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Pistis Sophia · 48 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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The peace also is the power which sojourned in thy material body according to the World, this which baptised the race of the mankind, until it made them stranger unto the sin, and made them at peace with thy spirit, and become being at peace with the emanations of the Light, namely, that the righteousness with the peace kissed one another. And according as he said, The truth burst forth out of the earth, but the truth is [111 ] thy material body, this which burst forth from me according to the earth of the mankind, this which preached of the Place of the truth (Coptic) of the Truth: and also according as he said, The righteousness burst forth out of the heaven, (so) the righteousness is the power which looked out of the Height, this which will give the mysteries of the light to the race of the mankind, and for them to become righteous and for them to be good, and inherit the kingdom of the light. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words which said Maria his mother, said he: Well (done and) fairly, Maria. Came forward the other Maria, said she, My Lord, bear with me, and be not angry with me. While thy mother was [111 ] speaking with thee concerning the explanation of these words, my power disturbed me for to come forward, and say also the explanation of these words. Said he to her Jesus, I command to thee for to say their explanation. Said she Maria, My Lord, the mercy and the truth met one another. The mercy therefore is the spirit which came upon thee, thou 61 having received baptism by Iohannes: the mercy therefore is the spirit of the divinity, this which came upon thee: he had mercy on the race of the mankind, he came down, he met the power of Sabaoth the good, this which is in thee, this which preached of the Places of the truth. But she said also, The righteousness with the peace kissed one another. [112 ] The righteousness therefore is the spirit of the Light, this which came upon thee, this which brought the mysteries of the Height, for to give them to the race of the mankind. The peace also is the power which (is) in thee of Sabaoth the good, this which baptised (and) forgave to the race of the mankind, and it made them at peace with the sons of the light. And also according as thy power said by David, The truth burst forth in the earth, namely, the power of the Sabaoth the good. He said, It burst forth in the earth. This which burst forth in Maria thy mother the native of earth. The righteousness also which looked out of the heaven, that [112 ] is the spirit which (is) in the Height, this which brought all the mysteries out of the Height, he gave them to the race of the mankind, they became righteous and they became good, they inherited the kingdom of the light. It happened therefore, Jesus having finished hearing these words, saying them Mariham, said he, Well (done) Mariham, inheritor of the light. Came again forward Maria the mother of Jesus, she prostrated at his feet, she kissed them, and said she, My Lord and my son and my Saviour, be not angry with me, but spare me that I may say the explanation of these words another time. The mercy with the truth met one another [113 ]. I am Maria thy mother with Elisabet the mother of Iohannes, I met her: the mercy therefore is the power which (is) in me of the Sabaoth: this which came out of me, namely thee, thou hadst mercy on all the race of the mankind.
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine attributes are described using human actions such as 'baptised', 'came down', and 'had mercy'.

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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 material body is described as having sojourned according to the World until it made them stranger unto the sin.

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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 material body and the spirit, as well as between sin and peace.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The text repeatedly references the Light, its emanations, and the inheritance of the kingdom of the light.

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Divine Marriagesoteriology

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

The union of mercy and truth is described as meeting one another, symbolizing a reunification of divine principles.

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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 the 'Height' and 'earth' as distinct levels from which powers flow.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

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

The text emphasizes understanding the mysteries of the light and inheriting the kingdom through this knowledge.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The passage explicitly discusses the 'mysteries of the light' and their explanation reserved for those ready to receive them.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The text mentions inheriting the kingdom of the light, implying a personal possession of this divine realm.

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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 active and responsive, having mercy on mankind and coming down to meet them.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

The text describes the meeting of mercy and truth, and the state of being at peace with the emanations of the Light.

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Prayerpraxis

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

Maria addresses Jesus directly as 'My Lord' and asks him to spare her.

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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 describes the race of mankind becoming righteous and inheriting the kingdom of the light through divine intervention.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

Baptism is mentioned as a means to make mankind stranger unto the sin and at peace with the spirit.

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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.

The text mentions that mankind was made stranger unto the sin until they were reconciled.

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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.

Mankind is described as becoming righteous and good through divine influence, inheriting the kingdom of the light.

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Related passages · 5 parallels
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 11, Section 1a
CHAPTER XI Concerning ” Peace “ and what is meant by ” Very Being “ Itself , ” Very Life ,” ” Very Power ,” and similar phrases . 1. Now let us praise with reverent hymns of peace the Divine Peace which is the Source of all mutual attract…”
Both passages discuss the concept of divine peace as a unifying force that brings harmony and cohesion. They describe how this peace interacts with humanity and the divine, emphasizing the role of peace in connecting different elements and beings.
christian_mysticism|Meister Eckhart's Sermons (Field translation)|Vb
It is necessary, therefore, for all the creatures which issued forth from God to co-operate earnestly with all their powers to form a Man who may again attain that union with God which Adam enjoyed before he fell, and who may again restore…”
Both passages discuss the union of divine and human nature, emphasizing the role of divine powers or spirits in achieving this union and the transformation of human beings through this process. They share a mystical focus on the interplay between divine and human elements.
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 interplay of divine attributes (mercy, truth, righteousness, peace) and their effects on humanity. They also describe the transformative power of these attributes leading to spiritual elevation and the inheritance of a divine kingdom.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXI
LXXXI. The Heavenly Tablets and the Mission of Enoch . CHAPTER LXXXI. 1. And he said unto me: 'Observe, Enoch, these heavenly tablets, And read what is written thereon, And mark every individual fact.' p. 108 2 And I observed the heavenly t…”
Both passages discuss themes of righteousness, divine mercy, and the interaction between divine and human realms. They emphasize the importance of righteousness and the ultimate fate of the righteous and the unrighteous, showing a conceptual parallel in their mystical teachings.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter CVII
CHAPTER CVII. 1. And I saw written on them that generation upon generation shall transgress, till a generation of righteousness arises, and transgression is destroyed and sin passes away from the earth, and all manner p. 153 of good comes u…”
Both passages discuss the theme of righteousness and the redemption of humanity. Passage A describes a future generation of righteousness that will bring an end to sin and destruction, while Passage B discusses the concepts of mercy, truth, and righteousness as divine powers that bring salvation and peace to humanity.