" And if I lead you into the region of those of the glory of the Eight, then will ye see the glory in which Rigi^t. 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 Eight is considerably distant from it.
*' And if I lead you into the Light-land, that 158 PISTIS SOPHIA sury.
Of the glory of the In- heritance.
187.
Of the glory 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.
'* 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 Avhich 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, | 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."
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 ques- tion, and I will reveal it unto thee in openness without similitude, and all concerning which thou questionest, I will say unto thee with pre- cision 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 CHAP. 85.
SECOND BOOK 159 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."
It came to pass then, when Mary had heard Mary again the Saviour say these words, that she rejoiced in Ss!^^^ exceedingly great joy and exulted, and said: *' My Lord, will then the men of the world who have received the mysteries of the Light, | be iss. 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 [emana- tions] in the kingdom of the Light? " And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: chap. 86. ** 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 aeon 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, | then will the Treasury of i89. 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 160 PISTIS SOPHIA Of the at the time of the consummation [and] of the sr^Jursand ascension of the universe.' The twelve saviours their re- ^f ^^^q Treasurv and the twelve orders of every gions in the ^ «^ Inheritance, 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 emana- tions, 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 190. mystery of the First Mystery in the | 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.
SECOND BOOK 161 ** 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 | eighth mystery of 191. 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.
Of the as- cension of those of the Treasury in- to the In- heritance.
Of their re- spective ranks in the kingdom.
Of the powers of the Right, and their emanation and ascen- sion.
193.
** And the seven | Amens and the five Trees and the three Amens 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.
'* 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 in- heritances of the Light. And the Twin-saviours will be superior to the nine guards in the kingdom. And the three Amens will be superior to the Twin- saviours in the kingdom. And the five Trees will be superior to the three Amens in the in- heritances of the Light.
" 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 Sabaoth, 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 | 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 Eight 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 Eight hath come forth out of the second Tree; and the two guides again SECOND BOOK 163 have come forth out of the pure and utterly- purified hght 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 Sabaoth, 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 hght out of the seons 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, there- fore, of the importance of the employment over which they have been set, | they will be fellow- i94. 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.
" And the Virgin of Light and the great guide of the of the Midst, whom the rulers of the aeons are thrmdst wont to call the Great Yew after the name of a ^""^ *^.^''' ascension.
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 in- heritances 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, 164 PISTIS SOPHIA But this shall not take place tiU the con- summation of the aeon.
195.
Of the as- cension of the souls of the perfect.
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.
'' 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 aeon, that is at the ascension of the universe; that is at the dissolution of the universe and at the total ascension of the numbering | 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 Amens 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.
" [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 vl/ feet.
SECOND BOOK 165 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 Eight 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 | Amens and of the twelve saviours and the i96. interior of the five Trees and of the seven Voices. Every one giveth unto them his seal of his mys- tery, 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 inheri- tances of the Light.
'* In a word, all the souls of men who shall of the rank receive the mysteries of the Light, will precede of the p^er-^ 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 Eight, 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 Eight 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 accom- plisheth his economy to which he hath been set, in respect of the ingathering of the souls who 166 PISTIS SOPHIA 197.
CHAP. 87.
Mary inter- pret6th the discourse from the scriptures.
198.
have received the mysteries, in respect of this economy, so that they may seal | 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 con- cerning which thou dost question me with pre- cision and certainty. For the rest now then, who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
" It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words, that Mary Magdalene started forward and said: '* 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 Eight 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 | 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 SECOND BOOK 167 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."
It came to pass then again after all these chap. 88. 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.
'* Now, therefore, if I lead you into the region of the last of the last Helper, who surroundeth the Treasury ^®*p^^- 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.
*' And thereafter I will discourse with you also That the concerning the glory of the Helper who is above ^on^The^" the little Helper. But I shall not be able to Helpers are .,.,. indescribdiscourse with you concernmg the regions of those able, who are above all Helpers; | for there existeth 199. no type in this world, to describe them, for there existeth in this world no Hkeness 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 like- ness 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 168 PISTIS SOPHIA 200.
CHAP. 89.
Mary fur- ther ques- tioneth Jesus.
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 judg- ments 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, | 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."
It came to pass then, when Mary had heard the Saviour say these words, that she rejoiced with great joy and exulted exceedingly and gaid unto Jesus: '* My Lord, by how much SECOND BOOK 169 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? " Jesus answered and said unto Mary in the of the midst of the disciples: ** Amen, amen, I say unto Helper, 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 | through the angels and 201. 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.
** In like manner also the third Helper and of the third, fourth and fifth Helper, — one is greater than the ^^th ' ^^ other...and shineth more than the latter and Helpers. 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."
It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished chap. 90. saying these words unto his disciples, that Mary ^^ry again Magdalene came forward again, continued and Jesus. said unto Jesus: " My Lord, in what type will 170 PISTIS SOPHIA Of those who receive the mystery in the last Helper.
202.
be those who have received the mystery of the Light, in the midst of 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 mys- teries 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 dis- course 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 SECOND BOOK 171 will say unto thee | all on which thou wilt question 203. me with precision and certainty."
And John answered and said unto Jesus: John ques- *' My Lord, will then every one abide in the region jes^s. 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? " And Jesus answered and said unto John: CHAP. 91. " Finely indeed do ye question on all with pre- cision 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.
*' So that he who hath received mysteries in Of the first the first Commandment, hath the power to go ment. 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.
"And he who shall receive the mysteries of of the first the First Mystery, which is the four-and-twen- ^^^^^* tieth 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.
" And of those who have received the mysteries of the in the orders of the four-and-twenty mysteries, | space. every one will go into the region in which he 204. hath received mysteries, and he will have the 172 PISTIS SOPHIA 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 *' 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 '* And he who hath received mysteries of the uais.^^^^^^^ 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 SECOND BOOK 173 into the orders which are above him, that is into the orders of the space of the Ineffable.
"And he who hath received the master- Of the mystery of the First Mystery of the Ineffable, Sry.^^ "^^^ 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 Mys- tery and all their orders, and hath the power to * yOC 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 | above and from the height 206. 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 in- heritances of the Light, and he hath the power to bide in the region where he pleaseth, in the Inheritance of the Light-kingdom.
" And amen, 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, — "That mystery knoweth why the darkness of the hath arisen and why the light hath arisen. maTter^m^s- " And that mystery knoweth why the darkness *^^y- 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.
174 PISTIS SOPHIA '' And that my stery knoweth why the judgments have arisen and why the Ught-land and the region of the inheritances of the hght have arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the chastise- ments of the sinners have arisen and why the rest of the kingdom of the hght hath arisen.
207. ** And that mystery knoweth | 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 chastise- ments and judgments have arisen and why all the emanations of the hght have arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the sins have arisen and why the baptisms and the mys- teries of the hght have arisen.
" And that mystery knoweth why the fire of chastisement hath arisen and why the seals of the hght, 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.
208. '' And that mystery | knoweth why the slaying hath arisen and why the quickening of the souls hath arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why adultery SECOND BOOK 175 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 | motion of 209. 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."
It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished CHAP. 92. 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 176 PISTIS SOPHIA further, 0 my disciples, so that I discourse with you concerning the whole gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable.
Of the gnosis '' That mystcry of the Ineffable knoweth why teryoUhe unmcrcifulness hath arisen and why mercifulness Ineffable. ^iSith ariscn.
" 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 210. beasts have arisen | 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 moun- tains have arisen and why the precious stones therein have arisen.