disciples: "Yet again, O my disciples, my comrades and my brethren, let each be sober in mind, let him hear and understand all the words which I shall say unto you; for, from this hour henceforth, I shall begin to speak with you concerning the gnosis of that ineffable.

3 "That mystery knoweth why there is a west, and why an east. "That mystery knoweth why there is a south, and why a north. "Yet again, O my disciples, hearken and continue to be sober, that ye may hear the entire gnosis of the mystery of that ineffable. "That mystery knoweth why there are demons, and why men. "That mystery knoweth why there is heat, and why the cool breeze. "That mystery knoweth why there are stars, and why clouds. "That mystery knoweth why the earth is dug out, and why the waters have come over it. "That mystery knoweth why the earth is dried up, and why the rain falleth upon it. "That mystery knoweth why there is famine, and why abundance. "That mystery knoweth why there is white frost, and why healthful dew. "That mystery knoweth why there is dust, and why delightsome freshness. "That mystery knoweth why there is hail, and why pleasant snow.

4 "That mystery knoweth why there is a west wind, and why an east wind. "That mystery knoweth why there is a south wind, and why a north wind. "That mystery knoweth why there are the planets of heaven and the disks of the light-givers, and why there is the firmament with all its veils. "That mystery knoweth why there are rulers of the spheres, and why the sphere with all its types. "That mystery knoweth why there are rulers of the æons, and why the æons and their veils. "That mystery knoweth why there are rulers of the tyrant æons, and why there are repentant rulers. "That mystery knoweth why there are servants, and why decans. "That mystery knoweth why there are angels, and why archangels. "That mystery knoweth why there are lords, and why gods. "That mystery knoweth why there hath been rivalry in the height, and why there hath been lack of rivalry.

5 "That mystery knoweth why there is hate, and why love. "That mystery knoweth why there is discord, and why concord. "That mystery knoweth why there is avarice, and why renunciation of all things. "That mystery knoweth why there hath been love of possessions. "That mystery knoweth why there is love of fattening, and why satiety. "That mystery knoweth why there are paired, and why unpaired. "That mystery knoweth why there is impiety, [and why love of deity]. "That mystery knoweth why there are light-givers, and why sparks. "That mystery knoweth why there are triple-powers, and why invisibles. "That mystery knoweth why there are forefathers, and why purities. "That mystery knoweth why is the great Arrogant, and why his faithful. "That mystery knoweth why there is the great triple-power, and why the great invisible forefather. "That mystery knoweth why there is the thirteenth æon, and why the region of them of the midst.

6 "That mystery knoweth why there are the receivers of the midst, and why the virgins of light. "That mystery knoweth why there are the ministers of the midst, and why the angels of the midst. "That mystery knoweth why there is the light-world, and why the great receivers of the light. "That mystery knoweth why there are the guardians of the region of them of the right, and why the leaders of these [guardians]. "That mystery knoweth why there is the gate of life, and why Sabaôth, the good. "That mystery knoweth why there is the region of them of the right, and why the light-world, which is the treasure of light. "That mystery knoweth why there are the emanations of light, and why the twelve saviours. "That mystery knoweth why there are the three gates of the treasure of light, and why the nine guardians. "That mystery knoweth why there are the twin saviours, and why the three amens.

7 "That mystery knoweth why there are the five trees, and why the seven amens. "That mystery knoweth why there is the mixture which once did not exist, and why it hath been purified." And Jesus continued further in his conversation and said unto his disciples: "Be sober still, my disciples, and let each of you bring the power of sensing the light before him, that ye may hear with earnestness; for henceforth from this time I will describe for you the entire region of the truth of the ineffable, and of the manner in which it is."

Section 22: The disciples lose courage

1 It came to pass, therefore, when the disciples had heard the words which Jesus had spoken, that they were cast down and lost courage entirely. Mary Magdalene came forward, she bowed herself at the feet of Jesus, and worshipped them; she cried aloud and wept, saying: "Have mercy upon me, Master; for have not my brethren heard and lost all courage because of the words which thou hast spoken? Now, therefore, O Master, concerning the gnosis of all the things which thou hast said are in the mystery of that ineffable, I heard thee say, 'Henceforth from this time I shall begin to tell unto you the entire gnosis of this mystery of that ineffable'—well then, as to these words thou hast not brought us to a perfect understanding thereof. Wherefore my brethren have heard; they have lost courage, they have ceased to sense the meaning of thy speech, and [that] because of the words thou hast employed. Now, therefore, O Master, if the gnosis of all these things is in that mystery, who is the man in this world who shall be able to understand that mystery and all its gnoses, and the fashion of all the words which thou hast spoken concerning it?"

2 It came to pass, therefore, when Jesus had heard the words which Mary said, that he understood that the disciples had heard, but that they were beginning to lose courage. Therefore, he encouraged them, saying: "Grieve not, my disciples, concerning the mystery of that ineffable, thinking that ye will not understand it. Amen, I say unto you, that mystery is yours, and every one's who shall give ear unto you, and shall renounce the whole of this world, and all the matter therein, who shall renounce all the evil thoughts that are therein, and shall renounce all the cares of this æon. "Now, therefore, will I tell you: Whosoever shall renounce the whole world and all therein, and shall submit himself to the divinity, to him that mystery shall be far more easy than all the mysteries of the kingdom of light; it is far simpler to understand than all the rest, and it is far clearer than them all. He who shall arrive at a knowledge of that mystery, hath renounced the whole of this world and all its cares. For this cause have I said to you aforetime, 'Come unto me all ye that are oppressed with cares and labour under their weight, and I will give you rest, for my burden is light and my yoke easy.' Now, therefore, he who shall receive that mystery, hath renounced the whole world, and all the material cares that are therein.

