Pistis Sophia: Gnosis & Astrological Revelations of The Christ

The Pistis Sophia

Chapters 1-74

Gnosis & Astrological Revelations of The Christ

By Theodore White; astrolog.S

To inaugurate the arrival of the new astrological year of 2010 I would like to present in Global Astrology the Book of the 'Pistis Sophia': Revelations of The Christ to his male and female disciples.

There are well over 100 chapters in the Pistis Sophia, with related readings attached - a long, and extensive read for sure, but very worthwhile for anyone who desires to discover the secrets of the human spirit, and the keys of true prophecy.

What is called "gnosis" is reached by coming to profound understandings of the light mysteries by reading the astro-theological texts and seriously pondering on the insights provided.

There are six books of the Pistis Sophia, and 148 chapters. In this first entry, I have included the first book, and chapters of the second book to be followed by the second and third entries which will complete the entire book of the Pistis Sophia in all. You will find these entries here in the month of April, May and June.

In presenting this book of the Light Mysteries on Global Astrology, I strongly suggest reading the Pistis Sophia over the course of several days to several weeks to best begin the process of gnosis rather than to attempt taking in all that is presented here in one sitting.

The effect on the mind from this gnosis is rich, and very substantial for those seeking a deep and stable knowledge of the true nature of humanity, the Powers, the fall of man, and the prophesied redemption brought about by the Mysteries and divine natures of God Almighty and the Christ.

I suggest the courteous reader visit often to help complete their understanding of the Pistis Sophia, and other texts of the Light Mysteries, presented here on Global Astrology, in their full English translations, and to meditate upon what has been learned.

This will lead to gnosis, as the knowledge of spiritual and celestial orders as they apply to the affairs of humanity, and, to each individual, will become apparent over time.

In reading the Bible while reading the Pistis Sophia, many things will become fully explained to those who are keen towards discovering the secrets of the mysteries. One will come to see the truth expounded in the Mysteries as they apply to the full knowledge of humanity's fall and eventual redemption, in accordance with the prophecies of mundane astrology and holy scriptures.

Feel free to comment with your thoughts in the comment section at the end of this very long presentation. In this age of entertainment thought and twitter mentality, I decided to include the entire book in several postings so the reader may be able to scan over sections of interest as well as to read the entire Pistis Sophia as published.

However, to reach full gnosis, one must read the entire Pistis Sophia in order to learn the keys to the Mysteries. This is why I strongly suggest taking several days to several weeks in reading, and re-reading sections of the Pistis Sophia as posted to achieve full gnosis. In the end, you will very glad that you did.

Students of astrology will find significant insights into the workings of astrological transits as they relate to them personally, to all humanity, history, and world events; for this text gives key solutions to why few astrologers are able to forecast coming events through the celestial science because of the workings of The Christ on the order, and revolutions of the stars and planets.

Before I introduce the Pistis Sophia, a few comments on the global transits of this new astrological year of 2010:

As the world enters a new decade in a still very young new century, many people find their lives altered by larger-scale global events seemingly out of their personal control, but which changes their lives nonetheless.

In a world of economic crisis, increasing violence, confusion, hate, and multitudes of evil, there is a sense of urgency globally that the end times are here. Many who speak of the year 2012 naively believe that the end of the world is nigh.

I say that it is not, but that time will continue onwards, for a time, before all prophecy will be fulfilled. This is in accordance with the revolutions of the Sun, Moon, planets and stars following the principles of judicial astrology.

There is still enough time for those in the world to approach this knowledge, and achieve gnosis, with the truth of their own existence, so that, as the celestial bodies revolve to their fitting conclusions humanity will indeed not only survive, but will prosper, according to the laws of the divine.

To each his and her own. The mystery of humanity will be revealed to those who are themselves embedded with the light that cannot be grasped by those who seek to consume it for solely for themselves.

Many times, I am approached by people searching for answers through natal astrology on the direction of their lives, who seek to discover truer paths they feel have been hidden from them. All religions of the world have but one source, and that source can be found in the Light Mysteries.

As an astrologer, I have read and interpreted tens of thousands of horoscopes - both mundane and natal. I continue to do so today, and say to anyone who will hear: that the truth of themselves is not just without, through the inclinations of the planetary bodies, but the truth that saves all is within.

That is where the power of every living thing is and this is something to be treasured for nothing can take that away but the hand of the Almighty Himself.

The mystery of the Philosopher's Stone written of in the earth ages via the alchemical mysteries, that which many have sought over the centuries, is not outside in the metals of the world, but is within - that is where the true stone of light always has been. Those who seek riches in the world by seeking metals lose sight of that which they may, or may not have within themselves.

This is the mystery of the ages, and it involves the king (male) and the queen (female) so that that which is below and which corresponds without doubt to that which is above, may accomplish the miracle of the One.

In gnostic mundane astrology, that "one" is the mystery of The Christ.

Astrology today is mainly practiced by some who lack gnosis. This makes the reading and correct interpretations of horoscopes nearly impossible for them.

This leaves many without a true map of time, which is key towards understanding the qualities of celestial time and space itself, as lived through the human life on earth who seeks understanding of why we exist, and what is the purpose of life.

In this day, and age, as the globe enters a new cycle, much of the Earth is directionless, and some have said they fear for the future, while others say they have no hope in sight of the turn of global events of the 20th century, and of the last decade of this new century.

Yet, in my reading of the global transits of the future to come, I say there is indeed hope, and this hope has existed since the dawn of time itself. It has never wavered, and so, through this, many can, and should remain not only hopeful, but be assured that all is arranged for those of the family of the immovable race of humanity.

The Cardinal T-Square Transits of 2010

During the months of July & August, the world will experience the cardinal crisis, or cardinal cross transits. These are the positions of the planets Mars though Pluto which will touch upon the seasonal signs of the Zodiac, forming square and opposition aspects worldwide.

The inclinations, for the most part, are malefic, or, unfavorable, as I have been forecasting for some time. Many people, in many nations, will react according to their own personal constitutions; however, I have foreseen that it will be mainly unfavorable, as the cardinal inclinations are impulsive, causing accidents, with many people prone to great errors in judgment.

The main bodies involved are Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, joined by the transits of Uranus, and Pluto. The aspects are squares and oppositions that incline unfavorably. These are transpersonal planets, astrologically-speaking, and therefore, will have wider influences, globally, in principle with the tenets of mundane astrology.

The inclinations of the planets increases seismic activity, so, we can expect the next several years to be strong years of earthquakes globally. I strongly recommend that those living in seismically active zones to update their emergency preparedness plans and remain keen on earthquake news around the world.

The cardinal inclinations are close to the sensitive seasonal points around the Earth, impacting many regions during the revolutions and transits of the planets.

This year, 2010, sees the first of a series of cardinal inclinations that will undoubtedly influence many people on the planet. Some for good, and others for ill.

Over the past several years, there has also been another increase in UFO flaps, or sightings, worldwide. From Russia, China, to Europe, to the Americas, people worldwide have filmed strange crafts and lights constantly in the air, over water, and some on land.

This is in accordance with the planetary transits and prophecy - "the Prince of the power of the air" and they flit from place to place as we see UFOs do. The Apostle Paul says we "wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, with spirits in high places," those of "aerial regions."

See - http://www.mt.net/~watcher/ufos.html

Most of the so-called "aliens" are demons, fallen, and evil spirits, while a few may be helpers, most are malefic, and up to no good so we are told to "flee from evil." They are cast out of the full knowledge of the transits, and cannot listen in, and so, continue with their actions, intervening in the affairs of humanity. Their "efforts" however, in the end, according to prophecy, will come to nothing, for they have already lost.

How one faces the planetary inclinations depends largely on themselves, however, there are large-scale implications out of control of most individuals. I have written in earlier forecasts how to deal with these cardinal inclinations. You will find them in my archive here on Global Astrology.

In short, the solar year from March 2010 through March 2011 feature a period of time that the Earth will transition from one era into another. However, there are eras within eras, and so, the years from 2010 to 2020 show a time of transition for most of the people on the planet.

These are historical times, according to the celestial transits I have read and interpreted years ago. As the world approaches the Cardinal Crisis era of 2010-2014, it will proceed further into the decades ahead, fulfilling those prophecies of the mundane astrologer Nostradamus, who, as a gnostic himself, was well-acquainted with the realms of our current and future era.

I warn against giving way to the ignorant fears and forecasts of those unacquainted with astrological prophecy, and who propagate such foolishness as the end of the world coming in the year 2012.

For time will continue onwards past 2012, so there is no need for alarm coming from those who do not possess the knowledge of astrological gnosis but who use astrology for purposes it was never intended.

What I will say is that the world is entering a new astrological age, where the times will call upon all the living to come to terms with their own selves, and give way to gnosis, so that the full knowledge of prophecy, forecasting, and instruction can meet that which is already within all of the immovable race of humanity - called the Family of Light.

Prelude to The Pistis Sophia

I first read the Pistis Sophia during my childhood studies of classical astrology, gnostic theology and world history. It formed the basis of my knowledge of mundane astrology, and is central to my understanding of prophecy and forecasting as a professional astrologer.

Over the course of 36 years I have read hundreds of ancient texts using the Pistis Sophia and the Bible as the foundation of my astrological work. This has proved invaluable in interpretations of thousands of birth charts, and the charts of populations and nations.

Developing gnosis as an astrologer is vital in reading birth charts to understand the quality and nature of a person's destiny. In mundane astrology, this is translated into the destiny of nations, and the world, according to the principles of judicial astrology.

It is vital for any astrologer in training to come to a clear understanding of the celestial forces that influence human destiny. Without this knowledge, one cannot truly forecast the potentials of the future without a central gnosis to work from. For me, that central core was the Pistis Sophia.

Among the apostles of Christ were several women, including his mortal mother, the virgin Mary, and Mary Magdalene, who was called the wisest of all the apostles of Jesus Christ equal only to John and the Virgin.

In the Pistis Sophia, Magdalene and the other disciples question Christ who gives discourses on Heaven, Hell, the Earth, Astrology, all humanity, God Almighty, the aeons, the principalities, the archons, and on his prophecies concerning the redemption of humanity.

Astrology in the days of Jesus Christ was practiced by those who attempted to delineate the Fates, or, the planets, as they were called in ancient times.

In response to the discourse of Jesus Christ about astrology and the celestial influences on the world from questions from Mary Magdalene, Christ told his apostles that after he received his powerful Light vesture after his crucifixion, and thus achieved his goal, that he took a third of the power away from the archons who were causing havoc in the world, and he changed the power of the spheres so that they could no longer disrupt wholly the affairs of humanity.

In this manner, the celestial paths of the planets and stars were altered by Christ, thus, bringing about a new order of astrological computations, which Mary Magdalene questions Jesus about (Chapters 20-21) in the Pistis Sophia, and excerpted briefly here ~

"And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished saying these words, that Mary continued again and said: "My Lord, will not then the horoscope-casters and consulters from now on declare unto men what will come to pass for them?"

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: 

"If the horoscope-casters find the Fate and the sphere turned towards the left, according to their first extension, their words will come to pass, and they will say what is to take place. 

But if they chance on the Fate or the sphere turned to the right, they are bound to say nothing true, for I have changed their influences and their squares and their triangles and their octagons; seeing that their influences from the beginning onwards were continuously turned to the left and their squares and their triangles and their octagons. 

But now I have made them spend six months turned to the left and six months turned to the right. He who then shall find their reckoning from the time when I changed them, setting them so as to spend six months facing towards their left and six months facing their right paths - he who then shall observe them in this wise, will know their influences surely and will declare all things which they will do. 

In like manner also the consulters, if they invoke the names of the rulers and chance on them facing the left, will tell [men] with accuracy all things concerning which they shall ask their decans. 

On the contrary, if the consulters invoke their names when they face to the right, they will not give ear unto them, because they are facing in another form compared with their former position in which Yew had established them; seeing that other are their names when they are turned to the left and other their names when they are turned to the right. 

And if they invoke them when they are turned to the right, they will not tell them the truth, but they will confound them with confusion and threaten them with threatening. 

Those then who do not know their path, when they are turned to the right, and their triangles and their squares and all their figures, will find nothing true.

But will be confounded in great confusion and will find themselves in great delusion, because I have now changed the works which they effected aforetime in their squares, when turned to the left, and in their triangles and in their octagons, in which they were busied continuously turned to the left; and I have made them spend six months forming all their configurations turned to the right, in order that they may be confounded in confusion in their whole range.

And moreover I have made them spend six months turned to the left and accomplishing the works of their influences and all their configurations, in order that the rulers who are in the æons and in their spheres and in their heavens and in all their regions, may be confounded in confusion and deluded in delusion, so that they may not understand their own paths.

And Philip asked Jesus: "My Lord, on account of what mystery hast thou changed the binding of the rulers and their æons and their Fate and their sphere and all their regions, and made them confounded in confusion on their path and deluded in their course? Hast thou then done this unto them for the salvation of the world or hast thou not?"

Jesus answered and said unto Philip and to all the disciples together:  

"I have changed their path for the salvation of all souls."

"Amēn, amēn, I say unto you If I had not changed their [planets] path, a host of souls would have been destroyed, and they would have spent a long time, if the rulers of the æons and the rulers of the Fate and of the sphere and of all their regions and all their heavens and all their æons had not been brought to naught.

And the souls would have continued a long time here outside, and the completion of the number of perfect souls would have been delayed, which [souls] shall be counted in the Inheritance of the Height through the mysteries and shall be in the Treasury of the Light.

For this cause then I have changed their path, that they might be deluded and fall into agitation and yield up the power which is in the matter of their world and which they fashion into souls, in order that those who shall be saved, might be quickly purified and raised on high, they and the whole power, and that those who shall not be saved, might be quickly destroyed." 

G.R.S. Mead, the translator, says ~

"In any case, however all these very various elements and features in the syncretism be judged and evaluated, the Pistis Sophia is unquestionably a document of the first importance, not only for the history of Christianized Gnosticism, but also for the history of the development of religion in the West."

This is the original version of the Pistis Sophia, translated into English by George Robert Stow Mead (1863-1933) and published by the London publisher, J.M. Watkins in 1921.

As a gnostic mundane astrologer, I present the Pistis Sophia, a Gnostic Coptic Scripture that was edited out of the Bible, but which presents what Jesus Christ told his Apostles about the causes, and destiny of mankind after his mortal resurrection.

[THE FIRST BOOK OF]

PISTIS SOPHIA

- CHAPTER 1-

Jesus hitherto instructed his disciples only up to the regions of the First Mystery

"IT came to pass, when Jesus had risen from the dead, that he passed eleven years discoursing with his disciples, and instructing them only up to the regions of the First Commandment and up to the regions of the First Mystery, that within the Veil, within the First Commandment, which is the four-and-twentieth mystery without and below--those [four-and-twenty] which are in the second space of the First Mystery which is before all mysteries,--the Father in the form of a dove.

What the First Mystery surround

And Jesus said to his disciples: "I am come forth out of that First Mystery, which is the last mystery, that is the four-and-twentieth mystery."

And his disciples have not known nor understood that anything existeth within that mystery; but they thought of that mystery, that it is the head of the universe and the head of all existence; and they thought it is the completion of all completions, because Jesus had said to them concerning that mystery, that it surroundeth the First Commandment and the five Impressions and the great Light and the five Helpers and the whole Treasury of the Light.

And moreover Jesus had not told his disciples...

The regions of the great Invisible

The total expansion of all the regions of the great Invisible and of the three triple-powers and of the four-and-twenty invisibles, and all their regions and their æons and their orders, how they are extended--those which are the emanations of the great Invisible - and their ungenerated and their self-generated and their generated and their light-givers and their unpaired and their rulers and their authorities and their lords and their archangels and their angels and their decans and their servitors and all the houses of their spheres and all the orders of every one of them.

The Treasury of the Light

And Jesus had not told his disciples the total expansion of the emanations of the Treasury, nor their orders, how they are extended; nor had he told them their saviours, according to the order of every one, how they are; nor had he told them what guard is at every [gate] of the Treasury of the Light; nor had he told them the region of the Twin-saviour, who is the Child of the Child; nor had he told them the regions of the three Amēns, in what regions they are expanded; nor had he told them into what region the five Trees are expanded; nor as to the seven Amēns, that is the seven Voices, what is their region, how they are expanded.

The Light World

And Jesus had not told his disciples of what type are the five Helpers, nor into what region they are brought; nor had he told them how the great Light hath expanded itself, nor into what region it hath been brought; nor had he told them of the five Impressions, nor as to the First Commandment, into what region they have been brought.

But he had discoursed with them generally, teaching that they exist, but he had not told them their expansion and the order of their regions, how they are. 

For this cause they have not known that there were also other regions within that mystery.

And he had not told his disciples: "I have gone forth out of such and such regions until I entered into that mystery, and until I went forth out of it"; but, in teaching them, he said to them: "I am come forth from that mystery." 

For this cause then they thought of that mystery, that it is the completion of completions, and that it is the head of the universe and that it is the total Fullness. 

For Jesus had said to his disciples: "That mystery surroundeth that universe of which I have spoken unto you from the day when I met with you even unto this day." For this cause then the disciples thought there is nothing within that mystery.

- CHAPTER 2 -

Jesus and his disciples are seated on the Mount of Olives

 It came to pass then, when the disciples were sitting together on the Mount of Olives, speaking of these words and rejoicing in great joy, and exulting exceedingly and saying one to another: 

"Blessed are we before all men who are on the earth, because the Saviour hath revealed this unto us, and we have received the Fullness and the total completion,"--they said this to one another, while Jesus sat a little removed from them.

A great light-power descends on Jesus

And it came to pass then, on the fifteenth day of the moon in the month Tybi, which is the day on which the moon is full, on that day then, when the sun had come forth in his going, that there came forth behind him a great light-power shining most exceedingly, and there was no measure to the light conjoined with it. 

For it came out of the Light of lights, and it came out of the last mystery, which is the four-and-twentieth mystery, from within without,--those which are in the orders of the second space of the First Mystery. 

And that light-power came down over Jesus and surrounded him entirely, while he was seated removed from his disciples, and he had shone most exceedingly, and there was no measure for the light which was on him.

It surrounds him entirely

 And the disciples had not seen Jesus because of the great light in which he was, or which was about him; for their eyes were darkened because of the great light in which he was. But they saw only the light, which shot forth many light-rays. 

And the light-rays were not like one another, but the light was of divers kind, and it was of divers type, from below upwards, one [ray] more excellent than the other, . . ., in one great immeasurable glory of light; it stretched from under the earth right up to heaven.--And when the disciples saw that light, they fell into great fear and great agitation.

- CHAPTER 3 -

Jesus ascends into heaven

 

It came to pass then, when that light-power had come down over Jesus, that it gradually surrounded him entirely. Then Jesus ascended or soared into the height, shining most exceedingly in an immeasurable light. 

And the disciples gazed after him and none of them spake, until he had reached unto heaven; but they all kept in deep silence. This then came to pass on the fifteenth day of the moon, on the day on which it is full in the month Tybi.

 The confusion of the powers and the great earthquake

It came to pass then, when Jesus had reached the heaven, after three hours, that all the powers of the heaven fell into agitation, and all were set in motion one against the other, they and all their æons and all their regions and all their orders, and the whole earth was agitated and all they who dwell thereon.

And all men who are in the world fell into agitation, and also the disciples, and all thought: Peradventure the world will be rolled up.

And all the powers in the heavens ceased not from their agitation, they and the whole world, and all were moved one against the other, from the third hour of the fifteenth day of the moon of Tybi until the ninth hour of the morrow. 

And all the angels and their archangels and all the powers of the height, all sang praises to the interiors of the interiors, so that the whole world heard their voices, without their ceasing till the ninth hour of the morrow.

- CHAPTER 4 -

But the disciples sat together in fear and were in exceedingly great agitation and were afraid because of the great earthquake which took place, and they wept together, saying: "What will then be? Peradventure the Saviour will destroy all regions?" Thus saying, they wept together.

Jesus descends again

While they then said this and wept together, then, on the ninth hour of the morrow, the heavens opened, and they saw Jesus descend, shining most exceedingly, and there was no measure for his light in which he was. 

For he shone more [radiantly] than at the hour when he had ascended to the heavens, so that men in the world cannot describe the light which was on him; and it shot forth light-rays in great abundance, and there was no measure for its rays, and its light was not alike together, but it was of divers kind and of divers type, some [rays] being more excellent than others . . .; and the whole light consisted together.

The nature of his glory 

It was of threefold kind, and the one [kind] was more excellent than the other. . . . The second, that in the midst, was more excellent than the first which was below, and the third, which was above them all, was more excellent than the two which were below.

And the first glory, which was placed below them all, was like to the light which had come over Jesus before he had ascended into the heavens, and was like only itself in its light. And the three light-modes were of divers light-kinds, and they were of divers type, one being more excellent than the other. . .

- CHAPTER 5 -

Jesus addresses them

And it came to pass then, when the disciples saw this, that they feared exceedingly, and were in agitation. Then Jesus, the compassionate and tender-hearted, when he saw his disciples, that they were in great agitation, spake with them, saying: "Take courage. It is I, be not afraid."

- CHAPTER 6 -

It came to pass then, when the disciples had heard this word, that they said: "Lord, if it be thou, withdraw thy light-glory into thyself that we may be able to stand; otherwise our eyes are darkened, and we are agitated, and the whole world also is in agitation because of the great light which is about thee."

He draws his light unto himself

 Then Jesus drew to himself the glory of his light; and when this was done, all the disciples took courage, stepped forward to Jesus, fell down all together, adored him, rejoicing in great joy, and said unto him: "Rabbi, whither hast thou gone, or what was thy ministry on which thou hast gone, or wherefore rather were all these confusions and all the earth-quakings which have taken place?"

He promises to tell them all things

Then Jesus, the compassionate, said unto them: "Rejoice and exult from this hour on, for I have gone to the regions out of which I had come forth. 

From this day on then will I discourse with you in openness, from the beginning of the Truth unto its completion; and I will discourse with you face to face without similitude. 

From this hour on will I not hide anything from you of the [mystery] of the height and of that of the region of Truth. For authority hath been given me through the Ineffable and through the First Mystery of all mysteries to speak with you, from the Beginning right up to the Fullness; both from within without and from without within. 

Hearken, therefore, that I may tell you all things.

"It came to pass, when I sat a little removed from you on the Mount of Olives, that I thought on the order of the ministry for the sake of which I was sent, that it was completed, and that the last mystery, that is the four-and-twentieth mystery from within without,--those which are in the second space of the First Mystery, in the orders of that space - had not yet sent me my Vesture. 

