Pistis Sophia: Book Two

Translated by Carl Schmidt and Violet MacDermott

An Introduction by G.R.S. Mead

Chapter 63

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

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

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

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

Chapter 64

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

Chapter 65

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 66

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 67

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

1."He that dwells in the help of the Highest will be under the shadow of the God of Heaven.

2. He will say to the Lord : Thou art my shelter and my refuge, my God in whom I have trusted.

3. For he will save me from the snare of the hunters and a powerful word.

4. He will overshadow thee with his breast and under his wings thou will trust. His truth will surround thee like a shield.

5. Thou shalt not fear from terror by night and from an arrow that flies by day.

6. From anything which walks in darkness; from a demonic blow at midday.

7. A thousand will fall at thy left and ten thousand at thy right, but they will not approach thee.

8. Rather thou wilt observe them with thy eyes and see the reward of sinners.

9. For thou, O Lord, art my hope ; thou hast set the Highest as thy refuge.

10. No evil will approach thee, no scourge will enter thy dwelling.

11. For he will command his angels concerning thee, that they guard thee in all thy ways.

12. They will bear upon thee upon their hands lest thou strikest a stone with thy foot.

13. Thou wilt thread upon the serpent and basilisk, and thou wilt trample upon the lion and dragon.

14. Because he has trusted in me I will save him ; I will overshadow him because he has known my name.

15. He will cry to me and I will hear him; I will be with him in his affliction, and I will save him and honour him.

16. I will increase him with many days, I will teach him my salvation.

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

Chapter 68

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. I have been saved from the bonds; I have fled to thee, O Lord.

2. For thou hast been a right hand to me ; saving me, saving me and helping me.

3. Thou hast prevented those that rise against me; and they have not been revealed because thy face was with me, saving me with thy grace.

4. I was despised in the presence of a multitude; and they cast me forth; I became like lead in their presence.

5. There has been for me a power from thee, helping me; for thou hast placed lamps on my right side and on my left side, lest any side of me should be without light.

6. Thou hast sheltered me with the shadow of thy mercy; and I became raised above garments of skin.

7. It was thy right hand which raised me and thou hast taken away sickness from me.

8. I have become powerful in thy truth and purified in righteousness.

9. Those that rose against me have gone far from me; and I have been justified in thy beneficence, for thy rest exists for ever and ever."

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

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

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

Chapter 70

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

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

1. I sing praise to thee; through thy ordinance thou didst bring me forth from the aeon on high, which is above, and thou didst bring me to the places below.

2. And again through thy ordinance thou didst save me from the places below; and through thyself thou hast there taken the matter which is my light-power, and I saw it.

3. And thou hast dispelled from me the emantions of the Authades which oppressed me, and they were hostile to me; and thou didst give to me the authority that I should be released from the bonds of the emanations of the Adamas.

4. And thou hast smitten the basilisk with seven heads, thou hast cast it out with my hands; and trhou has set me up over its matter. Thou hast destroyed it, lest its seed rise up from this hour.

5. And thou wast with me giving power to me in all these things; and thy light surrounded me in all places, and through thyself thou hast made all the emanations of the Authades powerless.

6. For thou hast taken away from them the power of their light; and thou hast made straight my way to bring me forth from the Chaos.

7. And thou hast removed me out of the material darknesses and thou hast taken away from them all my powers, the light which had been taken.

8. Thou hast cast into them (my powers) pure light; and to all my members, in which there was no light, thou hast given pure light out of the light of the height.

9. And thou hast made straight the way for them (my members); and the light of thy face has become for me imperishable life.

10. Thou hast brought me above the Chaos, the place of the Chaos and the destruction, so that all the materials within it which are in that place should be released, so that all my powers should be renewed in thy light and that thy light should be within them all.

11. Thou hast placed the light of thy outpouring in me. I have become purified light. This again is the second song of praise which the Pistis Sophia spoke. Now let him who understands this repentance come forth and say it."

Chapter 71

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

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

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

1. He who brought me down from the high places which are above has brought me up from the places in the depth below.

2. He who there has taken those that are in the midst has taught me of them.

3. He who has dispelled my enemies and my adversaries has given me authority over bonds, to release them.

4. He who has smitten the serpent with seven heads with my hands has set me up over its root, so that I might wipe out its seed.

5. And thou wast with me, helpingt me. In all places thy name surrounded me.

6. Thy right hand has destroyed the poison of the slanderer (lit. Satanas); thy hand has made th way for thy faithful ones.

7. Thou hast freed them from the graves and thou hast removed them from the midst of corpses.

8. Thou hast taken the dead bones and thou hast clothed them with a body; and to those that do not move thou hast given energy of life.

9. Thy way has become indestructible, and thy face.

10. Thou hast brought thy aeon to destruction that all things should be dissolved and be made new and that thy light should become a foundation for them all.

11. Thou hast built thy wealth upon them, and they have become a holy dwelling place.

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

Chapter 72

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

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

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

2. O Light of Lights, I have sung praises to thee; thou hast saved me.

3. O Light, thou hast brought my power up from the Chaos, thou hast saved me from among those that go down to the darkness.

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

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

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

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

I will exalt thee, O Lord, for thou hast received me and thou hast not given to my enemies to rejoice over me.

2. O Lord, my God, I have cried to thee and thou didst heal me.

3. O Lord thou hast brought my soul up from Amente; thou hast saved me from those who go down to the pit."

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

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

1. The Light has become my Saviour.

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

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

10. The Lord has become my helper.

11. He has turned my lament into rejoicing for me, he has rent my sackcloth, he has girded me with gladness."

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

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

1. My Power, sing praise to the Light and forget not all the powers of the light which he has given to thee.

2. And all the powers within me, sing praise to the name of his holy mystery.

3. Who forgives all thy transgressions, who saves thee from all thy oppressions with which the emanations of the Authades have afflicted thee.

4. Who has saved thy light from the emanations of the Authades which belong to destruction; who has crowned thee with light in his compassion until he saves thee.

5. Who has filled thee with pure light; and thy beginning will be renewed like an invisible one of the height.

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

Chapter 74

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

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

1. Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2. Bless the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his rewards.

3. Who forgives all thy iniquities and who heals all thy sicknesses.

4. Who saves thy life from destruction, who crowns thee with mercy and compassion.

5. Who satisfies thy desire with good things; thy youth will be renewed like that of an eagle."

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

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

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

1. In faith I have believed in the Light; and he remembered me, he heard my song of praise.

2. He brought my power out of the Chaos of all the matter, and the darkness below. And he brought me out, he placed me in an aeon on high which is strong; he has set me on the way which leads to my place.

3. And he gave me a new mystery which is not that of my aeon; and he gave me a song of praise of the light. Now at this time, O Light, all the archons of the light will see what thou hast done for me, and they wil be afraid, and they will believe in thy light.

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

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

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

1. I waited with endurance for the Lord; he gave heed to me and he heard my supplication.

2. He brought my soul up from the pit of wretchedness and the miry clay; he has set my feet upon a rock and he has directed my steps.

3. He has put a new song into my mouth, a blessing for our God. Many will see and will be afraid, and will hope in the Lord."

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

Chapter 75

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

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

Chapter 76

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 77

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

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

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

1. O Light of Lights, I have believed in thee. Save me from all these archons which pursue me, and help me.

2. Lest they take away my light from me, like the lion-faced power, for thy light and thy outpouring are not with me to save me. Rather Adamas was angry with me, saying to me: It is thou who hast restrained my power in the Chaos.

3. Now O Light of Lights, If I have done this - If I have restrained it, If I have done anything unjust to that power.

4. If I have oppressed it as it has oppressed me - may all these archons which pursue me take my light from me and leave me empty.

