← Home
Pistis Sophia · 29 of 160 · tr. George Horner

Document FIRST}

But answered Philippos, said he to Jesus, My Lord, hear that I may say the explanation of her repentance: for thy Power prophesied concerning it by David once saying in the eighty-seventh [67 ] psalm; O Lord God of my salvation I cried up unto thee in the day with the night: let my prayer come in to thy presence. Incline thine ear, O Lord, unto my supplication, because my soul was filled with evil, my life draweth near into Amente, they numbered me with those who are going down unto the pit. I became as a man who hath not helper: free among those who are dead as wounded (ones), being cast (away) sleeping in the tombs, these whom 37 thou rememberedst not any more, and they, they perished out of thy hands. They put me in a pit below, in darkness with the shade of the death thy wrath was firm upon me, and all thy cares came upon me. Diapsalma. Thou causedst those who know me to be distant from me, thou lettest me be to them for abomination: [68 ] they left me and I went not (away). Mine eye is weak out of my poverty: I cried up unto thee O Lord, all the day. I spread my hands up unto thee. Wilt thou make thy wonder in those who are dead? Are not the physicians those who will arise and confess to thee? Will they be saying thy name in the tombs and thy righteousness in a land which thou forgottest? But I cried up unto thee, O Lord, and my prayer will catch thee at the hour of early (day). Turn not thy face away from me because I am poor; beg in tribulations since my youth. But having been exalted, I humbled myself and I arose. Thine angers came upon me, and thy fears disturbed me. They surrounded me as water, they laid hold on me all the day: they caused my fellows to be distant from me, and those who [68 ] know me, away from my misery. This therefore is the explanation of the mystery of the fifth repentance which said the Pistis Sophia, they having afflicted her in the Chaos. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words, saying them Philippos, said he, Well (done) Philippos the beloved. Now therefore come, sit (down) and write thy part of every word which I shall say, and with the things which I shall do, with everything which thou wilt see. And at that hour sat down Philippos, he wrote. It happened also after these (things), Jesus added also in the word, said he to his disciples, Then cried up unto the Light the Pistis Sophia. It forgave her sin, because she forsook her Place, she came down unto the darkness, she said the [69 ] sixth Repentance, saying thus, I hymned up unto thee, O Light, in the darkness below: hear my repentance, and let thy light take heed unto the shout of my prayer. O Light, if thou shouldest remember my sin I shall not be able to come toward thee, and thou wilt forsake me: because thou, O Light, art my deliverer, because of the light of thy name. I believed thee, O Light, and my power believed thy mystery, and also my power trusted unto the light which becometh in the (things) of the Height, and it trusted unto him, being in the Chaos below. Let every power which (is) in me trust unto the Light while I am in the darkness below.
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine is addressed directly using human terms such as 'Lord,' 'Light,' and 'Power.'

All passages →
Cosmic Dualismtheology

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

The text explicitly contrasts Light and Darkness, Chaos and the Height, and the living with those who are dead.

All passages →
Divine Lighttheology

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

The passage centers on the 'Light' as a divine entity that forgives sin and is the source of deliverance.

All passages →
Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The text describes the soul's state in Amente and the tombs as a place of darkness awaiting judgment.

All passages →
Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

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

Salvation is achieved through direct knowledge of the divine mystery rather than ritual works alone.

All passages →
Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text reveals an esoteric explanation of repentance reserved for those who understand the deeper meaning.

All passages →
Living Godtheology

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

God is depicted as active and responsive, hearing prayers and forgiving sins.

All passages →
Prayerpraxis

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

The passage is structured around repeated petitions such as 'hear my prayer,' 'cry up unto thee,' and 'supplication.'

All passages →
Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The narrative describes the soul's descent into darkness and the pits of Amente.

All passages →
Return To Sourcesoteriology

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

The Pistis Sophia seeks to return from the darkness to the Light through repentance.

All passages →
Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The mention of 'repentance' implies a cleansing or purification required for divine encounter.

All passages →
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.

The text describes the soul's exile from God ('I became as a man who hath not helper') and being forgotten.

All passages →
Soul Migrationcosmology

The transmigration of the soul across lives.

References to 'those who are going down unto the pit' imply movement between states of existence.

All passages →
Spiritual Ascentpraxis

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

The Pistis Sophia's journey from darkness to Light represents a movement toward divine presence.

All passages →
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 depict a plea for redemption and forgiveness from a higher power, with themes of repentance and divine intervention. The passages share a mystical tone and the concept of a spiritual being seeking redemption from a divine source.