It came to pass then, when I had known that the order of the ministry for the sake of which I had come, was completed, and that that mystery had not yet sent me my Vesture, which I had left behind in it, until its time was completed, thinking then this, I sat on the Mount of Olives a little removed from you.

- CHAPTER 7 -

"It came to pass, when the sun rose in the east, thereafter then through the First Mystery, which existed from the beginning, on account of which the universe hath arisen, out of which also I am myself now come, not in the time before my crucifixion, but now,--it came to pass, through the command of that mystery, that there should...

How the Vesture of Light was sent unto him

... be sent me my Light-vesture, which it had given me from the beginning, and which I had left behind in the last mystery, that is the four-and-twentieth mystery from within without,--those which are in the orders of the second space of the First Mystery. 

That Vesture then I left behind in the last mystery, until the time should be completed to put it on, and I should begin to discourse with the race of men and reveal unto them all from the beginning of the Truth to its completion, and discourse with them from the interiors of the interiors to the exteriors of the exteriors and from the exteriors of the exteriors to the interiors of the interiors. 

Rejoice then and exult and rejoice more and more greatly, for to you it is given that I speak first with you from the beginning of the Truth to its completion.

Of the souls of the disciples and their incarnations

"For this cause have I chosen you verily from the beginning through the First Mystery. Rejoice then and exult, for when I set out for the world, I brought from the beginning with me twelve powers, as I have told you from the beginning, which I have taken from the twelve saviours of the Treasury of the Light, according to the command of the First Mystery. 

These then I cast into the womb of your mothers, when I came into the world, that is those which are in your bodies to-day. 

For these powers have been given unto you before the whole world, because ye are they who will save the whole world, and that ye may be able to endure the threat of the rulers of the world and the pains of the world and its dangers and all its persecutions, which the rulers of the height will bring upon you. 

"For many times have I said unto you that I have brought the power in you out of the twelve saviours who are in the Treasury of the Light. For which cause I have said unto you indeed from the beginning that ye are not of the world. I also am not of it. 

For all men who are in the world have gotten their souls out of [the power of] the rulers of the æons. But the power which is in you is from me; your souls belong to the height. 

I have brought twelve powers of the twelve saviours of the Treasury of the Light, taking them out of the portion of my power which I did first receive. 

And when I had set forth for the world, I came into the midst of the rulers of the sphere and had the form of Gabriēl the angel of the æons; and the rulers of the æons did not know me, but they thought that I was the angel Gabriēl.

Of the incarnation of John the Baptizer

"It came to pass then, when I had come into the midst of the rulers of the æons, that I looked down on the world of mankind, by command of the First Mystery. 

I found Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptizer, before she had conceived him, and I sowed into her a power which I had received from the little Iaō, the Good, who is in the Midst, that he might be able to make proclamation before me and make ready my way, and baptize with the water of the forgiveness of sins. That power then is in the body of John.

That John was Elias in a former birth

"Moreover in place of the soul of the ruler which he was appointed to receive, I found the soul of the prophet Elias in the æons of the sphere; and I took him thence, and took hi soul and brought it to the Virgin of Light, and she gave it over to her receivers; they brought it to the sphere of the rulers and cast it into the womb of Elizabeth. 

So the power of the little Iaō, who is in the Midst, and the soul of the prophet Elias, they were bound into the body of John the Baptizer. For this cause then were ye in doubt aforetime, I when I said unto you: 'John said: I am not the Christ,' and ye said unto me: 

'It standeth written in the scripture: When the Christ shall come, Elias cometh before him and maketh ready his way.' But when ye said this unto me, I said unto you: 'Elias verily is come and hath made ready all things, as it standeth written, and they have done unto him as they would.' 

And when I knew that ye had not understood that I had discoursed with you concerning the soul of Elias which is bound into John the Baptizer.

I answered you in the discourse in openness face to face: 'If ye like to accept John the Baptizer: he is Elias, of whom I have said that he will come.'"

- CHAPTER 8 -

Of Christ's own incarnation through Mary

And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said: "It came to pass then thereafter, that at the command of the First Mystery I looked down on the world of mankind and found Mary, who is called 'my mother' according to the body of matter.

"I spake with her in the type of Gabriēl, and when she had turned herself to the height towards me, I cast thence into her the first power which I had received from Barbēlō - that is the body which I have borne in the height. 

And instead of the soul I cast into her the power which I have received from the great Sabaōth, the Good, who is in the region of the Right.

More concerning the light-powers in the Disciples

"And the twelve powers of the twelve saviours of the Treasury of the Light which I had received from the twelve ministers of the Midst, I cast into the sphere of the rulers. 

And the decans of the rulers and their servitors thought that they were souls of the rulers; and the servitors brought them, they bound them into the body of your mothers. And when your time was completed, ye were born in the world without souls of the rulers in you.

And ye have received your portion out of the power which the last Helper hath breathed into the Mixture, that [power] which is blended with all the invisibles and all rulers and all æons - in a word - which is blended with the world of destruction which is the Mixture.

This [power], which from the beginning I brought out of myself, I have cast into the First Commandment, and the First Commandment cast a portion thereof into the great Light, and the great Light cast a portion of that which it had received, into the five Helpers, and the last Helper took a portion of that which it received, and cast it into the Mixture. And [this portion] is in all who are in the Mixture, as I have just said unto you."

Why they should rejoice that the time of his investiture had come

This then Jesus said to his disciples on the Mount of Olives. Jesus continued again in the discourse with his disciples [and said]: "Rejoice and exult and add joy to your joy, for the times are completed for me to put on my Vesture, which hath been prepared for me from the beginning, which I left behind in the last mystery until the time of its completion. 

Now the time of its completion is the time when I shall be commanded through the First Mystery to discourse with you from the beginning of the Truth to the completion thereof, and from the interiors of the interiors [to the exteriors of the exteriors], for the world will be saved through you. 

Rejoice then and exult, for ye are blessed before all men who are on the earth. It is ye who will save the whole world."

- CHAPTER 9 -

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words to his disciples, that he continued again in the discourse, and said unto them: "Lo, I have then put on my Vesture, and all authority hath been given me through the First Mystery. 

Yet a little while and I will tell you the mystery of the universe and the fullness of the universe; and I will hide nothing from you from this hour on, but in fullness will I perfect you in all fullness and in all perfection and in all mysteries, which are the perfection of all perfections and the fullness of all fulnesses and the gnosis of all gnoses, those which are in my Vesture. 

I will tell you all mysteries from the exteriors of the exteriors to the interiors of the interiors. But hearken that I may tell you all things which have befallen me.

CHAPTER 10

The mystery of the five words on Christ's vesture

"It came to pass then, when the sun had risen in the east, that a great light-power came down, in which was my Vesture, which I had left behind in the four-and-twentieth mystery, as I have said unto you.

"And I found a mystery in my Vesture, written in five words of those from the height: zama zama ōzza rachama ōzai - whose solution is this:

The solution thereof

 "'O Mystery, which is without in the world, for whose sake the universe hath arisen; this is the total outgoing and the total ascent, which hath emanated all emanations and all that is therein and for whose sake all mysteries and all their regions have arisen; come hither unto us, for we are thy fellow-members. 

We are all with thyself; we are one and the same. Thou art the First Mystery, which existed from one the beginning in the Ineffable before it came forth; and the name thereof are we all. 

Now, therefore, are we all come to meet thee at the last limit, which also is the last mystery from within; itself is a portion of us. Now, therefore, have we sent thee thy Vesture, which hath belonged to thee from the beginning, which thou hast left behind in the last limit, which also is the last mystery from within, until its time should be completed, according to the commandment of the First Mystery. Lo, its time is completed; put it on [thee].

The three robes of Light

 "'Come unto us, for we all draw nigh to thee to clothe thee with the First Mystery and all his glory, by commandment of himself, in that the First Mystery hath given us it, consisting of two vestures, to clothe thee therewith, besides the one which we have sent thee, for thou art worthy of them, since thou art prior to us, and existeth before us. For this cause, therefore, hath the First Mystery sent thee through us the mystery of all his glory, consisting of two vestures.

The First vesture

 "'In the first is the whole glory of all the names of all mysteries and all emanations of the orders of the spaces of the Ineffable.

The Second vesture

"'And in the second vesture is the whole glory of the name of all mysteries and all emanations which are in the orders of the two spaces of the First Mystery.

The Third vesture

"And in this [third] vesture, which we have just sent thee, is the glory of the name of the mystery of the Revealer, which is the First Commandment, and of the mystery of the five Impressions, and of the mystery of the great Envoy of the Ineffable, who is the great Light, and of the mystery of the five Leaders, who are the five Helpers. 

 There is further in this vesture the glory of the name of the mystery of all orders of the emanations of the Treasury of the Light and of their saviours, and [of the mystery] of the orders of the orders, which are the seven Amēns and the seven Voices and the five Trees and the three Amēns and the Twin-saviour, that is the Child of the Child, and of the mystery of the nine guards of the three gates of the Treasury of the Light. 

There is further therein the whole glory of the name [of all those] which are in the Right, and of all those which are in the Midst.

And further there is therein the whole glory of the name of the great Invisible, which is the great Forefather, and the mystery of the three triple-powers and the mystery of their whole region and the mystery of all their invisibles and of all those who are in the thirteenth æon, and the name of the twelve æons and of all their rulers and all their archangels and all their angels and of all those who are in the twelve æons, and the whole mystery of the name of all those who are in the Fate and in all the heavens, and the whole mystery of the name of all those who are in the sphere, and of its firmaments and of all who are in them, and of all their regions.

The Day of 'come unto us'

"'Lo, therefore, we have sent thee this vesture, which no one knew from the First Commandment downwards, for the glory of its light was hidden in it, and the spheres and all regions from the First Commandment downwards [have not known it]. 

Haste thee, therefore, clothe thyself with this vesture and come unto us. For we draw nigh unto thee, to clothe thee by command of the First Mystery with thy two vestures [other] which existed for thee from the beginning with the First Mystery until the time appointed by the Ineffable is completed.

Come, therefore, to us quickly, that we may put them on thee, until thou hast fulfilled the total ministry of the perfection of the First Mystery which is appointed by the Ineffable. Come, therefore, to us quickly, in order that we may clothe thee with them, according to the command of the First Mystery. 

For yet a little while, a very little while, and thou shalt come unto us and leave the world. Come, therefore, quickly, that thou mayest receive thy whole glory, that is the glory of the First Mystery.'

- CHAPTER 11 -

Jesus puts on his vesture

 "It came to pass then, when I saw the mystery of all these words in the vesture which was sent me, that straightway I clothed myself therewith, and I shone most exceedingly and soared into the height.

Christ enters the firmament

 "I came before the [first] gate of the firmament, shining most exceedingly, and there was no measure for the light which was about me, and the gates of the firmament were shaken one over against another and all opened at once.

The powers of the firmament are amazed, fall down and adore him

 "And all rulers and all authorities and all angels therein were thrown all together into agitation because of the great light which was on me. 

And they gazed at the radiant vesture of light with which I was clad, and they saw the mystery which contains their names, and they feared most exceedingly.

And all their bonds with which they were bound, were unloosed and every one left his order, and they all fell down before me, adored and said: 'How hath the lord of the universe passed through us without our knowing?' 

And they all sang praises together to the interiors of the interiors; but me they saw not, but they saw only the light. And they were in great fear and were exceedingly agitated and sang praises to the interiors of the interiors.

- CHAPTER 12 -

Christ enters the first sphere

 "And I left that region behind me and ascended to the first sphere, shining most exceedingly, forty-and-nine-times more brightly than I had shone in the firmament. It came to pass then, when I had reached the gate of the first sphere, that its gates were shaken and opened of themselves at once.

The powers of the first sphere are amazed and fall down and adore him

 "I entered into the houses of the sphere, shining most exceedingly, and there was no measure to the light that was about me. And all the rulers and all those who are in that sphere, fell into agitation one against another. 

And they saw the great light that was about me, and they gazed upon my vesture and saw thereon the mystery of their name. And they fell into still greater agitation, and were in great fear, saying: 'How hath the lord of the universe passed through us without our knowing?'

And all their bonds were unloosed and their regions and their orders; and every one left his order, and they fell down all together, adored before me, or before my vesture, and all sang praises together to the interiors of the interiors, being in great fear and great agitation.

- CHAPTER 13 -

Christ enters the second sphere

"And I left that region behind me and came to the gate of the second sphere, which is the Fate. Then were all its gates thrown into agitation and opened of themselves. And I entered into the houses of the Fate, shining most exceedingly, and there was no measure for the light that was about me, for I shone in the Fate forty-and-nine times more than in the [first] sphere.

The powers of the second sphere are amazed and fall down and adore him

"And all the rulers and all those who are in the Fate, were thrown into agitation and fell on one another and were in exceeding great fear on seeing the great light that was about me.

And they gazed on my vesture of light and saw the mystery of their name on my vesture and fell into still greater agitation; and they were in great fear, saying: 'How hath the lord of the universe passed through us without our knowing?' 

And all the bonds of their regions and of their orders and of their houses were unloosed; they all came at once, fell down, adored before me and sang praises all together to the interiors of the interiors, being in great fear and great agitation.

- CHAPTER 14 -

Christ enters the æons

 "And I left that region behind me and ascended to the great æons of the rulers and came before their veils and their gates, shining most exceedingly, and there was no measure for the light which was about me.

It came to pass then, when I arrived at the twelve æons, that their veils and their gates were shaken one over against the other. Their veils drew themselves apart of their own accord, and their gates opened one over against the other. 

And I entered into the æons, shining most exceedingly, and there was no measure for the light that was about me, forty-and-nine times more than the light with which I shone in the houses of the Fate.

The powers of the æons are amazed and fall down and adore him

"And all the angels of the æons and their archangels and their rulers and their gods and their lords and their authorities and their tyrants and their powers and their light-sparks and their light-givers and their unpaired and their invisibles and their forefathers and their triple-powers saw me, shining most exceedingly, and there was no measure for the light which was about me. 

And they were thrown into agitation the one over against the other and great fear fell upon them, when they saw the great light that was about me. And in their great agitation and their great fear they withdrew as far as the region of the great invisible Forefather, and of the three great triple-powers. 

And because of the great fear of their agitation, the great Forefather, he and the three triple-powers, kept on running hither and thither in his region, and they could not close all their regions because of the great fear in which they were. 

And they agitated all their æons together and all their spheres and all their orders, fearing and being greatly agitated because of the great light which was about me - not of the former quality that it was about me when I was on the earth of mankind - when the light-vesture came over me, for the world could not bear the light such as it was in its truth, else would the world at once be destroyed and all upon it, but the light which was about me in the twelve æons was eight-thousand-and-seven-hundred-myriad times greater than that which was about me in the world among you.

- CHAPTER 15 -

Adamas and the tyrants fight against the light

"It came to pass then, when all those who are in the twelve æons saw the great light which was about me, that they were all thrown into agitation one over against the other, and ran hither and thither in the æons. 

And all æons and all heavens and their whole ordering were agitated one over against the other on account of the great fear which was on them, for they knew not the mystery which had taken place. 

And Adamas, the great Tyrant, and all the tyrants in all the æons began to fight in vain against the light, and they knew not against whom they fought, because they saw nothing but the overmastering light.

"It came to pass then, when they fought against the light, that they were weakened all together one with another, were dashed down in the æons and became as the inhabitants of the earth, dead and without breath of life.

Christ takes from them a third of their power

 "And I took from all a third of their power, that they should no more be active in their evil doings, and that, if the men who are in the world, invoke them in their mysteries--those which the angels who transgressed have brought down, that is their sorceries,--in order that, therefore, if they invoke them in their evil doings, they may not be able to accomplish them.

He changes the motion of the planets, the spheres

 "And the Fate and the sphere over which they rule, I have changed and brought it to pass that they spend six months turned to the left and accomplish their influences, and that six months they face to the right and accomplish their influences. For by command of the First Commandment and by command of the First Mystery, Yew, the Overseer of the Light, had set them facing the left at every time and accomplishing their influences and their deeds.

- CHAPTER 16 -

"It came to pass then, when I came into their region, that they mutinied and fought against the light. And I took the third of their power, in order that they should not be able to accomplish their evil deeds. 

And the Fate and the sphere, over which they rule, I have changed, and set them facing the left six months and accomplishing their influences, and I have set them turned another six months to the right and accomplishing their influences."

- CHAPTER 17 -

When then he had said this to his disciples, he said unto them: "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

It came to pass then, when Mary had heard the Saviour say these words, that she gazed fixedly into the air for the space of an hour. She said: "My Lord, give commandment unto me to speak in openness."

Mary Magdalene asks and receives permission to speak

 And Jesus, the compassionate, answered and said unto Mary: "Mary, thou blessed one, whom I will perfect in all mysteries of those of the height, discourse in openness, thou, whose heart is raised to the kingdom of heaven more than all thy brethren."

- CHAPTER 18 -

Then said Mary to the Saviour: "My Lord, the word which thou hast spoken unto us: 'Who hath ears to hear, let him hear,' thou sayest in order that we may understand the word which thou hast spoken. Hearken, therefore, my Lord, that I may discourse in openness.

Mary interprets Christ's astrological discourse from the words of Isaiah

"The word which thou hast spoken: 'I have taken a third from the power of the rulers of all the æons, and changed their Fate and their sphere over which they rule, in order that, if the race of men invoke them in the mysteries.

Those which the angels who transgressed have taught them for the accomplishing of their evil and lawless deeds in the mystery of their sorcery,'--in order then that they may no more from this hour accomplish their lawless deeds, because thou hast taken their power from them and from their horoscope-casters and their consulters and from those who declare to the men in the world all things which shall come to pass, in order that they should no more from this hour know how to declare unto them any thing at all which will come to pass (for thou hast changed their spheres, and hast made them spend six months turned to the left and accomplishing their influences, and another six months facing the right and accomplishing their influences) concerning this word.

Then, my Lord, the power which was in the prophet Isaiah, hath spoken thus and proclaimed aforetime in a spiritual similitude, discoursing on the 'Vision about Egypt': 

'Where then, O Egypt, where are thy consulters and horoscope-casters and those who cry out of the earth and those who cry out of their belly? Let them then declare unto thee from now on the deeds which the lord Sabaōth will do!'

"The power then which was in the prophet Isaiah, prophesied before thou didst come, that thou wouldst take away the power of the rulers of the æons and wouldst change their sphere and their Fate, in order that they might know nothing from now on. 

For this cause it hath said also: 'Ye shall then know not of what the lord Sabaōth will do '; that is, none of the rulers will know what thou wilt do from now on,--for they are 'Egypt,' because they are matter. 

The power then which was in Isaiah, prophesied concerning thee aforetime, saying: 'From now on ye shall then know not what the lord Sabaōth will do.' Because of the light-power which thou didst receive from Sabaōth, the Good, who is in the region of the Right, and which is in thy material body to-day, for this cause then, my Lord Jesus, thou hast said unto us:

'Who hath ears to hear, let him hear,' in order that thou mightest know whose heart is ardently raised to the kingdom of heaven."

- CHAPTER 19 -

It came to pass then, when Mary had finished saying these words, that he said: "Well said, Mary, for thou art blessed before all women on the earth, because thou shalt be the fullness of all fulnesses and the perfection of all perfections."

Jesus commends Mary Magdalene. She further questions him on Astrology and Christ's changing the motions of the spheres

Now when Mary had heard the Saviour speak these words, she exulted greatly, and she came before Jesus, fell down before him, adored his feet and said unto him: "My Lord, hearken unto me, that I may question thee on this word, before that thou discoursest with us about the regions whither thou didst go."

Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "Discourse in openness and fear not; all things on which thou questionest, I will reveal unto thee."

- CHAPTER 20 -

She said: "My Lord, will all the men who know the mystery of the magic of all the rulers of all the æons of the Fate and of those of the sphere, in the way in which the angels who transgressed have taught them, if they invoke them in their mysteries, that is in their evil magic, to the hindering of good deeds, will they accomplish them henceforth from now on or not?"

Jesus explains further the conversion of the planets, the spheres

Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "They will not accomplish them as they accomplished them from the beginning, because I have taken away a third of their power; but they will raise a loan from those who know the mysteries of the magic of the thirteenth æon.

"And if they invoke the mysteries of the magic of those who are in the thirteenth æon, they will accomplish them well and surely, because I have not taken away power from that region, according to the command of the First Mystery."

- CHAPTER 21 -

Christ says only true astrologers who follow this rule shall be able to read horoscopes of destiny

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished saying these words, that Mary continued again and said: "My Lord, will not then the horoscope-casters and consulters from now on declare unto men what will come to pass for them?"

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "If the horoscope-casters find the Fate and the sphere turned towards the left, according to their first extension, their words will come to pass, and they will say what is to take place. 

But if they chance on the Fate or the sphere turned to the right, they are bound to say nothing true, for I have changed their influences and their squares, and their triangles and their octagons; seeing that their influences from the beginning onwards were continuously turned to the left and their squares and their triangles and their octagons.

But now I have made them spend six months turned to the left and six months turned to the right. He who then shall find their reckoning from the time when I changed them, setting them so as to spend six months facing towards their left and six months facing their right paths.

He who then shall observe them in this wise, will know their influences surely, and will declare all things which they will do. In like manner also the [horoscope] consulters, if they invoke the names of the rulers and chance on them facing the left, [they] will tell [people] with accuracy all things concerning which they shall ask their decans. 

On the contrary, if the consulters invoke their names when they face to the right, they will not give ear unto them, because they are facing in another form compared with their former position in which Yew had established them; seeing that other are their names when they are turned to the left and other their names when they are turned to the right. 

And if they invoke them when they are turned to the right, they will not tell them the truth, but they will confound them with confusion and threaten them with threatening. 

Those then who do not know their path, when they are turned to the right, and their triangles and their squares and all their figures, will find nothing true, but will be confounded in great confusion and will find themselves in great delusion, because I have now changed the works which they effected aforetime in their squares, when turned to the left, and in their triangles and in their octagons, in which they were busied continuously turned to the left; and I have made them spend six months forming all their configurations turned to the right, in order that they may be confounded in confusion in their whole range.  

And moreover I have made them spend six months turned to the left and accomplishing the works of their influences and all their configurations, in order that the rulers who are in the æons and in their spheres and in their heavens and in all their regions, may be confounded in confusion and deluded in delusion, so that they may not understand their own paths."

