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Pistis Sophia · 37 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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Now therefore, O Light of the Lights, let them not take away my light from me, and let them not say within them, Our power was satisfied with her light, and let them not say, (We) swallowed (down) her power, but let darkness rather come upon them, and let them be powerless, those who wish to take away my light from me: and let them clothe them with Chaos and darkness, those who say, We shall take away her light with her power. Now therefore deliver me that I may rejoice, because I wish for the thirteenth Aeon the Place of the righteousness. And I shall say at every time, Shall make more light the light of Ieou thy angel, because 47 I long for the light, [85 ] and my tongue will hymn unto thee in thy knowledge in all my time in the thirteenth Aeon. It happened, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, said he to them, He who is sober among you, let him utter their explanation. Came forward Iakobos. He kissed the breast of Jesus, said he, My Lord, was sober in me thy spirit, and I am ready to utter their explanation. Concerning this indeed thy power prophesied once by David in the thirty-fourth psalm, saying thus concerning the ninth repentance of the Pistis Sophia. Give judgment, O Lord, unto those who illtreat me, fight with those who fight with me: lay hold on a weapon with a shield and arise to help me. Draw out a sword [86 ] and shut off (the way) in the presence of those who afflict me. Say to my soul, I am thy salvation: let them be ashamed and be disgraced those who seek after my soul. Let them turn them back and be ashamed those who think unto me evil (things). Let them be as the dust before a wind and the angel of the Lord persecuting them. Let their road become darkness and slippery and the angel of the Lord afflicting them. Because they hid unto me a snare without cause unto their own destruction. And they reproached my soul with that which is vain. Let come to them the snare which they know not, and let seize them the trap which they hid for me, and they will fall into this snare. But my soul will be glad over the Lord, and [86 ] it will be cheerful over its salvation. All my bones will say, O Lord, who is he who will be able to be like thee? Thou savest the poor (one) from the hand of him who is stronger than he, and thou deliverest a poor (one) with a miserable (one) from those who spoil him. Arose witnesses of violence; they questioned me about the things which I know not: they repaid to me evil (things) instead of good, (things) and childlessness to my soul. But I, they having annoyed me, I clothed me with a sackcloth and I humbled my soul in a fasting, my prayer will turn (back) into my bosom. I was pleasing to thee, as he who is my neighbour, and as my brother; and I humbled my(self) as he who lamenteth, and as he who mourneth. They delighted [87 ] over me, and they were ashamed. Scourges collected upon me, and I knew not. They were separated, and they were not pained at heart. They tempted me and they derided me in derision, they gnashed their teeth upon me. O Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? Set up my soul out of their evil works, and deliver mine only sonship from the lions. I shall manifest to thee, O Lord, 48 in a congregation which is many, and I shall bless thee in a people which hath not number.
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The text explicitly references the 'thirteenth Aeon' and the 'Place of the righteousness' as a specific divine level.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

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

God is addressed with human-like attributes such as having a breast and being able to be like Him.

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Apocatastasiscosmology

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

The passage describes the final restoration of the cosmos where the wicked are punished and the righteous rejoice in the thirteenth Aeon.

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Birth Of Word In Soulanthropology

Eckhart's signature doctrine that the Father eternally begets the Son in the ground of the soul; the human interior as the actual site of the divine generative act, distinct from inner_light's static indwelling.

The text states that the Spirit was sober in Jacobos and he is ready to utter their explanation, indicating a divine generative act within the human.

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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 speaker describes being clothed with a sackcloth and humbling his soul in fasting, indicating the body is a state of affliction.

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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 passage repeatedly contrasts light and darkness, righteousness and chaos, and the righteous with those who wish to take away the light.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The speaker prays that God will look upon him after being hidden by enemies and that his soul will be glad over the Lord.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The passage is structured around the central theme of preserving and rejoicing in 'my light' against those who wish to take it away.

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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 describes a final judgment where the wicked are powerless and ashamed, and the righteous rejoice in the thirteenth Aeon.

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Fasting And Prayerpraxis

Ascetic disciplines that prepare the body and mind for spiritual receptivity or purification.