5. And may the enemy Adamas pursue my power and seize it and take away my light from me, and cast it into his dark power which is in the Chaos; and may he place my power in the Chaos.

6. Now O Light, seize me in thy anger, and raise thy power against my enemies which has risen against me at last.

7. Save me quickly, according to what thou hast said: "I will help thee.".

Chapter 78

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

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

1. O Lord my God, I have trusted thee; save me from those that pursue me, and deliver me.

2. Lest he seize my soul like a lion; while there is no one who delivers and saves.

3. O Lord my God, If I have done this; if there is injustice at my hands;

4. If I have repaid those who repaid me with evil things, may I fall down empty through my enemies.

5. And may the enemy pursue my soul and seize it, and trample my life upon the earth, and take my glory to be in the dust.

6. Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath, be exalted in the boundary of my enemies. Arise in the commandment which thou hast decreed."

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

Chapter 79

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

1. Why do you pursue me and say: there is no one to be a help to me, to save me from you?

2. Now at this time the light is a true judge and a strong one. But he is long-suffering until the time of which he has spoken to me thus: I will come and help thee; and he will not bring his wrath upon you at all times. And this is the time of which he has spoken to me.

3. Now at this time, if you do not turn yourselves back and cease to pursue me, the light will prepare his power, and he will prepare with all his powers.

4. And he has prepared with his power, that he may take away your light which is within you, so that you become dark; and he has created his powers, that he may take away your power from you and you be destroyed."

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

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

1. O Light, behold Adamas the violent is angry. He has created a dark emanation, and furthermore he has emanated another chaotic one.

2. And he has created another dark and chaotic one; and he has prepared it.

3. Now at this time O Light, the Chaos which he has created so that he should cast me into it and take away my light-power from me - take away his light from him.

4. And the thought which he conceived to take away my light, let his be (taken) from him. And the violence which he has spoken, to take away my lights from me - take away all his lights.

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

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

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

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

11. God is a righteous judge, and strong and long-suffering, who does not bring down his wrath every day.

12. If you do not turn round he will sharpen his sword; he has bent his bow and made it ready.

13. He has prepared in it instruments of death; he has made his arrows for those who will be burnt.

14. Behold, violence has travailed; he has conceived trouble, he has given birth to iniquity.

15. He has dug a pit, he has hollowed it; he will fall into the hole which he has made.

16. His trouble will return upon his head and his violence will come down upon the crown of his head."

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

Chapter 81

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

1. I will give thanks to thee, O Light, for thou art a Saviour, and thou art a deliverer at all times.

2. I will speak this song of praise to the light, for he has saved me and he has delivered me out of the hands of the archons, my enemies.

3. And thou hast saved me from all the places. And thou hast saved me from the height and the depth of the Chaos, and from the aeons of the archons, my enemies.

4. And when I came forth from the height I went astray in places in which there was no light. And I was not able to return to the thirteenth aeon, my dwelling place.

5. For there was no light in me, nor power. For my power had weakened completely.

6. And the light saved me from all my afflictions. I saing praises to the light; he heard me when I was afflicted.

7. He guided me in the creation of the aeons in order to bring me to the thirteenth aeon, my dwelling place.

8. I will give thanks to thee, O Light, for thou hast saved me, and for thy wonders among the race of mankind.

9. When I lacked my power thou didst give power to me ; and when I lacked my light thou didst fill me with purified light.

10. I have been in the darkness and the shadow of the Chaos, bound with the strong bonds of the Chaos, and there was no light in me.

11. I have caused wrath to the ordinance of light, I have transgressed; I have caused anger to the ordinance of the light, for I came forth from my place.

12. And when I came down I lacked my power, and I was without light; and 0there was no one to help me.

13. And when I was afflicted I sang praises to the light, and he saved me from my afflictions.

14. And furthermore he broke all my bonds, he brought me out of the darkness and the oppressions of the Chaos.

15. I will thank thee, O Light, for thou hast saved me; and thy wonders exist among the race of mankind.

16. Thou hast broken the high gates of the darkness and the strong bars of the Chaos.

17. And thou didst cause me to turn away from the place in which I transgressed; and furthermore my power was taken because I transgressed.

18. And I desisted from the mysteries; I went down to the gates of the Chaos.

19. And when they afflicted me I sang praises to the light; he saved me from all my afflictions.

20. Thou didst send thy outpouring of light; it gave power to me and it saved me from all my oppressions.

21. I will thank thee, O Light, for thou hast saved me; and thy wonders are among the race of mankind."

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

CHAPTER 82

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

"'1. Give ye thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his grace is eternal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[END OF THE STORY OF PISTIS SOPHIA]

CHAPTER 83

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

It came to pass, when Jesus had heard Mary Magdalene say these words, that he answered and said unto her: "Question concerning what thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee with precision and certainty. Amēn, amēn, I say unto you: Rejoice in great joy and exult most exceedingly. If ye question concerning all with precision, then shall I exult most exceedingly, because ye question concerning all with precision and question in the manner in which it beseemeth to question. Now, therefore, question concerning what thou wouldst question, and I will reveal it unto thee with joy."

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

CHAPTER 84

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "What is there in this world which is like unto them, or rather what region is there in this world which is comparable to them? Now, therefore, to what am I to liken them, or rather what am I to say concerning them? For nothing existeth in this world to which I shall be able to liken them, and no form existeth in it which is able to be like them. Now, therefore, nothing existeth in this world which is of the quality of the heaven. [But] amēn, I say unto you: Every one of the invisibles is nine times greater than the heaven and the sphere above it and the twelve æons all together, as I have already said unto you at another time. And no light existeth in this world which is more excellent than the light of the sun. Amēn, amēn, I say unto you: The four-and-twenty invisibles shine ten-thousand times more than the light of the sun which is in this world, as I have already said unto you at another time. For the light of the sun in its shape in truth is not in this world, for its light pierceth through many veils and regions. But the light of the sun in its shape in truth, which is in the region of the Virgin of Light, shineth ten-thousand times more than the four-and-twenty invisibles and the great invisible forefather and also the great triple-powered god, as I have already said unto you at another time.

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

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

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

"And if I lead you into the twelve æons, then will ye see the glory in which they are; and because of the great glory the region of the rulers of the Fate will count for you as the darkness of darknesses, and it will have for you the condition of a speck of dust because of the great distance it is far distant from it and because of the great condition it is considerably greater than them, as I have already said unto you at another time.

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

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

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

"And if I lead you into the Light-land, that 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 which they are, then the Light-land will count for you as the light of the sun which is in the world of men. And if ye look upon the Light-land, then will it count for you as a speck of dust because of the great distance the Light-land is distant from it, and because of the greatness [by which] it is considerably greater than the former."

CHAPTER 85

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

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "Question concerning what thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee in openness without similitude, and all concerning which thou questionest, I will say unto thee with precision and certainty. I will perfect you in all power and all fulnesses, from the interior of the interiors to the exterior of the exteriors, from that Ineffable to the darkness of darknesses, so that ye shall be called 'the fulnesses perfected 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 the Saviour say these words, that she rejoiced in exceedingly great joy and exulted, and said: "My Lord, will then the men of the world who have received the mysteries of the Light, be superior to the emanations of the Treasury in thy kingdom? For I have heard thee say: If I lead you into the region of those who have received the mysteries of the Light, then will the region of the [emanations of the] Light-land count for you as a speck of dust because of the great distance in which it is distant from it, and because of the great light in which it is,'--that is the Light-land is the Treasury, the region of the emanations,--will therefore then, my Lord, the men who have received the mysteries, be superior to the Light-land and superior to those [emanations] in the kingdom of the Light?"