- CHAPTER 22 -

Philip questions Jesus on Astrology

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words, while Philip sat and wrote all the words that Jesus spake,--thereafter then it came to pass that Philip came forward, fell down and adored the feet of Jesus, saying: "My Lord and Saviour, grant me authority to discourse before thee and to question thee on this word, before thou discoursest with us concerning the regions whither thou didst go because of thy ministry."

And the compassionate Saviour answered and said unto Philip: "Authority is given thee to bring forward the word which thou willest." 

And Philip answered and said unto Jesus:

"My Lord, on account of what mystery hast thou changed the binding of the rulers and their æons and their Fate and their sphere and all their regions, and made them confounded in confusion on their path and deluded in their course? Hast thou then done this unto them for the salvation of the world or hast thou not?"

- CHAPTER 23 -

Why the paths of the planets' æons was changed

And Jesus answered and said unto Philip and to all the disciples together: "I have changed their path for the salvation of all souls. 

Amēn, amēn, I say unto you If I had not changed their path, a host of souls would have been destroyed, and they would have spent a long time, if the rulers of the æons and the rulers of the Fate and of the sphere and of all their regions and all their heavens and all their æons had not been brought to naught; and the souls would have continued a long time here outside, and the completion of the number of perfect souls would have been delayed, which [souls] shall be counted in the Inheritance of the Height through the mysteries and shall be in the Treasury of the Light.

For this cause then I have changed their path, that they might be deluded and fall into agitation and yield up the power which is in the matter of their world and which they fashion into souls, in order that those who shall be saved, might be quickly purified and raised on high, they and the whole power, and that those who shall not be saved, might be quickly destroyed."

- CHAPTER 24 -

Mary Magdalene asks questions of Christ again

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that Mary, the fair in her discourse and the blessed one, came forward, fell at the feet of Jesus and said: "My Lord, suffer me that I speak before thee, and be not wroth with me, if oft I give thee trouble questioning thee."

The Saviour, full of compassion, answered and said unto Mary: "Speak the word which thou willest, and I will reveal it to thee in all openness." 

Mary answered and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, in what way will the souls have delayed themselves here outside, and in what type will they be quickly purified?"

- CHAPTER 25 -

And Jesus answered and said unto Mary: "Well said, Mary; thou questionest finely with thy excellent question, and thou throwest light on all things with surety and precision. Now, therefore, from now on will I hide nothing from you, but I will reveal unto you all things with surety and openness.

Hearken then, Mary, and give ear, all ye disciples: Before I made proclamation to all the rulers of the æons and to all the rulers of the Fate and Of the sphere, they were all bound in their bonds and in their spheres and in their seals, as Yew, the Overseer of the Light, had bound them from the beginning; and every one of them remained in his order, and every one journeyed according to his course, as Yew, the Overseer of the Light, had established them. 

The coming of Melchizedek

And when the time of the number of Melchizedek, the great Receiver of the Light, came, he was wont to come into the midst of the æons and of all the rulers who are bound in the sphere and in the Fate, and he carried away the purification of the light from all the rulers of the æons and from all the rulers of the Fate and from those of the sphere--for he carried away then that which brings them into agitation--and he set in motion the hastener who is over them, and made them turn their circles swiftly, and he [sc. the hastener] carried away their power which was in them and the breath of their mouth and the tears [lit. waters] of their eyes and the sweat of their bodies.

Of the fashioning of the Souls of Men

 "And Melchizedek, the Receiver of the Light; purifieth those powers and carrieth their light into the Treasury of the Light, while the servitors of all the rulers gather together all matter from them all; and the servitors of all the rulers of the Fate and the servitors of the sphere which is below the æons, take it and fashion it into souls of men and cattle and reptiles and wild-beasts and birds, and send them down into the world of mankind. 

And further the receivers of the sun and the receivers of the moon, if they look above and see the configurations of the paths of the æons and the configurations of the Fate and those of the sphere, then they take from them the light-power; and the receivers of the sun get it ready and deposit it, until they hand it over to the receivers of Melchizedek, the Light-purifier.

And their material refuse they bring to the sphere which is below the æons, and fashion it into [souls of] men, and fashion it also into souls of reptiles and of cattle and of wild-beasts and of birds, according to the circle of the rulers of that sphere and according to all the configurations of its revolution, and they cast them into this world of mankind, and they become souls in this region, as I have just said unto you.

- CHAPTER 26 -

"This then they accomplished continuously before their power was diminished in them and they waned and became exhausted, or powerless. It came to pass then, when they became powerless, that their power began to cease in them, so that they became exhausted in their power, and their light, which was in their region, ceased and their kingdom was destroyed, and the universe became quickly raised up.

"It came to pass then, when they had perceived this at the time, and when the number of the cipher of Melchizedek, the Receiver [of the Light], happened, then had he to come out again and enter into the midst of the rulers of all the æons and into the midst of all the rulers of the Fate and of those of the sphere; and he threw them into agitation, and made them quickly abandon their circles.

"And forthwith they were constrained, and cast forth the power out of themselves, out of the breath of their mouth and the tears of their eyes and the sweat of their bodies.

The rulers devour their matter so that souls may not be fashioned

"And Melchizedek, the Receiver of the Light, purifieth them, as he doth continually; he carrieth their light into the Treasury of the Light. And all the rulers of the æons and the rulers of the Fate and those of the sphere turn to the matter of their refuse; they devour it and do not let it go and become souls in the world. 

"They devour then their matter, so that they may not become powerless and exhausted and their power cease in them and their kingdom become destroyed, but in order that they may delay and linger a long time until the completion of the number of the perfect souls who shall be in the Treasury of the Light."

- CHAPTER 27 -

"It came to pass then, when the rulers of the æons and those of the Fate and those of the sphere continued to carry out this type,--turning on themselves, devouring the refuse of their matter, and not allowing souls to be born into the world of mankind, in order that they might delay in being rulers, and that the powers which are in their powers, that is the souls, might spend a long time here outside,--they then persisted doing this continually for two circles.

"It came to pass then, when I wished to ascend for the ministry for the sake of which I was called by command of the First Mystery, that I came up into the midst of the tyrants of the rulers of the twelve æons, with my light-vesture about me, shining most exceedingly, and there was no measure for the light which was about me.

Adamas and the tyrants fight against Christ's light-vesture

 "It came to pass then, when those tyrants saw the great light which was about me, that the great Adamas, the Tyrant, and all the tyrants of the twelve æons, all together began to fight against the light of my vesture, desiring to hold it fast among them, in order to delay in their rulership. This then they did, not knowing against whom they fought.

Jesus takes from the planets a third of their power and changes their courses

 "When then they mutinied and fought against the light, thereon by command of the First Mystery I changed the paths and the courses of their æons and the paths of their Fate and of their spheres. 

I made them face six months towards the triangles on the left and towards the squares and towards those in their aspect and towards their octagons, just as they had formerly been. 

But their manner of turning, or facing, I changed to another order, and made them other six months face towards the works of their influences in the squares on the right and in their triangles and in those in their aspect and in their octagons.

And I made them to be confounded in great confusion and deluded in great delusion - the rulers of the æons and all the rulers of the Fate and those of the sphere; and I set them in great agitation, and thence on they were no longer able to turn towards the refuse of their matter to devour it, in order that their regions may continue to delay and they [themselves] may spend a long time as rulers.

"But when I had taken away a third of their power, I changed their spheres, so that they spend a time facing to the left and another time facing to the right. I have changed their whole path and their whole course, and I have made the path of their course to hurry, so that they may be quickly purified and raised up quickly. 

And I have shortened their circles, and made their path more speedy, and it will be exceedingly hurried. And they were thrown into confusion in their path, and from then on were no more able to devour the matter of the refuse of the purification of their light.

They no more have the power of devouring their matter

 And moreover I have shortened their times and their periods, so that the perfect number of souls who shall receive the mysteries and be in the Treasury of the Light, shall be quickly completed. 

For had I not changed their [planets] courses, and had I not shortened their periods, they would not have let any soul come into the world, because of the matter of their refuse which they devoured, and they would have destroyed many souls. 

For this cause I said unto you aforetime: 'I have shortened the times because of my elect; otherwise no soul would have been able to be saved.'

And I have shortened the times and the periods because of the perfect number of the souls who shall receive the mysteries, that is to say, the 'elect'; and had I not shortened their periods, no material soul would have been saved, but they would have perished in the fire which is in the flesh of the rulers. This then is the word on which thou dost question me with precision."

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that they fell down all together, adored him and said to him: "Blessed are we before all men, for unto us thou hast revealed these great exploits."

- CHAPTER 28 -

The powers adore Christ's light-vesture. Jesus explains again his altering of the courses of the celestial bodies and aeons

 And Jesus continued again in his discourse and said unto his disciples: "Hearken concerning the things which befell me among the rulers of the twelve æons and all their rulers and their lords and their authorities and their angels and their archangels. 

When then they had seen the vesture of light which was about me, they and their unpaired, then every one of them saw the mystery of his name, that it was on my vesture of light, which was about me. 

They fell down all together, adored the vesture of light which was about me, and cried out all together, saying: 'How hath the lord of the universe passed through us without our knowing it?' 

And they all sang praises together to the interiors of the interiors. And all their triple-powers and their great forefathers and their ungenerated and their self-generated and their generated and their gods and their light-sparks and their light-bearers--in a word all their great ones--saw the tyrants of their region, that their power was diminished in them. 

And they were in weakness and themselves fell into great and immeasurable fear.

And they gazed on the mystery of their name on my vesture, and they had set out to come and adore the mystery of their name which was on my vesture, and they could not because of the great light which was about me; but they adored a little removed from me, and they adored the light of my vesture and all cried out together, singing praises to the interiors of the interiors.

The tyrants become as the dead

 "It came to pass then, when this befell among the tyrants who are below these rulers, that they all lost power and fell down to the ground in their æons and became as the dead world-dwellers with no breath in them, as they became in the hour when I took from them their power.

"It came to pass then thereafter, when I left those æons, that every one of all those who were in the twelve æons, was bound to their order all together, and they accomplished their works as I have established them.

"So that they spend six months turned to the left and accomplishing their works in their squares and their triangles and in those which are in their aspect, and that further they spend another six months facing to the right and towards their triangles and their squares and those which are in their aspect. 

Thus then will those who are in the Fate and in the sphere travel.

- CHAPTER 29 -

Jesus enters the thirteenth æon and finds Pistis Sophia

 "It came to pass then thereafter that I ascended to the veils of the thirteenth æon. It came to pass then, when I had arrived at their veils, that they drew apart of their own accord and opened themselves for me. 

I entered in into the thirteenth æon and found Pistis Sophia below the thirteenth æon all alone and no one of them with her. 

And she sat in that region grieving and mourning, because she had not been admitted into the thirteenth æon, her higher region. 

And she was moreover grieving because of the torments which Self-willed, who is one of the three triple-powers, had inflicted on her. But this - when I shall come to speak with you respecting their expansion, - I will tell you the mystery; how this befell her.

Sophia and her fellow-powers behold Christ's light

 "It came to pass then, when Pistis Sophia saw me shining most exceedingly and with no measure for the light which was about me, that she was in great agitation and gazed at the light of my vesture.

She saw the mystery of her name on my vesture and the whole glory of its mystery, for formerly she was in the region of the height, in the thirteenth æon - but she was wont to sing praises to the higher light, which she had seen in the veil of the Treasury of the Light.

"It came to pass then, when she persisted in singing praises to the higher light, that all the rulers who are with the two great triple-powers, and her invisible who is paired with her, and the other two-and-twenty invisible emanations gazed [at the light] in as much as Pistis Sophia and her pair, they and the other two-and-twenty emanations make up four-and-twenty emanations, which the great invisible Forefather and the two great triple-powers have emanated."

- CHAPTER 30 -

Mary desires to hear the story of Sophia

 It came to pass then, when Jesus had said this unto his disciples, that Mary came forward and said: "My Lord, I have heard thee say aforetime: 'Pistis Sophia is herself one of the four-and-twenty emanations, how then is she not in their region? But thou hast said: 'I found her below the thirteenth æon.'"

[THE STORY OF PISTIS SOPHIA]

Sophia desires to enter the Light-world

And Jesus answered and said unto his disciples: "It came to pass, when Pistis Sophia was in the thirteenth æon, in the region of all her brethren the invisibles, that is the four-and-twenty emanations of the great Invisible,--it came to pass then by command of the First Mystery that Pistis Sophia gazed into the height. 

She saw the light of the veil of the Treasury of the Light, and she longed to reach to that region, and she could not reach to that region. But she ceased to perform the mystery of the thirteenth æon, and sang praises to the light of the height, which she had seen in the light of the veil of the Treasury of the Light.

The rulers hate her for ceasing in their mystery

 "It came to pass then, when she sang praises to the region of the height, that all the rulers in the twelve æons, who are below, hated her, because she had ceased from their mysteries, and because she had desired to go into the height and be above them all. 

For this cause then they were enraged against her and hated her, [as did] the great triple-powered Self-willed [Satan] that is the third triple-power, who is in the thirteenth æon, he who had become disobedient, in as much as he had not emanated the whole purification of his power in him, and had not given the purification of his light at the time when the rulers gave their purification, in that he desired to rule over the whole thirteenth æon and those who are below it.

Satan unites himself with the rulers of the twelve æons and emanates a lion-faced power to plague Sophia

 "It came to pass then, when the rulers of the twelve æons were enraged against Pistis Sophia, who is above them, and hated her exceedingly, that the great triple-powered Self-willed, of whom I have just now told you, joined himself to the rulers of the twelve æons, and also was enraged against Pistis Sophia and hated her exceedingly, because she had thought to go to the light which is higher than her.

And he emanated out of himself a great lion-faced power, and out of his matter in him he emanated a host of other very violent material emanations, and sent them into the regions below, to the parts of the chaos, in order that they might there lie in wait for Pistis Sophia and take away her power out of her, because she thought to go to the height which is above them all, and moreover she had ceased to perform their mystery, and lamented continuously and sought after the light which she had seen.

And the rulers who abide, or persist, in performing the mystery, hated her, and all the guards who are at the gates of the æons, hated her also.

"It came to pass then thereafter by command of the First Commandment that the great triple-powered Self-willed, who is one of the three triple-powers, pursued Sophia in the thirteenth æon, in order that she should look towards the parts below, so that she might see in that region his lion-faced light-power and long after it and go to that region, so that her light might be taken from her.

- CHAPTER 31 -

Sophia mistakes the lion-faced power of Satan for the true Light

 "It came to pass then thereafter that she looked below and saw his light-power in the parts below; and she knew not that it is that of the triple-powered Self-willed, but she thought that it came out of the light which she had seen from the beginning in the height, which came out of the veil of the Treasury of the Light. 

And she thought to herself: I will go into that region without my pair and take the light and thereout fashion for myself light-æons, so that I may go to the Light of lights, which is in the Height of heights.

She descends to the twelve æons and thence into the chaos

 "This then thinking, she went forth from her own region, the thirteenth æon, and went down to the twelve æons. The rulers of the æons pursued her and were enraged against her, because she had thought of grandeur.

The emanations of Self-willed squeeze the light-powers out of Sophia

And she went forth also from the twelve æons, and came into the regions of the chaos and drew nigh to that lion-faced light-power to devour it. But all the material emanations of Self-willed surrounded her, and the great lion-faced light-power devoured all the light-powers in Sophia and cleaned out her light and devoured it, and her matter was thrust into the chaos.

It became a lion-faced ruler in the chaos, of which one half is fire and the other darkness - that is Yaldabaōth, of whom I have spoken unto you many times.

When then this befell, Sophia became very greatly exhausted, and that lion-faced light-power set to work to take away from Sophia all her light-powers, and all the material powers of Self-willed surrounded Sophia at the same time and pressed her sore.

- CHAPTER 32 -

"And Pistis Sophia cried out most exceedingly, she cried to the Light of lights which she had seen from the beginning, in which she had had faith, and uttered this repentance, saying thus ~

The first repentance of Sophia. 

"'1. O Light of lights, in whom I have had faith from the beginning, hearken now then, O Light, unto my repentance. Save me, O Light, for evil thoughts have entered into me.

"'2. I gazed, O Light, into the lower parts and saw there a light. thinking: I will go to that region, in order that I may take that light. And I went and found myself in the darkness which is in the chaos below, and I could no more speed thence and go to my region, for I was sore pressed by all the emanations of Self-willed, and the lion-faced power took away my light in me.

"'3. And I cried for help, but my voice hath not reached out of the darkness. And I looked unto the height, that the Light, in which I had had faith, might help me.

"'4. And when I looked unto the height, I saw all the rulers of the æons, how in their numbers they looked down on me and rejoiced over me, though I had done them no ill; but they hated me without a cause. And when the emanations of Self-willed saw the rulers of the æons rejoicing over me, they knew that the rulers of the æons would not come to my aid; and those emanations which sore pressed me with violence, took courage, and the light which I had not taken from them, they have taken from me.

"'5. Now, therefore, O Light of Truth, thou knowest that I have done this in my innocence, thinking that the lion-faced light-power belonged to thee; and the sin which I have done is open before thee.

"'6. Suffer me no more to lack, O Lord, for I have had faith in thy light from the beginning; O Lord, O Light of the powers, suffer me no more to lack my light.

"'7. For because of thy inducement and for the sake of thy light am I fallen into this oppression, and shame hath covered me.

"'8. And because of the illusion of thy light, I am become a stranger to my brethren, the invisibles, and to the great emanations of Barbēlō.

"'9. This hath befallen me, O Light, because I have been zealous for thy abode; and the wrath of Self-willed is come upon me--of him who had not hearkened unto thy command to emanate from the emanation of his power--because I was in his æon without performing his mystery.

"'10. And all the rulers of the æons mocked me.

"'11. And I was in that region, mourning and seeking after the light which I had seen in the height.

"'12. And the guards of the gates of the æons searched for me, and all who remain in their mystery mocked me.

"'13. But I looked up unto the height towards thee and had faith in thee. Now, therefore, O Light of lights, I am sore pressed in the darkness of chaos. If now thou wilt come to save me,--great is thy mercy,--then hear me in truth and save me.

"'14. Save me out of the matter of this darkness, that I may not be submerged therein, that I may be saved from the emanations of god Self-willed which press me sore, and from their evil doings.

"'15. Let not this darkness submerge me, and let not this lion-faced power entirely devour the whole of my power, and let not this chaos shroud my power.

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

"'17. Turn not thy face from me, for I am exceedingly tormented.

"'18. Haste thee, hearken unto me and save my power.

"'19. Save me because of the rulers who hate me, for thou knowest my sore oppression and my torment and the torment of my power which they have taken from me. They who have set me in all this evil are before thee; deal with them according to thy good pleasure.

"'20. My power looked forth from the midst of the chaos and from the midst of the darkness, and I waited for my pair, that he should come and fight for me, and he came not, and I looked that he should come and lend me power, and I found him not.

"'21. And when I sought the light, they gave me darkness; and when I sought my power, they gave me matter.

"'22. Now, therefore, O Light of lights, may the darkness and the matter which the emanations of Self-willed have brought upon me, be unto them for a snare, and may they be ensnared therein, and recompense them and may they be made to stumble and not come into the region of their Self-willed.

"'23. May they remain in the darkness and not behold the light; may they behold the chaos for ever, and let them not look unto the height.

"'24. Bring upon them their revenge, and may thy judgment lay hold upon them.

"'25. Let them not henceforth come into their region to their god Self-willed, and let not his emanations henceforth come into their regions; for their god is impious and self-willed, and he thought that he had done this evil of himself, not knowing that, had I not been brought low according to thy command, he would not have had any authority over me.

"'26. But when thou hadst by thy command brought me low, they pursued me the more, and their emanations added pain to my humiliation.

"'27. And they have taken light-power from me and fallen again to pressing me sore, in order to take away all the light in me. Because of this in which they have set me, let them not ascend to the thirteenth æon, the region of Righteousness.

"'28. But let them not be reckoned in the lot of those who purify themselves and the light, and let them not be reckoned with those who will quickly repent, that they may quickly receive mysteries in the Light.

"'29. For they have taken my light from me, and my power hath begun to cease in me and I am destitute of my light.

"'30. Now, therefore, O Light, which is in thee and is with me, I sing praises to thy name, O Light, in glory.

"'31. May my song of praise please thee, O Light, as an excellent mystery, which leadeth to the gates of the Light, which they who shall repent will utter, and the light of which will purify them.

"'32. Now, therefore, let all matters rejoice; seek ye all the Light, that the power of the stars which is in you, may live.

"'33. For the Light hath heard the matters, nor will it leave any without having purified them.

"'34. Let the souls and the matters praise the Lord of all æons, and [let] the matters and all that is in them [praise him].

"'35. For God shall save their soul from all matters, and a city shall be prepared in the Light, and all the souls who are saved, will dwell in that city and will inherit it.

"'36. And the soul of them who shall receive mysteries will abide in that region, and they who have received mysteries in its name will abide therein.'"

- CHAPTER 33 -

It came to pass then, when Jesus had spoken these words unto his disciples, that he said unto them: "This is the song of praise which Pistis Sophia uttered in her first repentance, repenting of her sin, and reciting all which had befallen her.

Now, therefore: 'Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.'"

Mary again came forward and said: "My Lord, my in-dweller of light hath ears, and I hear with my light-power, and thy spirit which is with me, hath sobered me. Hearken then that I may speak concerning the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, speaking of her sin and all that befell her. Thy light-power hath prophesied thereof aforetime through the prophet David in the sixty-eighth Psalm:

Mary Magdalene interprets the first repentance from Psalm lxvii

"Save me, O God, for the waters are come in even unto my soul. I sank, or am submerged, in the slime of the abyss, and power was not. I have gone-down into the depths of the sea; a tempest hath submerged me. I have kept on crying; my throat is gone, my eyes faded, waiting patiently for God.

They who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; mighty are my foes, who violently pursued me. They required of me that which I took not from them. God, thou hast known my foolishness, and my faults are not hid from thee.

Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord, Lord of powers, be ashamed for my sake; let not those who seek thee be ashamed for my sake, O Lord, God of Israel, God of powers. For thy sake have I endured shame; shame hath covered my face.

I am become a stranger to my brethren, a stranger unto the sons of my mother. For the zeal of thy house hath consumed me; the reviling of them that revile thee have fallen upon me. I bowed my soul with fasting, and it was turned to my reproach.

