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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.
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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 · 7 parallels
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 85 (part 1)
Section 10 10. But if Matter is devoid of quality how can it be evil? It is described as being devoid of quality in the sense only that it does not essentially possess any of the qualities which it admits and which enter into it as into a…”
Shared concept: Evil As Privation — 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. (derived)
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 426
Section 10 10. We have shown the inevitability of certain convictions as to the scheme of things: There exists a Principle which transcends Being; this is The One, whose nature we have sought to establish in so far as such matters lend them…”
Shared concept: Logos — The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world. (derived)
christian_mysticism|Meister Eckhart's Sermons (Field translation)|IV-b
No, they are certainly not; for the work of the angels is the will of God, and the will of God is the work of the angels; their service to us does not hinder their joy nor their working. If God told an angel to go to a tree and pluck cater…”
Shared concept: Poverty Of Spirit — 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). (derived)
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 2, Section 1n
200 Redemption is a work performed by the whole Trinity through the Second Person. (So, too, is Creation. Cf. p. 65, n. 2). 201 i. e. We strive to distinguish the two planes of Being in God. Cf. Athan. Creed: “Neither confounding…”
Shared concept: Theosis Deification — 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. (derived)
hinduism|Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book I|Sutra 50
The impress on the consciousness springing from this perception supersedes all previous impressions. Each state or field of the mind, each field of knowledge, so to speak, which is reached by mental and emotional energies, is a psychical st…”
Shared concept: Cosmic Consciousness — A state of awareness transcending ordinary human consciousness, often involving unity with the universe or higher dimensions. (derived)
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 7 (part 5)
13.) Man can attain real similarity to God and perfect beatitude only by decisively willing to put his will into the Son, as the Heart or Light of the Father. "God has the eternal and unchangeable will to generate His Heart and his Son, an…”
Shared concept: Birth Of Word In Soul — 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. (derived)
hermeticism|Corpus Hermeticum 10: The Sermon on the Mount|Section 1a
The Key <This longer tractate presents itself explicitly as a summary or abridgement of the General Sermons (CH II-IX), and discusses the Hermetic view of knowledge and its role in the lives and afterlives of human beings. The attentive re…”
Shared concept: Pneumatic Elect — A spiritual elite who possess the divine spark and are predestined for salvation, contrasted with psychic (faithful) and hylic (material) persons. (derived)