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Pistis Sophia · 65 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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He who filled thee with light being purified; and thy beginning will become new as an Invisible of the Height. These words the Pistis having hymned (with) them, because she was delivered, and remembering all the things which I gave to her: it happened therefore, the First Mystery having finished uttering these words unto the disciples, said he to them, He who understandeth the explanation of these words, let him come forward, and say them in boldness. 82 [152 ] Came again forward Maria, said she, My Lord, concerning these words with which hymned the Pistis Sophia, thy power of light prophesied them by David, My soul, bless the Lord, all those which (are) in my inward part bless his name which is holy. My soul, bless the Lord and forget not all his recompenses: he who forgiveth all thy unlawfulness; he who healeth all thy sicknesses. He who redeemeth thy life out of the destruction. He who giveth a crown of mercy upon thy head and (of) compassion. He who satiateth thy wish with good; thy youth (he) will make new as that of an eagle, namely, that the Sophia will become as the Invisibles which are at the Height: [152 ] having said therefore, As an eagle, because that the dwelling of the eagles is being in the height, and the Invisibles (are) also in the Height, namely, that the Sophia will become light as the Invisibles, as she was from her beginning. It happened therefore, the First Mystery having heard these words, saying them Maria, said he, Well (done), O Maria the happy. It happened therefore after these things added also in the word the First Mystery, said he to the disciples, I took away the Pistis Sophia, I brought her up unto a Place being below the thirteenth Aeon, and I gave to her a new mystery of the light which is not that of her Aeon, the Place of the Invisibles. And also I gave [153 ] to her a hymn of the light, that should not be able to prevail against her from this hour the Rulers of the Aeons. And I put her in that Place, until I come for her and take her unto her Place which is at the Height. It happened therefore, I having put her in that Place, she said also this hymn saying thus, In faith I believed the Light, and he remembered me, he heard my hymn: he brought my power up from the Chaos with the darkness below of all the matter. And he brought me up, he put me in an Aeon being exalted, and being firm. He put me on the road which goeth unto my Place, and he gave to me a new mystery which not my Aeon is, and he gave to me [153 ] a hymn of the light. Now therefore, O Light, all the Rulers will see the (things) which thou diddest with me, and they (will) fear, and they (will) believe the Light. This hymn therefore said the Pistis Sophia, rejoicing because they brought her up from the Chaos. And they brought her unto the Place which (is) below the thirteenth Aeon. Now therefore he whose mind moveth him, understanding the explanation of the meaning of the hymn, that which said the Pistis Sophia, let him come forward and say it. Came forward Andreas, said he, My Lord, this is that which thy power of light prophesied about it once by David: In patience I had 83 patience with the Lord, [154 ] he gave heed unto me, and he heard my supplication.
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The text explicitly mentions 'Aeons' and a 'thirteenth Aeon' as specific levels of existence.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

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

Divine beings are described with human-like actions such as sitting, being exalted, and having a crown.

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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 Pistis Sophia is described as having 'power of light' that prophesied through David and resides within the inner part.

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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 text references the 'Chaos with the darkness below of all the matter' as a state from which to be brought up.

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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 light and darkness, Chaos and the Height.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

The Pistis Sophia is described as being in a Place 'being below' and 'not that of her Aeon'.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

Light is the central motif of purification, prophecy, and transformation throughout the passage.

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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 Rulers are described as fearing and believing the Light after witnessing Sophia's elevation.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

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

Salvation is linked to understanding the explanation of the words rather than external ritual alone.

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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 teaching reserved for those who understand the explanation of the hymn.

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Inner Lightanthropology

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

The Pistis Sophia is described as having a 'power of light' and being filled with light.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The Pistis Sophia's power is said to be within the inner part of the soul.

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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 responsive, hearing hymns and bringing power up from Chaos.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

The transformation of Sophia into an 'Invisible' suggests a merging with the divine realm.

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Prayerpraxis

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

Maria and Andreas engage in hymning and supplication to the Lord.

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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 is brought up from the Chaos to her Place at the Height.

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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 being 'purified' as a prerequisite for receiving light.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The hymn of light is used as a formula that protects against Rulers of the Aeons.

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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.

Understanding the explanation of the words is presented as the condition for coming forward and receiving power.

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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 narrative describes the Pistis Sophia being brought up from the Chaos to a Place below the thirteenth Aeon and ultimately to her Place at the Height.

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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 transformation of Sophia into an 'Invisible' at the Height implies a deification or elevation to divine status.

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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.

The practice involves consecrated hymns and mysteries that engage divine power against Rulers of the Aeons.

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Related passages · 5 parallels
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 10 (part 3)
It was she in whom the voice of God promised again to introduce the living, holy substance from heaven, and to generate anew and in divine power the faded image of God that was contained therein." 1 ( Grace , vii. 18.) This, however, did n…”
Both passages describe a divine intervention that restores or renews a fallen or corrupted entity. They share themes of divine light, redemption, and the transformation of a spiritual essence, though they come from different mystical traditions.
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 describe a mystical transformation and redemption of a spiritual being (Pistis Sophia in Passage A and blessed souls in Passage B) through divine intervention, leading to a state of joy and new existence. They share themes of divine light, redemption, and spiritual elevation.
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 mystical figure (Pistis Sophia and Osiris Ani) being elevated and transformed through divine intervention, emphasizing themes of light, redemption, and divine favor. The passages share a common structure of hymns and prayers that celebrate the divine acts and seek further blessings.
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 describe a mystical ascent and transformation through divine light and knowledge. They share themes of redemption, enlightenment, and the singing of hymns or praises, though they are rooted in different religious traditions.
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 describe a mystical experience involving divine light and transformation. They share themes of spiritual elevation, divine intervention, and the revelation of hidden knowledge, though they come from different religious traditions.