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Pistis Sophia · 57 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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And thou also art he who will deliver me from all their threats which are cruel. And also the word which said thy power by David, He will make shadow unto thee under his (thy, MS ) breast, and thou wilt trust under his wing, namely, that the Pistis Sophia became in the light of the effluence of Light, this which came out of thee, and she remained confident of heart, for the light which (is) on left of her [132 ] with that which (is) on right of her, namely the wings of the effluence of Light. And the word which thy 72 power of light prophesied by David, The truth will surround thee as armour (a weapon, MS ), that is the light of the effluence of Light, that which surrounded the Pistis Sophia on every side of her as armour. And the word which thy power said, He will not fear for a fear of night, namely, that the Pistis Sophia feared not for the fears with the disturbances, these in which they planted her in the Chaos which is the night. And the word which thy power said, He will not fear [133 ] for an arrow flying in the day, namely, that the Pistis Sophia did not fear for the power, this which the Self-willed dispatched out of the Height at the last, this which came unto the Chaos, being as an arrow flying, which thy power therefore of light said, Thou wilt not fear for an arrow flying in the day. Because that power came out of the thirteenth Aeon, that is (that) which is lord over the twelve Aeons, and that is (that) which enlighteneth unto all the Aeons. Because of this therefore he said, The day. And the word also which thy power said, He will not fear [133 ] for a thing, walking in the darkness, namely, that the Sophia did not fear for the emanation of face of lion (serpent, MS ) which was giving fear to the Pistis Sophia in the Chaos, namely, the darkness. And the word which thy power said, He will not fear for an accident with a demon of the hour of mid-day, namely, that the Pistis Sophia did not fear for the emanation demonic of the Adamas, the tyrant, this which thrust the Pistis Sophia down in great calamity, this which came from Adamas out of the twelve Aeons. Because of this therefore said thy power, He will not fear [134 ] for a calamity of demon of the time of mid-day. The time of mid-day is because it came out of the twelve Aeons, namely, the time of mid-day. And also Night, because it came out of the Chaos, namely, the night, and it came out of the twelve Aeons, which are between the two. Because of this thy power of light said, The time of mid-day because the twelve Aeons are between the thirteenth Aeon and between the Chaos. And the word also which thy power of light said by David, There are thousand (who) will fall on left of him and a ten thousand on right of him; and they will not approach him, namely, [134 ] that when the emanations of the Self-willed One, these which are numerous greatly, they having not been able to support the great light of the effluence of Light, a multitude among them fell on left of the Pistis Sophia. And a multitude fell on right of her. And they were not being able to approach her to hurt her.
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 twelve Aeons as cosmic rulers and sources of time.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

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

Divine attributes are described using human imagery such as wings, breasts, and armor.

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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 Chaos is described as a night and darkness that threatens the Sophia.

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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 contrasts light with darkness, chaos with order, and Sophia's fearlessness against demonic disturbances.

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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 a protective force that surrounds the Pistis Sophia and enables her to remain confident.

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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.

The passage describes powers flowing from a higher source (thirteenth Aeon) to lower levels like Chaos and demons.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text interprets ancient prophetic words as containing specific esoteric meanings about the Pistis Sophia's protection.

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Inner Lightanthropology

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

The Pistis Sophia remains confident of heart due to the light residing within her from the effluence of Light.

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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 speaks words and delivers protection.

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Logoscosmology

The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world.

The text references the 'word' of God's power that prophesied and delivered protection.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

Specific numbers like twelve Aeons and thousand falling on left/right are used structurally to define cosmic divisions.

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Prayerpraxis

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

The text includes a direct petition for protection from threats and the word of power.

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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 Pistis Sophia remains confident under the light of her origin, implying a connection to her source.

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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 emphasizes remaining confident and protected from threats associated with chaos and darkness.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

Specific words and names of God's power are invoked to confer protection and deliverance.

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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 Pistis Sophia is depicted as being planted in the Chaos, a state of exile from her protective light.

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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 text describes the Sophia remaining confident under the light, implying a state of elevated protection.

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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 Pistis Sophia is transformed into a state of confidence and armor by the effluence of Light.

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Related passages · 4 parallels
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 in Passage A and Ra in Passage B) being protected or healed from various threats or afflictions. They share themes of divine power, protection, and the overcoming of adversity through divine intervention.
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 emphasize the protective and enlightening power of a divine light, with the Pistis Sophia in the Gnostic text and the sun god Ra in the Egyptian text. They share themes of divine protection, fearlessness, and the triumph of light over darkness.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XIV (part 1)
CHAPTER XIV. 1. The book of the words of righteousness, and of the reprimand of the eternal Watchers in accordance with the command of the Holy Great One in that vision. 2. I saw in my sleep what I will now say with a tongue of flesh an…”
Both passages describe a visionary experience involving divine light and celestial realms, with a focus on the protection and power of divine entities. They share themes of divine intervention and the overcoming of fears through divine light, indicating a genuine conceptual parallel.
mesopotamian|Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation|1f
She hath given him the Tablets of Destiny on his breast she laid them, saving: Thy command shall not be without avail, and the word of thy mouth shall be established.' Now Kingu, thus exalted, having received the power of Anu, Decreed the f…”
Both passages describe a divine figure receiving power and protection from a higher authority, and both emphasize the invincibility and authority of the figure. The themes of divine protection, authority, and the establishment of fate are shared across the two mystical traditions.