3 "Wherefore, my disciples, grieve not, thinking that ye will never understand that mystery. Amen, I say unto you, that mystery is far simpler to understand than all mysteries; and amen, I say unto you, that mystery is yours and also his whosoever shall renounce the whole world and all the matter that is therein. "Now, therefore, hearken, O my disciples, my friends and my brethren, that I may impel you to the understanding of that mystery of the ineffable. These things I say unto you, because I have already instructed you in every gnosis in the emanation of the pleroma; for the emanation of the pleroma is its gnosis. "Now, therefore, that I may speak with you further for your understanding of these mysteries. "That mystery knoweth why the five supporters rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the great light of lights rent itself asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless.

4 "That mystery knoweth why the first statute rent itself asunder, and why it separated itself from the seven mysteries, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the great light and the impression of light rent themselves asunder, and why they remained without emanation, and why they came forth from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the first mystery rent itself asunder, that is to say, the four and twentieth mystery from the exterior, and why it equalled in itself the twelve mysteries according to the number of the uncontainable impassables, and why it emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the twelve immoveables rent themselves asunder, and why they were established with all their orders, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the unshakeables rent themselves asunder, and why they were established, separated from the [or into] twelve orders, and why they emanated from the parentless which pertain to the orders of the space of the ineffable.

5 "That mystery knoweth why the inconceivables which pertain to the two spaces [? second space] of that ineffable rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the twelve unmanifestables rent themselves asunder, and why they were established after all the orders of the unrevealables, which are also uncontainable impassables, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why these unrevealables rent themselves asunder—[they] which did not reveal themselves, nor bring themselves into manifestation, according to the regulation of the one and only ineffable, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the super-depths rent themselves asunder, and why they set themselves in one order, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the twelve orders of the unspeakables rent themselves asunder, and why they were divided into three divisions, and why they emanated from the parentless.

6 "That mystery knoweth why all the indestructibles in their twelve orders rent themselves asunder, and why they were set in a single order, emanating one after the other, and why they were divided and formed separated orders, being also uncontainable impassables, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the impassables rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the impassables rent themselves asunder, and why they were formed into twelve impassable spaces, and were set in three orders of spaces, according to the regulation of the one and only ineffable, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the twelve uncontainables which belong to the orders of the one and only ineffable, rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless, until they reached the space of the first mystery which is the second space. "That mystery knoweth why the four and twenty myriads of the laudables rent themselves asunder, and why they separated beyond the veil of the first mystery, which is the twin mystery, looking within and without, of the one and only ineffable, and why they also emanated from the parentless.

7 "That mystery knoweth why all the uncontainables which I have just enumerated—they which are in the regions of the second space of the ineffable, that is to say, the space of the first mystery—why they rent themselves asunder, and why these uncontainables and impassables emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the four and twenty mysteries of the first trispiritual rent themselves asunder, and why they are called the four and twenty spaces of the first trispiritual, and why they emanated from the second trispiritual. "That mystery knoweth why the four and twenty mysteries of the second trispiritual rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the third trispiritual. "That mystery knoweth why the four and twenty mysteries of the third trispiritual rent themselves asunder—they which are the four and twenty spaces of the third trispiritual—and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the five trees of the first trispiritual rent themselves asunder, and why they developed in orderly sequence and mutual connection, they and all their orders, and why they emanated from the parentless.

8 "That mystery knoweth why the five trees of the second trispiritual rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the five trees of the third trispiritual rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the foreun-containables of the first of the three trispirituals rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the foreun-containables of the second trispiritual rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why all the foreun-containables of the third trispiritual rent themselves asunder, and why they emanated from the parentless. "That mystery knoweth why the first trispiritual below, of them that pertain to the orders of the one and only ineffable, rent itself asunder, and why it emanated from the second trispiritual. "That mystery knoweth why the third trispiritual, which is the first trispiritual from above, rent itself asunder, and why it emanated from the twelfth protrispiritual, which is in the last region of the parentless.

9 "That mystery knoweth why all the regions which are in the space of the ineffable were emanated, together with all them which are in them, and why they emanated from the last of the limbs of the ineffable. "That mystery knoweth why he himself also rent himself asunder to emanate from the ineffable—to wit, he who commands them all; he who caused them all to emanate according to their orders.

Section 23: Jesus promiseth to explain further all in detail

1 "All this will I explain unto you when speaking of the emanation of the pleroma. In a word, all that I have said unto you, both that which shall be, and that which shall come, they that are emanating, and they which have emanated, they which are without them, and they that act in them, they which shall be contained in the region of the first mystery, and they which shall be in the space of the ineffable—all these I will explain unto you, by region and order, when treating of the emanation of the pleroma; and I will reveal unto you all the mysteries which command them with their protrispirituals and supertrispirituals which command their mysteries and their orders. "Now, therefore, it is the mystery of the ineffable which knoweth why all of which I have spoken unto you hath come into existence; of a truth all this hath existed because of it. He is the mystery which is in them all; he is the emanation of them all, the re-absorption of them all, and the support of them all.

2 "This mystery of the ineffable is in all those of which I have spoken, and of which I shall speak in treating of the emanation of the pleroma. He is the mystery which is in them all, and he is the one mystery of the ineffable. And the gnosis of that which I have said unto you, and of what I have not yet spoken unto you, but of all of which I shall speak when treating of the emanation of the pleroma, and the whole gnosis of each of them, one after another, that is to say, why they exist—all this is the one word of the ineffable. "And I will tell unto you the emanation of all their mysteries, the types of each of them and the manner of perfecting them in all their configurations. And I will tell unto you the mystery of the one and only ineffable, and all its types, all its configurations and all its regulation; and why also it emanated from the last of the limbs of the ineffable, for this mystery is the support of them all.

