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Pistis Sophia · 45 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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Let a cloud of smoke cover over their eyes, and a mist of air let it make darkness unto them: and let them not see the day, that they should not lay hold on me. Let become powerless their plot, and the (things) which they plotted let them come upon themselves they deliberated unto a plot, and it did not happen for them: and they conquered them though being mighty; and the (things) which they prepared evilly fell down upon them. My hope (is) being in the Lord, and I shall not fear: because thou art my God, [104 ] my Saviour. It happened therefore, Salome having finished saying these words, said he to her, Jesus, Well (done) Salome and fairly: this is the explanation of the words which said the Pistis Sophia. But added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened therefore, the Pistis Sophia having finished saying these words in the Chaos, I caused the power of Light which 57 I sent to her for to deliver her, I caused it to make a crown of light unto her head, that should not be able to prevail against her from this hour the emanations of the Self-willed. And it having made a crown of light unto her head, moved all the matter which (are) evil, which (are) in her, and they were all purged from her [104 ], they perished and they became in the Chaos, looking at them the emanations of the Self-willed, and rejoicing at them. And the purities of true light which (are) in the Sophia, her true light combined to give power with the light of my power of Light, this which made a crown for her head. It happened therefore also, while (my power) surroundeth the true light which (is) in the Sophia, her true light did not become outside of the crown of the power of the flame of light, that should not steal it, the emanations of the Self-willed. These (things) therefore having happened to her, the power of true light which (is) in the Sophia began (and) hymned. But she hymned unto my power of Light which became for a crown unto her head: [105 ] but she hymned saying, The Light becometh for a crown unto my head, and I shall not become outside it, that should not rob me the emanations of the Self-willed: and (even) if should move all the matters, but I shall not be moved: and (even) if should perish all my matters, and remain in the Chaos, these which were seen by the emanations of the Self-willed. But I shall not perish, because the light becometh with me, and I also become with the light. But these words said the Pistis Sophia. Now therefore he who understandeth the meaning of these words, let him come forward and utter their explanation. But came forward Maria the mother of Jesus, said she, My son according to the world, [105 ] my God and my Saviour according to the Height, command to me and (let) me utter the explanation of the words which said the Pistis Sophia. But answered Jesus, said he, Thou also Maria, this (one) who tookest form which (is) in the Barbelo according to the matter, and thou tookest likeness which (is) in the Virgin of the Light according to the Light, thou with the other Mariham the happy. And the darkness became because of thee, and also came out of thee the body of the matter in which I am becoming, this which I cleansed and I purified it. Now therefore I command to thee for to utter the explanation of the words, these which said the Sophia.
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine is described as commanding, sending power, and wearing a crown of light.

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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.

Salome's body is described as being moved by darkness and matter.

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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 fundamental opposition between light and darkness, good and evil, and the divine Sophia versus the chaotic matter.

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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 a protective crown and source of power against evil emanations.

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Divine Providencetheology

Pronoia — the doctrine that the divine actively orders the unfolding of the cosmos and human affairs toward intelligible ends, against pure chance or blind necessity.

The divine actively orders events to deliver Sophia from evil plots and purify her.

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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.

References are made to emanations of the Self-willed that move against the divine light.

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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 defeat of evil plots and purging of evil matters from Sophia's being.

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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 centers on the liberation of the Pistis Sophia from entrapment in darkness and evil matter.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

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

Salome's salvation is attributed to her understanding of the divine words rather than external ritual.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The Pistis Sophia speaks of words that require an explanation reserved for those who understand their meaning.

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Inner Lightanthropology

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

The text emphasizes the true light residing within the Sophia that is protected by the crown of power.

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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 agent who sends power and commands actions rather than a static principle.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

The text describes the fusion of the divine light with the Sophia's true light to create a crown of power.

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Prayerpraxis

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

The Pistis Sophia hymns to the power of Light as an act of worship.

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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 narrative arc involves the liberation of Sophia from darkness and her return to the light of the divine.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The text explicitly mentions the purification of evil matters and the cleansing of the body by divine power.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The Pistis Sophia speaks the words that carry ontological power for liberation.

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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.

Salome's salvation is linked to her understanding of the meaning of the divine words.

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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 Sophia is described as being combined with the light of divine power.

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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.

Divine power is invoked to purify and protect against evil emanations through specific words and actions.

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Related passages · 2 parallels
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 6 (part 2)
"When the eternal Word moved, because of the malice of Lucifer, and for the purpose of expelling this evil guest from his residence into eternal darkness, the essence was rendered compact (coagulated). God was not willing to leave the mani…”
Both passages describe a divine intervention to overcome darkness and evil. In Passage A, Jesus helps Pistis Sophia by creating a crown of light to protect her from evil emanations. In Passage B, God intervenes to expel Lucifer and create light to overcome darkness, using water to extinguish the devil's glory.
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 describe a divine figure (Pistis Sophia and Ra) being afflicted and then saved through the intervention of a higher power or knowledge. They share themes of divine suffering, redemption, and the revelation of sacred names or insights.