'* And that mystery knoweth why the matter of gold hath arisen and why the matter of silver hath arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the matter of copper hath arisen and why the matter of iron and of stone hath arisen.
" And that mystery knoweth why the matter of lead hath arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the matter of glass hath arisen and why the matter of wax hath arisen.
" And that mystery knoweth why herbs, that is the vegetables, have arisen and why all matters have arisen.
'' And the mystery knoweth why the waters of the earth and all things in them have arisen and why also the earth hath arisen.
SECOND BOOK 17 7 *' And that mystery knoweth why the seas | and the waters have arisen and why the wild 211. beasts in the seas have arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the matter of the world hath arisen and why it [the world] will be utterly destroyed."
Jesus continued again and said unto his dis- chap. 93. ciples: *' Yet further, 0 my disciples and com- panions and brethren, let every one be sober in the spirit which is in him, let him understand and comprehend all the words which I shall say unto you; for from now on will I begin to dis- course with you concerning all the gnoses of that Ineffable.
*' That mystery knoweth why the west hath arisen and why the east hath arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the south hath arisen and why the north hath arisen.
'* Yet further, 0 my disciples, hearken and con- tinue to be sober and hearken to the total gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable.
** That mystery knoweth why the demons have arisen and why mankind hath arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the heat hath arisen and why the pleasant air hath arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the stars have arisen and why the clouds have arisen. | '' And that mystery knoweth why the earth 212. became deep and why the water came thereon.
" And that mystery knoweth why the earth became dry and why the water came thereon.
'' And that mystery knoweth why famine hath arisen and why superfluity hath arisen.
" And that mystery knoweth why the hoar- 12 178 PISTIS SOPHIA frost hath arisen and why the healthful dew hath arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the dust hath arisen and why the delightsome freshness hath arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the hail hath arisen and why the pleasant snow hath arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the west wind hath arisen and why the east wind hath arisen.
(" And that mystery knoweth why the fire of the height hath arisen and why the waters have arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the east wind hath arisen. [? miscopied.])
*' And that mystery knoweth why the south wind hath arisen and why the north wind hath arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the stars of 213. the heaven and the | disks of the light-givers have arisen and why the firmament with all its veils hath arisen.
" And that mystery knoweth why the rulers of the spheres have arisen and why the sphere with all its regions hath arisen.
'' And that mystery knoweth why the rulers of the aeons have arisen and why the soons with their veils have arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the tyrant rulers of the aeons have arisen and why the rulers who have repented have arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the ser- vitors have arisen and why the decans have arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the angels have arisen and why the archangels have arisen.
SECOND BOOK 179 ** And that mystery knoweth why the lords have arisen and why the gods have arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the jealousy in the height hath arisen and why concord hath arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why hate hath arisen and why love hath arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why discord hath arisen and why concord hath arisen.
'* And that mystery knoweth why avarice | hath 214. arisen and why renunciation of all hath arisen and love of possessions hath arisen.
" And that mystery knoweth why love of the belly hath arisen and why satiety hath arisen.
'' And that mystery knoweth why the paired have arisen and why the unpaired have arisen.
" And that mystery knoweth why impiety hath arisen and why fear of God hath arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the light- givers have arisen and why the sparks have arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the thrice- powerful have arisen and why the invisibles have arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the fore- fathers have arisen and why the purities have arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the great self-willed hath arisen and why his faithful have arisen.
'* And that mystery knoweth why the great triple-powerful hath arisen and why the great invisible forefather hath arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the thir- teenth aeon hath arisen and why the region | of 215. those of the Midst hath arisen.
180 PISTIS SOPHIA ** And that mystery knoweth why receivers of the Midst have arisen and why the virgins of the Ught have arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the ministers of the Midst have arisen and why the angels of the Midst have arisen.
" And that mystery knoweth why the Hght- land hath arisen and why the great receiver of the light hath arisen.
" And that mystery knoweth why the guards of the region of the Right have arisen and why the leaders of them have arisen.
'' And that mystery knoweth why the gate of life hath arisen and why Sabaoth, the Good, hath arisen.
'' And that mystery knoweth why the region of the Right hath arisen and why the light-land, which is the treasury of the light, hath arisen.