3 "And the mystery of the ineffable is also the one and only word, but there is another [word] on the tongue of the ineffable; it is the rule of the interpretation of all the words which I have spoken unto you. "And he who shall receive the one and only word of that mystery which I shall now tell unto you, with all its types, and all its configurations, and the manner of accomplishing its mystery—for ye are all perfect perfect ones, and ye shall achieve all the gnosis of this mystery with all its regulation and its utterance, for unto you all mysteries are entrusted. Hearken, then, now, while I tell you that mystery, which is this... He, therefore, who shall receive the one and only word of that mystery, of which I have told you, when he shall have come forth from the body of the matter of the rulers, when the receivers of wrath shall come and set him free from the body of matter of the æons—for the receivers of wrath are they who set free every soul which shall go forth from the body—when, then, the receivers of wrath shall have set free that soul which shall have received this absolute mystery of the ineffable, which I have just told unto you, then, in that hour when it shall be set free from the body of matter, it shall become a great light-stream in the midst of those receivers, and the receivers shall fear exceedingly before the light of that soul, they shall be thrown into consternation, and shall sink down, and desist entirely, for fear of the great light which they shall have seen.

4 "And the soul which shall have received the mystery of the ineffable, shall soar into the height as a great light-stream, and the receivers shall not be able to take hold upon it, nor will they know the way which it goeth, for it hath become a radiant stream, and fletch into the height, and no power shall be able to restrain it at all in any way, nor be able to come nigh it. "It shall pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the light-emanations; it shall give no explanation in any region, nor any apology, nor any symbol, for no power of the rulers, no power of the light-emanations, shall be able to come nigh that soul. But all the regions of the rulers, and all the regions of the light-emanations, each of them in its own region, shall sing a song unto it, in fear of the light of the stream that shall clothe that soul, until it hath passed through all of them, and entered into the region of the inheritance of the mystery which it hath received—the mystery of that one and only ineffable—and become one with the limbs [of the ineffable]. Amen, I say unto you, it shall be in all the regions during the time a man can shoot an arrow.

Section 24: Of the rank of such a soul

1 "Amen, I say unto you, every man who shall receive that mystery of the ineffable, and shall accomplish it in all its types and all its configurations, though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all angels, and shall far surpass them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all archangels, and shall far surpass them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all tyrants, and shall be exalted above them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all lords, and shall be exalted above them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all gods, and shall be exalted among them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all light-givers, and shall be exalted above them all.

2 "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all purities, and shall be exalted above them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all triple powers, and shall be exalted above them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all forefathers, and shall be exalted above them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all invisibles, and shall be exalted above them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than all them of the midst, and shall be exalted above them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than the emanations of the treasure of light, and shall be exalted above them all. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than the mixture, and shall be exalted above the whole of it.

3 "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he higher than the whole region of the treasure, and shall be exalted above the whole of it. "Though he be a man in the world, yet shall he be king with me in my kingdom. He is a man in the world, but a king in the light. "Though he be a man in the world, yet is he a man who is not of the world. "Amen, I say unto you, that man is myself, and I am that man. "And in the dissolution of the world, that is to say, when the pleroma shall achieve its ascension, when the number of all the perfect souls shall have ascended, and when I shall be king in the midst of the last supporter, king over all the light-emanations, king over the seven amens, the five trees, the three amens, and the nine guardians, king over the child of the child, that is to say, over the twin saviours, king over the twelve saviours and the whole number of perfect souls which shall have received the mystery in the light—then, all those men who shall have received the mystery in that ineffable, shall be fellow-kings with me, they shall sit on my right hand and on my left in my kingdom.

4 "Amen, I say unto you, those men are myself, and I am these men. "Wherefore I said unto you aforetime, 'Ye shall sit on my right hand and on my left in my kingdom, and ye shall reign with me.' "For this cause, therefore, I have not hesitated, nor have I been ashamed to call you brethren and friends, for ye shall be fellow-kings with me in my kingdom. These things, then, I said unto you, knowing that I would give unto you the mystery of that ineffable; and that mystery is myself, and I am that mystery. "Now, therefore, not only shall ye reign with me in my kingdom, but all men who shall receive the mystery of that ineffable, shall be fellow-kings with me in my kingdom, and I am they and they are myself, but my throne shall be more excellent than theirs. And because ye shall suffer griefs in this world beyond all men, until ye shall have heralded forth all the words which I shall speak unto you, your thrones shall be close to mine in my kingdom.

5 "Wherefore have I said unto you aforetime, 'In the place where I shall be, there will be also my twelve ministers, but Mary Magdalene and John, the virgin, shall be higher than all the disciples.' "And all men who shall receive the mystery in that ineffable, shall be on my left hand and on my right, and I am they, and they are myself. "They shall be your equals in all things, and yet your thrones shall be more excellent than theirs, and my throne shall be more excellent than yours and [than those of] all men who shall have found the word of that ineffable.

Section 25: Of the gnosis of the word of the ineffable

1 "Amen, I say unto you, the man who shall know this word, shall know the gnosis of all the words which I have said unto you, both with regard to depth and height, with regard to length and breadth; in a word, they shall possess the gnosis of all the words which I have said unto you, and of those which I have not spoken unto you, but which I will tell unto you, region by region and order by order, as I explain the emanation of the pleroma. "Amen, I say unto you, they shall know how the world is constituted, and they shall know why all them of the height are constituted in such or such type, and they shall know wherefore the pleroma existeth." And when the saviour had said these things, Mary Magdalene came forward and said: "Master, bear with me, and be not wroth with me, if I question on every matter with earnestness and confidence. Now, therefore, my Master, surely there is no other word of the mystery of that ineffable, nor any other word of the whole gnosis?"