CHAPTER 86

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"And the seven Amēns and the five Trees and the three Amēns 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 inheritances of the Light. And the Twin-saviours will be superior to the nine guards in the kingdom. And the three Amēns will be superior to the Twin-saviours in the kingdom. And the five Trees will be superior to the three Amēns in the inheritances 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 Sabaōth, 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 Right and Melchisedec, the great receiver of the Light, and the two great guides have come forth out of the purified and utterly pure light of the first Tree up to the fifth.

"Yew in sooth is the overseer of the Light, who hath come forth first out of the pure light of the first Tree; on the other hand the guard of the veil of those of the Right hath come forth out of the second Tree; and the two guides again have come forth out of the pure and utterly purified light of the third and fourth Trees of the Treasury of the Light; Melchisedec again hath come forth out of the fifth Tree; on the other hand Sabaōth, the Good, whom I have called my father, hath come forth out of Yew, the overseer of the Light.

"These six then by command of the First Mystery the last Helper hath caused to be in the region of those of the Right, for the economy of the ingathering of the upper light out of the æons of the rulers and out of the worlds and all races in them,--of every one of whom I will tell you the employment over which he hath been set in the expansion of the universe. Because, therefore, of the importance of the employment over which they have been set, they will be fellow-kings in the first [saviour] of the first Voice of the Treasury of the Light, who will be in the region of the souls of those who have received the first mystery of the First Mystery.

"And the Virgin of Light and the great guide of the Midst, whom the rulers of the æons are wont to call the Great Yew after the name of a great ruler who is in their region,--he and the Virgin of Light and his twelve ministers, from whom ye have received your shape and from whom ye have received the power, they all will be kings with the first saviour of the first Voice in the region of the souls of those who will receive the first mystery of the First Mystery in the inheritances of the Light.

"And the fifteen helpers of the seven virgins of the Light who are in the Midst, they will expand themselves in the regions of the twelve saviours, 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 æon, that is at the ascension of the universe; that is at the dissolution of the universe and at the total ascension of the numbering 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 Amēns 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 seals of their mysteries. And they will pass through those of all the regions of the Midst, and they will pass through the region of the Right and the interior of the region of the nine guards and the interior of the region of the Twin-saviours and the interior of the region of the three Amens and of the twelve saviours and the interior of the five Trees and of the seven Voices. Every one giveth unto them his seal of his mystery, and they pass into the interior of them all and go to the region of the inheritances of the Light; and every one bideth in the region up to which he hath received mysteries in the inheritances of the Light.

"In a word, all the souls of men who shall receive the mysteries of the Light, will precede all the rulers who have repented, and they will precede all those of the region of the Midst and those of the whole region of the Right, and they will precede those of the whole region of the Treasury of the Light. In a word, they will precede all those of the region [of the Treasury], and they will precede all those of the regions of the first Commandment, and they will pass into the interior of them all and go into the Inheritance of the Light up to the region of their mystery; and every one abideth in the region up to which he hath received mysteries. And those of the region of the Midst and of the Right and those of the whole region of the Treasury, every one abideth in the region of the order into which he hath been set from the beginning on, until the universe shall be raised up. And every one of them accomplisheth his economy to which he hath been set, in respect of the ingathering of the souls who 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 concerning which thou dost question me with precision and certainty. For the rest now then, who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

CHAPTER 87

"It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words, that Mary Magdalene started forward and said:

"My Lord, my indweller of light hath ears and I comprehend every word which thou sayest. Now, therefore, my Lord, on account of the word which thou hast spoken: 'All the souls of the race of men who shall receive the mysteries of the Light, will go into the Inheritance of the Light before all the rulers who will repent, and before those of the whole region of the Right and before the whole region of the Treasury of the Light,'--on account of this word, my Lord, thou hast said unto us aforetime: 'The first will be last and the last will be first,'--that is, the 'last' are the whole race of men which will enter into the Light-kingdom sooner than all those of the region of the Height, who are the first.' On this account, therefore, my Lord, hast thou said unto us: 'Who hath ears to hear, let him hear,'--that is thou desirest to know whether we 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 she spake, for she had become pure spirit utterly. Jesus answered again and said unto her: "Well said, spiritual and pure Mary. This is the solution of the word."

CHAPTER 88

It came to pass then again after all these words, that Jesus continued in the discourse and said unto his disciples: "Hearken, that I may discourse with you concerning the glory of those of the Height, how they are, according to the manner in which I discoursed with you unto this day.

"Now, therefore, if I lead you into the region of the last Helper, who surroundeth the Treasury of the Light, and if I lead you into the region of that last Helper and ye see the glory in which he is, then will the region of the Inheritance of the Light count for you only for the size of a city of the world, because of the greatness in which the last Helper is, and because of the great light in which he is.

"And thereafter I will discourse with you also concerning the glory of the Helper who is above the little Helper. But I shall not be able to discourse with you concerning the regions of those who are above all Helpers; for there existeth no type in this world, to describe them, for there existeth in this world no likeness which is like unto them, that I may compare them therewith, nor greatness nor light which is like unto them, not only in this world, but they also have no likeness with those of the Height of Righteousness from their region upwards. On this account, therefore, there existeth in fact no manner of describing them in this world because of the great glory of those of the Height and because of the great immeasurable greatness. On this account, therefore, there existeth no manner to describe it in this world."

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, be not wroth with me if I question thee, because I trouble repeatedly. Now, therefore, my Lord, be not wroth with me if I question thee concerning all with precision and certainty. For my brethren will herald it among the race of men, so that they may hear and repent and be saved from the violent judgments of the evil rulers and go to the Height and inherit the Light-kingdom; because, my Lord, we are compassionate not only towards ourselves, but compassionate towards the whole race of men, so that they may be saved from all the violent judgments. Now, therefore, my Lord, on this account we question concerning all with certainty; for my brethren herald it to the whole race of men, in order that they may escape the violent rulers of the darkness and be saved out of the hands of the violent receivers of the outer-most darkness."

It came to pass, when Jesus had heard Mary say these words, that the Saviour answered in great compassion towards her and said unto her: "Question concerning what thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee with precision and certainty and without similitude."

CHAPTER 89

It came to pass then, when Mary had heard the Saviour say these words, that she rejoiced with great joy and exulted exceedingly and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, by how much 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 midst of the disciples: "Amēn, amēn, I say unto you: The second Helper is distant from the first Helper in great immeasurable distance in regard to the height above and the depth below and the length and the breadth. For he is exceedingly distant from him in great immeasurable distance through the angels and all the archangels and through the gods and all the invisibles. And he is very considerably greater than the latter in an incalculable measure through the angels and archangels and through the gods and all the invisibles. And he shineth more than the latter in an utterly immeasurable measure, there being no measure for the light in which he is, and no measure for him through angels and archangels and through the gods and all the invisibles, as I have already said unto you at another time.

"In like manner also the third Helper and fourth and fifth Helper,--one is greater than the other . . . and shineth more than the latter and is distant from him in a great immeasurable distance through the angels and archangels and the gods and all the invisibles, as I have already said unto you at another time. And I will tell unto you also the type of every one [of them] at their expansion."

CHAPTER 90

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward again, continued and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, in what type will 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 mysteries will be in the lower orders. In a word, up to what region every one hath received mysteries, there will he abide in his order in the Inheritance of the Light. For which cause I have said unto you aforetime: 'Where your heart is, there will your treasure be,'--that is up to what region every one hath received mysteries, there shall he be."

It came to pass, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that John came forward and said unto Jesus: "My Lord and my Saviour, give me also commandment that I discourse before thee, and be not wroth with me if I question concerning all with precision and certainty; for thou, my Lord, hast promised me in a promise to make revelation unto us of all concerning which I shall question thee. Now, therefore, my Lord, hide nothing from us at all in the matter on which we shall question thee."