*' And that mystery knoweth why the emana- tions of the light have arisen and why the twelve saviours have arisen.
'* And that mystery knoweth why the three gates of the treasury of the light have arisen and why the nine guards have arisen. 210. ** And I that mystery knoweth why the twinsaviours have arisen and why the three Amens have arisen.
'* And that mystery knoweth why the five Trees have arisen and why the seven Amens have arisen.
** And that mystery knoweth why the Mixture which existeth not, hath arisen and why it is purified."
CHAP. 94. And Jesus continued again and said unto his disciples: " Still further, 0 my disciples, be SECOND BOOK 181 sober and let every one of you bring hither the power of sensing the Light before him, that ye may sense with sureness. For from now on I will discourse with you concerning the whole region in truth of the Ineffable and concerning the manner, how it is."
It came to pass then, when the disciples had The dis- heard Jesus utter these words, that they gave co^rage.^^ way and let go entirely.
Then Mary Magdalene came forward, threw her- self at the feet of Jesus, kissed them and wept aloud and said: *' Have mercy upon me, my Lord, for my brethren have heard and let go of the words which thou saidest unto them. Now, therefore, my Lord, concerning the gnosis of all the things which thou hast said, that they are in the mys- tery I of the Ineffable; but I have heard thee 217. say unto me: ' From now on I will begin to dis- course with you concerning the total gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable,' — this word, therefore, which thou saidest, thou hast not gone forward to complete the word. For this cause, therefore, my brethren have heard and have let go and ceased to sense in what manner thou discoursest with them. Concerning the word which thou saidest unto them, now, therefore, my Lord, if the gnosis of all this is in that mystery, where is the man who is in the world, who hath the ability to understand that mystery with all its gnoses and the type of all these words which thou hast spoken concerning it? " It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard chap. 96. Mary say these words and knew that the disciples had heard and had begun to let go, that he en- couraged them and said unto them: '' Grieve 182 PISTIS SOPHIA 218.
Jesus ex- plaineth that that mystery is really simno more, my disciples, concerning the mystery of the Ineffable, thinking that ye will not under- stand it. Amen, I say unto you: That mystery is yours, and every one's who will give ear unto you, so that they renounce this whole world and the whole matter therein and renounce all the evil thoughts therein and renounce all the cares of this aeon.
" Now, therefore, I say unto you: | For every one who will renounce the whole world and all therein and will submit himself to the godhead, that mystery is far easier than all the mysteries myste^ie^^^^ of the Light-kingdom and it is sooner to under- stand than them all and it is easier [?] than them all. He who reacheth unto the gnosis of that mystery, renounceth this whole world and all the cares therein.
'* For this cause have I said to you aforetime: * All ye who are heavy under your burden, come hither unto me, and I will quicken you. For my burden is easy and my yoke is soft.' Now, therefore, he who will receive that mystery, renounceth the whole world and the cares of all the matter therein. For this cause, therefore, my disciples, grieve not, thinking that ye will not understand that mystery. Amen, I say unto you: That mystery is far sooner to understand than all mysteries. And amen, I say unto you: That mystery is yours and every one's who will renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein.
** Now, therefore, hearken, my disciples and my companions and my brethren, that I may urge you on to the gnosis of the mystery of the 219. Ineffable | concerning which I discourse with you.
SECOND BOOK 183 because I have in sooth gotten as far as to tell you the whole gnosis at the expansion of the universe; for the expansion of the universe is its gnosis.
** But now then hearken that I may discourse with you progressively concerning the gnosis of that mystery.
''That mystery knoweth wherefor the five of the rend- Helpers have rent themselves asunder and where- aJf/emana^ for they have come forth from the Fatherless [vL\ *^^^ ^^ *^® ^ LJ" J powers of ''And that mystery knoweth wherefor the the universe, great Light of lights hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.
" And that mystery knoweth wherefor the first Commandment hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath divided itself into the seven mysteries and wherefor it is named the first Commandment and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.
" And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Great Light of the Impressions of the Light hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath set itself up without emanations and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.
" And that mystery knoweth wherefor the First Mystery, that is the four-and-twentieth mystery from without, hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it imitated in itself the twelve mysteries according to the number of the numbering of the Uncontainables | and Bound- 220. less and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.