2 The saviour answered and said: "Yea, verily; there is another mystery of that ineffable and another word of the whole gnosis." And Mary answered again and said unto the saviour: "Master, bear with me if I question thee, and be not wroth with me. Now, therefore, O Master, if we tarry not in life until we know the gnosis of the whole word of that ineffable, shall we not inherit the light-kingdom?" The saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Yea, verily; every one of those who shall receive a mystery of the light, shall enter therein to inherit in the region of which he hath received the mystery; but he shall not know the whole gnosis, wherefore all things come into existence, unless he knoweth the only word of that ineffable, that is to say, the gnosis of the pleroma; further and in all openness, I am the gnosis of the pleroma. Nor is there any possibility of knowing the one and only word of gnosis, without receiving the first mystery of that ineffable; but all the men who shall receive a mystery of light, each shall enter therein to inherit up to the region of which he shall have received the mystery.

3 "Wherefore have I said unto you aforetime, 'He that believeth on a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward, and he that believeth on a just man, shall receive a just man's reward.' He shall enter into the region of which he shall receive the mystery. He who receiveth a lower mystery, shall inherit a lower region; and he who receiveth a higher mystery, shall inherit the region of the height. And each shall dwell in his region in the light of my kingdom, each shall have power over the lower orders, but he will not have power to enter into the higher orders; he shall dwell in the region of the inheritance of the light of my kingdom, in stupendous light which cannot be measured either by gods or all the invisibles; he shall be in great joy and great gladness. "Now, therefore, also, hearken, I will speak with you concerning the glory of those also who shall receive the mysteries of the first mystery.

4 "He, therefore, who shall receive the [first] mystery of that first mystery, when the time cometh for him to depart from the body of the matter of the rulers, the receivers of wrath shall come to lead the soul of that man out of the body, but his soul shall be a mighty light-stream, and these receivers shall be in terror before the light of that soul. That soul shall enter into the height, that it may pass through all the regions of the light-emanations, and it shall give neither explanation, nor apology, nor symbol, in any of the light-regions, but it shall pass through all, and be higher than them all, so that it shall enter and reign over all the regions of the first saviour. 5 "In like manner, also, he who shall receive the second mystery of the first mystery, and the third, and the fourth, up to the twelfth mystery of the first mystery, when the time cometh for him to depart from the body of the matter of the rulers, the receivers of wrath shall approach him, to conduct his soul out of the body of matter; and those souls shall become mighty light-streams in the hands of the receivers of wrath, and these receivers will become terror-stricken before the light of those souls, they will be in consternation, they will sink down on their faces; and those souls shall straightway enter into the height, that they may be carried above all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the light-emanations; they shall give neither explanation, nor apology, in any region whatever, nor any symbol, but they shall pass through all the regions, they shall enter into all and shall reign over all the regions of the twelve saviours, so that they who shall have received the second mystery of the first mystery, shall reign over all the regions of the second saviour in the inheritances of light.

6 "In like manner, also, they who shall have received the third mystery of the first mystery, and also the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, up to the twelfth, each shall be king over all the regions of the saviour of which he shall have received the mystery. And he who shall have received, after the others, the twelfth mystery of the first mystery, that is to say, the authentic mystery, concerning which I will speak with you — he, then, who shall have received those twelve mysteries which pertain to the first mystery, when he shall depart from the world, shall pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the light, as a mighty light-stream, and he also shall be king over all the regions of the twelve saviours. [Such souls,] however, shall not be equal to them who shall have received this one mystery of that ineffable. But he who shall have received this mystery shall dwell in those orders, in that they are excellent, and he shall dwell in the orders of the twelve saviours."

Section 26: Mary questioneth Jesus

1 It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward, and kissed the feet of Jesus, and said unto him: "Master, bear with me and be not wroth with me, if I question thee; but have mercy upon us, O Master, and reveal unto us the matter on which we shall question thee. Now, therefore, O Master, how is it that the first mystery hath twelve mysteries, whereas that ineffable hath but one mystery?" Jesus answered and said unto her: "Indeed, it hath but one mystery; yet that mystery maketh three mysteries, although it is only one mystery; but the type of each of them is different. It also maketh five mysteries, while still remaining one; but the type of each is different, so that these five mysteries are equal to one another in the mystery of kingship in the inheritance of light, but the type of each of them is different, and their kingdom is higher and more exalted than all the kingdoms of the series of twelve mysteries of the first mystery; but they are not equal in the kingdom of the one and only mystery of the first mystery in the kingdom of light.

2 "In like manner, also, the three mysteries are not equal in the kingdom which is in the light, but the type of each of them is different, and they also are not equal in the kingdom of that one and only mystery of the first mystery in the kingdom of light. "Different, moreover, is the type of each of these three; and the types of the configuration of each of them are different from one another. "For when thou shalt have accomplished the first mystery [of these three], after passing through the other [twelve], if thou shalt establish thyself, and accomplish it properly in all its configurations, then dost thou depart from thy body at the proper time, thou becomest a great flame of light, a light-stream thou passest through all the regions of the rulers and all the light-regions, which became terror-stricken before such a soul, until it shall have come into the region of its kingdom.

3 "When also thou shalt have properly accomplished the second mystery of the first mystery, in all its configurations—the man, then, who shall accomplish its mystery, if he uttereth the mystery over the head of any man who shall be on the point of departing out of the body, if he speaketh it into his two ears, even though the man who is on the point of departure should receive the mystery a second time, and though he should already be a partaker in the word of truth—amen, I say unto you, when that man shall depart from the body of matter, his soul shall become a great light-stream, it shall pass through every region until it hath come into the kingdom of that mystery. "But if that man hath not received the mystery, and if he is not a participator in the words of truth—when he who performeth that mystery, uttereth those mysteries over the head of a man on the point of departure from the body, [even] of him who hath not received the mystery of light, and is not a participator in the words of truth—amen, I say unto you, that man, when he shall depart from the body, shall not be judged in any region whatever, he shall not be punished in any region at all, the fire shall not touch him because of the great mystery of that ineffable, which is with him.