The speaker mentions fasting and prayer as disciplines to prepare for divine encounter 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 achieved through direct knowledge of the divine nature and the ability to utter explanations of the Pistis Sophia.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text references 'their explanation' and the 'Pistis Sophia,' indicating esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them.

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Inner Lightanthropology

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

The speaker identifies his own light as a divine possession that must be protected from being taken away by others.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The speaker declares that he is ready to utter the explanation of the Pistis Sophia within himself, indicating the divine realm is present inside the individual.

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Living Godtheology

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

God is depicted as an active, responsive reality who can be asked to look upon the speaker and deliver him from affliction.

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Meditationpraxis

Disciplined inward attention — sitting, focused, or open-awareness practice — as a stand-alone term that umbrellas active_contemplation, inner_silence, and dhyana-style sitting.

The text includes a prayer asking God to look upon the speaker after being hidden by enemies.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

The speaker declares that he is ready to utter the explanation of the Pistis Sophia within himself, indicating a deep connection with the divine.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The speaker asks how one can be like God when God is described as having no parts or divisions.

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Prayerpraxis

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

The passage contains multiple instances of direct address to God, including petitions for judgment, help, and looking upon the speaker.

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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.

The speaker seeks to rejoice in the thirteenth Aeon and manifest to God in a congregation which is many, implying a journey back to divine origin.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The speaker mentions fasting and humbling his soul as acts that prepare him for divine encounter.

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Self Knowledgesoteriology

The recognition of one's own true divine nature as the primary path to liberation; 'know thyself' as soteriology.

The text emphasizes the speaker's readiness to utter the explanation of the Pistis Sophia and his identification with God as a neighbor and brother.

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Related passages · 6 parallels
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 14 (part 7)
This light moderates the action of the fiery will still active in them, the blessings of their good deeds surround them, the hope for still greater glorification is their life, and from the trouble and persecution which they have suffered t…”
Both passages describe the struggles and eventual triumph of the soul, with a focus on divine light, redemption, and the rewards of righteousness. They share themes of persecution, divine intervention, and the ultimate joy and glory of the soul.
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 discuss the theme of light and righteousness, with the righteous being blessed and experiencing eternal light. The passages share a mystical and eschatological tone, emphasizing the ultimate victory of light over darkness and the blessed state of the righteous.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XCVI
XCVI. Grounds of Hopefulness for the Righteous: Woes for the Wicked . p. 137 CHAPTER XCVI. 1. Be hopeful, ye righteous; for suddenly shall the sinners perish before you, And ye shall have lordship over them according to your desires. [ 2. A…”
Both passages express a hope for the righteous and a condemnation for the wicked, with the righteous being delivered and the wicked facing consequences. They share a theme of divine justice and the eventual triumph of the righteous over their oppressors.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter C
C. The Sinners destroy each other: Judgement of the fallen Angels: the Safety of the Righteous: further Woes for the Sinners . CHAPTER C. 1. And in those days in one place the fathers together with their sons shall be smitten And brothers o…”
Both passages describe a divine judgment where the righteous are protected and the sinners are punished. They share themes of divine intervention, the fate of the righteous, and the downfall of the wicked, though they come from different mystical traditions.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter CIV
CIV. Assurances given to the Righteous: Admonitions to Sinners and the Falsifiers of the Words of Uprightness . CHAPTER CIV. 1. I swear unto you, that in heaven the angels remember you for good before the glory of the Great One: and your na…”
Both passages share themes of divine justice, the righteous being delivered from affliction, and the punishment of wrongdoers. They also emphasize the importance of truth and the eventual triumph of the righteous, though they come from different mystical traditions.
sufism|The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi)|STORY IIIc
If thou neglectest regard and care for it, Thou wilt quench at midnight the lamp of union." In one 'twas said, "Quench that torch without fear, That in lieu of one thou may'st see a thousand joys, For by quenching the light the soul is rejo…”
Both passages discuss the themes of light, spiritual guidance, and the struggle against darkness and adversity. They emphasize the importance of divine light and the need to protect it, as well as the concept of spiritual warfare and the ultimate triumph of light over darkness.