I put on sackcloth; I became unto them a bye-word. They who sit at the gates, chattered at me; and they who drink wine, harped about me. But I prayed with my soul unto thee, O Lord; the time of thy well-liking is [now], O God. In the fullness of thy grace give ear unto my salvation in truth.

Save me out of this slime, that I sink not therein; let me be saved from them that hate me, and from the deep of waters. Let not a water-flood submerge me, let not the deep swallow me, let not a well close its mouth above me. Hear me, O Lord, for thy grace is good; according to the fullness of thy compassion look down upon me.

Turn not thy face away from thy servant, for I am oppressed. Hear me quickly, give heed to my soul and deliver it. Save me because of my foes, for thou knowest my disgrace, my shame and my dishonour; all my oppressors are before thee.

My heart awaiteth disgrace and misery; I waited for him who should sorrow with me, but I could not come at him, and for him who should comfort me, and I found him not. They gave me gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let their table be unto them for a trap and for a snare and for a retribution and for a stumbling-block. Mayest thou bend their backs at all time. Pour out thy anger upon them, and let the wrath of thy anger lay hold upon them. Let their encampment be desolate, let there be no dweller in their habitations.

For they persecuted him whom thou hast smitten, and added to the smart of their woundings. They added iniquity to their iniquities; let them not come into thy righteousness.

Let them be wiped out of the book of the living, and let them not be written in among the righteous.

I am a poor wretch who is heart-broken too; it is the salvation of thy face which hath taken me unto itself. I will praise the name of God in the ode, and exalt it in the song of thanksgiving. This shall please God better than a young bull which putteth forth horns and hoofs.

May the wretched see and make merry; seek ye God, that your souls may live. For God hath heard the wretched and despiseth not the prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise the Lord, the sea and all that is therein.

For God will save Zion, and the cities of Judæa will be built up, and they will dwell there and inherit it. The seed of his servants shall possess it, and they who love his name shall dwell therein.'"

- CHAPTER 34 -

It came to pass then, when Mary had finished speaking these words unto Jesus in the midst of the disciples, that she said unto him: "My Lord, this is the solution of the mystery of the repentance of Pistis Sophia."

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard Mary speak these words, that he said unto her: "Well said, Mary, blessed one, the fullness, or all-blessed fullness, thou who shalt be sung of as blessed in all generations."

- CHAPTER 35 -

The second repentance of Sophia

 Jesus continued again in the discourse and said: "Pistis Sophia again continued and still sang praises in a second repentance, saying thus:

"Light of lights, in whom I have had faith, leave me not in the darkness until the end of my time. Help me and save me through thy mysteries; incline thine ear unto me and save me. May the power of thy light save me and carry me to the higher æons; for thou wilt save me and lead me into the height of thy æons.

Save me, O Light, from the hand of this lion-faced power and from the hands of the emanations of god Self-willed. For it is thou, O Light, in whose light I have had faith and in whose light I have trusted from the beginning.

And I have had faith in it from the time when it emanated me, and thou thyself didst make me to emanate; and I have had faith in thy light from the beginning. And when I had faith in thee, the rulers of the æons mocked at me, saying: She hath ceased in her mystery. 

Thou art my saviour and thou art my deliverer and thou art my mystery, O Light. My mouth was filled with glorifying, that I may tell of the mystery of thy grandeur at all times. Now, therefore, O Light, leave me not in the chaos for the completion of my whole time; forsake me not, O Light.

For all the emanations of Self-willed have taken from me my whole light-power and have surrounded me. They desired to take away my whole light from me utterly and have set a watch on my power. Saying one to another together: 'The Light hath forsaken her, let us seize her and take away the whole light in her.'

Therefore then, O Light, cease not from me; turn thee, O Light, and save me from the hands of the merciless. May they who would take away my power, fall down and become powerless. May they who would take away my light-power from me, be enwrapped in darkness and sink into powerlessness.'

"This then is the second repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, singing praises to the Light."

- CHAPTER 36 -

Peter complains of Mary Magdalene

 It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that he said unto them: "Do ye understand in what manner I discourse with you?"

And Peter started forward and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, we will not endure this woman, for she taketh the opportunity from us and hath let none of us speak, but she discourseth many times."

And Jesus answered and said unto his disciples: "Let him in whom the power of his spirit shall seethe, so that he understandeth what I say come forward and speak. 

But now, Peter, I see thy power in thee, that it understandeth the solution of the mystery of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. Now, therefore, Peter, speak the thought of her repentance in the midst of thy brethren."

Peter interprets the second repentance from Psalm LXX

And Peter answered and said unto Jesus, "O Lord, give ear that I may speak the thought of her repentance, of which aforetime thy power prophesied through the prophet David, uttering her repentance in the seventieth Psalm:

"'O God, my God, I have trusted in thee, let me no more be put to shame for ever. Save me in thy righteousness and set me free; incline thine ear unto me and save me. Be unto me a strong God and a firm place to save me; for thou art my strength and my refuge. 

"My God, save me from the hand of the sinner and from the hand of the transgressor and from the impious [one]. For thou art my endurance, O Lord, thou art my hope from my youth up. I have trusted myself to thee from my mother's womb; thou hast brought me out of my mother's womb. My remembrance is ever in thee.

"I have become as the crazy for many; thou art my help and my strength, thou art my deliverer, O Lord. My mouth was filled with glorifying, that I may praise the glory of thy splendour the whole day long.

Cast me not away in the time of age; if my soul fades, forsake me not. For mine enemies have spoken evil against me and they who lay in wait for my soul, have taken counsel against my soul. Saying together: 'God hath forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is no saviour.'

God, give heed to my help. Let them be ashamed and destroyed who calumniate my soul. Let them be enwrapped in shame and disgrace who seek evil against me.'

"This then is the solution of the second repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

- CHAPTER 37 -

Jesus promises to perfect the disciples in all things

 The Saviour answered and said unto Peter: "Finely, Peter; this is the solution of her. repentance. Blessed are ye before all men on the earth, because I have revealed unto you these mysteries. 

"Amēn, amēn, I say unto you: I will perfect you in all fullness from the mysteries of the interior to the mysteries of the exterior and fill you with the spirit, so that ye shall be called 'spiritual, perfected in all fullness.' 

And, amēn, amēn, I say unto you: I will give unto you all the mysteries of all the regions of my Father and of all the regions of the First Mystery, so that he whom ye shall admit on earth, shall be admitted into the Light of the height; and he whom ye shall expel on earth, shall be expelled from the kingdom of my Father in the heaven. 

But hearken, therefore, and give ear attentively to all the repentances which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. She continued again and uttered the third repentance, saying:

The third repentance of Sophia

O Light of powers, give heed and save me. May they who would take away my light, lack and be in the darkness. May they who would take away my power, turn into chaos and be put to shame. May they turn quickly to darkness, who press me sore and say: 'We have become lords over her.'

"May rather all those who seek the Light, rejoice and exult, and they who desire thy mystery, say ever: May the mystery be exalted. Save me then now, O Light, for I lacked my light, which they have taken away, and I needed my power, which they have taken from me. Thou then, O Light, thou art my saviour, and thou art my deliverer, O Light. Save me quickly out of this chaos.'"

- CHAPTER 38 -

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, saying: "This is the third repentance of Pistis Sophia," that he said unto them: "Let him in whom a sensitive spirit hath arisen, come forward and speak the thought of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

Martha asks and receives permission to speak

 It came to pass then, before Jesus had finished speaking, that Martha came forward, fell down at his feet, kissed them, cried aloud and wept with lamentation and in humbleness, saying: "My Lord, have mercy upon me and have compassion with me, and let me speak the solution of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

And Jesus gave his hand unto Martha and said unto her: "Blessed is every one who humbleth himself, for on him they shall have mercy. Now, therefore, Martha, art thou blessed. But proclaim then the solution of the thought of the repentance of Pistis Sophia."

Martha interprets the third repentance from Psalm LXIX

 And Martha answered and said unto Jesus in the midst of the disciples: "Concerning the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, O my Lord Jesus, of it thy light-power in David prophesied aforetime in the sixty-ninth Psalm, saying:

"O Lord God, give heed to my help. Let them be put to shame and con-founded who seek after my soul. May they turn straightway and be put to shame, who say unto me: 'Ha, ha.'

"May all who seek thee, be joyful and exult because of thee, and they who love thy salvation, say ever: May God be exalted. But I am wretched, I am poor; O Lord, help me. Thou art my helper and defense; O Lord, delay not.'

"This then is the solution of the third repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, singing praises to the height."

- CHAPTER 39 -

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard Martha speak these words, that he said unto her: "Well said, Martha, and finely."

And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: "Pistis Sophia again continued in the fourth repentance, reciting it before she was oppressed a second time, in order that the lion-faced power and all the material emanations with it, which Self-willed had sent into the chaos, might not take away her total light in her.

She uttered then this repentance as follows:

The fourth repentance of Sophia

 "O Light, in whom I have trusted, give ear to my repentance, and let my voice reach unto thy dwelling-place. Turn not away thy light-image from me, but have heed unto me, if they oppress me; and save me quickly at the time when I shall cry unto thee.

For my time is vanished like a breath and I am become matter. They have taken my light from me, and my power is dried up. I have forgotten my mystery which heretofore I was wont to accomplish.

Because of the voice of the fear and the power of Self-willed my power is vanished. I am become as a demon apart, who dwelleth in matter and light is not in him, and I am become as a counterfeiting spirit, which is in a material body and light-power is not in it.

And I am become as a decan who is alone in the air. The emanations of Self-willed have sore oppressed me, and my pair hath said unto himself: 'Instead of with light which was in her, they have filled her with chaos.'

I have devoured the sweat of my own matter and the anguish of the tears from the matter of my eyes, so that they who oppress me may not take the rest.

All this hath befallen me, O Light, by thy commandment and thy command, and it is thy commandment that I am here. Thy commandment hath brought me down, and I am descended as a power of the chaos, and my power is numbed in me.

"But thou, O Lord, art Light eternal, and dost visit them who are for ever oppressed. Now, therefore, O Light, arise and seek my power and the soul in me. Thy commandment is accomplished, which thou didst decree for me in my afflictions.

My time is come, that thou shouldst seek my power and my soul, and this is the time which thou didst decree to seek me. For thy saviours have sought the power which is in my soul, because the number is completed, and in order that also its matter may be saved.

"'And then at that time shall all the rulers of the material æons be in fear of thy light, and all the emanations of the thirteenth material æon shall be in fear of the mystery of thy light, so that the others may put on the purification of their light.

For the Lord will seek the power of your soul. He hath revealed his mystery so that he may regard the repentance of them who are in the regions below; and he hath not disregarded their repentance.

This is then that mystery which is become the type in respect of the race which shall be born; and the race which shall be born will sing praises to the height. 

For the Light hath looked down from the height of its light. It will look down on the total matter. To hear the sighing of those in chains, to loose the power of the souls whose power is bound, so that it may lay its name in the soul and its mystery in the power.'"

- CHAPTER 40 -

John asks and receives permission to speak

 It came to pass while Jesus spake these words unto his disciples, saying unto them: 

"This is the fourth repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered; now, therefore, let him who understandeth, understand," - it came to pass then, when Jesus had spoken these words, that John came forward, adored the breast of Jesus and said unto him: 

"My Lord, give commandment to me also, and grant me to speak the solution of the fourth repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

Jesus said unto John: "I give thee commandment, and I grant thee to speak the solution of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

John answered and said: "My Lord and Saviour, concerning this repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, thy light-power which was in David, hath prophesied aforetime in the one-hundred-and-first Psalm:

John interprets the repentance from Psalm CI

 "'Lord, give ear unto my supplication and let my voice reach unto thee. Turn not away thy face from me; incline thine ear unto me in the day when I am oppressed; quickly give ear to me on the day when I shall cry unto thee.

For my days are vanished as smoke and my bones are parched as stone. I am scorched as the grass, and my heart is dried up; for I have forgotten to eat my bread. From the voice of my groaning my bones cleaved to my flesh.

"'I am become as a pelican in the desert; I am become as a screech-owl in the house. I have passed the night watching; I am become as a sparrow alone on the roof. My enemies have reviled me all the day long, and they who honour me, have injured me.

For I have eaten ashes instead of my bread and mixed my drink with tears. Because of thy wrath and thy rage; for thou hast lifted me up and cast me down. My days have declined as a shadow, and I am dried up as the grass. But thou, O Lord, thou endurest for ever, and thy remembrance unto the generation of generation[s].

"'Arise and have mercy upon Zion, for the time is come to have mercy upon her; the proper time is come. Thy servants have longed for her stones, and will take pity on her land. 

And the nations will have fear of the name of the Lord, and the kings of the earth have fear of thy sovereignty. For the Lord will build up Zion and reveal himself in his sovereignty. He hath regarded the prayer of the humble and hath not despised their supplication.

This shall be recorded for another generation, and the people who shall be created will praise the Lord. Because he hath looked down on his holy height; the Lord hath looked down from the heaven on the earth; To hear the sighing of those in chains, to loose the sons of those who are slain. To proclaim the name of the Lord in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem.'

"This, my Lord, is the solution of the mystery of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

- CHAPTER 41 -

Jesus commends John

It came to pass then, when John had finished speaking these words to Jesus in the midst of his disciples, that he said unto him: "Well said, John, the Virgin, who shalt rule in the kingdom of the Light."

The emanations of Self-willed again squeeze the light out of Sophia

 And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: 

"It came to pass again thus: The emanations of Self-willed again oppressed Pistis Sophia in the chaos and desired to take from her her whole light; and not yet was her commandment accomplished, to lead her out of the chaos, and not yet had the command reached me through the First Mystery, to save her out of the chaos. 

It came to pass then, when all the material emanations of Self-willed oppressed her, that she cried out and uttered the fifth repentance, saying:

The fifth repentance of Sophia

 "'Light of my salvation, I sing praise unto thee in the region of the height and again in the chaos. I sing praise unto thee in my hymn with which I sang praise in the height and with which I sang praise unto thee when I was in the chaos. Let it come into thy presence, and give heed, O Light, to my repentance.

For my power is filled up with darkness, and my light hath gone down into the chaos. I am myself become as the rulers of the chaos, who are gone into the darknesses below; I am become as a material body, which hath no one in the height who will save it.

I am become also as matters from which their power hath been taken, when they are cast down into the chaos, [matters] which thou hast not saved, and they are condemned utterly by thy commandment.

Now, therefore, have they put me into the darkness below, in darknesses and matters which are dead and in them [is] no power. Thou hast brought thy commandment upon me and all things which thou hast decreed.

And thy spirit hath withdrawn and abandoned me. And moreover by thy commandment the emanations of my aeon have not helped me and have hated me and separated themselves from me, and yet am I not utterly destroyed.

And my light is diminished in me, and I have cried up to the light with all the light in me, and I have stretched forth my hands unto thee. Now, therefore, O Light, wilt thou not accomplish thy commandment in the chaos, and will not the deliverers, who come according to thy commandment, arise in the darkness and come and be disciples for thee'?

Will they not utter the mystery of thy name in the chaos? Or will they not rather utter thy name in a matter of the chaos, in which thou wilt not [thyself] purify?

But I have sung praises unto thee, O Light, and my repentance will reach unto thee in the height. Let thy light come upon me. For they have taken my light, and I am in pain on account of the Light from the time when I was emanated. And when I had looked into the height to the Light, then I looked down below at the light-power in the chaos; I rose up and went down.

Thy commandment came upon me, and the terrors, which thou didst decree for me, have brought me into delusion. And they have surrounded me, in numbers as water, they have laid hold on me together all my time.

And by thy commandment thou hast not suffered my fellow-emanations to help me, nor hast thou suffered my pair to save me out of my afflictions.'

"This then is the fifth repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered in the chaos, when all the material emanations of Self-willed had continued and oppressed her."

- CHAPTER 42 -

When then Jesus had spoken these words unto his disciples, he said unto them: "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear; and let him whose spirit seetheth up in him, come forward and speak the solution of the thought of the fifth repentance of Pistis Sophia."

Philip the scribe complains

 And when Jesus had finished saying these words, Philip started forward, held up and laid down the book in his hand,--for he is the scribe of all the discourses which Jesus spake, and of all of that which he did,--Philip then came forward and said unto him: 

"My Lord, surely then it is not on me alone that thou hast enjoined to take care for the world and write down all the discourses which we shall speak and [all we shall] do? 

And thou hast not suffered me to come forward to speak the solution of the mysteries of the repentance of Pistis Sophia. 

For my spirit hath oft-times seethed in me and been unloosed and constrained me to come forward and speak the solution of the repentance of Pistis Sophia; and I could not come forward because I am the scribe of all the discourses."

Jesus explains that the appointed scribes are Philip and Thomas and Matthew

 It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard Philip, that he said unto him: 

"Hearken, Philip, blessed one, that I may discourse with thee; for it is thou and Thomas and Matthew on whom it is enjoined by the First Mystery to write all the discourses which I shall speak and [all which I shall] do, and all things which ye shall see. 

But as for thee, the number of the discourses which thou hast to write, is so far not yet completed. When it is then completed, thou art to come forward and proclaim what pleaseth thee. 

Now, therefore, ye three have to write down all the discourses which I shall speak and [all things which I shall] do and which ye shall see, in order that ye may bear witness to all things of the kingdom of heaven."

- CHAPTER 43 -

When then Jesus had said this, he said unto his disciples: "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Mary interprets the words of Christ concerning the three witnesses

 Mary started forward again, stepped into the midst, placed herself by Philip and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, my in-dweller of light hath ears, and I am ready to hear with my power, and I have understood the word which thou hast spoken. 

Now, therefore, my Lord, hearken that I may discourse in openness, thou who hast said unto us: 'Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.'

"Concerning the word which thou hast spoken unto Philip: 'It is thou and Thomas and Matthew on whom it hath been enjoined - to you three by the First Mystery, to write all the discourses of the kingdom of the Light and thereto to bear witness ' - hearken, therefore, that I may proclaim the solution of this word. 

"This is what thy light-power prophesied aforetime through Moses: 'By two or three witnesses shall every matter be established.' The three witnesses are Philip and Thomas and Matthew."

Philip is now given permission to speak

 It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard this word, that he said: "Well said, Mary, this is the solution of the word. 

Now, therefore, do thou, Philip, come forward and proclaim the solution of the fifth repentance of Pistis Sophia, and thereafter take thy seat and write all the discourses which I shall speak, until the number of thy portion which thou hast to write of the words of the kingdom of the Light is completed. 

Then shalt thou come forward and speak what thy spirit shall understand. But do thou |72. then now proclaim the solution of the fifth repentance of Pistis Sophia."

And Philip answered and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, hearken that I may speak the solution of her repentance. For thy power hath prophesied aforetime concerning it through David in the eighty-seventh Psalm, saying:

Philip interprets Sophia's fifth repentance from Psalm 87

'Lord, God of my salvation, by day and by night have I cried unto thee. Let my weeping come before thee; incline thine ear to my supplication, O Lord. For my soul is full of evil, my life hath drawn nigh to the world below.

'I am counted among them who have gone down into the pit; I am become as a man who hath no helper. The free among the dead are as the slain who are thrown away and sleep in tombs, whom thou no more rememberest, and they are destroyed through thy hands.

'They have set me in a pit below, in darkness and shadow of death. Thy wrath hath settled down upon me and all thy cares have come upon me. (Selah.)

'Thou hast put away mine acquaintances far from me; they have made me an abomination for them. They have abandoned me, and I cannot go forth. My eye hath become dim in my misery; I have cried unto thee, O Lord, the whole day and have stretched forth my hands unto thee.

'Wilt thou not surely work thy wonders on the dead? Will not surely the physicians arise and confess thee? Will they not surely proclaim thy name in the tombs, and thy righteousness in a land which thou hast forgotten?

But I have cried unto thee, O Lord, and my prayer shall reach thee early in the morning. Turn not thy face away from me. For I am miserable, I am in sorrow from my youth up. And when I had exalted myself, I humbled myself and arose. Thy angers are come upon me and thy terrors have brought me into delusion.

They have surrounded me as water; they have seized upon me the whole day long. My fellows hast thou kept far from me and my acquaintances from my misery.' "

"This is then the solution of the mystery of the fifth repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, when she was oppressed in the chaos."

- CHAPTER 44 -

Philip is commended and continues writing

 It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard Philip speak these words, that he said: "Well said, Philip, well-beloved.

Now, therefore, come, take thy seat and write thy portion of all the discourses which I shall speak, and [of all things which I shall] do, and of all that thou shalt see."

And forthwith Philip sat down and wrote.

It came. to pass thereafter that Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: "Then did Pistis Sophia cry to the Light. It forgave her sin, in that she had left her region and gone down into the darkness.

She uttered the sixth repentance, saying thus:

The sixth repentance of Sophia

 "'I have sung praises unto thee, O Light, in the darkness below. Hearken unto my repentance, and may thy light give heed to the voice of my supplication. O Light, if thou thinkest on my sin, I shall not be able to stand before thee, and thou wilt abandon me, for thou, O Light, art my saviour; because of the light of thy name I have had faith in thee, O Light.

And my power hath had faith in thy mystery; and moreover my power hath trusted in the Light when it was among those of the height; and it hath trusted in it when it was in the chaos below.


Let all the powers in me trust in the Light when I am in the darkness below, and may they again trust in the Light if they come into the region of the height.

For it is [the Light] which hath compassion on us and delivereth us; and a great saving mystery is in it.

And it will save all powers out of the chaos because of my transgression. For I have left my region and am come down into the chaos.'

"Now, therefore, whose mind is exalted, let him understand."

- CHAPTER 45 -

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that he said unto them:

"Understand ye in what manner I discourse with you?"

Andrew came forward and said: "My Lord, concerning the solution of the sixth repentance of Pistis Sophia, thy light-power prophesied aforetime through David in the one-hundred-and-twenty-ninth Psalm, saying:

Andrew interprets the sixth repentance from Psalm CXXIX

 "'Out of the depths I have cried unto thee, O Lord. Hearken unto my voice; let thine ears give heed to the voice of my supplication. O Lord, if thou heedest my iniquities, who will be able to pass [the test]?

For pardon is in thy hands; for the sake of thy name have I waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath waited for thy word. My soul hath hoped in the Lord from the morning until the evening. Let Israel hope in the Lord from the morning until the evening. For grace standeth by the Lord and with him is great redemption. And he will deliver Israel from all his iniquities.' "

Jesus commends Andrew. Christ promises the tyrants shall be judged and consumed by the wise fire

Jesus said unto him: "Well said, Andrew, blessed one. This is the solution of her repentance.