4 "But they shall make great haste to pass him from one to the other in turn, to conduct him throughout the regions and throughout the orders, until he be brought before the virgin of light, all regions being terror-stricken before the mystery and the symbol of the kingdom of that ineffable, which is with him. "And when he shall have been brought unto the virgin of light, the virgin of light will see the symbol of the mystery of the kingdom of that ineffable which shall be with him; the virgin of light will be amazed and will prove him, but he will not be brought unto the light until he have performed the whole polity of the light of that mystery, that is to say, the strict observance of the renunciation of the world and also of all the matter that is therein. "The virgin of light will seal him with an excellent seal, which is this.... And no matter in what month he departed from the body of matter, she will have him sent into a righteous body, which shall find the divinity of truth and the higher mysteries, that he may receive them as his inheritance and that he may receive the light for ever, that is to say, the boon of the second mystery of the first mystery of that ineffable.

5 "And the man who shall perform this third mystery of that ineffable, not only when he [himself] shall have departed from the body, shall he inherit the kingdom of the mystery; but when he shall complete that mystery, and when he shall perform it with all its configurations, that is to say, when he shall have created that mystery for himself, and shall have properly accomplished it, [then] when he shall have pronounced the name of that mystery over a man, departing from the body with a knowledge of that mystery, such an one, whether he have delayed or have not delayed, [even if] he pass through the dire punishments of the rulers, their harsh judgments and their various fires—amen, I say unto you, on departing from the body, when this mystery shall have been uttered over him, they shall make great haste to pass him on and hand him from one to the other, until he be brought to the virgin of light, and the virgin of light shall seal him with an excellent seal, which is this...: And no matter in what month he departed from the body, she will have him sent into a righteous body, which shall find the divinity of truth and the higher mystery, in order that he may inherit the kingdom of light. This, then, is the boon of the third mystery of that ineffable.

6 "Now, therefore, whosoever shall have received one of the five mysteries of that ineffable, when he departeth from the body, he shall inherit up to the region of that mystery. The kingdom of the five mysteries is higher than the kingdom of the twelve mysteries of the first mystery, and higher than every mystery below them. And the five mysteries of that ineffable are equal to one another in their own kingdom, but they are not equal to the three mysteries of that ineffable. "And he that receiveth one of these three mysteries of that ineffable, on departing from the body shall inherit up to the kingdom of that mystery. And these three mysteries are equal to one another in the kingdom, and are higher than the five mysteries of the ineffable in the kingdom, and more exalted than them; but they are not equal to the one and only mystery of that ineffable.

Section 27: Of the one and only mystery

1 "He that receiveth also the one and only mystery of that ineffable, shall inherit the region of the whole kingdom according to its glory of which I have already spoken unto you on another occasion. Whosoever shall receive the mystery which is in the whole space of that ineffable, and also all the other sweet mysteries which are in the limbs of that ineffable, of which I have not yet spoken unto you, both concerning their emanation, and the manner in which they are constituted, and the type of each of them as it is—I have not told you why it is called the ineffable, or why it lies stretched out with all its limbs, or how many limbs there are therein, or what are all its regulations, nor will I say this unto you immediately, but only when I come to speak of the emanation of the [whole] pleroma; [then] will I tell you every detail, one by one, for it hath emanated together with its own word, just as it is in itself, together with the sum total of all its limbs which belong to the regulation of the one and only one, the changeless god of truth—in the region, therefore, of which each shall receive the mystery in the space of that ineffable, there shall he inherit up to the region which he shall have received, and also [as far as] the whole region of the space of that ineffable; nor shall he give explanation throughout the regions, nor apology, nor symbol, for [such souls] are without symbol and have no receivers, but they shall pass through all the regions until they arrive at the region of the kingdom of the mystery which they have received.

2 "In like manner also, they who shall receive the mystery of the second space, they [also] require neither explanation, nor apology, nor symbol, for they have no symbol in that world; it is the space of the first mystery. "But of those of the third space towards the exterior, that is to say, the third space from the interior, every region in this space hath its receivers, its explanations, its apologies, and its symbols, [all of the mystery of the second space of] which I will tell you when I come to speak of this mystery, that is to say when I shall have finished explaining the emanation of the pleroma. "But when the pleroma is completed, that is to say, when the number of perfect souls shall be reached, and the mystery shall be accomplished according to which the pleroma is the pleroma, I shall pass a thousand years, according to the years of the light, reigning over all the emanations of the light and the whole number of perfect souls who shall have received all the mysteries."

3 It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward and said: "Master, how many years in years of the world 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 make a single year of the light. "I shall, therefore, pass a thousand years of the light reigning in the midst of the last supporter over all the emanations of the light, over the total number of the souls who shall have received the mysteries of the light. "And ye, my disciples, and whosoever shall have received the mystery of that ineffable, shall rest with me, on my right hand and on my left, reigning with me in my kingdom. "And they also who shall receive the three mysteries of the five mysteries of that ineffable, shall be fellow-kings with you, in the kingdom of light; they shall not be equal with you, with you and with them who shall have received the [one and only] mystery of that ineffable, but they shall be after you, and yet shall be kings.

4 "And they who shall have received the five mysteries of that ineffable, shall be after [them of] the three mysteries, and yet shall be kings. "And they who shall have received the twelve mysteries of the first mystery, shall also be after [them of] the five mysteries of that ineffable, and they shall be kings also, according to the order of each one of them. "And they who shall have received the mystery in all the regions of the space of that ineffable, shall also be kings, but they shall be after those who shall have received the mystery of the first mystery, distributed according to the glory of each of them, so that they who shall have received a higher mystery, shall be in the higher regions, and they who shall have received a lower mystery shall be in a lower region, reigning in the light of my kingdom.