And Jesus answered in great compassion and said unto John: "To thee also, blessed John, and beloved, I give commandment to speak the word which pleaseth thee, and I will reveal it unto thee face to face without similitude, and I will say unto thee all on which thou wilt question me with precision and certainty."

And John answered and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, will then every one abide in the region up to which he hath received the mysteries, and hath he no power to go. into other orders which are above him; and hath he no power to go into the orders which are below him?"

CHAPTER 91

And Jesus answered and said unto John: "Finely indeed do ye question on all with precision and certainty. But now, therefore, John, hearken that I may discourse with thee. Every one who hath received mysteries of the Light, will abide in the region up to which every one hath received mysteries, and he hath not the power to go into the height into the orders which are above him.

"So that he who hath received mysteries in the first Commandment, hath the power to go into the orders which are below him, that is into all the orders of the third [?] space; but he hath not the power to go into the height to the orders which are above him.

"And he who shall receive the mysteries of the First Mystery, which is the four-and-twentieth mystery from without and the head of the first space which is without,--he hath the power to go into all the orders which are without him; but he hath not the power to go into the regions which are above him or to pass through them.

"And of those who have received the mysteries in the orders of the four-and-twenty mysteries, every one will go into the region in which he hath received mysteries, and he will have the 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.

"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.

"And he who hath received mysteries of the first Thrice-spiritual, which ruleth over the four-and-twenty mysteries all together which rule over the space of the First Mystery, of whose region at the expansion of the universe I will tell you--he, therefore, who shall receive the mystery of that Thrice-spiritual, hath the power to go down into all orders which are below him; but he hath not the power to go into the height into the orders which are above him, that is into all the orders of the space of the Ineffable.

"And he who hath received the mystery of the second Thrice-spiritual, hath the power to go into all the orders of the first Thrice-spiritual 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 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-mystery of the First Mystery of the Ineffable, that is the twelve mysteries of the First Mystery all together, which rule over all the spaces of the First Mystery, he, therefore, who shall receive that mystery, hath the power to pass through all the orders of the spaces of the three Thrice-spirituals and the three spaces of the First Mystery and all their orders, and hath the power to pass through all the orders of the inheritances of the Light, to pass through them from without within and from within without and from above below and from below above and from the height to the depth and from the depth to the height and from the length to the breadth and from the breadth to the length; in a word, he hath the power to pass through all the regions of the inheritances of the Light, and he hath the power to bide in the region where he pleaseth, in the Inheritance of the Light-kingdom.

"And amēn, 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 hath arisen and why the light hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the darkness of the darknesses hath arisen and why the light of the lights hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the chaos hath arisen and why the treasury of the light hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the judgments have arisen and why the light-land and the region of the inheritances of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the chastisements of the sinners have arisen and why the rest of the kingdom of the light hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the sinners have arisen and why the inheritances of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the impious have arisen and why the good have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the chastisements and judgments have arisen and why all the emanations of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the sins have arisen and why the baptisms and the mysteries of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the fire of chastisement hath arisen and why the seals of the light, so that the fire should not harm them, have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why wrath hath arisen and why peace hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why slander hath arisen and why songs of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the prayers of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why cursing hath arisen and why blessing hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why knavery hath arisen and why deceit hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the slaying hath arisen and why the quickening of the souls hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why adultery 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 body hath arisen and why its utility hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why poverty hath arisen and why wealth hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the freedom [?] of the world hath arisen and why slavery hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why death hath arisen and why life hath arisen."

CHAPTER 92

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that they rejoiced in great joy and exulted when they heard Jesus say these words.

And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto them: "Hearken, therefore, now still further, O my disciples, so that I discourse with you concerning the whole gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable.

"That mystery of the Ineffable knoweth why unmercifulness hath arisen and why mercifulness hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why ruin hath arisen and why everlasting eternity hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the reptiles have arisen and why they will be destroyed.

"And that mystery knoweth why the wild beasts have arisen and why they will be destroyed.

"And that mystery knoweth why the cattle have arisen and why the birds have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the mountains have arisen and why the precious stones therein have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of gold hath arisen and why the matter of silver hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of copper hath arisen and why the matter of iron and of stone hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of lead hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of glass hath arisen and why the matter of wax hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why herbs, that is the vegetables, have arisen and why all matters have arisen.

"And the mystery knoweth why the waters of the earth and all things in them have arisen and why also the earth hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the seas |211. and the waters have arisen and why the wild beasts in the seas have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of the world hath arisen and why it [the world] will be utterly destroyed."

CHAPTER 93

Jesus continued again and said unto his disciples: "Yet further, O my disciples and companions and brethren, let every one be sober in the spirit which is in him, let him understand and comprehend all the words which I shall say unto you; for from now on will I begin to discourse with you concerning all the gnoses of that Ineffable.

"That mystery knoweth why the west hath arisen and why the east hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the south hath arisen and why the north hath arisen.

Yet further, O my disciples, hearken and continue to be sober and hearken to the total gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable.

"That mystery knoweth why the demons have arisen and why mankind hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the heat hath arisen and why the pleasant air hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the stars have arisen and why the clouds have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the earth became deep and why the water came thereon.

"And that mystery knoweth why the earth became dry and why the water came thereon.

"And that mystery knoweth why famine hath arisen and why superfluity hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the hoar-frost hath arisen and why the healthful dew hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the dust hath arisen and why the delightsome freshness hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the hail hath arisen and why the pleasant snow hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the west wind hath arisen and why the east wind hath arisen.

("And that mystery knoweth why the fire of the height hath arisen and why the waters have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the east wind hath arisen. [? miscopied.])

"And that mystery knoweth why the south wind hath arisen and why the north wind hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the stars of the heaven and the disks of the light-givers have arisen and why the firmament with all its veils hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the rulers of the spheres have arisen and why the sphere with all its regions hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the rulers of the æons have arisen and why the æons with their veils have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the tyrant rulers of the æons have arisen and why the rulers who have repented have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the servitors have arisen and why the decans have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the angels

have arisen and why the archangels have arisen.

"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 arisen and why renunciation of all hath arisen and love of possessions hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why love of the belly hath arisen and why satiety hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the paired have arisen and why the unpaired have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why impiety hath arisen and why fear of God hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the light-givers have arisen and why the sparks have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the thrice-powerful have arisen and why the invisibles have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the fore-fathers have arisen and why the purities have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the great self-willed hath arisen and why his faithful have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the great triple-powerful hath arisen and why the great invisible forefather hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the thirteenth æon hath arisen and why the region of those of the Midst hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why receivers of the Midst have arisen and why the virgins of the light have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the ministers of the Midst have arisen and why the angels of the Midst have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the light-land hath arisen and why the great receiver of the light hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the guards of the region of the Right have arisen and why the leaders of them have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the gate of life hath arisen and why Sabaōth, the Good, hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the region of the Right hath arisen and why the light-land, which is the treasury of the light, hath arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the emanations of the light have arisen and why the twelve saviours have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the three gates of the treasury of the light have arisen and why the nine guards have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the twin-saviours have arisen and why the three Amēns have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the five Trees have arisen and why the seven Amēns have arisen.

"And that mystery knoweth why the Mixture which existeth not, hath arisen and why it is purified."

CHAPTER 94

And Jesus continued again and said unto his disciples: "Still further, O my disciples, be 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 heard Jesus utter these words, that they gave way and let go entirely.