"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the of those of twelve Immoveables have rent themselves asunder spLe^onhe and wherefor they have set themselves with all^^^^^^^®- 184 PISTIS SOPHIA their orders and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
** And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Unwaverables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves up, divided into twelve orders, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless, which belong to the orders of the space of the Ineffable.
" And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Incomprehensibles, which pertain to the second space of the Ineffable, have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
*' And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve Undesignatables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves up after all the orders of the Unindicatables, themselves being uncontainable and boundless, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
*' And that mystery knoweth wherefor these Unindicatables have rent themselves asunder, — [they] who have not indicated themselves nor brought themselves into publicity according to the economy of the One and Only, the Ineffable, 221. and wherefor they have come forth | from the Fatherless.
'* And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Super-deeps have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have distributed themselves, being a single order, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
*' And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve orders of the Unspeakables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have SECOND BOOK 185 divided themselves, being three portions, and wherefor they have come forth from the Father- less.
" And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the Imperishables, being their twelve orders, have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have settled themselves, being expanded in a single order, and wherefor they have divided themselves and formed different orders, being uncontainable and boundless, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
*' And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Impassables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves up, being twelve boundless spaces, and have settled them- selves, being three orders of spaces, according to the economy of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
'* And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve Uncontainables, which belong to the orders | of the One and Only, the Ineffable, have 222. rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless, until they were brought to the space of the First Mystery, which is the second space.
*' And that mystery knoweth wherefor the four-and-twenty myriads of Praise-singers have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have extended themselves outside the veil of the First Mystery, which is the twin-mystery, that which looketh within and without, of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
** And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the 186 PISTIS SOPHIA Uncontainables have rent themselves asunder — [those], which I have just named, which are in the regions of the second space of the Ineffable, which is the space of the First Mystery, and wherefor those Uncontainables and Boundless have come forth from the Fatherless. Of those of '* And that mystery knoweth wherefor the space of the four-and-twcnty mysteries of the first Thrice- ineffabie. spiritual have rent themselves asunder and where- for they are called the four-and-twenty spaces of the first Thrice-spiritual and wherefor they have come forth from the second Thrice- spiritual.
'* And that mystery knoweth wherefor the 223. four-and-twenty mysteries of the | second Thricespiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the third Thrice-spiritual.
** And that mystery knoweth why the four- and-twenty mysteries of the third Thrice-spiritual — that is the four-and-twenty spaces of the third Thrice-spiritual — have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
" And that mystery knoweth wherefor the five Trees of the first Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have extended themselves, standing one behind the the other and moreover bound one to the other with all their orders, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
" And that mystery knoweth wherefor the five Trees of the second Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
SECOND BOOK 187 ** And that mystery knoweth wherefor the five Trees of the third Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
'* And that mystery knoweth why the Fore- uncontainables of the first Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
** And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Fore-uncontainables of the second Trispiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor | they have come forth from the Fatherless. 224, *' And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the Fore-uncontainables of the third Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.
*' And that mystery knoweth wherefor the first Thrice-spiritual from below — those who belong to the orders of the One and Only, the Ineffable — hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath come forth from the second Thrice-spiritual.
*' And that mystery knoweth wherefor the third Thrice-spiritual — that is the first Thrice- spiritual from above — hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath come forth from the twelfth Pro-thrice-spiritual, which is in the last region of the Fatherless.
'* And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the the regions which are in the space of the Ineffable, and all those in them, have expanded themselves, and wherefor they have come forth from the last Limb of the Ineffable.
'* And that mystery knoweth itself, wherefor it hath rent itself asunder to come forth from the Ineffable, — that is from That which ruleth them 188 PISTIS SOPHIA 225.
CHAP. 96.
Jesus pro- miseth to explain fur- ther all in detail.
Of the mys- tery suc- cinctly.
226.
all and which expanded them all according to | their orders.
*' Of all these then will I speak unto you at the expansion of the universe — in a word, all those whom I have spoken of unto you: those who will arise and those who will come, those who emanate, and those who come forth, and those who are without over them, and those who are implanted in them, those who will con- tain the region of the First Mystery and those who are in the space of the Ineffable — of these will I speak unto you, because I will reveal them unto you, and I will speak of them unto you according to every region and according to every order, at the expansion of the universe. And I will reveal unto you all their mysteries which rule over them all, and their Pro-thrice-spirituals and their Super-thrice-spirituals which rule over their mysteries and their orders.