5 "These only constitute the inheritance of the kingdom of the first space of that ineffable.

Section 28: Of them of the second space

1 "They also who shall have received all the mysteries of the second space, which is the space of the first mystery, shall be also in the light of my kingdom, distributed according to the glory of each of them, and each shall be in the mystery which he shall have received; and they who shall have received a higher mystery, shall be in the higher regions, and they who shall have received a lower mystery, shall be in the lower regions in my kingdom of light. "This is the inheritance of the second king, for them who shall have received the mystery of the second space of the first mystery. "They also who shall receive all the mysteries of the second space [of the first mystery], which is the first space from the exterior, they also shall be after the second king, distributed also in the light of my kingdom, according to the glory of each of them, each being in the region of which he shall have received the mystery, so that they who shall have received higher mysteries, shall be in higher regions, and they who shall have received lower mysteries, shall be in lower regions.

2 "These are the three inheritances of the kingdom of light. "Now the mysteries of these three inheritances of light are exceedingly numerous. Ye shall find them in the two great Books of Ieou; but I will give you and tell you the great mysteries of each inheritance, those which are higher than all their regions, that is to say, those which are chief over all their regions and orders, those which can bring the whole human race into the higher regions, from space to space of the inheritance. "But as for the rest of the lower mysteries, ye have no need thereof, but ye shall find them in the two Books of Ieou, which Enoch wrote when I spoke with him from the tree of knowledge, and from the tree of life, which were in the Paradise of Adam. "Now, therefore, when I shall have finished explaining the whole of the emanation, I will give you and tell you the great mysteries of the three inheritances of my kingdom, those which are chief of the mysteries which I will give you. I will tell them unto you in all their configurations, in all their types, and in all their numbers, together with the seals of the third space, which is the first space from the exterior; and I will tell you the explanations, apologies, and symbols of that space.

3 "As to the second space towards the interior, they [who reach thereto] have no need either of explanation, or apology, or symbol, or number, or seal; but only of types and configurations." When the saviour had finished saying these words unto his disciples, Andrew came forward and said: "Master, be not wroth with me, but have 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: "Ask concerning that which thou desirest to question and I will reveal it unto thee face to face without parable." And Andrew answered and said: "I am in great wonderment and amazement, how men of this world and in bodies of matter when they depart from this world, shall pass through all those firmaments, and those rulers, all lords, all gods, all those great invisibles, and all those of the region of them of the midst, and those of the whole region of them that are on the right, and all the great emanations of them that are on the right, so that they pass through them and inherit the kingdom of light. This matter, then, is hard for me."

Section 29: That all men are potentially all powers

1 When Andrew had said these words, the spirit of the saviour was moved in him, and he cried out and said: "How long shall I bear with you, how long shall I suffer you? Do ye still not know and are ye ignorant? Know ye not, and do ye not understand that ye are all angels, all archangels, gods and lords, all rulers, all the great invisibles, all those of the midst, those of every region of them that are on the right, all the great ones of the emanations of the light with all their glory; that ye are all, of yourselves and in yourselves in turn, from one mass and one matter, and one substance; ye are all from the same mixture. "And by the commandment of the first mystery, the mixture is constrained until all the great light-emanations with all their glory are purified, until they are cleansed from the mixture, till they are purified not of themselves, but of necessity, according to the regulation of that one and only ineffable.

2 "They indeed have not at all [in reality] undergone sufferings, nor changes of region, nor have they at all torn themselves asunder, nor poured themselves into different bodies, nor have they been in any affliction. "Whereas ye others, ye are the purgations of the treasure, ye are the purgations of the region of them that are on the right, ye are the purgations of all the invisibles and of all the rulers; in a word, ye are the purgations of all of them. And ye have been in great afflictions and great tribulations, in your pourings into different bodies of this world. And after all these afflictions which came from yourselves, ye have struggled and fought, renouncing the whole world and all the matter that is in it; and ye have not held your hands in the fight, until ye found all the mysteries of the kingdom of light, which have purified you, and transformed you into refined light, most pure, and ye have become pure light itself.

3 "For which cause have I said unto you aforetime, 'Seek, that ye may find.' I said, therefore, unto you, 'Ye shall seek out the mysteries of light, which purify the body of matter, and they will transform you into light of exceeding great purity.' "Amen, I say unto you, the race of human kind is of matter. I tore myself asunter, I brought unto them the mysteries of light, to purify them, for they are the purgations of all the matter of their matter; otherwise, no soul in the whole of human kind would have been saved; nor could it have inherited the kingdom of light, unless I had brought unto them the purifying mysteries. "Now the light-emanations have no need of any mystery, for they are pure; but the human race hath need of purification, for all men are purgations of matter. For this cause I said unto you aforetime, 'They that are whole, need no physician, but they that are sick'; that is to say, they that are of the light have no need of the mysteries, for they are pure light-powers, but the human race hath need of them, for [men] are purgations of matter.

4 "For this cause, therefore, preach ye to the whole human race, saying, 'Cease not to seek day and night, until ye have found the purifying mysteries'; and say unto them, 'Renounce the whole world, and all the matter therein,' for he who buyeth and selleth in this world, he who eateth and drinketh of his own matter, who liveth in his own cares and in all his own associations, amasses ever fresh matter from his matter, in that the whole world, and all that is therein, and all its associations, are exceedingly material purgations, and they shall make enquiry of every one concerning his purity. "For which reason, then, I said to you aforetime, 'Renounce the whole world and all the matter therein,' that ye may not add other matter to the matter which is already in you. Therefore, preach ye this to the whole human race, saying, 'Renounce the whole world and all its associations, that ye may not add fresh matter to the matter which is already in you';

5 and say unto them, 'Cease not to seek day and night, and stay not your hands until ye have found the purifying mysteries which shall cleanse you, and will transform you into pure light, that ye may enter into the height and inherit the light of my kingdom.'