Then Mary Magdalene came forward, threw herself at the feet of Jesus, kissed them and wept aloud and said: "Have mercy upon me, my Lord, for my brethren have heard and let go of the words which thou saidest unto them. Now, therefore, my Lord, concerning the gnosis of all the things which thou hast said, that they are in the mystery of the Ineffable; but I have heard thee say unto me: 'From now on I will begin to discourse with you concerning the total gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable,'--this word, therefore, which thou saidest, thou hast not gone forward to complete the word. For this cause, therefore, my brethren have heard and have let go and ceased to sense in what manner thou discoursest with them. Concerning the word which thou saidest unto them, now, therefore, my Lord, if the gnosis of all this is in that mystery, where is the man who is in the world, who hath the ability to understand that mystery with all its gnoses and the type of all these words which thou hast spoken concerning it?"

CHAPTER 95

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard Mary say these words and knew that the disciples had heard and had begun to let go, that he encouraged them and said unto them: "Grieve no more, my disciples, concerning the mystery of, the Ineffable, thinking that ye will not understand it. Amēn, I say unto you: That mystery is yours, and every one's who will give ear unto you, so that they renounce this whole world and the whole matter therein and renounce all the evil thoughts therein and renounce all the cares of this æon.

"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 of the Light-kingdom and it is sooner to understand than them all and it is easier [?] than them all. He who reacheth unto the gnosis of that mystery, renounceth this whole world and all the cares therein.

"For this cause have I said to you aforetime: 'All ye who are heavy under your burden, come hither unto me, and I will quicken you. For my burden is easy and my yoke is soft.' Now, therefore, he who will receive that mystery, renounceth the whole world and the cares of all the matter therein. For this cause, therefore, my disciples, grieve not, thinking that ye will not understand that mystery. Amēn, I say unto you: That mystery is far sooner to understand than all mysteries. And amēn, I say unto you: That mystery is yours and every one's who will renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein.

"Now, therefore, hearken, my disciples and my companions and my brethren, that I may urge you on to the gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable concerning which I discourse with you, because I have in Booth gotten as far as to tell you the whole gnosis at the expansion of the universe; for the expansion of the universe is its gnosis.

"But now then hearken that I may discourse with you progressively concerning the gnosis of that mystery.

"That mystery knoweth wherefor the five Helpers have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless [pl.].

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the great Light of lights hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the first Commandment hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath divided itself into the seven mysteries and wherefor it is named the first Commandment and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Great Light of the Impressions of the Light hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath set itself up without emanations and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the First Mystery, that is the four-and-twentieth mystery from without, hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it imitated in itself the twelve mysteries according to the number of the numbering of the Uncontainables and Boundless and wherefor it hath come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve Immoveables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves with all their orders and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Unwaverables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves up, divided into twelve orders, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless, which belong to the orders of the space of the Ineffable.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Incomprehensibles, which pertain to the second space of the Ineffable, have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve Undesignatables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves up after all the orders of the Unindicatables, themselves being uncontainable and boundless, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor these Unindicatables have rent themselves asunder,--[they] who have not indicated themselves nor brought themselves into publicity according to the economy of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and wherefor they have come forth 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 divided themselves, being three portions, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the Imperishables, being their twelve orders, have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have settled themselves, being expanded in a single order, and wherefor they have divided themselves and formed different orders, being uncontainable and boundless, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the Impassables have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have set themselves up, being twelve boundless spaces, and have settled themselves, being three orders of spaces, according to the economy of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the twelve Uncontainables, which belong to the orders of the One and Only, the Ineffable, have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless, until they were brought to the space of the First Mystery, which is the second space.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the four-and-twenty myriads of Praise-singers have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have extended themselves outside the veil of the First Mystery, which is the twin-mystery, that which looketh within and without, of the One and Only, the Ineffable, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the 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.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the four-and-twenty mysteries of the first Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they are called the four-and-twenty spaces of the first Thrice-spiritual and wherefor they have come forth from the second Thrice-spiritual.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the four-and-twenty mysteries of the second Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the third Thrice-spiritual.

"And that mystery knoweth why the four-and-twenty mysteries of the third Thrice-spiritual--that is the four-and-twenty spaces of the third Thrice-spiritual--have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the five Trees of the first Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have extended themselves, standing one behind the other and moreover bound one to the other with all their orders, and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the five Trees of the second Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"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.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the Fore-uncontainables of the third Thrice-spiritual have rent themselves asunder and wherefor they have come forth from the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the first Thrice-spiritual from below--those who belong to the orders of the One and Only, the Ineffable hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath come forth from the second Thrice-spiritual.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor the third Thrice-spiritual--that is the first Thrice-spiritual from above--hath rent itself asunder and wherefor it hath come forth from the twelfth Pro-thrice-spiritual, which is in the last region of the Fatherless.

"And that mystery knoweth wherefor all the regions which are in the space of the Ineffable, and all those in them, have expanded themselves, and wherefor they have come forth from the last Limb of the Ineffable.

"And that mystery knoweth itself, wherefor it hath rent itself asunder to come forth from the Ineffable,--that is from That which ruleth them all and which expanded them all according to their orders.

CHAPTER 96

"Of all these then will I speak unto you at the expansion of the universe--in a word, all those whom I have spoken of unto you: those who will arise and those who will come, those who emanate, and those who come forth, and those who are without over them, and those who are implanted in them, those who will contain the region of the First Mystery and those who are in the space of the Ineffable--of these will I speak unto you, because I will reveal them unto you, and I will speak of them unto you according to every region and according to every order, at the expansion of the universe. And I will reveal unto you all their mysteries which rule over them all, and their Pro-thrice-spirituals and their Super-thrice-spirituals which rule over their mysteries and their orders.

"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 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 moreover also a one and only word, which existeth in the speech of the Ineffable, and it is the economy of the solution of all the words which I have spoken unto you.

"And he who will receive the one and only word of that mystery which I shall now say unto you, and all its types and all its figures, and the manner of accomplishing its mystery,--for ye are perfect and all-perfect and ye will accomplish the whole gnosis of that mystery with its whole economy, for unto you all mysteries are entrusted,--hearken, therefore, now, that I may tell you that mystery, which is [ . . .?].

"He then, who shall receive the one and only word of that mystery, which I have told you, if he cometh forth out of the body of the matters of the rulers, and if the retributive receivers come and free him from the body of matter of the rulers,--that is those [receivers] who free from the body all out-going souls,--when, therefore, the retributive receivers free the soul which hath received this one and only mystery of the Ineffable, which I have just told you, then will it straightway, if it be set free from the body of matter, become a great light-stream in the midst of those receivers, and the receivers will be exceedingly afraid of the light of that soul, and the receivers will be made powerless and fall down and desist altogether for fear of the great light which they have seen.

"And the soul which receiveth the mystery of the Ineffable, will soar into the height, being a great light-stream, and the receivers will not be able to seize it and will not know how the way is fashioned upon which it will go. For it becometh a great light-stream and soareth into the height, and no power is able to hold it down at all, nor 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. Amēn, I say unto you: It will be in all the regions in the time a man shooteth an arrow.

"Now, therefore, amēn, I say unto you: Every man who will receive that mystery of the Ineffable and accomplish it in all its types and all its figures,--he is a man in the world, but he towereth above all angels and will tower still more above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all archangels and will tower still more above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all tyrants and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all lords and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all gods and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all light-givers and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all pure [ones] and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all triple-powers and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all forefathers and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all invisibles and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the great invisible forefather and will raise himself above him.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above all those of the Midst and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the emanations of the Treasury of the Light and will raise himself above them all.

"He is a man in the world, but he towereth above the Mixture 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 amēn, I say unto you: That man is I and I am that man.

"And at the dissolution of the world, that is when the universe will be raised up and when the numbering of the perfect souls will be raised up all together, and when I am king in the midst of the last Helper, being king over all the emanations of the Light and king over the seven Amēns and the five Trees and the three Amēns 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.

