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Pistis Sophia · 46 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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But answered Maria the mother of Jesus, said she, My Lord, thy power of light prophesied about these [106 ] words once by Solomon in his nine(teenth) ode and said it, The Lord upon my head as a crown, and I shall not become 58 outside of him. They planted for me the crown of the truth and he caused thy branches to burst forth in me: because he is not being like to a crown drying up, which is not wont to burst forth; but thou art living upon my head and thou bursteth forth over me, thy fruits are full and they are completed, being full of thy salvation. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words, which is saying Maria his mother, said he to her, Well (done and) fairly. Amen, amen I say to thee, Will call thee happy from (one) end of the world even unto (the other) end, because [106 ] sojourned with thee the pledge (of) the First Mystery: and through that pledge are about to be delivered all the (things) of the earth with all the (things) of the Height. And that pledge itself is the beginning and the end. But added also Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, It happened, having said the thirteenth repentance the Pistis Sophia, from that hour indeed was completed the precept of all the afflictions, these which they ordered unto the Pistis Sophia because of the completion of the First Mystery, this which becometh from at first; and came the time for them to deliver her from the Chaos [107 ] and to bring her up from all the darknesses: for was received (they received, MS ) from her her repentance by the First Mystery. And himself that Mystery, dispatched to me a great power of Light out of the Height for me to help the Pistis Sophia and to bring her up out of her Chaos. But I looked at the Height of Aeons, I saw the power of Light which the First Mystery dispatched to me, that I should deliver the Sophia from the Chaos. It happened therefore, I having seen it coming out of the Aeons and rushing toward me, but I, I was being over the Chaos, another power of Light came out of me also, that it should help also the Pistis Sophia. And the power of [107 ] Light which came out of the Height by the First Mystery came down upon the power of Light which came out of me, and they met one another, they made a great effluence of light. These therefore having said them Jesus to his disciples, said he, Do ye understand in what manner I am speaking with you? Sprang up again Mariham, said she, My Lord I understand what thou art saying concerning the explanation of this word: thy power of light prophesied once by David in the eighty-fourth psalm, saying, The mercy with the truth met one another, and the righteousness with the peace kissed one another. The truth burst forth out [108 ] of the earth and the righteousness looked out of the heaven. The mercy therefore is the power of Light which came by the First Mystery, because he heard the Pistis Sophia, the First 59 Mystery, he had mercy on her in all her afflictions. The truth also is the power which came out of thee, because that thou completedst the truth, for thee to deliver her from the Chaos. And again the righteousness is the power which came by the First Mystery which will steer the Pistis Sophia: and again the peace is the power which came out of thee, because that it will go toward the emanations of the Self-willed, and take away from them the lights, which they took away from the Pistis Sophia, namely, that thou may gather them into the Sophia [108 ] and make them at peace with her power.
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The text explicitly mentions 'Aeons' as a source from which the power of Light comes to assist in the liberation of Sophia.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine is described using human imagery such as 'Lord', 'crown', and 'branches'.

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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 describes the Pistis Sophia being planted in Maria and her branches bursting forth within her.

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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 an opposition between the living power of Light and the entrapment in 'Chaos' and 'darknesses'.

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Cosmic Sympathycosmology

The Stoic and Plotinian doctrine that all parts of the cosmos are bound by hidden affinities, so that a movement in one part resonates through the whole; the metaphysical basis for astrology, magic, and divination.

The text describes a meeting of powers from different sources that create an effluence of light.

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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 described as the primary medium of divine power, prophecy, and liberation throughout the passage.

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Divine Marriagesoteriology

The reunification of complementary divine principles (male-female, spirit-matter) as a symbol of wholeness and salvation.

The text references the 'First Mystery' and the union of powers from the Height and the speaker to deliver Sophia.

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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 to the 'Height' and 'Aeons' imply a structured cosmic order above the material realm.

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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 passage promises that 'all the things of the earth with all the things of the Height' will be delivered to Sophia at the end.

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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 Pistis Sophia is described as being trapped in 'Chaos' and darknesses that must be overcome through liberation.

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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 the word to those who understand it, indicating inner liberating truth.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The liberation of Sophia is described as occurring within Maria's own being rather than externally.