Section 30: That all who are purified shall be saved

1 "Now, therefore, thou, O Andrew, and all thy brethren and co-disciples, because of your renunciations, and all the sufferings which ye have endured in every region, because of your repourings into different bodies, and because of all your tribulations, ye have, after all, received the purifying mysteries, and are become pure light exceedingly refined. For this cause, therefore, ye shall enter into the height, ye shall come to the interior of all the regions of all these great emanations of the light, ye shall be kings in the kingdom of light for ever. This is the explanation of the words on which ye question me. "Now, therefore, Andrew, still art thou in unbelief and ignorance; but when ye shall have departed from your bodies, and shall have entered into the height, and arrived at the region of the rulers, all the rulers shall be ashamed before you, in that ye are the purgations of their matter and yet have been transformed into purer light than all of them. And when ye shall have come into the region of the great invisible, and into the region of them of the midst, of them of the right, and into the regions of all those great emanations of the light, ye shall receive glory in the presence of all of them, in that ye are the purgations of their matter and are transformed into light purer than them all. And all the regions shall sing a song before you, until ye have entered into the region of the kingdom."

2 When the saviour had said these things, Andrew knew clearly, and not only he but also all the other disciples, that they should inherit the kingdom of light. Then they all cast themselves on the ground, side by side, at Jesus' feet, they cried aloud, and wept, and besought the saviour, saying: "Master, forgive our brother the sin of ignorance." And the saviour answered and said: "I forgive and will forgive; for this cause hath the first mystery sent me, that I may forgive every one his sins."

Section 31: Extract from the Books of the Saviour

1 "AND they that are worthy of the mysteries which lie in that ineffable, that is to say, they that have not emanated— they are prior to the first mystery. To use a similitude and correspondence of speech that ye may understand, they are the members of that ineffable; and each is according to the dignity of its glory, the head according to the dignity of the head, the eye according to the dignity of the eye, the ear according to the dignity of the ear, and the rest of the members [in like fashion]; so that it is manifest that there are many members but only one body. Of this I speak to you in a paradigm, a correspondence, and a similitude, but not in the reality of its configuration; I have not revealed the [whole] word in truth. "But the mystery of that ineffable and every member which is in it—that is to say, they that dwell in the mystery of that ineffable, and they that dwell in [that ineffable]—and also the three spaces which follow after them, mystery by mystery, in truth and verity, all that [is myself]. I am the treasure of all of them, apart from which there is no treasure, apart from which there is no individuality in the world; but there are other words [besides the word of this world], other mysteries, other regions.

2 "Now, therefore, blessed is he [among men] who hath found the mysteries of the space towards the exterior. He is a god, who hath found the words of the mysteries of the second space in the midst. He is a saviour and free of every space, who hath found the words of the mysteries, the words of the third space towards the interior. He is the very pleroma itself—the object of desire of all who are in that third space—who hath found the mystery in which they [all] are and in which they are [all] set. Wherefore is he equal to [all of them]. He hath found also the words of the mysteries, which I have written down for you by a similitude, namely the members of the ineffable. Amen, I say unto you, he who hath found the words of these mysteries in the truth of God, that man is chief in the truth, he is its peer, because of these words and mysteries. The pleroma verily oweth its being to that mystery. For which cause, he who hath found the words of these mysteries, is equal to the chief [of all]. It is the gnosis of the gnosis of the ineffable, concerning which I speak unto you this day."

Section 32: Of the preaching of the disciples

1 Jesus continued in his conversation and said into his disciples: "When I shall have gone unto the light, preach unto the whole world and say unto them, 'Cease not day and night to seek until ye have found the mysteries of the kingdom of light, which will purify you and transform you into pure light, that ye may be brought to the kingdom of light.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce the whole world and all the matter that is in it, all its cares, all its sins, in a word, all the associations that are in it, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and be saved from all the torments which are in the judgments.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce murmuring, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and be saved from the fire of the dogfaced one.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce superstition, that ye may escape the judgment of that dog-faced one.'

2 "Say unto them, 'Renounce all spells, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and escape the torments of Ariel.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce calumny, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and escape the rivers of fire of the dog-faced one.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce false witness, that ye may become worthy of the mysteries of light, and escape, and be preserved from the rivers of fire of the dog-faced one.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce boasting and pride, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and escape the pits of fire of Ariel.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce gluttony, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and escape the judgments of Amenti.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce garrulity, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and preserved from the fires of Amenti.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce evil caresses, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and preserved from the torments which are in Amenti.'

3 "Say unto them, 'Renounce the desires of avarice, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and escape from the rivers of fire of that dog-faced one.' Say unto them, 'Renounce the loves of the world, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and escape from the coats of pitch and fire of the dog-faced one.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce robbery, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and escape the rivers of fire of Ariel.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce evil words, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the torments of the rivers of smoke.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce wickedness, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the seas of fire of Ariel.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce pitilessness, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the judgments of the dragon-faced one.'

4 "Say unto them, 'Renounce wrath, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the rivers of smoke of the dragon-faced.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce reviling, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the fire of the seas of the dragon-faced.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce pillage, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the seething seas of the dragon-faced.' Say unto them, 'Renounce robbery, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from Ialdabaôth.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce slandering, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the rivers of fire of that lion-faced.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce quarrelling and broiling, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the seething rivers of Ialdabaôth.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce all ignorance, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the workmen of Ialdabaôth and the fires of his seas.'