"Amēn, amēn, I say unto you:

I will perfect you in all mysteries of the Light and all gnoses from the interiors of the interiors to the exteriors of the exteriors, from the Ineffable down to the darkness of darknesses, from the Light of lights down to the . . . . of matter, from all the gods down to the demons, from all the lords down to the decans, from all the authorities down to the servitors, from the creation of men down to [that] of the wild-beasts, of the cattle and of the reptiles, in order that ye may be called perfect - perfected in all fullness. 

"Amēn, amēn, I say unto you:

In the region where I shall be in the kingdom of my Father, ye will also be with me. And when the perfect number is completed, so that the Mixture shall be dissolved, I will give commandment that they bring all tyrant gods, who have not given up the purification of their light, and will give commandment to the wise fire, over which the perfect pass, to eat into those tyrants, until they give up the last purification of their light."

Mary interprets the words of Jesus

 It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that he said unto them: "Understand ye in what manner I speak with you?"

Mary said: "Yea, Lord, I have understood the word which thou hast spoken. Concerning then the word which thou hast said: 

'At the dissolution of the whole Mixture thou shalt take thy seat on a light-power and thy disciples, that is ourselves, shall sit on the right of thee, and thou shalt judge the tyrant gods, who have not given up the purification of their light, and the wise fire will bite into them, until they give up the last light in them - concerning this word then thy light-power prophesied aforetime through David, in the eighty-first Psalm, saying:

"'God shall sit in the assembly of the gods and try the gods.'"

Jesus said unto her: "Well said, Mary."

- CHAPTER 46 -

The repentance of Sophia is not yet accepted. She is mocked by the æons

Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples:

"It came to pass, when Pistis Sophia had finished uttering the sixth repentance for the forgiveness of her transgression, that she turned again to the height, to see if her sins were forgiven her, and to see whether they would lead her up out of the chaos.

But by commandment of the First Mystery not yet was she hearkened to, so that her sin should be forgiven and she should be led up out of the chaos.

When then she had turned to the height to see whether her repentance were accepted from her, she saw all the rulers of the twelve æons mocking at her and rejoicing over her because her repentance was not accepted from her.

When then she saw that they mocked at her, she grieved exceedingly and lifted up her voice to the height in her seventh repentance, saying:

The seventh repentance of Sophia

 "'O Light, I have lifted up my power unto thee, my Light, on thee have I had faith. Let me not be scorned; let not the rulers of the twelve æons, who hate me, rejoice over me. For all who have faith in thee shall not be put to shame. Let them who have taken away my power, remain in darkness; and let them not get from it any profit, but let it be taken away from them.

O Light, show me thy ways, and I shall be saved in them; and show me thy paths, whereby I shall be saved out of the chaos. And guide me in thy light, and let me know, O Light, that thou art my saviour. On thee will I trust the whole of my time.

Give heed that thou save me, O Light, for thy mercy endureth for ever. As to my transgression, which I have committed from the beginning in my ignorance, put it not to my account, O Light, but rather save me through thy great mystery of the forgiveness of sins because of thy goodness, O Light.

For good and sincere is the Light. For this cause will it grant me my way, to be saved out of my transgression:

And for my powers, which are diminished through the fear of the material emanations of Self-willed, will it draw near after its commandment, and will teach my powers, which are diminished because of the merciless, its gnosis.

"For all gnoses of the Light are saving means and are mysteries for all who seek the regions of its Inheritance and its mysteries. For the sake of the mystery of thy name, O Light, forgive my transgression, for it is great.

To every one who trusteth in the Light it will give the mystery which suiteth him; and his soul will abide in the regions of the Light and his power will inherit the Treasury of the Light.

The Light giveth power to them who have faith in it; and the name of its mystery belongeth to those who trust in it. And it will show them the region of the Inheritance, which is in the Treasury of the Light.

But I have ever had faith in the Light, for it will save my feet from the bonds of the darkness. Give heed unto me, O Light, and save me, for they have taken away my name from me in the chaos.

Because of all the emanations my afflictions and my oppression have become exceedingly manifold. Save me out of my transgression and this darkness. And look upon the grief of my oppression and forgive my transgression.

Give heed to the rulers of the twelve æons, who have hated me through jealousy. Watch over my power and save me, and let me not remain in this darkness, for I have had faith in thee.

And they have made of me a great fool for having had faith in thee, O Light. Now, therefore, O Light, save my powers from the emanations of Self-willed, by whom I am oppressed.' "

"Now, therefore, who is sober, let him be sober."

When then Jesus had spoken this unto his disciples, Thomas came forward and said: "My Lord, I am sober, I am plentifully sober, and my spirit is ready in me, and I rejoice exceedingly that thou hast revealed these words unto us.

But indeed I have borne with my brethren until now, so that I should not anger them; nay, rather I have borne with every one that he should come before thee and speak the solution of the repentance of Pistis Sophia.

Now, therefore, my Lord, concerning the solution of the seventh repentance of Pistis Sophia thy light-power hath prophesied through the prophet David in the twenty-fourth Psalm, thus:

Thomas interprets the seventh repentance from Psalm XXIV

"'O Lord, unto thee have I lifted up my soul, O my God. I have abandoned myself unto thee; let me not be put to shame and let not mine enemies mock at me. For all who wait upon thee shall not be put to shame; let them be put to shame who do iniquity without a cause.

O Lord, show me thy ways and teach me thy paths. Lead me in the way of thy truth and teach me, for thou art my God and my saviour; on thee will I wait all the day long.

Call to remembrance thy mercies, O Lord, and the favors of thy grace, for they are from eternity. Remember not the sins of my youth and those of my ignorance. Remember me according to the fullness of thy mercy because of thy goodness, O Lord.

The Lord is gracious and sincere; therefore fore will he instruct sinners in the way. He will guide the tender-hearted in the judgment and will teach the tender-hearted his ways. All the ways of the Lord are grace and truth for them who seek his righteousness and his testimonies. For thy name's sake, O Lord, forgive me my sin, [for] it is exceedingly great.

Who is the man who feareth the Lord? For him will he establish laws in the way which he hath chosen. His soul will abide in good things and his seed will inherit the land.

The Lord is the strength of them who fear him; and the name of the Lord belongeth to them who fear him, to make known unto them his covenant.

Mine eyes are raised ever unto the Lord, for he will draw my feet out of the snare. Look down upon me and be gracious unto me, for I am an only-begotten; I am wretched. The afflictions of my heart have in-creased; bring me out of my necessities.

Look upon my abasement and my woe, and forgive me all my sins. Look upon mine enemies, how they have increased themselves and hated me with unjust hatred.

Preserve my soul and save me; let me not be put to shame, for I have hoped on thee. The simple and sincere have joined themselves to me, for I have waited on thee, O Lord. O God, deliver Israel from all his afflictions.'"

Jesus commends Thomas

 And when Jesus had heard the words of Thomas, he said unto him: "Well said, Thomas, and finely. This is the solution of the seventh repentance of Pistis Sophia.

"Amēn, amēn, I say unto you: All generations of the world shall bless you on earth, because I have revealed this unto you and ye have received, of my spirit and have become understanding and spiritual, understanding what I say.

And hereafter will I fill you full with the whole light and the whole power of the spirit, so that ye may understand from now on all which shall be said unto you and which ye shall see. Yet a little while and I will speak with you concerning the height without within and within without."

- CHAPTER 47 -

Jesus leads Sophia to a less confined region, but without the commandment of the First Mystery

 Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples:

"It came to pass then, when Pistis Sophia had uttered the seventh repentance in the chaos, that the commandment through the First Mystery had not come to me to save her and lead her up out of the chaos.

Nevertheless of myself out of compassion without commandment I led her into a somewhat spacious region in the chaos.

And when the material emanations of Self-willed had noticed that she had been led into a somewhat spacious region in the chaos, they ceased a little to oppress her, for they thought that she would be led up out of the chaos altogether.

When this then took place, Pistis Sophia did not know that I was her helper; nor did she know me at all, but she continued and persisted withal singing praises to the Light of the Treasury, which she had seen aforetime and on which she had had faith, and she thought that it [sc. the Light] also was her helper and it was the same to which she had sung praises, thinking it was the Light in truth.

But as indeed she had had faith in the Light which belongeth to the Treasury in truth, therefore will she be led up out of the chaos and her repentance will be accepted from her.

But the commandment of the First Mystery was not yet accomplished to accept her repentance from her. But hearken now in order that I may tell you all things which befell Pistis Sophia.

The emanations of Self-willed oppress her again

 "It came to pass, when I had led her unto a somewhat spacious region in the chaos, that the emanations of Self-willed ceased entirely to oppress her, thinking that she would be led up out of the chaos altogether.

It came to pass then, when the emanations of Self-willed had noticed that Pistis Sophia had not been led up out the chaos, that they turned about again all together, oppressing her vehemently.

Because of this then she uttered the eighth repentance, because they had not ceased to oppress her, and had turned about to oppress her to the utmost. She uttered this repentance, saying thus:

The eighth repentance of Sophia

 "'On thee, O Light, have I hoped. Leave me not in the chaos; deliver me and save me according to thy gnosis.

Give heed unto me and save me. Be unto me a saviour, O Light, and save me and lead me unto thy light. For thou art my saviour and wilt lead me unto thee. And because of the mystery of thy name lead me and give me thy mystery.

And thou wilt save me from this lion-faced power, which they have laid as a snare for me, for thou art my saviour.

And in thy hands will I lay the purification of my light; thou hast saved me, O Light, according to thy gnosis.

Thou art become wroth with them who keep watch over me and will not be able to lay hold of me utterly.

But I have had faith in the Light. I will rejoice and will sing praises that thou hast had mercy upon me and hast heeded and saved me from the oppression in which I was. And thou wilt set free my power out of the chaos.

And thou hast not left me in the hand of the lion-faced power; but thou hast led me into a region which is not oppressed.'"

- CHAPTER 48 -

The emanations of Satan cease for a time to oppress Sophia

 When then Jesus had said this unto his disciples, he answered again and said unto them: 

"It came to pass then, when the lion-faced power had noticed that Pistis Sophia had not been led up altogether out of the chaos, that it came again with all the other material emanations of Self-willed, and they oppressed Pistis Sophia again. 

It came to pass then, when they oppressed her, that she cried out in the same repentance, saying:

She continues her repentance to God Almighty

 '"Have mercy upon me, O Light, for they have oppressed me again. Because of thy commandment, the light in me is distracted and my power and my understanding. My power hath begun to wane whiles I am in these afflictions, and the number of my time whiles I am in the chaos. My light is diminished, for they have taken away my power from me, and all the powers in me are tossed about.

"I am become powerless in the presence of all the rulers of the æons, who hate me, and in the presence of the four-and-twenty emanations, in whose region I was. And my brother, my pair, was afraid to help me, because of that in which they have set me.

"And all the rulers of the height have counted me as matter in which is no light. I am become as a material power which hath fallen out of the rulers, and all who are in the æons said: 'She hath become chaos. And thereafter all the pitiless powers encompassed me together and proposed to take away the whole light in me."

But I have trusted in thee, O Light, and said: Thou art my Savior.

And my commandment, which thou hast decreed for me, is in thy hands. Save me out of the hands of the emanations of Self-willed, which oppress me and persecute me.

Send thy light over me, for I am as naught before thee, and save me according to thy compassion. Let me not be despised, for I have sung praises unto thee, O Light. Let chaos cover the emanations of Self-willed, let them be led down into the darkness.

Let the mouth of them be shut up, who would devour me with guile, who say: 'Let us take the whole light in her,--although I have done them no ill.'"

- CHAPTER 49 -

And when Jesus had spoken this, Matthew came forward and said:

"My Lord, thy spirit hath stirred me and thy light hath made me sober to proclaim this eighth repentance of Pistis Sophia. For thy power hath prophesied thereof aforetime through David in the thirtieth Psalm, saying:

Matthew interprets the eighth repentance from Psalm xxx

 "'On thee, O Lord, have I hoped. Let me never be put to shame; save me according to thy righteousness. Incline thine ear unto me, save me quickly. Be thou unto me a protecting God and a house of refuge to save me.

"'For thou art my support and my refuge; for thy name's sake thou wilt guide me and feed me. And thou wilt draw me out of this snare, which they have laid privily for me; for thou art my protection.

"'Into thy hands I will render my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, God of Truth. Thou hast hated them who hold to vain emptiness; but I have trusted.

And I shall rejoice because of my Lord and make merry over thy grace. For thou hast looked down upon my humbleness and saved my soul out of my necessities. And thou hast not shut me up in the hands of my foes; thou hast set my feet on a broad space.

Be gracious unto me, O Lord, for I am afflicted; my eye is distracted in the wrath and my soul and my body. For my years have wasted away in sadness and my life is wasted in sighing. My power is enfeebled in misery and my bones are distracted.

"'11. I am become a mockery for all my foes and my neighbors. I am become a fright for my acquaintances, and they who saw me, are fled away from me. I am forgotten in their heart as a corpse, and I have become as a ruined vessel.

For I have heard the scorn of many who encompass me round about. Massing themselves together against me, they took counsel to take away my soul from me.

But I have trusted in thee, O Lord. I said: Thou art my God. My lots are in thy hands. Save me from the hand of my foes and free me from my persecutors.

Reveal thy face over thy slave, and free me according to thy grace, O Lord. Let me not be put to shame, for I have cried unto, thee.

Let the impious be put to shame and turn towards hell.

Let the crafty lips be struck dumb, which allege iniquity against the righteous in pride and scorn.'"

- CHAPTER 50 -

Christ commends Matthew and promises his disciples they shall sit on thrones with him

 And when Jesus had heard these words, he said: "Finely [said], Matthew.

"Now, therefore, amēn, I say unto you: When the perfect number is completed and the universe is raised hence, I will take my seat in the Treasury of the Light, and ye yourselves will sit on twelve light-powers, until we have restored all the orders of the twelve saviours to the region of the inheritances of every one of them."

And when he had said this, he said: "Under-stand ye what I say?"

Mary interprets the words of Jesus

Mary came forward and said: "O Lord, concerning this matter thou hast said to us aforetime in similitude: 'Ye have awaited with me in the trials, and I will bequeath unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath bequeathed it unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.'"


He said unto her: "Well said, Mary."

Jesus continued again and said unto his disciples: "It came to pass then thereafter, when the emanations of Self-willed oppressed Pistis Sophia in the chaos, that she uttered the ninth repentance, saying:

The ninth repentance of Sophia

 "'O Light, smite down them who have taken away my power from me, and take away the power from them who have taken away mine from me. For I am thy power and thy light. Come and save me.

Let great darkness cover my oppressors. Say unto my power: I am he who will save thee.

Let all those who would take away my light from me utterly, lack their power. Let them face about unto the chaos and become powerless, who would take away my light from me utterly.

Let their power be as dust, and let Yew, thy angel, smite them. And if they would go into the height, let darkness seize upon them and let them slip down and turn to the chaos. And let thy angel Yew pursue them and cast them down into the darkness below.

For they have set a lion-faced power as a trap for me, although I have done them no ill, from which its light will be taken; and they have oppressed the power in me, which they will not be able to take away.

Now, therefore, O Light, take away the purification from the lion-faced power without its knowing it,--the thought which Self-willed hath thought, to take away my light; take away his own and let the light be taken away from the lion-faced power, which set the trap for me.

But my power will exult in the Light and rejoice that he will save it. And all the portions of my power shall say: There is no Savior but thee.

For thou wilt save me out of the hand of the lion-faced power, which hath taken away my power from me, and thou savest me out of the hands of them who have taken away my power and my light from me.

For they have risen up against me, lying against me and saying that I know the mystery of the Light which is in the height, [the Light] in which I have had faith.

And they have constrained me, [saying:] 'Tell unto us the mystery of the Light in the height that which I know not.

And they have requited me with all this ill because I have had faith in the Light of the height; and they have made my power lightless.

But when they constrained me, I sat in the darkness, my soul bowed down in mourning. And do thou, O Light--for that reason sing I praise to thee - save me. I know that thou wilt save me because I fulfilled thy will ever since I was in my æon.

I fulfilled thy will, as the invisibles who are in my region, and as my pair. And I mourned, looking unceasingly and searching for the Light.

Now, therefore, have all the emanations of Self-willed surrounded me and rejoiced over me and sore oppressed me without my knowing [them]. And they have fled away and ceased from me but have had no pity upon me.

They have returned again and made trial of me and they have oppressed me in great oppression and ground their teeth against me, desiring to take away my light from me utterly.

How long, therefore, O Light, dost thou suffer them, that they oppress me? Save my power from their evil thoughts and save me from the hand of the lion-faced power; for I alone of the invisibles am in this region.

I will sing praises unto thee, O Light, in the midst of all who are gathered together against me, and I will cry unto thee in the midst of all who oppress me. Now, therefore, O Light, let not them who hate me and desire to take away my power from me, rejoice over me - who hate me and flash their eyes against me, though I have not done anything unto them.

For indeed they have fawned upon me with sweet words, asking me concerning the mysteries of the Light which I know not, and have craftily spoken against me and been enraged against me, because I have had faith in the Light in the height.

They have opened their chops against me and said: 'Well indeed, we will take from her her light.'

Now, therefore, O Light, thou hast known their guile; suffer them not and let not thy help be far from me. Quickly, O Light, vindicate and avenge me, and give judgment on me according
to thy goodness.

Now, therefore, O Light of lights, let them not take away my light from me. And let them not say in their heart: 'Our power is glutted with her light. And let them not say: 'We have consumed her power.'

But rather let darkness come upon them, and let those who long to take away my light from me, become powerless, and let them be clothed with chaos and darkness, who say there: 'We will take away her light and her power.'

Now, therefore, save me that I may rejoice, for I long for the thirteenth æon, the region of Righteousness, and I shall say ever-more: May the light of thy angel Yew shine more and more. And my tongue will sing praises to thee in thy gnosis my whole time in the thirteenth æon.'"

- CHAPTER 51 -

It came to pass, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that he said unto them: "Who is sober among you, let him proclaim their solution."

James came forward, kissed the breast of Jesus and said: "My Lord, thy spirit hath sobered me, and I am ready to proclaim their solution.

Concerning them indeed thy power hath prophesied aforetime through David in the thirty-fourth Psalm, saying thus concerning the ninth repentance of Pistis Sophia:

James interprets the ninth repentance from Psalm XXXIV

 Give sentence, O Lord, on them who do me injustice, and fight against them who fight against me. Lay hand on weapon and shield and stand up to help me. Draw forth a sword and conceal it [sic] from my oppressors. Say unto my soul: I am thy salvation.

Let them be put to shame and abashed who strive after my soul; let them fall back and be put to shame who imagine evil against me. Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord pursue after them.

Let their way be darkness and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord oppress them. For without cause have they hid a snare for me for their own spoiling, and they have mocked at my soul in vain.

Let a snare come upon them which they know not, and let the net which they have hid for me, catch them, and let them fall into this snare.

But my soul will exult in the Lord and rejoice in its salvation. All my bones shall say: O Lord, who can be like unto thee? Thou who settest free the wretched from the hand of him who is stronger than him; and thou savest a wretched and poor [one] from the hands of them who spoil him.

Unjust witnesses came forward and have asked me that which I knew not. They have requited me evil for good and childlessness for my soul. But when they molested me, I clothed me in a sack and humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer will return into my breast.

I was pleasing unto thee, as unto my neighbour and as unto my brother; and humbled myself as one in mourning and as one who is sad. They have rejoiced over me, and they are put to shame. Scourges have gathered themselves together against me and I knew not; they were cut off and were troubled.

They have brought me to trial and mocked me with mocking; they have ground their teeth against me. O Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? Restore again my soul from their evil works and save my only one from the hands of the lions.

I will confess to thee, O Lord, in the great assembly, and I will sing praises to thee in the midst of a countless people. Let not them who unjustly treat me as a foe, rejoice over me, who hate me without a cause and wink with their eyes.

For indeed they discourse with me with words of peace, though they plot wrath with craft. They opened their chops wide against me and said: Well indeed, our eyes have filled our sight with him.

Thou hast seen, O Lord. Keep not silence, O Lord, withdraw not thyself from me. Arise, O Lord, and give heed to my vindication, give heed to my vengeance, my God and my Lord.

Judge me, O Lord, according to thy justice; let them not rejoice over me, my God. And let them not say: Well done, our soul. Let them not say: 'We have consumed him.'

Let them be put to shame and be scorned, who rejoice at my mischance. Let them be clothed with shame and disgrace who speak boastingly against me. Let them who desire my justification, exult and rejoice and let them who desire the peace of his slave, say: 'May the Lord be great and arise.'

My tongue will exult over thy justification and over thy honor all the day long.'"

- CHAPTER 52 -

Jesus commends James and promises the first place unto the disciples

 When James then had said this, Jesus said unto him: "Well said, finely, James. This is the solution of the ninth repentance of Pistis Sophia.

"Amēn, amēn, I say unto you: Ye shall be the first in the kingdom of heaven before all invisibles and all gods and rulers who are in the thirteenth æon and in the twelfth æon; and not only ye, but also every one who shall accomplish my mysteries."

And when he had said this, he said unto them: "Understand ye in what manner I discourse with you?"

Mary interprets the words of Jesus

 Mary started forward again and said: "Yea, O Lord, this is what thou didst say unto us aforetime: 'The last shall be first and the first shall be last.'

The first then, who were created before us, are the invisibles, for indeed they arose before mankind, they and the gods and the rulers; and the men who shall receive mysteries, will be first into the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus said unto her: "Well said, Mary."

The repentance of Sophia is accepted. Christ is sent to help her

 Jesus continued again and said unto his disciples: "It came to pass then, when Pistis Sophia had proclaimed the ninth repentance, that the lion-faced power oppressed her again, desiring to take away all powers from her. She cried out again to the Light, saying:

"'O Light, in whom I have had faith from the beginning, for whose sake I have endured these great pains, help me.'

"And in that hour her repentance was accepted from her.

The First Mystery hearkened unto her, and I was sent off at his command. I came to help her, and led her up out of the chaos, because she had repented, and also because she had had faith in the Light and had endured these great pains and these great perils.

She had been deluded through the god-like Self-willed, and had not been deluded through anything else, save through a light-power, because of its resemblance to the Light in which she had had faith.

For this cause then was I sent forth at the command of the First Mystery to help her secretly.