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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 dynamic, rushing toward the speaker and delivering Sophia from Chaos.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

The text emphasizes Maria's state of being 'sojourned with thee' and the merging of powers to deliver Sophia.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The description of a crown that is not drying up yet bursts forth presents an apparent contradiction.

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Prayerpraxis

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

Maria directly addresses Jesus as 'My Lord' and speaks to him in a devotional context.

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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 bringing Sophia up from darknesses to the Height and reunifying her with the divine power.

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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 mentions the 'Pistis Sophia' and her repentance as necessary for liberation from Chaos.

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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.

Maria declares she understands the explanation of the word concerning her own state and relationship to the Lord.

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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 liberation of Sophia from Chaos implies a movement upward toward divine power.

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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.

Maria is described as being completed by the completion of the First Mystery and receiving divine power within her.

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Related passages · 8 parallels
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 describe a divine interaction involving light and salvation. In Passage A, Jesus and the First Mystery work together to save Pistis Sophia, while in Passage B, Ra, the sun god, is praised for bringing light and life to the world. Both texts emphasize the divine power's role in delivering or saving, though within different mythological frameworks.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 35 (part 2)
Saith Osiris Ani: "I am the (2) pure lotus which cometh forth from the god of light, the guardian of the nostrils of Ra, the guardian (3) of the nose of Hathor. I advance and I hasten (4) after him who is Horus. I am, the pure one who com…”
Both passages describe a divine or mystical light that brings salvation or illumination. They also involve a central figure (Jesus in Passage A and Osiris Ani in Passage B) who plays a crucial role in this process, highlighting themes of redemption and enlightenment.
finnic|The Kalevala|Rune XVc
Paths arise and come to meet her, And she questions thus the pathways: "Paths of hope that God has fashioned, Have ye seen my Lemminkainen, Has my son and golden hero Travelled through thy many kingdoms?" Sad, the many pathways answer: "We…”
Both passages depict a mother's desperate search for her lost son, involving divine intervention and the use of symbolic objects (a rake in Passage A, powers of light in Passage B) to aid in the quest. The themes of loss, divine assistance, and the use of symbolic means to achieve a goal are conceptually parallel.
finnic|The Kalevala|Rune XVh
Then the mother spake as follows: "I have found the long-sought balsam, Found the remedy of Ukko, Where-with God anoints his people, Gives them life, and faith, and wisdom, Heals their wounds and stills their anguish, Makes them strong agai…”
Both passages describe a mother figure using divine or magical means to heal and guide her son, who has encountered danger or suffering. They also involve themes of wisdom, protection, and the restoration of power or knowledge.
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 discuss the interplay of divine forces and the manifestation of divine will through language and mystical processes. They share themes of divine emanation and the transformation of states through mystical understanding, albeit within different religious frameworks.
jewish_mysticism|The Kabbalah Unveiled|Introduction, Section 1o
And the mother is illuminated (that is, in the second part of the ordinary averse Tetragrammaton, which consists of the letters IH, to the letter I, Yod , which hath the signification of the father, is added the letter H, He , which is the…”
Both passages discuss the interplay of divine forces and the transmission of light or influence through mystical pathways. They describe a complex interplay of divine attributes and the flow of divine energy, though within different theological frameworks.
mandaean|Gnostic John the Baptizer — Some Typical Extracts|Section 13
The Treasury am I, Life's Treasury. A crown I became for Life's Gnosis. He bestowed on me the rulership over the treasures and the shekīnahs which are there [yonder]. The Treasury am I, Life's Treasury. Of the light-worlds was I the enligh…”
Both passages discuss the concept of divine light and its role in salvation or enlightenment. They describe a mystical union or interaction between divine powers and human or spiritual beings, emphasizing themes of redemption, light, and divine mystery.
sufism|The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi)|STORY XVa
Counsels of Reserve given by the Prophet to his Freedman Zaid. At dawn the Prophet said to Zaid, "How is it with thee this morning, O pure disciple?" He replied, "Thy faithful slave am I." Again he said, "If the garden of faith has bloomed…”
Both passages discuss the concept of divine light and its interaction with human beings, emphasizing the role of divine intervention and the transformative power of spiritual insight. They share themes of divine mercy, truth, and the mystical union between the divine and the human.