← Home
Pistis Sophia · 40 of 160 · tr. George Horner

Document FIRSTˆ

Its thought is taking away the light from me at every time; and as iron they are cutting, [92 ] they took away a power from me. I loved to come down unto the Chaos, more than to remain in the Place of the thirteenth Aeon the Place of the righteousness; and they wished to take me by guile, for to swallow down all my light. Because of this therefore the Light will take away all their light, and (will) be overthrown all their other matter and it will take away their light, and not let them dwell in the thirteenth Aeon their place of dwelling, and not leave their name in the Place of those who will live: and will see the (things) which happened to thee O power of face of lion, the twenty-four emanations, and they (will) fear and not be disobedient, but they (will) give up the purgation of their light, and they will see thee, and (will) rejoice over thee, and (will) say, Behold, an emanation [92 ] which did not give up the purgation of its light, that it should be delivered, but it boasteth itself in the multitude of the light of its power, because that it did not emanate out of the power which is in it, and it said, I shall take away the light of the Pistis Sophia, this which they will not take from her. Now therefore he whose power was exalted in 51 him let him come forward and utter the explanation of the eleventh repentance of the Pistis Sophia. Then came forward Salome, said she, My Lord, concerning this thy power of light prophesied once by David, saying in the fiftieth with one psalm, Why doth the powerful boast himself in his wickedness? Thy tongue meditateth the violence all the day; as a razor [93 ] being sharp thou didst beguile. Thou lovedst the evil more than the good. Thou lovedst the violence more than speaking of the righteousness. Thou lovedst all the words of the deceit with a tongue of guile. Because of this God will overthrow thee for ever, he will pluck thee up, and he (will) drag thee out of thy abode: and he will tear (away) thy root, and he (will) cast it outside of those who live. Diapsalma. The righteous will see and they (will) fear and they will mock at him and they (will) say, Behold a man who put not God to him for helper. But he trusted upon his wealth which is much, and he presumed upon his vanity. But I, I am being as a tree of olive yielder of fruit in the house of the God, I trusted unto the mercy of God even unto age of the age. [93 ] And I shall manifest to thee because thou workedst with me, and I have patience upon thy name because kind it is in presence of thy holy (ones). This therefore now, my Lord, is the explanation of the eleventh repentance of the Pistis Sophia, thy power of light having moved me, I said it according to thy wish. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words which said them Salome, said he, Well (done) Salome. Amen, amen I say to you, I shall complete you in every mystery of the kingdom of the light. But added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened therefore after these (things) I drew near unto the Chaos enlightening greatly greatly, that I should take away the light of that power of face of lion: while I am enlightening [94 ] greatly, it (she MS.
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The text explicitly mentions 'twenty-four emanations' and references the 'thirteenth Aeon' as a specific divine level.

All passages →
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine is described with human attributes such as a 'power of face of lion' and the ability to 'boast himself'.

All passages →
Body As Obstacleanthropology

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

The text describes iron cutting away power from the speaker, symbolizing the hindrance of material forces.

All passages →
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 the righteous/light and the wicked/power of lion.

All passages →
Divine Lighttheology

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

Light is a central motif throughout the passage, described as being taken away, swallowed down, or manifesting.

All passages →
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.

The text references 'twenty-four emanations' and a 'thirteenth Aeon', implying a structured hierarchy of divine levels.

All passages →
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 passage describes the overthrowing of powers and the final fate of the wicked in the thirteenth Aeon.

All passages →
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.

References to 'Pistis Sophia' and her light being threatened imply a narrative of divine entrapment or error.

All passages →
Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

Salome's explanation is revealed only to those who have been enlightened by Jesus' power.

All passages →
Inner Lightanthropology

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

The speaker describes possessing a personal 'light' that is threatened and must be protected from being taken away.

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 an active agent who will overthrow, pluck up, and drag out powers of evil.

All passages →
Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

Specific numbers like 'twenty-four' and 'thirteenth' are used to structure the divine realms.

All passages →
Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The text uses paradoxical statements such as loving Chaos more than righteousness and boasting in wickedness.

All passages →
Pneumatic Electsoteriology

A spiritual elite who possess the divine spark and are predestined for salvation, contrasted with psychic (faithful) and hylic (material) persons.

Salome is identified as one who has been enlightened and completed in every mystery of the kingdom.

All passages →
Prayerpraxis

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

Salome speaks directly to God, saying 'My Lord' and invoking His mercy.

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.

Salome's declaration of trust in God's mercy suggests a journey back to divine origin.

All passages →
Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The concept of purgation of light implies a state of cleanliness required for dwelling in the Aeon.

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 speaker laments that their light is being taken away and they are being dragged out of their abode.

All passages →
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.

Jesus promises to complete Salome in every mystery of the kingdom of the light, implying transformation into divine participation.

All passages →
Related passages · 4 parallels
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 2 (part 7)
The light of God has also the quality of the fire, but in it the wrath is changed into love; hate and bitter pain into mild beneficence and sweet desire or satisfaction." ( Menschwerdung , i. 5–16.) "The fountain of love is a clasping and…”
Both passages discuss the nature of light and its relationship to divine power and human understanding. They explore the themes of divine justice, the transformation of negative qualities into positive ones, and the spiritual growth that comes from understanding these divine principles.
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 6 (part 5)
But when this took place the love in the light of God broke through that heaven of division and ignited the heat." ( Aurora , xxv. 68.) "God, the eternal light and the eternal will, shines within the darkness, and the darkness has captured…”
Both passages discuss the themes of light, divine power, and the struggle against darkness or evil forces. They describe a divine intervention that brings light and overcomes the forces of darkness, highlighting the restoration of order and the manifestation of divine wisdom.
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 discuss the themes of light, righteousness, and the consequences of actions. They describe a journey or state involving light and the purification or redemption of souls, highlighting the importance of good deeds and the ultimate reward or punishment.
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 concept of light as a metaphor for spiritual insight or divine connection. They also explore the idea of spiritual struggle and the consequences of actions, though from different theological perspectives.