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Pistis Sophia · 31 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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[71 ] Because of this word therefore thy power of light prophesied once by David, saying in the four-twentieth with one psalm, God will sit in the assembly of the gods and (will) give judgment unto the gods. Said he to her Jesus, Well (done) Maria. Added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened, the Pistis Sophia having finished saying the sixth repentance concerning the forgiveness of her transgression, she turned also unto the Height to see whether they forgave to her her sins, and to see if they will bring her up from the Chaos. And they did not yet hear her by the command of the First Mystery for them to forgive her sin and bring her up from the Chaos. She having turned therefore unto the Height to see whether they [72 ] received her repentance from her, she saw all the Rulers of the twelve Aeons mocking at her, and rejoicing at her, because that they received not her repentance from her. She having seen therefore them mocking at her, she was grieved greatly, she lifted up her voice unto the Height saying in the seventh Repentance, O Light, I lifted up my power unto thee; my Light, I believed thee: let me not be despised, and let them not rejoice at me the Rulers of the twelve Aeons, these who hate me: for every one who believeth thee will not be ashamed: shall remain in darkness those who took away my power, and will not make gain of it, but it will be taken from them. O Light, show to me thy ways, and I shall be delivered from them and [72 ] show me thy paths, that I should be delivered from the Chaos, and guide me in thy light. And let me know, O Light, that thou art my deliverer, I shall trust unto thee in all my time. Give heed for to deliver me, O Light, because thy mercifulness becometh even unto age: because of my transgression which I did from at first in my ignorance, reckon it not unto me, O Light, but deliver me rather in thy great mystery of forgiver of sin: because of thy goodness, O Light, because good (and) straight is the Light: because of this thou wilt give thy way to me for to be delivered from my transgression, and my powers 40 which were diminished by the fear of the material emanations [73 ] of the Self-willed, it will draw them near by its precept; and my powers which were diminished by the unmerciful (ones) it will teach them his knowledge: because all the knowledges of the Light are deliverances, and are mysteries for everyone who seeketh for the Places of his inheritance with his mysteries. Because of the mystery of thy name O Light, forgive my transgression, because it is great. Every one who trusteth unto the Light will give to himself the mystery which he willeth, and his soul will become in the Place of the Light, and his power will inherit the Treasury of the Light. The Light is that which giveth power to those who believe it, and the name of his mystery is that of those who trust unto him, and he will show to them the Place of the inheritance [73 ] which is in the Treasury of the Light. But I, I believed the Light at every time, because it is he who will deliver my feet out of the bonds of the darkness. Give heed unto me, O Light, and deliver me. For I, they took away my name from me in the Chaos. Beyond all the emanations, were multiplied greatly my afflictions with my oppressions. Deliver me out of my transgressions, and with this darkness, and see the tribulation of my oppression, and forgive my transgression.
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The passage explicitly names 'the twelve Aeons' as the mocking rulers who rejected her repentance.

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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 text references 'material emanations' and 'Chaos' that diminish powers and cause afflictions, positioning the material realm as a hindrance.

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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 establishes a clear opposition between Light/Truth and Chaos/Material Emanations.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

Light is the central figure of deliverance and power throughout the passage.

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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 references God sitting in judgment upon the gods and the Pistis Sophia seeking forgiveness for her sins.

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Fall Of Sophiacosmology

The Gnostic myth of Wisdom's prolapse from the Pleroma — her unilateral desire or error producing the Demiurge and the entrapment of divine sparks in matter.

The passage describes Sophia's transgression, diminishment of powers by fear, and exile into the Chaos, mirroring the Gnostic myth of Wisdom's prolapse.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The text describes Sophia turning to the Height to see if she will be brought up from the Chaos after her transgression.

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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 tied to knowing the ways and paths of the Light rather than external rituals.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text mentions 'the sixth repentance' and 'mysteries' reserved for those who seek the Places of inheritance.

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Inner Lightanthropology

The divine spark or luminous quality residing within the human person, potentially recognisable through introspection.

The text states that the Light is within Sophia ('my Light') and she believes it at every time.

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Living Godtheology

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

The divine is portrayed as active and responsive, capable of delivering feet from bonds and forgiving sins.

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Prayerpraxis

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

The passage is structured as a direct petitionary address to the Light ('Give heed unto me, O Light').

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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.

Sophia seeks to be delivered from the Chaos and brought up by the Light.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The context implies a state of sinfulness that requires repentance and forgiveness before divine reception.

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Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

The text invokes the 'name of his mystery' and emphasizes the power of the Light's name in forgiving transgression.

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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.

Sophia is depicted as having lost her name and being grieved by the mocking rulers who rejected her repentance.

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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 movement from the Chaos to the Height represents a journey upward toward divine deliverance.

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Theosis Deificationsoteriology

The doctrine — central to Eastern Orthodox and Maximian theology — that the human person is progressively transformed into a partaker of the divine nature by grace, not merely justified or united in passing ecstasy.

The promise that the soul will become in the Place of the Light suggests a transformation into a divine state.

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Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

Sophia actively petitions the Light to forgive her sins and bring her up from the Chaos through prayer.

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Related passages · 5 parallels
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 8 (part 2)
Verily it shall be cast forth by my healing words of power, and I will drive it away from before the sight of thy sunbeams." The holy god opened his mouth and said, "I was passing along my path, and I was going through the two regions of my…”
Both passages depict a divine figure (Pistis Sophia and Ra) seeking deliverance and forgiveness through the revelation of a sacred name or mystery. They share themes of repentance, divine intervention, and the power of knowledge or names in achieving salvation.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 29 (part 1)
PLATE XXI. "Thou dost place thy disk in the west, and my two hands are [raised] in adoration [of thee] when thou settest (30) as a living being. Behold, thou art the maker of eternity, and thou art adored [when] thou settest in the heaven…”
Both passages express a plea for deliverance and forgiveness from a divine light or deity. They share themes of repentance, the desire for redemption, and the acknowledgment of divine power and mercy.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XIV (part 1)
CHAPTER XIV. 1. The book of the words of righteousness, and of the reprimand of the eternal Watchers in accordance with the command of the Holy Great One in that vision. 2. I saw in my sleep what I will now say with a tongue of flesh an…”
Both passages depict a mystical vision involving divine judgment and repentance. They share themes of seeking forgiveness, divine light, and the intervention of higher powers, though they come from different religious traditions.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LVIII
LVIII-LXXI. The Third Parable . LVIII. The Blessedness of the Saints . CHAPTER LVIII. 1. And I began to speak the third Parable concerning the righteous and elect. p. 75 2. Blessed are ye, ye righteous and elect, For glorious shall be your…”
Both passages emphasize the theme of light as a source of deliverance and righteousness. They share a mystical focus on the divine light and its role in salvation, though they come from different traditions.
jewish_mysticism|The Kabbalah Unveiled|Introduction, Section 1h
"And the Elohim said, let there be light, and there was light." (The sense may be sought from that Psalm xxxiii. 9) where it a written, "Since He Himself spake, and it was done." (First, therefore, is commemorated) the Path HVA, Hoa , (tha…”
Both passages emphasize the theme of light as a divine force that delivers and forgives. They also share a mystical approach to understanding divine mysteries and the path to redemption, though they come from different religious traditions.