I did not however yet go to the region of the æons at all; but I passed down through the midst out of them, without any single power knowing it, either those of the interior of the interior or those of the exterior of the exterior, save only the First Mystery.

"It came to pass then, when I came into the chaos to help her, that she saw me, that I was understanding and shone exceedingly and was full of compassion for her.

For I was not self-willed as the lion-faced power, which had taken away the light-power from Sophia, and had also oppressed her in order to take away from her the whole light in her.

Sophia then saw me, that I shone ten-thousand times more than the lion-faced power, and that I was full of compassion for her. And she knew that I came out of the Height of heights, in whose light she had had faith from the beginning.

Pistis Sophia then took courage and uttered the tenth repentance, saying:

The tenth repentance of Sophia

 "'I have cried unto thee, O Light of lights, in my oppression and thou hast hearkened unto me. O Light, save my power from unjust and lawless lips and from crafty traps. The light which was being taken from me in crafty snaring, will not be brought unto thee.

For the traps of Self-willed and the nooses of the merciless [one] are spread out. Woe unto me, that my dwelling was far off, and I was in the dwellings of the chaos. My power was in regions which are not mine. And I entreated those merciless [ones]; and when I entreated them, they fought against me without a cause.'"

- CHAPTER 53 -

When then Jesus had said this unto his disciples, he said unto them: "Now, therefore, let him whom his spirit stirreth, come forward and speak the solution of the tenth repentance of Pistis Sophia."

Peter answered and said: "O Lord, concerning this thy light-power prophesied aforetime through David in the one-hundred-and-nineteenth Psalm; saying:

Peter interpreteth the tenth repentance from Psalm CXIX

"'I cried unto thee, O Lord, in my oppression, and thou hearkenest unto me. O Lord, save my soul from unjust lips and from crafty tongues. What will be given unto thee or what will be added unto thee with a crafty tongue?

The arrows of the strong [one] are made sharp with the coal of the desert. Woe unto me, that my dwelling is far off, and I dwelt in the tents of Kedar. My soul hath dwelt in many regions as a guest.

I was peaceful with them who hate peace; if I spake unto them, they fought against me without a cause."'

This is now, therefore, O Lord, the solution of the tenth repentance of Pistis Sophia, which she hath uttered when the material emanations of Self-willed oppressed her, they and his lion-faced power, and when they oppressed her exceedingly."

Jesus commends Peter

 Jesus said unto him: "Well said, Peter, and finely. This is the solution of the tenth repentance of Pistis Sophia.

- CHAPTER 54 -

Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples:

"It came to pass then, when this lion-faced power saw me, how I drew nigh unto Pistis Sophia, shining very exceedingly, that it grew still more furious and emanated from itself a multitude of exceedingly violent emanations.

When this then befell, Pistis Sophia uttered the eleventh repentance, saying: Why hath the mighty power raised itself in evil?

The eleventh repentance of Sophia

 "'Its plotting taketh away the light from me all the time, and as sharp iron have they taken away power from me. I chose to descend into the chaos rather than to abide in the thirteenth æon, the region of Righteousness.

And they desired to lead me craftily, in order to consume my whole light. For this cause then will the Light take away their whole light, and also their whole matter will be made naught.

And it will take away their light and not suffer them to abide in the thirteenth æon, their dwelling-place, and will not have their name in the region of those who shall live.

And the four-and-twenty emanations will see what hath befallen thee, O lion-faced power, and will be afraid and not be disobedient, but give the purification of their light.

And they will see thee and will rejoice over thee and say: Lo, an emanation which hath not given the purification of its light, so that it may be saved, but boasted itself in the abundance of the light of its power, because it did not emanate from the power in it, and hath said: 'I will take away the light from Pistis Sophia, which will now be taken from it.'

"Now, therefore, let him in whom his power is raised, come forward and proclaim the solution of the eleventh repentance of Pistis Sophia."

Then Salome came forward and said: "My Lord, concerning this thy light-power prophesied aforetime through David in the fifty-first Psalm, saying:

Salome interprets the repentance from Psalm 51

 "'Why doth the mighty [one] boast himself in his wickedness? Thy tongue hath studied unrighteousness all the day long; as a sharp razor hast thou practised craft.

Thou lovedst wickedness more than goodness; thou lovedst to speak unrighteousness more than righteousness. Thou lovedst all words of submerging and a crafty tongue.

Wherefor will God bring thee to naught utterly, and will uproot thee and drag thee out from thy dwelling-place, and will root out thy root and cast it away from the living. (Selah.)

The righteous will see and be afraid, and they will mock at him and say: 'Lo, a man who made not God for his helper, but trusted to his great riches and was mighty in his vanity.

But I am as a fruit-bearing olive-tree in the house of God. I have trusted in the grace of God from all eternity. And I will confess unto thee, for thou hast dealt faithfully with me; and I will wait on thy name, for it is auspicious in the presence of thy holy [ones].'

"This then is now, therefore, my Lord, the solution of the eleventh repentance of Pistis Sophia. While thy light-power hath roused me, I have spoken it according to thy desire."

Jesus commends Salome

 It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard these words which Salome spake, that he said: "Well said, Salome. Amēn, amēn, I say unto you: I will perfect you in all mysteries of the kingdom of the Light."

- CHAPTER 55 -

Self-willed aides his emanations and they again oppress Sophia

 And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: "It came to pass then thereafter, that I drew near unto the chaos, shining very exceedingly, to take away the light from that lion-faced power.

As I shone exceedingly, it was in fear and cried out to its self-willed god, that he should help it.

And forthwith the self-willed god looked out of the thirteenth æon, and looked down into the chaos, exceedingly wrathful, and desiring to help his lion-faced power. And forthwith the lion-faced power, it and all its emanations, surrounded Pistis Sophia, desiring to take away the whole light in Sophia.

It came to pass then, when they oppressed Sophia, that she cried to the height, crying unto me that I should help her.

It came to pass then, when she looked to the height, that she saw Self-willed exceedingly wrathful, and she was in fear, and uttered the twelfth repentance because of Self-willed and his emanations.

She cried on high unto me, saying:

The twelfth repentance of Sophia

"'O Light, forget not my praise-singing. For Self-willed and his lion-faced power have opened their chops against me and have acted craftily against me. They have surrounded me, desiring to take away my power, and have hated me, because I have sung praises unto thee.

Instead of loving me they slandered me. But I sang praises.

They plotted a plot to take away my power, because I have sung to thee praises, O Light; and hated me, because I have loved thee.

Let the darkness come over Self-willed, and let the ruler of the outermost darkness abide at his right hand. And when thou passest sentence, take from him his power; and the deed which he hath plotted, to take from me my light - mayest thou take his from him.

And may all his powers of his light in him finish, and let another of the three triple-powers receive his sovereignty.

May all the powers of his emanation be lightless and may his matter be without any light in it. May his emanations remain in the chaos and not dare to go to their region. May their light in them die away and let them not go to the thirteenth æon, their region.

May the Receiver, the Purifier of the lights, purify all the lights which are in Self-willed, and take them from them.

May the rulers of the lower darkness rule over his emanations, and let no one give them shelter in his region; and let no one hearken to the power of his emanations in the chaos.

Let them take away the light in his emanations and blot out their name from the thirteenth æon, yea rather take his name for ever out of that region.

And on the lion-faced power let them bring the sin of him who emanated it, before the Light, and not wipe out the iniquity of the matter which hath brought him [sc. Self-willed] forth.

And may their sin be altogether before the Light eternally, and may they let them not look beyond [the chaos] and take their names out of all regions; because they have not spared me and have oppressed him whose light and whose power they have taken away, and also conformably with those who set me therein, they desired to take away my whole light from me.

They loved to descend to the chaos; so let them abide therein, and they shall not be brought up [therefrom] from now on. They desired not the region of Righteousness for dwelling-place, and they shall not be taken thither from now on.

He put on darkness as a garment, and it entered into him as water, and it entered in into all his powers as oil. Let him wrap himself into the chaos as into a garment, and gird himself with the darkness as with a leathern girdle for ever.

Let this befall them who have brought this upon me for the Light's sake and have said: 'Let us take away her whole power.'

But do thou, O Light, have mercy upon me for the sake of the mystery of thy name, and save me in the goodness of thy grace. For they have taken away my light and my power; and my power hath inwardly tottered, and I could not stand upright in their midst.

I am become as matter which is fallen; I am tossed hither and thither as a demon in the air. My power hath perished, because I possess no mystery; and my matter hath become dwindled because of my light, for they have taken it away. And they mocked me; they looked at me, nodding at me.

Help me according to thy mercy.'"

"Now, therefore, let him whose spirit is ready, come forward and utter the solution of the twelfth repentance of Pistis Sophia."

- CHAPTER 56 -

And Andrew came forward and said: "My Lord and Saviour, thy light-power hath prophesied aforetime through David concerning this repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, and said in the one-hundred-and-eighth Psalm:

Andrew interprets the twelfth repentance from Psalm CVIII

 "'1. God, keep not silent at my praise-singing. For the mouths of the sinner and crafty have opened their chops against me and with crafty deceitful tongue have talked behind me. And they have surrounded me with words of hate and have fought against me without a cause.

Instead of loving me they have slandered me. But I prayed. They showed evil against me for good and hate for my love.

Set a sinner over him, and let the slanderer stand at his right hand. When sentence is passed upon him, may he go forth condemned and his prayer become sin. May his days be shortened and another receive his overseership.

May his children become orphans and his wife a widow. May his children be carried away and be driven forth and beg; may they be thrown out of their houses. May the money-lender sift out all that he hath, and may strangers plunder all his best efforts.

Let there be no man to back him, and no one to take pity on his orphans. May his children be exterminated and his name blotted out in a single generation. Let the sin of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, and the sin of his mother be not blotted out.

Let them be ever present to the Lord and his memory be rooted out from the earth; In that he hath not thought of using mercy and hath persecuted a poor and wretched man and hath persecuted a sorry creature to slay him.

He loved cursing,--and it shall come unto him. He desired not blessing,--it shall stay far from him. He clothed himself with cursing as with a vesture, and it entered into his bowels as water, and it was as oil in his bones.

May it be for him as a garment in which he shall be wrapped, and as a girdle with which he shall ever be girded. This is the work of them who slander [me] before the Lord, and speak unlawfully against my soul.

But do thou, O Lord God, be gracious unto me; for thy name's sake save me. For I am poor and I am wretched; my heart is tumult within me. I am carried away in the midst as a shadow which hath sunk down, and I am shaken out as grass-hoppers.

My knees have become weak from fasting, and my flesh is altered from [lack of] oil. But I have become a mock unto them; they saw me and wagged their heads. Help, O Lord God, and save me according to thy grace.

May they know that this is thy hand, and that thou, O Lord, hast fashioned them.'

"This is then the solution of the twelfth repentance which Pistis Sophia uttered, when she was in the chaos."

- CHAPTER 57 -

And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: "It came to pass again thereafter that Pistis Sophia cried unto me, saying:

"'O Light of lights, I have transgressed in the twelve æons, and have descended from them; wherefore have I uttered the twelve repentances, [one] for each æon.

Now, therefore, O Light of lights, forgive me my transgression, for it is exceedingly great, because I have abandoned the regions of the height and have come to dwell in the regions of the chaos.'"

"When then Pistis Sophia had said this, she continued again in the thirteenth repentance, saying:

The thirteenth repentance of Sophia

 "'Hearken unto me singing praises unto thee, O Light of lights. Hearken unto me uttering the repentance for the thirteenth æon, the region out of which I have come down, in order that the thirteenth repentance of the thirteenth æon may be accomplished,--those [æons] which I have overstepped and out of which I have come down.

Now, therefore, O Light of lights, hearken unto me singing praises unto thee in the thirteenth æon, my region out of which I have come down.

Save me, O Light, in thy great mystery and forgive my transgression in thy forgiveness. And give unto me the baptism and forgive my sins and purify me from my transgression.

And my transgression is the lion-faced power, which will never be hidden from thee; for because of it have I gone down. And I alone among the invisibles, in whose regions I was, have transgressed, and have gone down into the chaos. Moreover I have transgressed, that thy commandment may be accomplished.'"

"This then Pistis Sophia said.

"Now, therefore, let him whom his spirit urgeth to understand her words, come forward and proclaim her thought."

Martha came forward and said: "My Lord, my spirit urgeth me to proclaim the solution of that which Pistis Sophia hath spoken; thy power hath prophesied aforetime concerning it through David in the fiftieth Psalm, saying thus:

Martha interprets the thirteenth repentance from Psalm 50

 "'Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy great grace; according to the fulness of thy mercy blot out my sin. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. And may my sin be ever present to thee, that thou mayest be justified in thy words and prevail when thou judgest me.'

"This is then the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

Jesus said unto her: "Well said, finely, Martha, blessed [one]."

- CHAPTER 58 -

Christ sends forth a light-power to help Sophia

 And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: "It came to pass then, when Pistis Sophia had said these words, that the time was fulfilled that she should be led out of the chaos.

And of myself, without the First Mystery, I despatched out of myself a light-power, and I sent it down to the chaos, so that it might lead Pistis Sophia forth from the deep regions of the chaos, and lead [her] to the higher regions of the chaos, until the command should come from the First Mystery that she should be led entirely forth out of the chaos.

And my light-power led Pistis Sophia up to the higher regions of the chaos.

It came to pass then, when the emanations of Self-willed had noticed that Pistis Sophia was led forth into the higher regions of the chaos, that they also sped after her upwards, desiring to bring her again into the lower regions of the chaos.

And my light-power, which I had sent to lead up Sophia out of the chaos, shone exceedingly. It came to pass then, when the emanations of Self-willed pursued Sophia, when she had been led into the higher regions of the chaos, that she again sang praises and cried out unto me, saying:

Sophia utters a song of praise

 "'I will sing praises unto thee, O Light, for I desired to come unto thee. I will sing thee praises, O Light, for thou art my deliverer.

Leave me not in the chaos. Save me, O Light of the Height, for it is thou that I have praised. Thou has sent me thy light through thyself and hast saved me. Thou hast led me to the higher regions of the chaos.

"'May the emanations of Self-willed which pursue me, sink down into the lower regions of the chaos, and let them not come to the higher regions to see me. And may great darkness cover them and darker gloom come over them.

And let them not see me in the light of thy power, which thou hast sent unto me to save me, so that they may not again get dominion over me.

And let not their resolution which they have formed, to take away my power, take effect for them. And as they have spoken against me, to take from me my light, take rather from them theirs instead of mine.

And they have proposed to take away my whole light and have not been able to take it, for thy light-power was with me. Because they have taken counsel without thy commandment, O Light, therefore have they not been able to take away my light.

Because I have had faith in the Light, I shall not be afraid; and the Light is my deliverer and I shall not fear.'"

"Now, therefore, let him whose power is exalted, speak the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Salome came forward and said: "My Lord, my power constraineth me to speak the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered.

Thy power hath prophesied aforetime through Solomon, saying:

Salome interprets the song of Sophia from the Odes of Solomon

 "I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, for thou art my God. Abandon me not, O Lord, for thou art! my hope. Thou hast given me thy vindication for naught, and I am saved through thee.

Let them who pursue me, fall down and let them not see me. May a smoke-cloud cover their eyes and an air-mist darken them, and let them not see the day, so that they may not seize me. May their resolution be impotent, and may what they concoct come upon them.


They have devised a resolution, and it hath not taken effect for them. And they are vanquished, although they be mighty, and what they have wickedly prepared is fallen upon them.

My hope is in the Lord, and I shall not be afraid, for thou art my God, my Saviour.'"

It came to pass then, when Salome had finished saying these words, that Jesus said unto her: "Well said, Salome; and finely. This is the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

- CHAPTER 59 -

The power sent by Jesus forms a light-wreath on Sophia's head

 And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples:

"It came to pass then, when Pistis Sophia had finished saying these words in the chaos, that I made the light-power, which I had sent to save her, become a light-wreath on her head, so that from now on the emanations of Self-willed could not have dominion over her.

And when it had become a light-wreath round her head, all the evil matters in her were shaken and all were purified in her. They perished and remained in the chaos, while the emanations of Self-willed gazed upon them and rejoiced.

And the purification of the pure light which was in Pistis Sophia, gave power to the light of my light-power, which had become a wreath round her head.

"It came to pass then moreover, when it surrounded the pure light in Sophia, and her pure light did not depart from the wreath of the power of the light-flame, so that the emanations of Self-willed should not rob it from it; when then this befell her, the pure light-power in Sophia began to sing praises.

And she praised my light-power, which was a wreath round her head, and she sang praises, saying:

Sophia utters another song of praise

 "'The Light hath become a wreath round my head; and I shall not depart from it, so that the emanations of Self-willed may not rob it from me.

And though all the matters be shaken, yet shall I not be shaken. And though all my matters perish and remain in the chaos - those which the emanations of Self-willed see; yet shall I not perish.

For the Light is with me, and I myself am with the Light.'"

"These words then Pistis Sophia uttered. Now, therefore, let him who understandeth the thought of these words, come forward and proclaim their solution."

Mary, his mother, asks and receives permission to speak

Then Mary, the mother of Jesus, came forward and said: "My son according to the world, my God and Saviour according to the height, bid me proclaim the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

And Jesus answered and said:

"Thou also, Mary, hast received form which is in Barbēlō, according to matter, and hast received likeness which is in the Virgin of Light, according to light, thou and the other Mary, the blessed one; and on thy account the darkness hath arisen, and moreover out of thee did come forth the material body in which I am, which I have purified and refined - now, therefore, I bid thee proclaim the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

And Mary, the mother of Jesus, answered and said: "My Lord, thy light-power hath prophesied aforetime concerning these words through Solomon in the nineteenth Ode and said:

Mary, his mother, interprets the song of Sophia from the XIXth Ode of Solomon

 "The wreath in truth is woven for me; and it hath caused thy twigs to sprout in me. For it is not like unto a wreath withered that sprouteth not. But thou art alive on my head and thou hast sprouted upon me.

Thy fruits are full and perfect, filled with thy salvation.'"

Jesus commends his mother

 It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard his mother Mary say these words, that he said unto her: "Well said, finely.

"Amēn, amēn, I say unto thee: They shall proclaim thee blessed from one end of the earth to the other; for the pledge of the First Mystery hath taken up its abode with thee, and through that pledge shall all from the earth and all from the height be saved, and that pledge is the beginning and the end."

- CHAPTER 60 -

The commandment of the First Mystery is fulfilled for taking Sophia entirely out of the chaos

 And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples:

"It came to pass when Pistis Sophia had uttered the thirteenth repentance, in that hour was fulfilled the commandment of all the tribulations which were decreed for Pistis Sophia for the fulfillment of the First Mystery, which was from the beginning, and the time had come to save her out of the chaos and lead her out from all the darkness.

For her repentance was accepted from her through the First Mystery; and that mystery sent me a great light-power out of the height, that I might help Pistis Sophia and lead her up out of the chaos.

The First Mystery and Jesus sent forth two light-powers to help Sophia

 So I looked towards the æons into the height and saw that light-power which the First Mystery had sent me, that I might save Pistis Sophia out of the chaos.

It came to pass, therefore, when I had seen it, coming forth from the æons and hastening down to me, I was above the chaos, that another light-power went forth out of me, that it too might help Pistis Sophia.

And the light-power which had come from the height through the First Mystery, came down upon the light-power which had gone out of me; and they met together and became a great stream of light."

When then Jesus had said this unto his disciples, he said:

"Understand ye in what manner I discourse with you?"

Mary Magdalene interprets the mystery from Psalm 84

Mary started forward again and said: "My Lord, I understand what thou sayest.

Concerning the solution of this word thy light-power hath prophesied aforetime through David in the eighty-fourth Psalm, saying:

'"Grace and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other. Truth sprouted forth out of the earth, and righteousness looked down from heaven.'"

"'Grace' then is the light-power which hath come down through the First Mystery; for the First Mystery hath hearkened unto Pistis Sophia and hath had mercy on her in all her tribulations.

'Truth' on the other hand is the power which hath gone forth out of thee, for that thou hast fulfilled the truth, in order to save her out of the chaos.

And 'righteousness' again is the power which hath come forth through the First Mystery, which will guide Pistis Sophia.

And 'peace' again is the power which hath gone forth out of thee, so that it should enter into the emanations of Self-willed and take from them the lights which they have taken away from Pistis Sophia, that is, so that thou mayest gather them together into Pistis Sophia and make them at peace with her power.

'Truth' on the other hand is the power which went forth out of thee, when thou wast in the lower regions of the chaos.

For this cause thy power hath said through David: 'Truth sprouted out of the earth,' because thou wert in the lower regions of the chaos.

'Righteousness' on the other hand which hath 'looked down from heaven,' it is the power which hath come down from the height through the First Mystery and hath entered into Pistis Sophia."

- CHAPTER 61 -

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard these words, that he said: "Well said, Mary [Magdalene] blessed one, who shalt inherit the whole Light-kingdom."

Thereon Mary, the mother of Jesus, also came forward and said: "My Lord and my Saviour, give commandment unto me also that I repeat this word."

Jesus said: "Whose spirit is understanding, him I do not prevent, but I urge him on still more to speak the thought which hath moved him.

Now, therefore, Mary, my mother according to matter, thou in whom I have sojourned, I bid thee that thou also speak the thought of the discourse."

Mary, the mother of Jesus, further interprets the scripture

And Mary answered and said: "My Lord, concerning the word which thy power hath prophesied through David: 'Grace and truth met together, righteousness and peace kissed each other.

Truth sprouted forth out of the earth, and righteousness looked down from heaven,' thus hath thy power prophesied this word aforetime about thee. 

The story of the phantom spirit

 "When thou wert little, before the spirit had come upon thee, whilst thou wert in a vineyard with Joseph, the spirit came out of the height and came to me in my house, like unto thee; and I had not known him, but I thought that thou wast he.

And the spirit said unto me: Where is Jesus, my brother, that I meet with him?'

And when he had said this unto me, I was at a loss and thought it was a phantom to try me. So I seized him and bound him to the foot of the bed in my house, until I went forth to you, to thee and Joseph in the field, and I found you on the vineyard, Joseph propping up the vineyard.

It came to pass, therefore, when thou didst hear me speak the word unto Joseph, that thou didst understand the word, wert joyful and saidest: 'Where is he, that I may see him; else I await him in this place.'

And it came to pass, when Joseph had heard thee say these words, that he was startled. And we went down together, entered the house and found the spirit bound to the bed.

