It happened therefore, the First Mystery having finished saying these words, came 78 forward Mathaios, said he, I understood the explanation of the hymn, this which said the Pistis Sophia, now therefore command to me that I may say it boldly.
But answered the First Mystery, said he, I command to thee Mathaios for to utter the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia.
But answered Mathaios, said he, Concerning the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia, thy power of light [145 ] prophesied about it once, the Ode of Solomon.
It is he who brought me down from the Places which are high above, and he brought me up from the Places which are at the bottom below.
He who there took away the (things) which are in the Middle, and he taught me them.
He who scattered away mine enemies with my adversaries.
He who gave to me authority over bonds to loosen them.
He who struck the serpent which hath seven heads with my hands, He made me stand upon his root, that I should blot out his seed.
And thou wast being with me, thou art helping me in every Place.
Surrounded me thy name.
Thy right hand destroyed the poison of the evil [145 ] speaker.
Thy hand opened the road for thy faithful (ones).
Thou redeemedst them out of the tombs, and thou removedst them out of the midst of the embalmed-corpses.
Thou tookest bones being dead, thou clothedst them with a body; and those which move not, thou gavest to them an energy of life.
Thy road became uncorruptness and with thy face.
Thou broughtest thine Aeon upon the corruption, that they should all be dissolved and made new and thy light should be foundation to them all.
Thou buildest thy richness on them, and they became a dwelling being holy.
This therefore, my Lord, is the explanation of the hymn which said the Pistis Sophia.
Hear therefore, that I may say manifestly.
The word which thy power said by Solomon, [146 ] He who brought me down out of the Places which are high above, and also thou broughtest me up from the places which are in the bottom below.
That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, I hymn up unto thee, this through whose precept thou broughtest me out of this Aeon which is high above, and thou broughtest me unto the Places below.
And also thou deliveredst me by thy precept, thou broughtest me up from the Places which are below.
And the word which thy power said by Solomon, He who there took away those which are in the Middle and he taught me them.
That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia.
And also through thyself thou causedst to be purified the matter which is in the midst of my power, and I saw [146 ] it.
And also the word which thy power said by Solomon, He who 79 scattered away mine enemies with mine adversaries.
That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And thou art he who scattered away from me all the emanations of the Self-willed, these which were oppressing me, and these which were becoming enemy unto me.
And the word which thy power said, He who gave to me his wisdom over bonds to loosen them.
That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And he gave to me his wisdom, for me to be loosened from the bonds of those emanations.
And the word which thy power said, He who struck the serpent which hath seven heads with my hands, [147 ] and he made me stand upon his root, that I should blot out his seed.
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 'Places which are high above,' 'Places which are at the bottom below,' and 'the Middle,' indicating a structured hierarchy of divine realms.
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 recipient is transformed by the divine power into a state of holiness and dwelling within the divine richness.