" Now, therefore, the mystery of the Ineffable knoweth wherefor all these have arisen of whom I have spoken unto you in openness, and through which all these have arisen. It is the mystery which is in them all; and it is the out-going of them all, and it is the up-going of them all, and it is the setting-up of them all.
** And the mystery of the Ineffable is the mystery which is in all these of whom I have spoken unto you, and of whom I will speak unto you at the expansion of the universe. And it is the mystery which is in them all, and it is the one only mystery of the Ineffable and the gnosis of all these | of whom I have spoken unto you, and of whom I will speak unto you, and of whom I have not spoken. Of these will I speak unto SECOND BOOK 189 you at the expansion of the universe and of their total gnosis one with another, wherefor they have arisen. It is the one and only word of the Ineffable.
*' And I will tell you the expansion of all mysteries and the types of every one of them and the manner of their completion in all their figures. And I will tell you the mystery of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and all its types, all its figures and its whole economy, wherefor it hath come forth from the last Limb of the Ineffable. For that mystery is the setting-up of them all.
'* And that mystery of the Ineffable is more- of the one over also a one and only word, which existeth w^rd oUhe in the speech of the Ineffable, and it is the ^''^^^^^®' economy of the solution of all the words which I have spoken unto you.
** And he who will receive the one and only word of that mystery which I shall now say unto you, and all its types and all its figures, and the manner of accomplishing its mystery, — for ye are perfect and all-perfect and ye will accomplish the whole gnosis of that mystery with its whole economy, for unto you all mysteries are entrusted, — hearken, therefore, now, that I may tell you that mystery, which is [...?].
'* He I then, who shall receive the one and only 227. word of that mystery, which I have told you, if ^4tiSi^of he Cometh forth out of the body of the matters of t^e soui of the rulers, and if the retributive receivers come shall receive and free him from the body of matter of the oniy^mys^ rulers, — that is those [receivers] who free from*^^y- the body all out-going souls, — when, therefore, the retributive receivers free the soul which 190 PISTIS SOPHIA hath received this one and only mystery of the Ineffable, which I have just told you, then will it straightway, if it be set free from the body of matter, become a great light-stream in the midst of those receivers, and the receivers will be exceedingly afraid of the light of that soul, and the receivers will be made powerless and fall down and desist altogether for fear of the great light which they have seen.
'* And the soul which receiveth the mystery of the Ineffable, will soar into the height, being a great light-stream, and the receivers will not be able to seize it and will not know how the way is fashioned upon which it will go. For it be- cometh a great light-stream and soareth into the height, and no power is able to hold it down at 228. all, nor | will they be able to come nigh it at all.
" But it will pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the emanations of the Light, and it will not give answers in any region, nor giveth it any apologies, nor giveth it any tokens; neither will any power of the rulers nor any power of the emanations of the Light be able to come nigh that soul. But all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the emanations of the Light, — every one singeth unto it praises in their regions, in fear of the light of the stream which envelopeth that soul, until it passeth through them all, and goeth to the region of the inheritance of the mystery which it hath received, — that is to the mystery of the One and Only, the Ineffable, — and until it becometh one with its Limbs. Amen, I say unto you: It will be in all the regions in the time a man shooteth an arrow.
SECOND BOOK 191 SECOND BOOK 191 *' Now, therefore, amen, I say unto you: of the rank Every man who will receive that mystery of the soul. Ineffable and accompHsh it in all its types and all its figures, — he is a man in the world, but he towereth above all angels and will tower still more above them all.
" He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all archangels and will tower still more above | them all. 229.
"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all tyrants and will raise himself above them all.
" He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all lords and will raise himself above them all.
*' He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all gods and will raise himself above them all.
" He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all Hght-givers and will raise himself above them all.
" He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all pure [ones] and will raise himself above them all.
"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all triple-powers and will raise himself above them all.
"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all forefathers and will raise himself above them all.
" He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all invisibles and will raise himself above them all.
" He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the great invisible forefather and will raise himself above him.
192 PISTIS SOPHIA *' He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all those of the Midst and will raise him- self above them all.