And we looked on thee and him and found thee like unto him. And he who was bound to the bed was unloosed; he took thee in his arms and kissed thee, and thou also didst kiss him. Ye became one.

"This then is the word and its solution.

'Grace' is the spirit which hath come down out of the height through the First Mystery, for it hath had mercy on the race of men and sent its spirit that he should forgive the sins of the whole world, and they should receive the mysteries and inherit the Light-kingdom.

Of the spiritual and material bodies of Jesus Christ

 'Truth' on the other hand is the power which hath sojourned with me. When it had come forth out of Barbēlō it became material body for thee, and hath made proclamation concerning the region of Truth.

'Righteousness' is thy spirit, who hath brought the mysteries out of the height to give them to the race of men.

'Peace' on the other hand is the power which hath sojourned in thy material body according to the world, which hath baptized the race of men, until it should make it stranger unto sin and make it at peace with thy spirit, so that they may be at peace with the emanations of the Light; that is, 'Grace and truth kissed each other.'

As it saith: 'Truth sprouted forth out of the earth,' - 'truth' is thy material body which sprouted forth out of me according to the world of men, and hath made proclamation concerning the region of Truth.

And again as it saith: 'Righteousness [looked down] from heaven'- 'righteousness' is the power which looked out of the height, which will give the mysteries of the Light to the race of men, so that they will become righteous and good, and inherit the Light-kingdom."

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard these words which his mother Mary spake, that he said: "Well said, finely, Mary."

- CHAPTER 62 -

The other Mary came forward and said: "My Lord, bear with me and be not wroth with me. Yea, from the moment when thy mother spake with thee concerning the solution of these words, my power disquieted me to come forward and likewise to speak the solution of these words."

Jesus said unto her: "I bid thee speak their solution."

Mary Magdalene further interprets the same scripture from the baptism of Jesus, of his spiritual and material bodies

Mary Magdalene said: "My Lord, 'Grace and truth met together,'--'grace' then is the spirit who hath come upon thee, when thou didst receive the baptism from John.

'Grace' then is the godly spirit who hath come upon thee; he hath had mercy on the race of men, hath come down and hath met with the power of Sabaōth, the Good, which is in thee and which hath made proclamation concerning the regions of Truth.

It hath said again: 'Righteousness and peace kissed each other,'--'righteousness' then is the spirit of the Light, which did come upon thee and hath brought the mysteries of the height, to give them unto the race of men.

'Peace' on the other hand is the power of Sabaōth, the Good, which is in thee - he who hath baptized and hath forgiven the race of men, and it hath made them at peace with the sons of the Light.
 And moreover as thy power hath said through David: 'Truth sprouted forth out of the earth,' - that is the power of Sabaōth, the Good, which sprouted forth out of Mary, thy mother, the dweller on earth.

'Righteousness,' which 'looked down from heaven,' on the other hand is the spirit in the height who hath brought all mysteries of the height and given them to the race of men; and they have become righteous and good, and have inherited the Light-kingdom."

And it came to pass, when Jesus had heard Mary speak these words, that he said: "Well said, Mary, inheritress of the Light."

And Mary, the mother of Jesus, again came forward, fell down at his feet, kissed them and said: "My Lord, my son and my Saviour, be not wroth with me, but pardon me, that I may once more speak the solution of these words.

Mary, the mother, again further interprets the same scripture from the meeting of herself with Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptizer

'Grace and truth met together,' - it is I, Mary, thy mother, and Elizabeth, mother of John, whom I have met.

'Grace' then is the power of Sabaōth in me, which went forth out of me, which thou art. Thou hast had mercy on the whole race of men.

'Truth' on the other hand is the power in Elizabeth, which is John, who did come and hath made proclamation concerning the way of Truth, which thou art, who hath made proclamation before thee.

And again, 'Grace and truth met together,' that is thou, my Lord, thou who didst meet John on the day when thou hadst to receive the baptism. And again thou and John are 'Righteousness and peace kissed each other.'

Of the incarnation of Jesus

'Truth hath sprouted forth out of the earth, and righteousness looked down from heaven,'--this is, during the time when thou didst minister unto thyself, thou didst have the form of Gabriēl, thou didst look down upon me from heaven and speak with me.

And when thou hadst spoken with me, thou didst sprout up in me,--that is the 'truth,' that is the power of Sabaōth, the Good, which is in thy material body, that is the 'truth' which 'sprouted up out of the earth.'"

It came to pass then, when Jesus had heard his mother Mary speak these words, that he said:

"Well said, and finely. This is the solution of all the words concerning which my light-power hath prophesied aforetime through the prophet David."

[THE NOTE OF A SCRIBE]

A note by a later hand, copied from another scripture

(Now these are the names which I will give from the Boundless onward. Write them with a sign, that the Sons of God may be revealed from here on.

This is the name of the Immortal: aaa, ōōō; and this is the name of the Voice, for the sake of which the Perfect Man hath set himself in motion: iii.

And these are the interpretations of the names of these mysteries: the first [name], which is aaa, its interpretation is fff; the second, which is mmm or ōōō, its interpretation is aaa; the third, which is ps ps ps, its interpretation is ooo; the fourth, which is fff, its interpretation is nnn; the fifth, which is ddd, its interpretation is aaa.

He on the throne is aaa. This is the interpretation of the second: aaaa, aaaa, aaaa; this is the interpretation of the whole name.)

{THE SECOND BOOK OF PISTIS SOPHIA}

- CHAPTER 63 -

JOHN also came forward and said: "O Lord, bid me also speak the solution of the words which thy light-power hath prophesied aforetime through David."

And Jesus answered and said unto John: "To thee too, John, I give commandment to speak the solution of the words which my light-power hath prophesied through David:

"'Grace and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other.

"'Truth hath sprouted forth out of the earth, and righteousness looked down from heaven.'"

John further interprets the same scripture

 And John answered and said: "This is the word which thou hast said unto us aforetime: 'I have come out of the Height and entered into Sabaōth, the Good, and embraced the light-power in him.'

Now, therefore, 'Grace and truth' which 'met together,'--thou art 'grace,' thou who art sent out of the regions of the Height through thy Father, the First Mystery which looketh within, in that he hath sent thee, that thou mayest have mercy on the whole world.

'Truth' on the other hand is the power of Sabaōth, the Good, which bound itself in thee and which thou hast cast forth to the Left,--thou the First Mystery which looketh without.

Of Sabaōth, Barbēlō, Yabraōth and the light-vesture

And the little Sabaōth, the Good, took it and cast it forth into the matter of Barbēlō, and he made proclamation concerning the regions of Truth to all the regions of those of the Left.

That matter of Barbēlō then it is which is body for thee today.

"And 'righteousness and peace' which 'kissed each other,' - 'righteousness' then art thou who didst bring all the mysteries through thy Father, the First Mystery which looketh within, and hast baptized this power of Sabaōth, the Good; and thou didst go to the region of the rulers and didst give unto them the mysteries of the Height; they became righteous and good.

"'Peace' on the other hand is the power of Sabaōth, that is thy soul, which did enter into the matter of Barbēlō, and all the rulers of the six æons of Yabraōth have made peace with the mystery of the Light.

"And 'truth' which 'sprouted forth out of the earth,'--it is the power of Sabaōth, the Good, which came out of the region of the Right, which lieth outside the Treasury of the Light, and which hath come into the region of those of the Left; it hath entered into the matter of Barbēlō, and hath made proclamation concerning the mysteries of the region of Truth.

"'Righteousness' on the other hand which 'looked down from heaven,' is thou the First Mystery which looketh down without, as thou didst come out of the spaces of the Height with the mysteries of the Light-kingdom; and thou didst come down upon the light-vesture which thou didst receive from the hand of Barbēlō, which [vesture] is Jesus, our Saviour, in that thou didst come down upon him as a dove."

It came to pass then, when John had brought forward these words, that the First Mystery which looketh without, said unto -him: "Well said, John, beloved brother."

- CHAPTER 64 -

Archangels Gabriēl and Michaēl are summoned to help Pistis Sophia

 The First Mystery again continued and said: "It came to pass, therefore, that the power which had come out of the Height, that is I, in that my Father sent me to save Pistis Sophia out of the chaos, [that] I, therefore, and also the power which did go from me, and the soul which I had received from Sabaōth, the Good,--they drew towards one another and become a single light-stream, which shone very exceedingly.

I called down Gabriēl and Michaēl out of the æons, at the command of my Father, the First Mystery which looketh within, and I gave unto them the light-stream and let them go down into the chaos to help Pistis Sophia and to take the light-powers, which the emanations of Self-willed had taken from her, from them and give them to Pistis Sophia.

"And straightway, when they had brought down the light-stream into the chaos, it shone most exceedingly in the whole of the chaos, and spread itself over all their regions.

And when the emanations of Self-willed had seen the great light of that stream, they were terror-stricken one with the other.

And that stream drew forth out of them all the light-powers which they had taken from Pistis Sophia, and the emanations of Self-willed could not dare to lay hold of that light-stream in the dark chaos; nor could they lay hold of it with the art of Self-willed, who ruleth over the emanations.

The light-stream restores the light-powers to Sophia

 "And Gabriēl and Michaēl led the light-stream over the body of the matter of Pistis Sophia and poured into her all the light-powers which they had taken from her.

And the body of her matter became shining throughout, and all the powers also in her, whose light they had taken away, took light and ceased to lack their light, for they got their light which had been taken from them, because the light was given them through me.

And Michaēl and Gabriēl, who ministered and had brought the light-stream into the chaos, will give them the mysteries of the Light; it is they to whom the light-stream was entrusted, which I have given unto them and brought into the chaos.

And Michaēl and Gabriēl have taken no light for themselves from the lights of Sophia, which they had taken from the emanations of Self-willed.

"It came to pass then, when the light-stream had ingathered into Pistis Sophia all her light-powers, which it had taken from the emanations of Self-willed, that she became shining throughout; and the light-powers also in Pistis Sophia, which the emanations of Self-willed had not taken, became joyful again and filled themselves with light.

And the lights which were poured into Pistis Sophia, quickened the body of her matter, in which no light was present, and which was on the point of perishing or perished. And they raised up all her powers which were on the point of being dissolved. And they took unto themselves a light-power and became again as they were before, and they increased again in their sense of the Light.

And all the light-powers of Sophia knew themselves mutually through my light-stream and were saved through the light of that stream.  

The light-stream, having accomplished its purpose, departs from Sophia

 And my light-stream, when it had taken away the lights from the emanations of Self-willed, which they had taken away from Pistis Sophia, poured them into Pistis Sophia, and turned itself about and went up out of the chaos."

When then the First Mystery said this to the disciples, that it had befallen Pistis Sophia in the chaos, he answered and said unto them:

"Understand ye in what manner I discourse with you?"

- CHAPTER 65 -

Peter came forward and said: "My Lord, concerning the solution of the words which thou hast spoken, thus hath thy light-power prophesied aforetime through Solomon in his Odes:

Peter interprets the narrative from the Odes of Solomon

 "'A stream came forth and became a great wide flood. It tore away all to itself and turned itself against the temple. Dams and buildings could not hold it, nor could the art of them who hold the waters. It was led over the whole land and laid hold of all.

They who were on the dry sand, drank; their thirst was quieted and quenched, when the draught from the hand of the Highest was given.

Blessed are the ministers of that draught, to whom the water of the Lord is entrusted. They have refreshed parched lips; they whose power was taken away, have gotten joy of heart and they have laid hold of souls, having poured in the breath, so that they should not die.

They have raised up limbs which were fallen; they have given power to their openness and light unto their eyes. For they all have known themselves in the Lord and are saved through the water of Life eternal.'"

"Hearken, therefore, my Lord, that I may set forth the word in openness. As thy power hath prophesied through Solomon: 'A stream came forth and became a great wide flood,' - this is: The light-stream hath spread itself out in the chaos over all the regions of the emanations of Self-willed.

"And again the word which thy power hath spoken through Solomon: 'It tore away all to itself and led it over the temple,'--that is: It drew all the light-powers out of the emanations of Self-willed, which they had taken from Pistis Sophia, and poured them anew into Pistis Sophia.

And again the word thy power hath spoken: 'The dams and buildings could not hold it,'--that is: The emanations of Self-willed could not hold the light-stream within the walls of the darkness of the chaos.

And again the word which it hath spoken: It was led over the whole land and filled all,' - that is: When Gabriēl and Michaēl had led it over the body of Pistis Sophia, they poured into her all the lights which the emanations of Self-willed had taken from her, and the body of her matter shone.

"And the word which it hath spoken: 'They who were in the dry sand, drank,'--that is: All in Pistis Sophia whose light had before been taken away, got light.

"And the word which it hath spoken: 'Their thirst was quieted and quenched,'--that is: Her powers ceased to lack the light, because their light, which had been taken from them, was given them [again].

"And again as thy power hath spoken: 'The draught through the Highest was given them,'--that is: The light was given unto them through the light-stream, which came forth out of thee, the First Mystery."

"And as thy power hath spoken: 'Blessed are the ministers of that draught,'--this is the word which thou hast spoken: 'Michaēl and Gabriēl, who have ministered, have brought the light-stream into the chaos and also led it forth again.

They will give them the mysteries of the Light of the Height, they to whom the light-stream is entrusted.'

"And again as thy power hath spoken: 'They have refreshed parched lips,'--that is: Gabriēl and Michaēl have not taken for themselves from the lights of Pistis Sophia, which they had spoiled from the emanations of Self-willed, but they have poured them into Pistis Sophia.

"And again the word which it hath spoken: They whose power was taken away, have gotten joy of heart,'--that is: All the other powers of Pistis Sophia, which the emanations of Self-willed have not taken, are become exceedingly merry and have filled themselves with light from their light-fellows, for these have poured it into them.

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'They have quickened souls, having poured in the breath, so that they should not die,'--that is: When they had poured the lights into Pistis Sophia, they quickened the body of her matter, from which they had before taken its lights, and which was on the point of perishing.

"And again the word which thy power hath spoken: 'They have raised up limbs which were fallen, or that they should not fall,'--that is: When they poured into her her lights, they raised up all her powers which were on the point of being dissolved.

"And again as thy light-power hath spoken: They have received again their light and have become as they were before '; and again the word which it hath spoken: 'They have given light unto their eyes,'--that is: They have received sense in the Light and known the light-stream, that it belongeth to the Height.

"And again the word which it hath spoken: 'They all have known themselves in the Lord,'--that is: All the powers of Pistis Sophia have known one another through the light-stream.

"And again the word which it hath spoken: 'They are saved through water of Life eternal,'- that is: They are saved through the whole light-stream.

"And again the word which it hath spoken: 'The light-stream tore all to itself and drew it over the temple,'--that is: When the light-stream had taken all the light-powers of Pistis Sophia and had spoiled them from the emanations of Self-willed, it poured them into Pistis Sophia and turned itself about and went out of the chaos and came over thee, thou who art the temple.

"This is the solution of all the words which thy light-power hath spoken through the Ode of Solomon."

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had heard Peter speak these words, that he said unto him:

"Well said, blessed Peter. This is the solution of the words which have been spoken."

- CHAPTER 66 -

The emanations of Self-willed cry aloud to him for help

 And the First Mystery continued again in the discourse and said: "It came to pass then, before I had led forth Pistis Sophia out of the chaos, because it was not yet commanded me through my Father, the First Mystery which looketh within.

At that time then, after the emanations of Self-willed had perceived that my light-stream had taken from them the light-powers which they had taken from Pistis Sophia, and had poured them into Pistis Sophia, and when they again had seen Pistis Sophia, that she shone as she had done from the beginning, that they were enraged against Pistis Sophia and cried out again to their Self-willed, that he should come and help them, so that they might take away the powers in Pistis Sophia anew.

He sends forth another more violent power like unto a flying arrow

And Self-willed sent out of the height, out of the thirteenth æon, and sent another great light-power. It came down into the chaos as a flying arrow, that he might help his emanations, so that they might take away the lights from Pistis Sophia anew. 

And when that light-power had come down, the emanations of Self-willed which were in the chaos and oppressed Pistis Sophia, took great courage and again pursued Pistis Sophia with great terror and great alarm. And some of the emanations of Self-willed oppressed her.

The fashioning of the serpent, a basilisk, and dragon-powers

 One of them changed itself intothe form of a great serpent; another again changed itself also into the form of a seven-headed basilisk; another again changed itself into the form of a dragon. 

And moreover the first power of Self-willed, the lion-faced, and all his other very numerous emanations, they came together and oppressed Pistis Sophia and led her again into the lower regions of the chaos and alarmed her again exceedingly.

The demon-power of Adamas dashes Sophia down

 "It came to pass then that there looked down out of the twelve æons, Adamas, the Tyrant, who also was wroth with Pistis Sophia, because she desired to go to the Light of lights, which was above them all; therefore was he wroth with her. 

It came to pass then, when Adamas, the Tyrant, had looked down out of the twelve æons, that he saw the emanations of Self-willed oppressing Pistis Sophia, until they should take from her all her lights. 

It came to pass then, when the power of Adamas had come down into the chaos unto all the emanations of Self-willed,--it came to pass then, when that demon came down into the chaos, that it dashed down Pistis Sophia. 

And the lion-faced power and the serpent-form and the basilisk-form and the dragon-form and all the other very numerous emanations of Self-willed surrounded Pistis Sophia all together, desiring to take from her anew her powers in her, and they oppressed Pistis Sophia exceedingly and threatened her. 

It came to pass then, when they oppressed her and alarmed her exceedingly, that she cried again to the Light and sang praises, saying:

Sophia again cries to the Light

"'O Light, it is thou who hast helped me; let thy light come over me. For thou art my protector, and I come hence unto thee, O Light, having faith in thee, O Light. For thou art my saviour from the emanations of Self-willed and of Adamas, the Tyrant, and thou shalt save me from all his violent threats.'

Gabriēl and Michaēl and the Light-stream again go to her aid

 "And when Pistis Sophia had said this, then at the commandment of my Father, the First Mystery which looketh within, I sent again Gabriēl and Michaēl and the great light-stream, that they should help Pistis Sophia. 

And I gave commandment unto Gabriēl and Michaēl to bear Pistis Sophia in their hands, so that her feet should not touch the darkness below; and I gave them commandment moreover to guide her in the regions of the chaos, out of which she was to be led.

"It came to pass then, when the angels had come down into the chaos, they and the light-stream, and moreover [when] all the emanations of Self-willed and the emanations of Adamas had seen the light-stream, how it shone very exceedingly and there was no measure for the light about it, that they became terror-stricken and quitted Pistis Sophia. 

And the great light-stream surrounded Pistis Sophia on all sides of her, on her left and on her right and on all her sides, and it became a light-wreath round her head.

"It came to pass then, when the light-stream had surrounded Pistis Sophia, that she took great courage, and it ceased not to surround her on all her sides; and she was no longer in fear of the emanations of Self-willed which are in the chaos.

Nor was she any more in fear of the other new power of Self-willed which he had cast down into the chaos as a flying arrow, nor did she any more tremble at the demon power of Adamas which had come out of the æons.

The transfiguration of Sophia

And moreover by commandment of myself, the First Mystery which looketh without, the light-stream which surrounded Pistis Sophia on all her sides, shone most exceedingly, and Pistis Sophia abode in the midst of the light, a great light being on her left and on her right, and on all her sides, forming a wreath round her head. 

And all the emanations of Self-willed [could] not change their face again, nor could they bear the shock of the great light of the stream, which was a wreath round her head. 

And all the emanations of Self-willed,--many of them fell at her right, because she shone most exceedingly, and many others fell at her left, and were not able at all to draw nigh unto Pistis Sophia because of the great light; but they fell all one on another, or they all came near one another, and they could not inflict any ill on Pistis Sophia, because she had trusted in the Light.

Jesus, the First Mystery looking without, causes Sophia to triumph

 "And at the commandment of my Father, the First Mystery which looketh within, I myself went down into the chaos, shining most exceedingly, and approached the lion-faced power, which shone exceedingly, and took its whole light in it and held fast all the emanations of Self-willed, so that from now on they went not into their region, that is the thirteenth æon.

And I took away the power of all the emanations of Self-willed, and they all fell down in the chaos powerless.

And I led forth Pistis Sophia, she being on the right of Gabriēl and Michaēl. And the great light-stream entered again into her. 

And Pistis Sophia beheld with her eyes her foes, that I had taken their light-power from them. And I led Pistis Sophia forth from the chaos, she treading under foot the serpent-faced emanation of Self-willed, and moreover treading under foot the seven-faced-basilisk emanation, and treading under foot the lion- and dragon-faced power. 

I made Pistis Sophia continue to stand upon the seven-headed-basilisk emanation of Self-willed; and it was more mighty than them all in its evil doings. 

And I, the First Mystery, stood by it and took all the powers in it, and made to perish its whole matter, so that no seed should arise from it from now on."

- CHAPTER 67 -

And when the First Mystery said this unto his disciples, he answered and said: "Understand ye in what manner I discourse with you?"

James came forward and said: "My Lord, concerning then the solution of the words which thou hast said, thus hath thy light-power prophesied thereon aforetime through David in the ninetieth Psalm:

James interprets the narrative from Psalm XC

"'Whoso then dwelleth under the help of the Most High, will abide under the shadow of the God of heaven. He will say unto the Lord: Thou art my succor and my place of refuge, my God, in whom I trust.

For he will save me out of the snare of the hunters and from mighty word. He will shade thee with his breast, and thou shalt have trust beneath his wings; his truth shall surround thee as a shield.

Thou wilt not be afraid of terror by night nor of an arrow which flieth by day, of a thing which slinketh in the darkness, of a mischance and a demon at mid-day. A thousand will fall on thy left, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but they shall not come nigh thee.

Nay rather with thine eyes wilt thou behold, thou wilt see the requital of the sinners. For thou, O Lord, art my hope. Thou hast established the Most High for thyself as refuge. Harm will not come nigh unto thee; scourge will not come nigh thy dwelling.

For he will give commandment to his angels on thy behalf that they guard thee on all thy ways, and bear thee on their hands, that thou mayest never strike with thy foot against a stone.

Thou wilt stride over the serpent and basilisk and tread on lion and dragon. Because he hath trusted in me, I will save him; I will overshadow him, because he hath known my name.

He will cry unto me and I shall hearken unto him; I am at his side in his tribulation and will save him and honour him, and increase him with many days and show him my salvation.' "

"This, my Lord, is the solution of the words which thou hast said. Hearken therefore, that I may say it in openness.

