Pistis Sophia · 83 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what the Slander became, and because of what the Word which is good [194 ] became: and that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what the Obedience became, and because of what the Disregard of man became.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what the Murmuring became, and because of what became the Innocence with the humility.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of that became the Sinfulness, and because of what became the Purity.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Strength, and because of what became the Weakness.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Movement of the body, and because of what became its usefulness.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Poverty, and because of what became [194 ] the Wealth.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Wealth of the World, and because of what became the Slavery.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Death, and because of what became the Life.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these 105 words unto his disciples they rejoiced in great joy and they were delighted, hearing Jesus saying these words.

Added also Jesus in the word, said he to them: Yet therefore my disciples, hear now that I may speak with you concerning all the knowledge of the Mystery of the Ineffable, because the Mystery of that Ineffable indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Mercilessness, and because of what became the Mercy.

And that Mystery [195 ] indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Destruction, and because of what became the Always eternal.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the creeping things, and because of what they will be dissolved.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what will become the Wild-beasts and because of what they will be dissolved.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Beasts, and because of what became the Birds.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Mountains, and because of what became the Precious stones which (are) in them.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Matter of the Gold, and because of what became the Matter of the Silver.

And that Mystery [195 ] indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Matter of the Brass, and because of what became also the Matter of the Iron with the Steel.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Matter of the Tin, and because of what became the Matter of the Lead.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Matter of the Glass, and because of what became the Matter of the Wax.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Grass, namely, the Vegetables.

And because of what became all the Matters.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Waters of the earth and every thing which (is) in them, and because of what the Earth also became.

And that Mystery indeed is that [196 ] which knoweth the Seas became because of what, with the Waters, and because of what became the Wild-beasts in the Sea.

And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Matter of the World, and because of what it will be dissolved altogether.

Themes

◆Apophatic Theologytheology

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

The text explicitly defines the Mystery as 'that which knoweth' rather than describing its nature directly.

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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 phrase 'the Word which is good became' suggests a divine generative act within the human context.

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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 passage lists 'Movement of the body' and 'Poverty' as conditions that become known by the Mystery.

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◆Cosmic Consciousnessanthropology

A state of awareness transcending ordinary human consciousness, often involving unity with the universe or higher dimensions.

The Mystery is described as knowing all aspects of existence from the beginning to the end.

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◆Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The text refers to 'the Mystery of the Ineffable' and 'that which knoweth' as a concealed reality.

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◆Divine Lighttheology

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

References to 'Mercy' and 'Mercilessness' imply a luminous quality of the divine attributes.

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◆Evil As Privationtheology

Augustinian and Plotinian doctrine that evil has no positive being of its own but is a lack, distortion, or absence of the good — denying ontological dualism while preserving moral seriousness.

The passage contrasts 'Sinfulness' with 'Purity' and 'Mercilessness' with 'Mercy', implying evil is a lack rather than a positive force.

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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 passage centers on the 'Mystery of the Ineffable' and the ability to know through specific conditions like Obedience and Disregard.

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◆Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

Jesus speaks of the 'Ineffable Mystery' reserved for those who hear him speak concerning it.

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◆Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The Mystery is described as residing within the disciples who know it through specific conditions.

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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 passage references 'the Word which is good' and 'the Obedience' as key components of the Mystery.

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◆Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

The text lists specific numbers (ten) of conditions that constitute the Mystery's knowledge.

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◆Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The text juxtaposes opposites like Sinfulness and Purity to reveal the nature of the Mystery.

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◆Pneumatic Electsoteriology

A spiritual elite who possess the divine spark and are predestined for salvation, contrasted with psychic (faithful) and hylic (material) persons.

Disciples are distinguished as those who hear and know the Mystery.

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◆Poverty Of Spiritanthropology

Eckhart's radical reading of Matthew 5:3 — the saint as one who wants nothing, knows nothing, and has nothing, having emptied even the will and the self with which to receive God; distinct from renunciation_of_wealth (material poverty).

The text lists 'Poverty' as one of the conditions that become known by the Mystery.

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◆Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The passage explicitly lists 'Purity' as a condition that becomes known by the Mystery.

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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.

The text emphasizes knowing through specific internal states like Obedience and Disregard of man.

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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 mention of 'Slander' and 'Disregard of man' implies a state of alienation from the divine origin.

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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 text describes the transformation of human conditions (like Poverty and Wealth) into states known by the Mystery.

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Related passages · 3 parallels

◆buddhism|Vajrakkhedika (Diamond Cutter)|Section 1f

“Because, O Subhûti, the highest perfect knowledge of the holy and enlightened Tathâgatas is produced from it; the blessed Buddhas are produced from it. And why? Because, O Subhûti, when the Tathâgata preached: [1. See Childers, s.v. Lok…”

Both passages explore the nature of ultimate reality and the mysteries of existence through a series of paradoxical statements. They share a conceptual parallel in their emphasis on the interconnectedness and transience of all phenomena, though they come from different mystical traditions.

◆christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 7, Section 1e

“i and more especially because the Divine Reason is more simple than all simplicity, and, in the transcendence of Its Super-Essential Being, is independent of all things. 419 419 God is called Reason: (1) because He is the Giver of reason;…”

Both passages explore the nature of divine knowledge and its relationship to the world. They discuss the mysteries of existence and the unity of truth, albeit within different theological frameworks.

◆hermeticism|Corpus Hermeticum 1: Poimandres|Section 1b

“But when He raised His head, I see in Mind the Light, [but] now in Powers no man could number, and Cosmos grown beyond all bounds, and that the Fire was compassed round about by a most mighty Power, and [now] subdued had come unto a stand.…”

Both passages explore the nature of divine mysteries and the interplay between opposing forces or concepts. They share a focus on the duality and interconnectedness of existence, though they come from different mystical traditions.