'* He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the emanations of the Treasury of the Light and will raise himself above them all.
*' He is a man in the world, but he towereth 230. above the Mixture | and will raise himself entirely above it.
" He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the whole region of the Treasury and will raise himself entirely above it.
** He is a man in the world, but he will rule with me in my kingdom.
*' He is a man in the world, but he is king in the Light.
'' He is a man in the world, but he is not one of the world.
*' And amen, I say unto you: That man is I and I am that man. Such souls *' And at the dissolution of the world, that is the First wlien the universe will be raised up and when the Mystery. numbering of the perfect souls will be raised up all together, and when I am king in the midst of the last Helper, being king over all the emana- tions of the Light and king over the seven Amens and the five Trees and the three Amens and the nine guards, and being king over the Child of the Child, that is the Twin-saviours, and being king over the twelve saviours and over the whole numbering of the perfect souls who shall receive the mysteries in the Light, — then will all men who shall receive the mysteries in the Ineffable, be fellow-kings with me and will sit on my right and on my left in my kingdom.
SECOND BOOK 193 '' And amen, I say unto you: Those men are I, and I am they.
*' On this account have I said unto you afore- time: ' Ye will sit on your | thrones on my right 231. and on my left in my kingdom and will rule with me.'
" On this account, therefore, I have not hesi- tated nor have I been ashamed to call you my brethren and my companions, because ye will be fellow-kings with me in my kingdom. This, therefore, I say unto you, knowing that I will give you the mystery of the Ineffable; that is: That mystery is I, and I am that mystery.
*' Now, therefore, not only will ye reign with of the dig- me, but all men who shall receive the mystery thrones^m^ of the Ineffable, will be fellow-kings with me *^® ^^^^dom. in my kingdom. And I am they, and they are I. But my throne will tower over them. [And] because ye will suffer sorrows in the world beyond all men, until ye herald forth all the words which I shall speak unto you, your thrones shall be joined to mine in my kingdom.
'' On this account I have said unto you afore- time: ' Where I shall be, there will be also my twelve ministers.' But Mary Magdalene and John, the virgin, will tower over all my disciples and over all men who shall receive the mysteries in the Ineffable. And they will be on my right and on my left. And I am they, and they are I.
'* And they will be Hke unto you in all things save that your thrones will tower over theirs, and my throne | will tower over yours. 232.
'' And all men who will find the word of the Ineffable, — amen, I say unto you: The men 13 194 PISTIS SOPHIA Of the gnosis of the word of the In- effable.
CHAP. 97.
233.
Of the dis- ' tinction between the gnosis of the universe and the mys- teries of the Light.
who shall know that word, will know the gnosis of all these words which I have spoken unto you, both those of the depth and those of the height, those of the length and those of the breadth; in a word, they will know the gnosis of all these words which I have spoken unto you and which I have not yet spoken unto you, which I will speak unto you, region by region and order by order, at the expansion of the universe.
** And amen, I say unto you: They will know in what manner the world is established, and they will know in what type all those of the height are established, and they will know out of what ground the universe hath arisen."
When then the Saviour had said this, Mary Magdalene started forward and said: '* My Lord, bear with me and be not wroth with me, if I question on all things with precision and cer- tainty. Now, therefore, my Lord, is then another the word of the mystery of the Ineffable and another the word of the whole gnosis? " The Saviour answered and said: *' Yea, another is the mystery of the Ineffable and another the word of the whole gnosis."
And Mary answered again and said unto the Saviour: *' My Lord, bear with me, if I question thee, and be not wroth with me. Now, there- fore, my Lord, unless we live and know the gnosis of the whole word of the Ineffable, shall we not be able to inherit the Light-kingdom?"
And the Saviour answered | and said unto Mary: ** Surely; for every one who shall receive a mystery of the Light-kingdom, will go and inherit up to the region up to which he hath received mysteries. But he will not know the SECOND BOOK 195 gnosis of the universe, wherefor all this hath arisen, unless he knoweth the one and only word of the Ineffable, which is the gnosis of the universe. And again in openness: I am the gnosis of the universe. And moreover it is impossible to know the one and only word of the gnosis, unless a man first receive the mystery of the Ineffable. But all the men who shall receive mysteries in the Light, — every one will go and inherit up to the region up to which he hath received mysteries.