5 "Say unto them, 'Renounce villainy, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from all the demons of Ialdabaôth and all his judgments.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce sloth, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the seething seas of pitch of Ialdabaôth.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce adultery, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of the kingdom of light, and saved from the seas of sulphur and pitch of the lion-faced.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce murder, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the crocodile-faced ruler, who dwelleth in ice, the first creation of the outer darkness.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce hardness of heart, and impiety, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the rulers of the outer darkness.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce atheism, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

6 "Say unto them, 'Renounce [magic] potions, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and saved from the great frost and hail of the outer darkness.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce blasphemy, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and 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 light, and saved from all the punishments of the great dragon of the outer darkness.' "Say unto them who teach the doctrines of error, and to them who are taught by them, 'Woe unto you, for if ye repent not, and abandon not your errors, ye shall come into the torments of the great dragon of the inexorable outer darkness, and ye shall not be set free from the world for the eternity, ye shall be without existence until the end.' Say unto them that abandon the doctrines of truth of the first mystery, 'Woe unto you, for your torment shall be worse than that of all men, for ye shall dwell in the great ice, and frost, and hail, in the midst of the dragon and the outer darkness, and ye shall not be set free from the world henceforth for the eternity, ye shall be frozen up in that region, and in the ascension of the pleroma, ye shall be lost, ye shall be non-existent for the eternity.'

Section 33: What men should practise

1 "Say also unto the men of the world, 'Be diligent, that ye may receive the mysteries of light, and enter into the height of the kingdom of light.' "Say unto them, 'Be ye loving unto men, that ye may be worthy of the mysteries of light, and enter into the height, into the kingdom of light.' "Say unto them, 'Be ye gentle, that ye may receive the mysteries of light, and enter into the height, into the kingdom of the light.' "Say unto them, 'Be ye peacemakers, that ye may receive the mysteries of light, and enter into the height, into the kingdom of light.' "Say unto them, 'Be ye merciful, that ye may receive the mysteries of light, and enter into the height, into the kingdom of light.' "Say unto them, 'Be ye compassionate, that ye may receive the mysteries of light, and enter into the height, into the kingdom of light.'

2 "Say unto them, 'Minister unto the poor and sick and afflicted, that ye may receive the mysteries of light, and enter into the height, into the kingdom of light.' "Say unto them, 'Be ye loving unto God, that ye may receive the mysteries of light, and enter into the height, into the kingdom of light.' "Say unto them, 'Be ye righteous, that ye may receive the mysteries of light, and enter into the height, into the kingdom of light.' "Say unto them, 'Renounce everything, that ye may receive the mysteries of light, and enter into the height, into the kingdom of light.' "These are all the boundary marks of the paths of them that are worthy of the mysteries of light. "Unto them, therefore, who shall have made this renunciation, give ye the mysteries of light; hide them not from them at all. Should they have been sinners, should they have been in all the sins and all the iniquities of the world, of which I have spoken unto you, nevertheless, if they turn themselves, and repent, and have made the renunciation which I have just described unto you, give ye unto them the mysteries of the kingdom of light; hide them not from them at all.

3 "It is because of sin that I have brought these mysteries into the world, for the remission of all the sins which they have committed from the beginning. Wherefore have I said unto you aforetime, 'I came not to call the righteous.' Now, therefore, I have brought the mysteries that the sins of all men may be remitted, and they be brought into the kingdom of light. For these mysteries are the boons of the first mystery for the destruction of the sins and iniquities of all sinners." It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary came forward and said to the saviour: "Master, surely, then, the righteous perfect in all righteousness, the man in whom there is no sin at all, such a man will not be chastised in the torments and judgments? Will they not surely bring him into the kingdom of the heavens?"

4 The saviour answered and said unto Mary: "A righteous man who is perfect in all righteousness, who hath committed no sin at any time, should such a one not have received the mystery of light, when the time cometh for him to pass out of the body, the receivers of light of the one great triple power, who is the great one among them, shall immediately rescue the soul of that man from the hands of the receivers of wrath. Three days shall they journey round with it in all the creatures of the world, and after the three days they shall bring it from above into chaos, to pass it through the torments of the judgments, that they may instruct it in the torments. The fires of chaos, however, will not trouble it greatly; but they will trouble it somewhat for a short space. "Quickly and with haste will they take pity on it, to bring it forth from chaos, and set it in the way of the midst of the rulers; they shall not torment it with their harsh judgments, but the fire of their regions shall trouble it somewhat. [So that] though they shall bring it into the region of these pitiless Achthanabas, they shall nevertheless not torment it in its harsh judgments, but [only] keep it there a short space, the fire of its torments troubling it [only] somewhat.

5 "And again with haste will they take pity on it, to bring it forth from the regions which belong to those rulers, and in like manner they will cause it to pass through all the torments. "They shall take it out of the æons entirely, lest the rulers of the æons should carry it off and ravish it; they shall lead it along the way of the sunlight, to bring it to the virgin of light. And she will prove it, to find it free of all sin, but will not have it brought to the light, because the sign of the kingdom of the mysteries is not with it. But she will seal it with an excellent seal that it may be carried into a righteous body of the æons. And [that man] shall be good so that he may find the signs of the mysteries of light, and inherit the kingdom of light for ever.

6 "And if a man have sinned once, or twice, or thrice, he shall be sent back into the world according to the type of the sins he hath committed; I will tell you these types when I shall come to explain the emanation of the pleroma. "But amen, amen, I say unto you, even though a righteous man have not committed any sin at all, it is impossible to take him into the kingdom of light, because the sign of the kingdom of the mysteries is not with him. In a word, it is not possible to bring a soul into the light without the mysteries of light."