"And amēn, I say unto you: Those men are I, and I am they.

"On this account have I said unto you aforetime: 'Ye will sit on your thrones on my right and on my left in my kingdom and will rule with me.'

"On this account, therefore, I have not hesitated nor have I been ashamed to call you my brethren and my companions, because ye will be fellow-kings with me in my kingdom. This, therefore, I say unto you, knowing that I will give you the mystery of the Ineffable; that is: That mystery is I, and I am that mystery.

"Now, therefore, not only will ye reign with me, but all men who shall receive the mystery of the Ineffable, will be fellow-kings with me in my kingdom. And I am they, and they are I. But my throne will tower over them. [And] because ye will suffer sorrows in the world beyond all men, until ye herald forth all the words which I shall speak unto you, your thrones shall be joined to mine in my kingdom.

"On this account I have said unto you aforetime: 'Where I shall be, there will be also my twelve ministers.' But Mary Magdalene and John, the virgin, will tower over all my disciples and over all men who shall receive the mysteries in the Ineffable. And they will be on my right and on my left. And I am they, and they are I.

"And they will be like unto you in all things save that your thrones will tower over theirs, and my throne will tower over yours.

"And all men who will find the word of the Ineffable,--amēn, I say unto you: The men 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 amēn, I say unto you: They will know in what manner the world is established, and they will know in what type all those of the height are established, and they will know out of what ground the universe hath arisen."

CHAPTER 97

When then the Saviour had said this, Mary Magdalene started forward and said: "My Lord, bear with me and be not wroth with me, if I question on all things with precision and certainty. Now, therefore, my Lord, is then another the word of the mystery of the Ineffable and another the word of the whole gnosis?"

The Saviour answered and said: "Yea, another is the mystery of the Ineffable and another the word of the whole gnosis."

And Mary answered again and said unto the Saviour: "My Lord, bear with me, if I question thee, and be not wroth with me. Now, therefore, my Lord, unless we live and know the gnosis of the whole word of the Ineffable, shall we not be able to inherit the Light-kingdom?"

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 gnosis of the universe, wherefor all this hath arisen, unless he knoweth the one and only word of the Ineffable, which is the gnosis of the universe. And again in openness: I am the gnosis of the universe. And moreover it is impossible to know the one and only word of the gnosis, unless a man first receive the mystery of the Ineffable. But all the men who shall receive mysteries in the Light,--every one will go and inherit up to the region up to which he hath received mysteries.

"On this account I have said unto you aforetime: 'He who hath faith in a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward, and he who hath faith in a righteous [man] will receive a righteous [man's] reward,'--that is: Every one will go to the region up to which he hath received mysteries. He who receiveth a lesser mystery, will inherit the lesser mystery, and he who receiveth a higher mystery, will inherit the higher regions. And every one will abide in his region in the light of my kingdom, and every one will have power over the orders which are below him, but he will not have the power to go to the orders which are above him; but he will abide in the region of the Inheritance of the Light of my kingdom, being in a great light immeasurable for the gods and all the invisibles, and he will be in great joy and great jubilation.

"But now, therefore, hearken, that I may discourse with you concerning the grandeur of those who shall receive the mysteries of the First Mystery.

"He, therefore, who shall receive the [first] mystery of that First Mystery, and it shall be at the time that he cometh out of the body of the matter of the rulers,--then the retributive receivers come and lead the soul of that man out of the body. And that soul will become a great light-stream in the hands of the retributive receivers; and those receivers will be afraid of the light of that soul. And that soul will go upwards and pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the emanations of the Light. And it will not give answers nor apologies nor tokens in any single region of the Light nor in any single region of the rulers; but it will pass through all the regions and cross over them all, so that it goeth and ruleth over all the regions of the first saviour.

"In like manner also he who shall receive the second mystery of the First Mystery and the third and fourth, until he shall receive the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery, if it shall be at the time that he cometh out of the body of the matter of the rulers,--then the retributive receivers come and lead the soul of that man out of the body of matter. And those souls will become a great light-stream in the hands of the retributive receivers; and those receivers will be afraid of the light of those souls and will become powerless and fall on their faces. And those souls will straightway soar upwards and cross over all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the emanations of the Light. They will not give answers nor apologies nor tokens in any single region; but they will pass through all the regions and will cross over them all and rule over all the regions of the twelve saviours, so that they who receive the second mystery of the First Mystery, will rule over all the regions of the second saviour in the inheritances of the Light.

"In like manner also those who receive the third mystery of the First Mystery and the fourth and fifth and sixth up to the twelfth,--every one will rule over all the regions of the saviour up to whom he hath received the mystery.

"And he who shall receive in sequence the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery, that is the master-mystery concerning which I discourse with you,-- and he who, therefore, shall receive those twelve mysteries which belong to the First Mystery, if he goeth forth out of the world, will pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the Light, being a great light-stream, and he will moreover rule over all the regions of the twelve saviours; but they will not be able to be like unto those who receive the one and only mystery of the Ineffable. But he who shall receive those mysteries will abide in those orders, because they are exalted, and he will abide in the orders of the twelve saviours."

CHAPTER 98

It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward, kissed the feet of Jesus and said unto him: "My Lord, bear with me and be not wroth with me, if I question thee; but have mercy upon us, my Lord, and reveal unto us all things on which we shall question thee. Now, therefore, my Lord, how doth the First Mystery possess twelve mysteries, [and] the Ineffable possess a one and only mystery?"

Jesus answered and said unto her: "Indeed it possesseth a one and only mystery, yet that mystery constituteth three mysteries, although it is the one and only mystery; but the type of every one of them is different. And moreover it constituteth five mysteries, although it is a one and only [one]; but the type of every one is different. So that these five mysteries are alike with one another in the mystery of the kingdom in the inheritances of the Light; but the type of each of them is different. And their kingdom is higher and more exalted than the whole kingdom of the twelve mysteries together of the First Mystery; but they are not alike in the kingdom [with the one and only mystery] of the First Mystery in the Light-kingdom.

"In like manner also the three mysteries are not [?] alike in the Light-kingdom; but the type of every one of them is different. And they themselves also are not alike in the kingdom with the one and only mystery of the First Mystery in the Light-kingdom; and the type of every one of the three of them, and the type of the configuration of each of them, is different from one another.

"The first [mystery of the First Mystery],--if thou accomplishest its mystery altogether and standest and accomplishest it finely in all its figures, then dost thou come straightway out of thy body, become a great light-stream and pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the Light, while all are in fear of that soul, until it cometh to the region of its kingdom.

"The second mystery of the First Mystery, on the other hand,--if thou accomplishest it finely in all its figures,--the man, therefore, who shall accomplish its mystery, if he speaketh that mystery over the head of any man who goeth forth out of the body, and he speaketh it into his two ears, if indeed the man who goeth forth out of the body hath received mysteries for the second time and is sharing in the word of truth,--amēn, I say unto you: That man, if he goeth forth out of the body of matter, then will his soul become a great light-stream and pass through all the regions, until it cometh to the kingdom of that mystery.

"But if that man hath received no mysteries and is not sharing in the words of truth,--if he who accomplisheth that mystery, speaketh that mystery over the head of a man who cometh forth out of the body and who hath received no mysteries of the Light, and shareth not in the words of truth,--amēn, I say unto you: That man, if he cometh forth out of the body, will be judged in no region of the rulers, nor can he be chastized in any region at all, nor will the fire touch him, because of the great mystery of the Ineffable which is with him.

"And they will hasten quickly and hand him over one to another in turn and lead him from region to region and from order to order, until they bring him before the Virgin of Light, while all the regions are in fear of the mystery and the sign of the kingdom of the Ineffable which is with him.

