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Pistis Sophia · 1 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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But it happened after that Jesus rose out of those who (are) dead, and he spent eleven years speaking with his disciples, and teaching them only as far as the Places of the First precept (Law?), and as far as the Places of the First Mystery, this which (is) the inward of the veil which (is) within the First precept, namely the twenty-fourth mystery out(side) and below; these (Places) which become in the second Space of the First Mystery which (is) before every mystery, the Father in the form of dove. Jesus is saying to his disciples, I came out of that First Mystery, namely [1 ] the Last mystery which is the twenty-fourth, and which the disciples knew not and understood not that there is anything within that mystery; but they were thinking of that mystery that it is the head of the Universe, and the head of all those which become. And they were thinking that it is the completion of all the completions because that Jesus was saying to them concerning that mystery that it (is) that which surroundeth the first precept with the five Marks and with the great Light and with the five Helpers and with all the Treasury of the Light. And also Jesus had not said unto his disciples all the distribution [2 ] of all the Places of the great Invisible with the three Triple Powers with the twenty-four Invisibles with all their Places with their Aeons with all their arrays as they are distributed, these namely the emanations of the great Invisible and with their Unbegotten (ones) and with their Self begotten (ones) and with their Begotten (ones) and with their luminaries and with their Unpaired (ones) and with their Rulers with their Authorities with their Lords with their Archangels with their Angels with their Dekans with their Ministers with all the houses of their Spheres, and [2 ] with all the arrays each one of them. And Jesus had not said unto his disciples all the distribution of the emanations of the Treasury nor their arrays as they are 2 distributed: nor had he said unto them their Saviours according to the array of each one as they are. Nor had he said unto them what Guardian is at each (door) of the Treasury of the Light. Nor had he said unto them the Place of the Twin Saviour, namely the child of the child. And he had not said unto them the Place of the three Amens in what Place they are distributed [3 ]. And he had not said unto them in what Place the five Trees are distributed, nor the other seven Amens, namely, the seven Voices, what is their Place according as they are distributed. And Jesus had not said unto his disciples of what type are the five Helpers, or in what Place they were brought. Nor had he said unto them in what manner the great Light was distributed, or in what Place it was brought. Nor had he said unto them the five Marks, nor concerning the First precept in what Place it was brought. But he was only speaking [3 ] with them simply, teaching them that they exist (become). But their distribution with the array of their Places he had not said unto them according as they exist. Because of this indeed they knew not that there are other Places becoming the inward of that Mystery. And he had not said unto his disciples out of what Place I came until I came into that Mystery, until I came forth out of it. But he was wont to say to them, teaching them that I came out of that Mystery.
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Themes
Aeonscosmology

Divine archetypal beings or eternal attributes dwelling within the Pleroma, often arranged in male-female syzygies.

The text lists specific divine beings such as 'Archangels', 'Angels', 'Dekans', and 'Ministers' within the distribution of the Treasury.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

The Father is described in the form of a dove, attributing human-like form to the divine.

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Apophatic Theologytheology

Describing the divine only by negation—God transcends all positive categories and concepts; the via negativa.

The text emphasizes what Jesus did not say about the mystery's inner nature.

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Correspondencecosmology

The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.

The text links the Places of the First precept to the Places of the First Mystery and the Father in the form of dove.

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Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

The distinction between the 'inward' and 'out(side)' of the mystery implies an ontological opposition.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

The passage repeatedly emphasizes the inward veil within the First precept and the disciples' ignorance of what exists within the mystery.

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Divine Lighttheology

The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.

The text mentions the 'great Light' surrounding the first precept and its distribution as a key element of the mystery.

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Emanation Hierarchycosmology

A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.

The passage explicitly outlines a structured hierarchy of divine beings flowing from the Father through mysteries, emanations, and aeons to specific places within the Treasury.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

The text contrasts the disciples' ignorance with the inner knowledge of what exists within the mystery.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.

The passage describes Jesus teaching only as far as the Places of the First precept and the inward of the veil, implying esoteric knowledge reserved for those ready to receive it.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation.

The text refers to the 'inward of the veil which (is) within the First precept', locating divine reality inside the first precept.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

Jesus is depicted as an active, speaking teacher who rose from the dead and spends years teaching disciples.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

Numbers, proportions, and mathematical relationships as the underlying structure of divine reality.

Specific numbers such as twenty-four, five, and seven are used to structure the divine distribution and mysteries.

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Pleromacosmology

The divine fullness or totality of the highest realm, populated by aeons and divine attributes, contrasted with the deficient material world.

The 'Treasury of the Light' and the 'great Invisible' represent the divine fullness populated by aeons and attributes.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

Jesus states he came out of the mystery until he came forth out of it, implying a journey back to origin.

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Related passages · 5 parallels
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Shared concept: Numerical Mysticism — Numbers, proportions, and mathematical relationships as the underlying structure of divine reality. (derived)