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Pistis Sophia · 2 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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Because of this therefore they were thinking of that Mystery that it is the completion of all completions; and that it is the head of the Universe; and that [4 ] it is the whole Pleroma: since Jesus is wont to say unto his disciples that that Mystery (is) that which surroundeth the Universe of all which I said unto you from the day when I met you even unto to-day. Because of this therefore the disciples were thinking that there is not anything becoming within that mystery. It happened therefore while the disciples are sitting with one another upon the mountain of the Olives saying these words and rejoicing in great joy and being very glad, and saying to one another, We happy are beyond all men who (are) upon the earth, because the [4 ] Saviour revealed these (things) to us, and we received the Pleroma with all the completion. While these they are saying unto one another Jesus is sitting, being distant from them a little (way). But it happened on the fifteenth day of the month of Tōbe, namely the day in which the moon is wont to be full, on that day therefore the sun having come out in his course, (there) came out after him a great power of light enlightening greatly greatly, (there) being no measure for the light which was made, for it came out of 3 the Light of the lights, and it came out of the Last mystery, namely the twenty-fourth mystery (reckoning) from within [5 ] unto without, these (mysteries) which become in the array of the second Space of the First Mystery. But that power indeed of light came upon Jesus and surrounded him altogether, while sitting at a distance from his disciples, and he was enlightening greatly greatly, (there) being no measure for the light which was becoming. And the disciples had not seen Jesus from the great light in which he was being, or which was being (from) him; for their eyes had been darkened from the great light in which he was being. But they were only seeing the light casting out beams of light which are great. And not equal with one another [5 ] were the beams of light; and the light was being of different kinds, and it was being of different types (reaching) from below to above, one being more excellent than one at a time in a great glory of light immeasurable, it was reaching from below on the earth even up to the heavens. And the disciples having seen that light, they became in great fear and in great disturbance. It happened therefore when the power of that light came upon Jesus, it surrounded him entirely (by) little (and) little. Then Jesus mounted up, or flew, unto the Height having enlightened greatly greatly in light for which there is not measure. And the disciples were looking [6 ] at him, none of them speaking until he went up unto the heaven, but they were all being in great silence. These (things) therefore happened on the fifteen of the moon, the day on which is wont to be completed the month of Tōbe. It happened therefore Jesus having gone into the heaven, after three hours were disturbed all the powers of the heavens, and they all quaked against one another, they with all their Aeons with all their Places and with all their arrays; and all the earth was moved with all those who dwell upon it. And were disturbed all the men who (are) in the World with the disciples also, and they were all thinking that perhaps [6 ] will be rolled up the World. And had not ceased all the powers which (are) in the heavens being disturbed, they with all the World, and they were all being moved upon one another from three of the fifteen of the moon of Tōbe even unto nine of the morrow.
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The text mentions 'Aeons' as part of the powers that quake against one another in the heavens.

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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 that there is 'no measure for the light' and 'there being no measure for the light which was made'.

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Body As Obstacleanthropology

The material body viewed as a prison, tomb, or source of error that hinders spiritual knowledge and return.

The disciples' eyes are described as darkened by the great light, implying a physical limitation to perception.

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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 text contrasts the 'great light' surrounding Jesus with the disciples' 'darkened eyes'.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The passage centrally describes Jesus being distant from his disciples and surrounded by a light so great that it darkens their vision.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The text repeatedly emphasizes the 'great power of light' surrounding Jesus and enlightening greatly greatly.

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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.

References to 'mysteries' and 'array of the second Space' imply a structured divine order or hierarchy.

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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 passage centers on the disciples receiving the Pleroma and the Mystery directly revealed by Jesus.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

Jesus reveals a 'Mystery' to his disciples that they had not seen before.

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Infinite Cosmoscosmology

The doctrine of the universe as boundless and without center or circumference, populated by innumerable worlds — Bruno's rejection of the closed Aristotelian sphere; the divine and the cosmos as ontologically infinite.

The description of light with 'no measure' suggests the cosmos is boundless and without circumference.

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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 actively sitting, flying, and enlightening rather than an abstract principle.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

The text specifies 'twenty-fourth mystery' and 'three of the fifteen', using numbers to structure divine reality.

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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 text explicitly states that Jesus revealed the Pleroma with all the completion to his disciples.

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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 mounts up or flies unto the Height, implying a movement back toward the divine origin.

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Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

The text describes Jesus flying upward to the Height and the disciples looking at him as he ascends.

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Related passages · 3 parallels
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 10 (part 15)
"The Spirit of Christ in His children is not bound to a certain form, so that He could say nothing but what is found in the writings of the apostles; but as the Spirit was free in the apostles, and as they did not all use the same expressio…”
Both passages discuss the manifestation of divine light and the revelation of mystical truths. Passage A describes Jesus being surrounded by a great power of light, while Passage B talks about the Spirit of Christ speaking through individuals and the manifestation of divine wisdom in different forms. Both emphasize the transformative and enlightening nature of divine revelation.
hermeticism|Corpus Hermeticum 1: Poimandres|Section 1b
But when He raised His head, I see in Mind the Light, [but] now in Powers no man could number, and Cosmos grown beyond all bounds, and that the Fire was compassed round about by a most mighty Power, and [now] subdued had come unto a stand.…”
Both passages describe a mystical ascent and the manifestation of divine light, emphasizing the transcendence and the ineffable nature of the divine. They share themes of cosmic order, the interplay between divine and created realms, and the transformative experience of the disciples or the narrator.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXI
LXXXI. The Heavenly Tablets and the Mission of Enoch . CHAPTER LXXXI. 1. And he said unto me: 'Observe, Enoch, these heavenly tablets, And read what is written thereon, And mark every individual fact.' p. 108 2 And I observed the heavenly t…”
Both passages describe a mystical revelation involving divine light and the transmission of sacred knowledge. They share themes of enlightenment, the revelation of cosmic mysteries, and the transformation of the recipients of this knowledge.