"And if they bring him before the Virgin of Light, then the Virgin of Light will see the sign of the mystery of the kingdom of the Ineffable which is with him; the Virgin of Light marvelleth and proveth him, but suffereth them not to bring him to the Light, until he accomplisheth the total citizenship of the light of that mystery, that is the purities of the renunciation of the world and also of the total matter therein.

"The Virgin of Light sealeth him with a higher seal, which is this [ . . .? ], and letteth him in that month in which he hath come out of the body of matter, light down into a body which will be righteous and find the godhead in truth and the higher mysteries, so that he may inherit them and inherit the Light eternal, which is the gift of the second mystery of the First Mystery of the Ineffable.

"The third mystery of that Ineffable on the other hand,--the man indeed who shall accomplish that mystery, not only if he [himself] cometh forth out of the body, will he inherit the kingdom of the mystery, but if he complete that mystery and accomplish it with all its figures, that is if he go through with that mystery and accomplish it finely and pronounce the name of that mystery over a man who cometh forth out of the body and hath known that mystery,--let the former have delayed or rather not have delayed,--one who is in the dire chastisements of the rulers and in their dire judgments and their manifold fires,--amēn, I say unto you: The man who hath come forth out of the body,--if the name of this mystery is pronounced on his behalf, they will hasten quickly to bring him over and hand him over one to another, until they bring him before the Virgin of Light. And the Virgin of Light will seal him with a higher. seal, which is this [ . . .?], and in that month will she let him light down into the righteous body which will find the godhead in truth and the higher mystery, so that he inherit the Light-kingdom. This, therefore, is the gift of the third mystery of the Ineffable.

"Now, therefore, every one who shall receive one of the five mysteries of the Ineffable,--if he cometh forth out of the body and inheriteth up to the region of that mystery, then is the kingdom of those five mysteries higher than the kingdom of the twelve mysteries of the First Mystery, and it is higher than all the mysteries which are below them. But those five mysteries of the Ineffable are alike with one another in their kingdom, yet are they not alike with the three mysteries of the Ineffable.

"He on the other hand who receiveth of the three mysteries of the Ineffable, if he cometh forth out of the body, will inherit up to the kingdom of that mystery. And those three mysteries are alike with one another in the kingdom and they are higher and more exalted than the five mysteries of the Ineffable in the kingdom, but they are not alike with the one and only mystery of the Ineffable.

"He on the other hand who receiveth the one and only mystery of the Ineffable, will inherit the region of the whole kingdom according to its whole glory, as I have already told you at another time. And every one who shall receive the mystery which is in the space of the universe of the Ineffable, and all the other mysteries which are united in the Limbs of the Ineffable, concerning which I have not yet spoken unto you, and concerning their expansion and the manner of their setting-up and the type of every one, how it is and wherefor it is named the Ineffable or wherefor it standeth expanded with all its Limbs and how many Limbs are in it and all its economies, of which I will not tell you now, but when I come to the expansion of the universe I will tell you all severally,--to wit, its expansions and its description, how it is, and the aggregation [?] of all its Limbs, which belong to the economy of the One and Only, the unapproachable God in truth,--up to what region, therefore, every one shall receive the mysteries in the space of the Ineffable, up to that region will he inherit up to which he hath received. And those of the whole region of the space of that Ineffable give no answers in that region, nor give they apologies, nor give they tokens, for they are without tokens and they have no receivers, but they pass through all the regions, until they come to the region of the kingdom of the mystery which they have received.

"In like manner also those who shall receive mysteries in the second space, they have no answers nor apologies, for they are without tokens in that world, which is the space of the first mystery of the First Mystery.

"And those of the third space, which is without, which is the third space from without [? within],--every region in that space hath its receivers and its explanations and its apologies and its tokens, which I will one day tell you when I come to speak of that mystery, that is when I shall have told you of the expansion of the universe.

"Albeit at the dissolution of the universe, that is when the number of the perfect souls is completed and the mystery [through] which the universe altogether hath risen, is completed, I will pass a thousand years according to the years of the Light, being king over all the emanations of the Light and over the whole number of the perfect souls who have received all mysteries."

CHAPTER 99

It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward and said: "My Lord, how many years of the years of the world is a year of the Light?"

Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "A day of the Light is a thousand years in the world, so that thirty-six-myriads of years and a half-myriad of years of the world are a single year of the Light.

"I shall, therefore, pass a thousand years of the Light being king in the midst of the last Helper, and being king over all the emanations of the Light and over the whole number of the perfect souls who have received the mysteries of the Light.

"And ye, my disciples, and every one who shall receive the mystery of the Ineffable, will abide with me on my right and on my left, being kings with me in my kingdom.

"And they who shall receive the three mysteries of that Ineffable, will be fellow-kings with you in the Light-kingdom; but they will not be alike with you and with those who receive the mystery of the Ineffable, but they will rather abide behind you, being kings.

"And they who receive the five mysteries of the Ineffable, will also abide behind the three mysteries, being also kings.

"And moreover they who receive the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery, will also again abide behind the five mysteries of the Ineffable, being also kings according to the order of every one of them.

"And all who receive of the mysteries in all the regions of the space of the Ineffable, will also be kings and abide before those who receive the mystery of the First Mystery, expanded according to the glory of every one of them, so that those who receive the higher mysteries, will abide in the higher regions, and those who receive the lower mysteries, will abide in the lower regions, being kings in the light of my kingdom.

"These alone are the allotment of the kingdom of the first space of the Ineffable.

"They on the other hand who receive all the mysteries of the second space, that is of the space of the First Mystery, will again abide in the light of my kingdom, expanded according to the glory of every one of them, and every one of them being in the mystery up to which he hath received. And those who receive the higher mysteries, will also abide in the higher regions, and those who receive the lower mysteries, will abide in the lower regions in the light of my kingdom.

"This is the allotment of the second king for those who receive the mystery of the second space of the First Mystery.

"Those on the other hand who receive the mysteries of the third space, that is of the first space from without, those again will abide behind the second king, expanded in the light of my kingdom, according to the glory of every one of them, every one abiding in the region up to which he hath received mysteries, so that those who receive the higher mysteries, will abide in the higher regions, and those who receive the lower mysteries, will abide in the lower regions.

"These are the three allotments of the Light-kingdom.

"The mysteries of these three allotments of the Light are exceedingly numerous. Ye shall find them in the two great Books of Yew. But I will give you and tell you the great mysteries of every allotment, those which are higher than every region, that is the heads according to every region and according to every order which will lead the whole race of men into the higher regions, according to the space of the Inheritance.

"Of the rest of the lower mysteries, therefore, ye have no need; but ye will find them in the two Books of Yew, which Enoch hath written whilst I spake with him out of the tree of gnosis and out of the tree of life in the paradise of Adam.

"Now, therefore, when I shall have explained unto you the whole expansion, I will give you and tell you the great mysteries of the three allotments of my kingdom, that is the heads of the mysteries which I will give you and tell you in all their figures and all their types and in their ciphers and the seals of the last space, that is the first space from without. And I will tell you the answers and the apologies and the tokens of that space.

"The second space which is within, possesseth no answers nor apologies nor tokens nor ciphers nor seals; but it possesseth only types and figures."

CHAPTER 100

When the Saviour had finished saying all this unto his disciples, |247. Andrew came forward and said: "My Lord, be not wroth with me, but have mercy upon me and reveal unto me the mystery of the word concerning which I shall question thee, for it hath been hard for me and I have not understood it."

The Saviour answered and said unto him: "Question concerning that on which thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee face to face without similitude."

