Pistis Sophia · 13 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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But answered Philippos, said he to Jesus, My Lord, because of which mystery removedst thou the binding of the Rulers with their Aeons, with their Destiny, with their Sphere, with all their Places, and in confusion thou causedst them to be confused in their paths, and they erred [31 ] in their course.

Didst thou this therefore to them because of the salvation of the World or otherwise?

But answered Jesus, said he to Philippos with the disciples all together: I altered their path unto salvation of all the souls, Amen amen I say to you that except that I altered their path, they would have destroyed a multitude of souls, and they would have spent much time, having not been 17 dissolved the Rulers of the Aeons, and the Rulers of the Destiny with the Sphere, and with all their Places, with all their heavens with all their Aeons.

And the souls would have spent a great amount of [32 ] time outside this (place ?); and they would have delayed from completion the number of the perfect souls, these which will be reckoned unto the inheritance of the Height by the mysteries, and become in the Treasury of the Light.

Because of this, therefore, I altered their path that they should be confused and be disturbed, and put away the power, this which becometh in the matter of their World, this which is wont to make the souls, that they should purify them quickly, and they should be lifted up to those who will be saved, they with all the power; and be dissolved quickly those who will not be saved.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, came forward Maria, she who is beautiful in her speaking, and the happy (one) she prostrated at the feet of Jesus.

[32 ] Said she, My Lord bear with me that I may speak in thy presence, and be not angry unto me because I add trouble unto thee for many times enquiring of thee.

Answered the Saviour in compassion, said he to Maria, Say the word which thou art willing (to say), and I, I shall reveal it to thee in boldness.

But answered Maria, said she to Jesus, My Lord, in what manner will the souls be delaying outside of this (place)?

or in what form will they be purifying them indeed quickly?

But answered Jesus, said he to Maria, Well (done) Maria, thou enquirest aright in the enquiring which is good, and thou givest light upon everything in accuracy and in exactness.

Now therefore I shall not hide anything from you from this hour, but I shall reveal [33 ] everything to you in accuracy and in boldness.

Hear therefore, Maria and listen all ye disciples.

Before that I preached to all the Rulers of the Aeons and with all the Rulers of the Destiny with the Sphere, they were all being bound in their bonds and in their Spheres and in their seals, according as bound them from at first Ieou the overseer of the Light: and each of them was continuing in his array, and each one was walking according to his course, according as put them Ieou the overseer of the Light: and whenever should come the time of the number of Melkhisedek, the great Receiver of Light is wont to come unto [33 ] the midst of the Aeons with all the Rulers who are bound in the Sphere and in the Destiny, and he is wont to take away the purgation of the light from all the Rulers of the Aeons and from 18 all the Rulers of the Destiny with those of the Sphere.

For he was wont to take away there that which disturbed them.

Themes

◆Aeonscosmology

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

The passage explicitly names 'Rulers of the Aeons' as central figures whose paths are altered by Jesus.

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◆Anthropomorphismtheology

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

Divine beings like Ieou and Melkhisedek are described with human-like attributes such as walking courses and being bound in spheres.

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◆Apocatastasiscosmology

The doctrine of the periodic restoration or recurrence of all things to their original state after vast cycles.

The text describes the dissolution of souls who will not be saved and their quick purification for those who will be.

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◆Cosmic Dualismtheology

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

A clear opposition is drawn between those who are saved and those who are dissolved or delayed in purgation.

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◆Divine Lighttheology

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

Light is repeatedly invoked as the source of purification and the medium through which souls are lifted up.

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◆Eschatological Judgmentsoteriology

Final, collective cosmic judgment as an event in which the wicked are sentenced and the cosmos restored; distinct from psychopomp_journey (individual passage at death) and emphasising verdict where Zoroastrian frashokereti emphasises restoration.

The text outlines a final decision where souls are quickly dissolved or lifted up based on their salvation status.

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◆Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The passage describes the soul's state after death and its movement through realms of purgation and salvation.

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◆Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

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

Salvation is linked to the revelation of mysteries and the quick purification of souls rather than external works.

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◆Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

Maria's plea for permission to speak reveals that esoteric teachings are withheld until the seeker is ready.

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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, compassionate personal reality who responds to questions and alters cosmic paths.

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◆Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

The text emphasizes the 'number of Melkhisedek' and the 'number of the perfect souls' as key cosmic parameters.

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◆Paradox As Teachingethics

Using apparent contradiction, reversal, or riddle to destabilise ordinary understanding and induce insight.

The text uses the paradoxical image of causing confusion to achieve salvation and purification.

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◆Prayerpraxis

Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.

Maria prostrates at Jesus' feet and enquires of Him in a direct address.

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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.

Souls are lifted up to those who will be saved and dissolved quickly those who will not be saved.

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◆Ritual Puritypraxis

The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine.

Purgation of the light and purification of souls are central themes for salvation.

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◆Separation From Sourcesoteriology

The felt condition of exile from one's divine origin — Rumi's reed flute torn from its bed, Plotinus's 'we have forgotten,' the Gnostic forgetfulness; the affective wound that complements return_to_source and gives the return its motive.

Souls are described as spending time outside the place of salvation before purification.

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◆Spiritual Ascentpraxis

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

Souls are lifted up to those who will be saved and dissolved quickly those who will not be saved.

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Related passages · 1 parallel

◆jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XV

“CHAPTER XV. 1. And He answered and said to me, and I heard His voice: 'Fear not, Enoch, thou righteous man and scribe of righteousness: approach hither and hear my voice. 2. And go, say to ⌈⌈ the Watchers of heaven ⌉⌉ , who have sent thee t…”

Both passages deal with the theme of divine intervention to alter the course of spiritual beings (Rulers of the Aeons in Pistis Sophia and the Watchers in the Book of Enoch) who have negatively impacted humanity. Both texts describe how these interventions are meant to facilitate the salvation and purification of souls.