"The word then which thy power hath spoken through David: 'Whoso then dwelleth under the help of the Most High, will abide under the shadow of the God of heaven, that is: When Sophia had trusted in the Light, she abode under the light of the light-stream, which through thee came out of the Height.

"And the word which thy power hath spoken through David: 'I will say unto the Lord: Thou art my succor and my refuge, my God, in whom I trust,'--it is the word with which Pistis Sophia hath sung praises: 'Thou art my succor, and I come unto thee.'

"And again the word which thy power hath spoken: 'My God, in whom I trust, thou wilt save me out of the snare of the hunters and from mighty word,'--it is what Pistis Sophia hath said:

'O Light, I have faith in thee, for thou wilt save me from the emanations of Self-willed and from those of Adamas, the Tyrant, and thou wilt save me also from all their mighty threats.'
"And again the word which thy power hath spoken through David:

'He will shade thee with his breast, and thou wilt have trust beneath his wings,'--that is: Pistis Sophia hath been in the light of the light-stream, which hath come from thee, and hath continued in firm trust in the light, that on her left and that on her right, which are the wings of the light-stream.

"And the word which thy light-power hath prophesied through David: 'Truth will surround thee as a shield,'--it is the light of the light-stream which hath surrounded Pistis Sophia on all her sides as a shield.

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'He will not be afraid of terror by night,'--that is: Pistis Sophia hath not been afraid of the
p. 121
terrors and alarms into which she had been planted in the chaos, which is the 'night.'
"And the word which thy power hath spoken:


He will not be afraid of an arrow which flieth by day,'--that is: Pistis Sophia hath not been afraid of the power which Self-willed hath sent last of all out of the height, and which hath come into the chaos as it were a flying arrow.

Thy light-power therefore hath said: 'Thou wilt not be afraid of an arrow which flieth by day,' for that power hath come out of the thirteenth æon, it being that which is lord over the twelve æons, and which giveth light unto all the æons; wherefore hath he [David] said 'day.'

"And again the word which thy power hath spoken: 'He will not be afraid of a thing which slinketh in the darkness,'--that is: Sophia hath not been afraid of the lion-faced emanation, which caused fear for Pistis Sophia in the chaos, which is the 'darkness.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'He will not be afraid of a mischance and of a demon at mid-day,'--that is: Pistis Sophia hath not been afraid of the demon emanation of Tyrant Adamas, which hath cast Pistis Sophia to the ground in a great mischance, and which hath come forth out of Adamas out of the twelfth æon -

Wherefore then hath thy power said: 'He will not be afraid of the demon mischance at mid-day,'--'mid-day,' because it hath come out of the twelve æons, which is 'mid-day'; and again ['night,' because] it hath come out of the chaos, which is the 'night,' and because it hath come out of the twelfth æon which is in the midst between both; therefore hath thy light-power said 'mid-day,' because the twelve æons lie in the midst between the thirteenth æon and the chaos.

"And again the word which thy light-power hath spoken through David: 'A thousand will fall on his left, and ten thousand at his right hand, but they shall not come nigh him,'--that is: When the emanations of Self-willed, which are exceedingly numerous, could not bear the great light of the light-stream, many of them fell on the left hand of Pistis Sophia and many at her right, and they could not come nigh her, to do her [harm].

"And the word which thy light-power hath spoken through David: 'Nay rather with thine eyes wilt thou behold, and wilt see the requital of the sinners, for thou, O Lord, art my hope,' - that is the word: Pistis Sophia hath with her eyes beheld her foes, that is the emanations of Self-willed, who all have fallen one on another.

Not only hath she with her eyes beheld this, but thou also thyself, my Lord, the First Mystery, hast taken the light-power which is in the lion-faced power, and hast moreover taken the power of all the emanations of Self-willed and moreover thou hast imprisoned them in that chaos, [so that] from henceforth they have not gone forth to their own region.

Therefore then hath Pistis Sophia with her eyes beheld her foes, that is the emanations of Self-willed, in all which David hath prophesied concerning Pistis Sophia, saying: 'Nay rather with thine eyes wilt thou behold, and thou wilt see the requital of the sinners.'

Not only hath she with her eyes beheld, how they fall one on another in the chaos, but she hath also seen the requital with which it was requited them.

Just as the emanations of Self-willed have thought to take away the light of Sophia from her, so hast thou requited them and repaid them in full, and hast taken the light-power in them instead of the lights of Sophia, who hath had faith in the Light of the Height.

"And as thy light-power hath spoken through David: 'Thou hast established the Most High for thyself as refuge; harm will not come nigh unto thee, scourge will not come nigh thy dwelling,'--that is: When Pistis Sophia had had faith in the Light and was afflicted, she sang praises unto it, and the emanations of Self-willed could not inflict on her any harm; nor could they [injure] her, nor could they at all come nigh her.

"And the word which thy light-power hath spoken through David: 'He will give commandment to his angels on thy behalf, that they guard thee on all thy ways and bear thee on their hands, that thou mayest never strike with thy foot against a stone,'--it is again thy word:

Thou hast given commandment to Gabriēl and Michaēl, that they guide Pistis Sophia in all the regions of the chaos, until they lead her forth and that they uplift her on their hands, so that her feet do not touch the darkness beneath, and [that] on the other hand they of the lower darkness do not seize hold of her.

"And the word which thy light-power hath spoken through David: 'Thou wilt tread on serpent and basilisk and tread on lion and dragon; because he hath trusted in me, I will save him and I will overshadow him, because he hath known my name,'--that is the word: When Pistis Sophia was on the point of coming forth out of the chaos, she trod on the emanations of Self-willed, and she trod on the serpent-faced ones and on the basilisk-faced ones, which have seven heads; and she trod on the lion-faced power and on the dragon-faced one.

Because she had had faith in the Light, is she saved from all of them. "This, my Lord, is the solution of the words which thou hast spoken."

- CHAPTER 68 -

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had heard these words, that he said: "Well said, James, beloved one."

And the First Mystery continued again in the discourse and said unto his disciples: "It came to pass, when I had led Pistis Sophia out of the chaos, that she cried out again and said:

Sophia sings a song of praise

 "'I am saved out of the chaos and loosed from the bonds of the darkness. I am come unto thee, O Light. For thou wert light on all sides of me, saving me and helping me. And the emanations of Self-willed, which fought against me, thou hast hindered through thy light, and they could not come nigh me; for thy light was with me and saved me through thy light-stream.

Because in sooth the emanations of Self-willed constrained me, they took from me my power and cast me out into the chaos with no light in me. So I became as heavy-weighing matter in comparison with them.

And thereafter came a light-stream unto me through thee which saved me; it shone on my left and on my right and surrounded me on all sides of me, so that no part of me was without light.

And thou hast covered me with the light of thy stream and purged from me all my evil matters; and I shall be relieved of all my matters because of thy light. And it is thy light-stream which hath raised me up and taken from me the emanations of Self-willed which constrained me.

And I have become sure-trusting in thy light and purified light in thy stream. And the emanations of Self-willed which constrained me, have withdrawn themselves from me; and I shone in thy great power, for thou savest for ever.'

"This is the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, when she came forth out of the chaos and was freed from the bonds of the chaos.

Now, therefore, who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

- CHAPTER 69 -

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that Thomas came forward, and said: "My Lord, my light-dweller hath ears and my mind hath understood the words which thou hast said. Now, therefore, give commandment unto me to set forth clearly the solution of the words."

And the First Mystery answered and said unto Thomas: "I give thee commandment to set forth the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia sang unto me."

Thomas interprets the song of Sophia from the Odes of Solomon

 Thomas answered and said: "My Lord, concerning the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, because she was saved out of the chaos, thy light-power prophesied aforetime thereon through Solomon, the son of David, in his Odes:

"'I am saved from the bonds and am fled unto thee, O Lord.  For thou hast been on my right hand, saving me and helping me. Thou hast hindered my adversaries and they have not been revealed, because thy face was with me, saving me in thy grace.

I was despised in the sight of many and cast out; I have become as lead in their sight. Through thee I have gotten a power which helped me; for thou hast set lamps on my right and on my left, so that no side of me may be without light.

Thou hast overshadowed me with the shadow of thy grace, and I was relieved of the coats of skin. It is thy right hand which hath raised me up, and thon hast taken the sickness from me. I have become powerful in thy truth and purified in thy righteousness.

My adversaries have withdrawn themselves from me, and I am justified by thy goodness, for thy rest endureth unto all eternity.'

"This then, my Lord, is the solution of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, when she was saved out of the chaos. Hearken, therefore, that I may say it in openness.

"The word then which thy light-power hath spoken through Solomon: 'I am saved from the bonds and am fled unto thee, O Lord,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'I am loosed from the bonds of the darkness and am come unto thee, O Light.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'Thou wert on my right hand, saving and helping me,'--it is again the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'Thou art become a light on all sides of me, [saving me] and helping me.'

"And the word which thy light-power hath spoken: 'Thou hast hindered my adversaries and they have not been revealed,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And the emanations of Self-willed which fought against me, thou hast hindered through thy light, and they could not come nigh me.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'Thy face was with me, saving me in thy grace,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'Thy light was with me, saving me in thy light-stream.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'I was despised in the sight of many and cast out,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken:

The emanations of Self-willed constrained me and took my power from me, and I have been despised before them and cast out into the chaos, with no light in me.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: I have become as lead in their sight,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'When they had taken my light from me, I became as heavy-weighing matter before them.'

"And moreover the word which thy power hath spoken: 'Through thee I have gotten a power for me which helped me,'--it is again the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And thereafter came a light-power unto me through thee which saved me.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'Thou hast set lamps on my right and on my left, so that no side of me may be without light,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'Thy power shone on my right and on my left and surrounded me on all sides of me, so that no part of me was without light.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'Thou hast overshadowed me with the shadow of thy grace,'--it is again the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And thou hast covered me with the light of the stream.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: I was relieved of the coats of skin,' - it is again the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And they have purified me of all my evil matters, and I raised myself above them in thy light.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken through Solomon: 'It is thy right hand which hath raised me up, and hath taken the sickness from me,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And it is thy light-stream which hath raised me up in thy light and hath taken from me the emanations of Self-willed which constrained me.'



"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'I have become powerful in thy truth and purified in thy righteousness,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'I have become powerful in thy light and purified light in thy stream.'

And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'My adversaries have withdrawn themselves from me,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'The emanations of Self-willed which constrained me, have withdrawn themselves from me.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken through Solomon: 'And I am justified in thy goodness, for thy rest endureth unto all eternity,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'I am saved in thy goodness; for thou savest every one.'

"This then, O my Lord, is the whole solution of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, when she was saved out of the chaos and loosed from the bonds of the darkness."

- CHAPTER 70 -

It came to pass then when the First Mystery had heard Thomas say these words, that he said unto him: "Well said, finely, Thomas, blessed one. This is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

And the First Mystery continued again and said unto the disciples: "And Pistis Sophia continued and sang praises unto me, saying:

Sophia sings another song of praise

 "'I sing a song unto thee; through thy commandment hast thou led me down out of the higher æon which is above, and hast led me up to the regions which are below.

And again through thy commandment thou hast saved me out of the regions which are below, and through thee hast thou taken there the matter in my light-powers, and I have seen it.

And thou hast scattered far from me the emanations of Self-willed which constrained me and were hostile to me, and hast bestowed power on me to loose myself from the bonds of the emanations of Adamas.

And thou hast smitten the basilisk with the seven heads and cast it out with my hands and hast set me above its matter. Thou hast destroyed it, so that its seed may not raise itself up from now on.

And thou Wert with me, giving me power in all this, and thy light surrounded me in all regions, and through thee hast thou made all the emanations of Self-willed powerless.

For thou hast taken the power of their light from them and made straight my way to lead me out of the chaos. And thou hast removed me from the material darkness and taken from them all my powers, from which the light had been taken.

Thou hast put into them purified light and unto all my limbs, in which was no light, thou hast given purified light from the Light of the Height. And thou hast made straight the way for them [sc. my limbs], and the light of thy face hath become for me life indestructible.

Thou hast led me forth above the chaos, the region of chaos and extermination, in order that all the matters in it which are in that region, might be unloosed and all my powers be renewed in thy light, and thy light be in them all.

Thou hast deposited the light of thy stream in me and I am become purified light.'

"This again is the second song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. Who then hath understood this repentance, let him come forward and speak it."

- CHAPTER 71 -

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had finished saying these words, that Matthew came forward and said: "I have understood the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. Now, therefore, give commandment unto me, that I speak it in openness."

And the First Mystery answered and said: "I give commandment unto thee, Matthew, to
set forth the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

And Matthew answered and said: "Concerning the interpretation of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, thus thy light-power prophesied aforetime thereon through the Ode of Solomon:

Matthew interprets the song of Sophia from the Odes of Solomon

 "'He who hath led me down out of the higher regions which are above, hath led me up out of the regions which are in the bottom below. Who hath there taken those in the midst, he hath taught me concerning them.

Who hath scattered my foes and my adversaries, he hath bestowed power on me over the bonds, to unloose them. Who hath smitten the serpent with the seven heads with my hands, he hath set me up above its root, that I may extinguish its seed.

And thou wert with me, helping me; in all regions thy name surrounded me. Thy right hand hath destroyed the venom of the slanderer; thy hand hath cleared the way for thy faithful.

Thou hast freed them out of the tombs and hast removed them from the midst of the corpses. Thou hast taken dead bones and hast clothed them with a body and to them who stirred not, hast thou given the activity of life.

Thy way is become indestructibleness and thy face [also]. Thou hast led thy æon above decay, so that they all may be loosed and renewed and thy light become a foundation for them all.

"'11. Thou hast piled thy riches upon them and they have become a holy dwelling-place.
"This then, my Lord, is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered. Hearken, therefore, that I may say it in openness.

"The word which thy power hath spoken through Solomon: 'Who hath led me down out of the higher regions which are above, he hath also led me up out of the regions which are in the bottom below,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'I sing praises unto thee; through thy commandment hast thou led me down out of this higher æon which is above, and hast led me to the regions below.

And again through thy commandment thou hast saved me and led me up out of the regions which are below.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken through Solomon: 'Who hath there taken those in the midst and hath taught me concerning them,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And again through thy commandment hast thou caused the matter in the midst of my power to be purified, and I have seen it.'

"And moreover the word which thy power hath spoken through Solomon: 'Who hath scattered my foes and my adversaries,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'Thou hast scattered far from me all the emanations of Self-willed which constrained me and were hostile to me.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'Who hath bestowed on me wisdom over the bonds, to unloose them,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And he hath bestowed on me wisdom to loose myself from the bonds of those emanations.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: Who hath smitten the serpent with the seven heads with my hands, he hath set me up above its root, that I may extinguish its seed,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And thou hast smitten the serpent with the seven heads through my hands and set me up above its matter. Thou hast destroyed it, so that its seed may not raise itself up from now on.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'And thou wert with me, helping me,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And thou wert with me, giving me power in all this.'
"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'And thy name surrounded me in all regions,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And thy light surrounded me in all their regions.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'And thy right hand hath destroyed the venom of the slanderers,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And through thee the emanations of Self-willed became powerless, for thou hast taken from them the light of their power.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken:

Thy hand hath cleared the way for thy faithful,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'Thou hast made straight my way to lead the out of the chaos, because I have had faith in thee.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'Thou hast freed them out of the tombs and hast removed them from the midst of the corpses,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'Thou hast freed me out of the chaos and removed me out of the material darknesses, that is out of the dark emanations which are in the chaos, from which thou hast taken their light.'




"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'Thou hast taken dead bones and hast clothed them with a body, and to them who stirred not, thou hast given activity of life,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken:

'And thou hast taken all my powers in which was no light, and hast bestowed on them within purified light, and unto all my limbs, in which no light stirred, thou hast given life-light out of thy Height.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: Thy way is become indestructibleness, and thy face [also],'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And thou hast made straight thy way for me, and the light of thy face hath become for me life indestructible.'

"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'Thou hast led thy æon above decay, so that all might be loosed and renewed,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'Thou hast led me, thy power, up above the chaos and above decay, that all the matters in that region may be loosed and all my powers renewed in the Light.'


"And the word which thy power hath spoken: 'And thy light hath [become] foundation for them all,' - it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'And thy light hath been in them all.

"And the word which thy light-power hath spoken through Solomon: 'Thou hast put thy riches over him, and he hath become a holy dwelling-place,'--it is the word which Pistis Sophia hath spoken: 'Thou hast stayed the light of thy stream over me, and I have become a purified light.'

"This then, my Lord, is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

- CHAPTER 72 -

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had heard Matthew speak these words, that he said: "Well said, Matthew, and finely, beloved. This is the solution of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

And the First Mystery continued again and said:

Sophia continues to sing

 "'I will declare: Thou art the higher Light, for that hast saved me and led me unto thee, and thou hast not let the emanations of Self-willed, which are hostile unto me, take my light.

O Light of lights, I sing praises unto thee; thou hast saved me. O Light, thou hast led up my power out of the chaos; thou hast saved me from them which have gone down into the darkness.'

"These words again hath Pistis Sophia uttered, Now, therefore, whose mind hath become understanding, comprehending the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, let him come forward and set forth their solution."

Mary is afraid of Peter

 It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had finished speaking these words unto the disciples, that Mary came forward and said:

"My Lord, my mind is ever understanding, at every time to come forward and set forth the solution of the words which she hath uttered; but I am afraid of Peter, because he threatened me and hateth our sex."

And when she had said this, the First Mystery said unto her: "Every one who shall be filled with the spirit of light to come forward and set forth the solution of what I say,--no one shall be able to prevent him.

Now, therefore, O Mary, set forth then the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered." Then Mary answered and said unto the First Mystery in the midst of the disciples: "My Lord, concerning the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, thus hath thy light-power prophesied aforetime through David:

Mary interpreteth the song of Sophia from Psalm XXIX

 "'I will exalt thee, O Lord, for thou hast received me, and thou hast not made glad my foes over me. O Lord, my God, I cried up unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

"'O Lord, thou hast led up my soul out of hell; thou hast saved me from them which have gone down into the pit.'"

- CHAPTER 73 -

And when Mary had said this, the First Mystery said unto her, "Well said, finely, Mary, blessed one."

And Christ continued again in the discourse and said unto the disciples: "Sophia again continued in this song and said:

Sophia continues her song

 "' The Light hath become my saviour. And it hath changed my darkness into light, and it has rent the chaos which surrounded me and girded me with light.'"

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had finished saying these words, that Martha came forward and said: "My Lord, thy power hath prophesied aforetime through David concerning these words:

Martha interpreteth from Psalm XXIX

 "'The Lord hath become my helper. He hath changed my lamentation into joy; he hath rent my mourning-robe and girded me with joy.'"

And it came to pass when the First Mystery had heard Martha speak these words, that he said: "Well said, and finely, Martha."


And the First Mystery continued again and said unto the disciples: "Pistis Sophia again continued in the song and said:

Sophia continues her song

 '"My power, sing praises to the Light and forget not all the powers of the Light which it hath given unto thee. And the powers which are in thee, sing praises to the name of his holy mystery:

Who forgiveth all thy transgression, who saveth thee from all the afflictions with which the emanations of Self-willed have constrained thee.

Who hath saved thy light from the emanations of Self-willed which belong to destruction; who hath wreathed thee with light in his compassion, until he saved thee; Who hath filled thee with purified light; and thy beginning will renew itself as an invisible of the Height.'

"With these words Pistis Sophia sang praises, because she was saved and remembered all things which I had done unto her."

- CHAPTER 74 -

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had finished setting forth these words unto the disciples, that he said unto them: "Who hath understood the solution of these words, let him come forward and say it in openness."

Mary again came forward and said: "My Lord, concerning these words with which Pistis Sophia hath sung praises, thus thy light-power prophesied them through David:

Mary interpreteth from Psalm CII

"'My soul, praise the Lord, let all that is in me praise his holy name. My soul, praise the Lord and forget not all his requitals. Who forgiveth all thy iniquities; who healeth all thy sicknesses.

Who redeemeth thy life from decay; who wreatheth thee with grace and compassion; Who satisfieth thy longing with good things; thy youth will renew itself as an eagle's.'

"That is: Sophia will be as the invisibles who are in the Height; he hath, therefore, said 'as an eagle,' because the dwelling-place of the eagle is in the height, and the invisibles also are in the Height; that is: Pistis Sophia will shine as the invisibles, as she was from her beginning."

It came to pass then, when the First Mystery had heard Mary say these words, that he said: "Well said, Mary, blessed one."

Sophia is led to a region below the thirteenth æon and given a new mystery

It came to pass then thereafter, that the First Mystery continued again in the discourse and said unto the disciples:

"I took Pistis Sophia and led her up to a region which is below the thirteenth æon, and gave unto her a new mystery of the Light which is not that of her æon, the region of the invisibles.

And moreover I gave her a song of the Light, so that from now on the rulers of the æons could not [prevail] against her. And I removed her to that region until I should come after her and bring her to her higher region.

"It came to pass then, when I had removed her to that region, that she again uttered this song thus:

She continues to sing

 "'In faith have I had faith in the Light; and it remembered me and hearkened to my song. It hath led my power up out of the chaos and the nether darkness of the whole matter and it hath led me up.

It hath removed. me to a higher and surer æon, lofty and firm; it hath changed my place on the way which leadeth to my region.

And it hath given unto me a new mystery, which is not that of my æon, and given unto me a song of the Light.

Now, therefore, O Light, all the rulers will see what thou hast done unto me, and be afraid and have faith in the Light.'

This song then Pistis Sophia uttered, rejoicing that she had been led up out of the chaos and brought to regions which are below the thirteenth æon.

Now, therefore, let him whom his mind stirreth, so that he understandeth the solution of the thought of the song which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, come forward and say it."

Andrew came forward and said: "My Lord, this is concerning what thy light-power hath prophesied aforetime through David:

Andrew interprets from Psalm XXXIX

 "'In patience I tarried for the Lord; he hath given heed unto me and ear unto my weeping. He hath led up my soul out of the pit of misery and out of the filthy mire; he hath set my feet on a rock and made straight my steps.

He hath put in my mouth a new song, a song of praise for our God. Many will see and be afraid and hope in the Lord.'"

It came to pass then, when Andrew had set forth the thought of Pistis Sophia, that the First Mystery said unto him: "Well said, Andrew, blessed one."

[Courteous Reader: This is the intermission in the Pistis Sophia. The next sections follows with another posting of gnosis here on Global Astrology starting with Chapter 75.]