And Andrew answered and said: "My Lord, I am astonished and marvel exceedingly, how the men who are in the world and in the body of this matter, if they come forth out of this world, will pass through these firmaments and all these rulers and all lords and all gods and all these great invisibles and all those of the region of the Midst and those of the whole region of the Right and all the great [ones] of the emanations of the Light, and enter into them all and inherit the Light-kingdom. This matter, therefore, is hard for me."

When then Andrew had said this, the spirit of the Saviour was roused in him; he cried out and said: "How long am I to endure you? How long am I to bear with you? Have ye then not even yet understood and are ye ignorant? Know ye then not and do ye not understand that ye and all angels and all archangels and the gods and the lords and all the rulers and all the great invisibles and all those of the Midst and those of the whole region of the Right and all the great [ones] of the emanations of the Light and their whole glory,--that ye all one with another are out of one and the same paste and the same matter and the same substance, and that ye all are out of the same Mixture.

"And at the commandment of the First Mystery the Mixture was constrained, until all the great [ones] of the emanations of the Light and all their glory purified themselves, and until they purified themselves from the Mixture. And they have not purified themselves of themselves, but they have purified themselves by necessity according to the economy of the One and Only, the Ineffable.

"They indeed have not at all suffered and have not at all changed themselves in the regions, nor at all torn themselves asunder nor poured themselves into bodies of different kinds and from one into another, nor have they been in any affliction at all.

"Ye then in particular are the refuse of the Treasury and ye are the refuse of the region of the Right and ye are the refuse of the region of those of the Midst and ye are the refuse of all the invisibles and of all the rulers; in a word, ye are the refuse of all these. And ye are in great sufferings and great afflictions in your being poured from one into another of different kinds of bodies of the world. And after all these sufferings ye have struggled of your-selves and fought, having renounced the whole world and all the matter therein; and ye have not left off seeking, until ye found all the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light, which have purified you and made you into refined light, exceedingly purified, and ye have become purified light.

"For this cause have I said unto you aforetime: 'Seek, that ye may find.' I have, therefore, said unto you: Ye are to seek after the mysteries of the Light, which purify the body of matter and make it. into refined light exceedingly purified.

"Amēn, I say unto you: For the sake of the race of men, because it is material, I have torn myself asunder and brought unto them all the mysteries of the Light, that I may purify them, for they are the refuse of the whole matter of their matter; else would no soul of the total race of men have been saved, and they would not be able to inherit the kingdom of the Light, if I had not brought unto them the purifying mysteries.

"For the emanations of the Light have no need of the mysteries, for they are purified; but it is the race of men which hath need of them, because they all are material refuse For this cause, therefore, have I said unto you aforetime: 'The healthy have no need of the physician, but the sick,'--that is: Those of the Light have no need of the mysteries, for they are purified lights; but it is the race of men which hath need of them, for [they] are material refuse [pl.].

"For this cause, therefore, herald to the whole race of men, saying: Cease not to seek day and night, until ye find the purifying mysteries; and say unto the race of men: Renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein. For he who buyeth and selleth in the world and he who eateth and drinketh of its matter and who liveth in all its cares and in all its associations, amasseth other additional matters to the rest of his matter, because this whole world and all therein and all its associations are material refuse [pl.], and they will make enquiry of every one concerning his purity.

"For this cause, therefore, I have said unto you aforetime: Renounce the whole world and the whole matter therein, that ye may not amass other additional matter to the rest of your matter in you. For this cause, therefore, herald it to the whole race of men, saying: Renounce the whole world and all its associations, that ye may not amass additional matter to the rest of your matter in you; and say unto them: Cease not to seek day and night and remit not yourselves until ye find the purifying mysteries which will purify you and make you into a refined light, so that ye will go on high and inherit the light of my kingdom.

"Now, therefore, Andrew and all thy brethren thy co-disciples, because of your renunciations and all your sufferings which ye have endured in every region, and because of your changes in every region and of your being poured from one into another of different kinds of bodies and because of all your afflictions, and after all this ye have received the purifying mysteries and are become refined light exceedingly purified,--for this cause, therefore, ye will go on high and penetrate into all the regions of all the great emanations of the Light and be kings in the Light-kingdom for ever.

"But if ye come forth out of the body and come on high and reach unto the region of the rulers, then will all the rulers be seized with shame before you, because ye are the refuse of their matter and have become light more purified than them all. And if ye reach unto the region of the Great Invisible and unto the region of those of the Midst and of those of the Right and unto the regions of all the great emanations of the Light, then will ye be revered among them all, because ye are the refuse of their matter and are became light more purified than them all. And all the regions will sing praises before you, until ye come to the region of the kingdom.

"This is the answer to the words on which ye question. Now, therefore, Andrew, art thou still in unfaith and unknowing?" 

When then the Saviour said this, Andrew knew clearly, not only he but also all the disciples knew with precision that they should inherit the Light-kingdom. They all threw themselves down together at Jesus' feet, cried aloud, wept and besought the Saviour, saying: "Lord, forgive our brother the sin of unknowing."

The Saviour answered and said: "I forgive and will forgive; for this cause, therefore, hath the First Mystery sent me, that I may forgive every one his sins."

[SUB-SCRIPTION:]

A PORTION OF THE BOOKS OF THE SAVIOUR

CHAPTER 101

[THE CONCLUSION OF ANOTHER BOOK]

"AND those who are worthy of the mysteries which abide in the Ineffable, which are those which have not gone forth,--these exist before the First Mystery, and to use a likeness and similitude, that ye may understand it, they are as the Limbs of the Ineffable. And every one existeth according to the dignity of its glory: the head according to the dignity of the head and the eye according to the dignity of the eyes and the ear according to the dignity of the ears and the rest of the Limbs [in like fashion]; so that the matter is manifest: There is a multitude of limbs but one only body. Of this indeed have I spoken in a pattern and similitude and likeness, but not in a form in truth; nor have I revealed the word in truth, but the mystery [only] of the Ineffable.

"And all the Limbs which are in it,--according to the word with which I have made comparison,--that is, those which abide on the mystery of the Ineffable, and those which abide in it, and also the three spaces which are after them according to the mysteries,--of all these in truth and verity I am their treasury beside whom there is no other treasury, who hath not his like in the world; but there are still words and mysteries and other regions.

"Now, therefore, blessed is he who hath found the [words of the] mysteries [of the first space] which is from without; and he is a god who hath found these words of the mysteries of the second space, which is in the midst; and he is a saviour and an uncontainable who hath found the words of the mysteries of the third space, which is within, and he is more excellent than the universe and like unto those who are in that third space. Because he hath found the mystery in which they are and in which they stand,--for this cause, therefore, is he like unto them. He on the other hand who hath found the words of the mysteries which I have described unto you according to a likeness, that they are the Limbs of the Ineffable,--amēn, I say unto you: That man who hath found the words of these mysteries in divine truth, is the first in truth and like unto him [sc. the First, i.e. the Ineffable], for through those words and mysteries . . . and the universe itself standeth through that First. For this cause he who hath found the words of those mysteries, is like unto the First. For it is the gnosis of the gnosis of the Ineffable concerning which I have discoursed with you this day."

* Apocrypha - (from the Greek word απόκρυφα meaning "those having been hidden away") are texts of uncertain authenticity or writings where the authorship is questioned. These texts may have been used in some churches by were never considered as part of the Bible

** Pseudepigrapha = (from Greek pseudes = "false", "epigraphe" = "inscription") are texts falsely attributed to biblical characters or times. These books were never part of the Bible & were never considered as scripture by the church at any time despite being published under such titles of "The Lost Books of the Bible" or "The Hidden Gospels". The church has always known about them & they were never "Hidden" & could be read at any University or college. There is no deep dark secret here, just publishers trying to make a buck with interesting book titles.

*** Noncanonical Literature =  Never part of the Canon or Bible.