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Pistis Sophia · 84 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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And added also Jesus, said he to his disciples, Yet therefore my Disciples and my friends and my brothers, let each be sober of the spirit which (is) in him that ye may listen and understand every word which I shall say to you, because from now I shall begin to speak with you concerning all the knowledge 106 of the Ineffable, because that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of [196 ] what became the West and because of what became the East. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the South, and because of what became the North. Yet therefore also my disciples, hear and continue and be sober and hear all the knowledge of the Mystery of the Ineffable, because that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the demons and because of what became the mankind. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Heat, and because of what became the Air which is wholesome. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Stars [197 ], and because of what became the Clouds. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what the earth became Deep, and because of what the Water came over it. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what the earth dried up and the water of rain came upon it. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Famines, and because of what became the Abundance. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Frost, and because of what became the Dew which is good. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Dust, and because of what became the Cooling which is sweet. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Hail, and [197 ] because of what became the Snow which is wholesome. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Wind of the West, and because of what became the Wind of the East. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Fire of the height, and because of what became also the Waters. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Wind of West, and because of what became the Wind of East. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Wind of South, and because of what became the Wind of North. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Stars of the heaven and with the Disks of the phoster (planets) and because of what became the [198 ] Firmament with all its Veils. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Rulers of the Spheres, and because of what became the Sphere with all its types. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Rulers of the Aeons, and because of what became the Aeons with their 107 Veils. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Rulers of the tyrant Aeons, and because of what became the Rulers who repented. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Ministers and because of what became the Dekans. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of [198 ] what became the Angels, and because of what became the Archangels. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Lords, and because of what became the Gods. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what also the Jealousy became in the height, and because of what also became the Absence of Jealousy. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Hate, and because of what became the Love.
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The passage explicitly lists 'Rulers of the Aeons' and 'Aeons with their Veils' as objects of knowledge within the Mystery.

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Apophatic Theologytheology

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

The text repeatedly emphasizes knowing 'because of what became' rather than positive attributes, aligning with negation.

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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 distinction between the 'Ineffable' and the material states like demons and mankind implies a separation.

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Correspondencecosmology

The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.

The passage links celestial phenomena (Stars, Clouds) directly to terrestrial states (Deep, Water), reflecting cosmic interconnection.

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Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

The text contrasts 'what became the demons' with 'what became the mankind' as opposing forces of knowledge.

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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 'Ineffable' and 'Mystery' that know through what became rather than direct revelation.

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Emanation Hierarchycosmology

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 describes a structured descent from the Ineffable to Aeons, Rulers, and material states like demons and mankind.

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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 'knowledge of the Ineffable' and the Mystery as the core subject of the disciples' instruction.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

Jesus instructs his disciples to be 'sober of the spirit' to understand the 'knowledge of the Ineffable'.

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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 depicted as an active speaker who speaks concerning knowledge.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

The text lists specific cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) and cosmic divisions (Four Winds, Four Elements) as structural elements 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 instructed to be 'sober' and listen to understand the higher knowledge reserved for them.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

Jesus commands disciples to be 'sober of the spirit' as a prerequisite for understanding the teachings.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The text references the 'Ineffable' and the Mystery as entities that carry knowledge through their names or identities.

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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 distinction between the Ineffable Mystery and the material states like demons implies a state of exile from the divine origin.

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Related passages · 4 parallels
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 2, Section 1h
Even so if any one says that Very Life lives, or that Very Light is enlightened, he will be wrong (according to my view) unless, perchance, he were to use these terms in a different sense from the ordinary one to mean that the qualities of…”
Both passages explore the nature of the divine and its relationship to creation, emphasizing the ineffable and transcendent aspects of the divine mystery. They share a focus on the profound, unknowable aspects of the divine, though they use different theological frameworks and terminology.
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 10 (part 15)
"The Spirit of Christ in His children is not bound to a certain form, so that He could say nothing but what is found in the writings of the apostles; but as the Spirit was free in the apostles, and as they did not all use the same expressio…”
Both passages discuss the concept of divine mystery and knowledge, emphasizing the ineffable nature of the divine and the various manifestations of creation. They share a focus on the comprehensive understanding of the divine mystery and its relationship to the world.
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 mystical insights into the nature of the cosmos and the divine. They discuss the interplay between divine mysteries, cosmic elements, and the creation of the world, albeit within different theological frameworks.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXI
LXXXI. The Heavenly Tablets and the Mission of Enoch . CHAPTER LXXXI. 1. And he said unto me: 'Observe, Enoch, these heavenly tablets, And read what is written thereon, And mark every individual fact.' p. 108 2 And I observed the heavenly t…”
Both passages describe a mystical revelation of divine knowledge. In Passage A, Jesus speaks of the 'Mystery of the Ineffable' that knows all things, while in Passage B, Enoch reads the 'heavenly tablets' that contain the record of all human deeds. Both texts emphasize the comprehensive nature of divine knowledge and its revelation to a chosen individual.