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Pistis Sophia · 79 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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Answered further Jesus, said he to her, Well (done), O pure spiritual Maria, this is the explanation of the word. It happened therefore also after all these words, added Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, [185 ] Hear that I may speak with you concerning the glory of those of the Height as they become, according as I was speaking with you unto to-day. Now therefore whenever I should take you unto the Place of the last Helper, this who surroundeth the Treasury of the Light, and whenever I should take you unto the Place of that last Helper, and ye (should) see the glory in which he is, the Place of the Inheritance of the Light, (it) will be reckoned with you of the size of a city only of the World from the greatness in which becometh the last Helper, and with the great light in which it is: and after these I shall speak with you also of the glory of the Helper who is above the lesser [185 ] Helper, nor shall I speak with you of the Place of these who are above all the Helpers, for there is not a kind of word unto them in this World, for there is not likeness in this World being like to them, that I should compare it unto them. Nor is there size, nor is there light which is comparable unto them, that I should speak of them. Not only in this World, but also they have not likeness also in those of the Height of the Righteousness from their Place downward. Because of this therefore in fact there is not the manner of word for them in this World from the great glory of those of the Height, and there is not the great and immeasurable size. Because of this therefore there is not the manner of word for it in this World. It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, came forward [186 ] Maria the Magdalene, said she to Jesus, My Lord, Be not angry with me, seeking from thee, because that I molest thee in a multitude of times. Now therefore, my Lord, be not angry with me seeking after every thing in an exactness with a certainty, because my brothers preach them in the race 100 of the mankind, that they should hear and repent and be delivered from the judgments which are cruel of the wicked Rulers, and go unto the Height and inherit the kingdom of the Light: because that, my Lord, not only are we compassionate of ourselves, but we are compassionate of all the race of the mankind, that they should be delivered from all the judgments which are cruel. Now therefore, my Lord, concerning this we are seeking after everything in [186 ] an exactness, because my brothers preach them to all the race of the men that they should not come unto hands of the Rulers which are cruel, of the Darkness, and that they should be delivered from the hands of the Receivers which are cruel of the Darkness which is without. It happened, Jesus having heard these words, saying them Maria, answered the Saviour becoming in great mercy in unto her. Said he to her, Seek after that which thou wishest to seek after it, and I shall reveal to thee in an exactness and a certainty without parable. It happened therefore, Maria having heard these words, saying them the Saviour, she rejoiced in great joy, and she delighted greatly, said she to Jesus, My Lord, then the second [187 ] Helper is great(er) than the first Helper? About how much of size, and he is distant from him about how much distance, or otherwise he is shining more than he about how many times?
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine is addressed directly as 'my Lord' and Jesus speaks to disciples in a personal manner.

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Apophatic Theologytheology

Describing the divine only by negation—God transcends all positive categories and concepts; the via negativa.

The text explicitly states there is no manner of word for the highest realm due to their incomprehensibility.

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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, as well as Rulers and Receivers.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The highest realm is described as beyond the capacity of words or likeness to be known in this world.

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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 used as a central metaphor for the divine glory and inheritance.

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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 text mentions 'judgments which are cruel' and the need to be delivered from them.

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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 promised through direct revelation without parable or mediation.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The passage contrasts the incomprehensible nature of the highest realm with words spoken in this world.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

Jesus is depicted as actively responding to Maria's plea and revealing truth to her.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

Maria asks about the size difference between the second and first Helper in terms of 'how many times'.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The text uses the paradoxical statement that there is no manner of word for the highest realm.

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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' seeking from him.

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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 text describes a journey to the Place of the last Helper and the Inheritance of the Light.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

Maria identifies as 'pure spiritual Maria', implying a state required for divine encounter.

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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 taking disciples to the Place of the last Helper and the Inheritance of the Light.

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Related passages · 2 parallels
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 4, Section 1f
But these things are dealt with in the “Symbolic Divinity.” Here I desire to declare what is the spiritual meaning of the name “Light” as belonging to the Good. 267 267 Two worlds: (1) Nature, (2) Grace. God is revealed in both; the forme…”
Both passages discuss the concept of divine light and its transcendence, with a focus on the inability to fully describe or comprehend the higher realms of spiritual existence. They share a mystical emphasis on the glory and ineffability of the divine.
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Mystical Theology|Chapter IIa
How it is necessary to be united with and render praise to Him Who is the cause of all and above all. Unto this Darkness which is beyond Light we pray that we may come, and may attain unto vision through the loss of sight and knowledge, an…”
Both passages discuss the ineffable nature of divine realms or beings that transcend human understanding and language. They emphasize the limitations of human perception and the need for a mystical approach to grasp the divine.