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Pistis Sophia · 85 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what the Dissension became, and because of what became the Reconciliation. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Covetousness, and because of what all the Renunciation of the all became, [199 ] and because of what became the love of Wealth. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what the Love of self became, and because of what became the Satiety. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Partners, and because of what became the Separated Partners. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Godlessness (added in margin), and because of what became the Love of God (in lower margin). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Phoster (Planets) and because of what became the Sparks (Fixed Stars). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Triple powers, and because of what became the Invisibles. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth [199 ] because of what became the Forefather, and because of what became the Pure (Lights). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the great Self-willed, and because of what became his Believers. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the great Triple powered, and because of what became the great Forefather invisible. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Thirteenth Aeon, and because of what became the Place of the Middle (plural, MS ). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Receiver of the Middle, and 108 because of what became the Virgins of the Light. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of [200 ] what became the Deacons of the Middle, and because of what became the Angels of the Middle. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Land of the Light, and because of what became the great Receiver of the Light. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Guards of the Place of those of the Righthand, and because of what became the Chief Captains of these. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Gate of the life, and because of what became Sabaoth the good. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Place of those of the Righthand, and because of what became the Land of the Light, namely, the Treasury of the Light: and that Mystery [200 ] indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the emanations of the Light, and because of what became the twelve Saviours. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Three Gates of the Treasury of the Light, and because of what became the nine Guards. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Twin-saviours, and because of what became the three Amens. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the five Trees, and because of what became the seven Amens. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what became the Confusion [201 ] which becometh not, and because of what was purified. Added Jesus, said he to his disciples, Yet my disciples, be sober and let each one (added in lower margin) of you bring the power of the perception of the Light in front of him, and listen out of an exactness: for from now I am about to speak with you of the whole Place of the truth, of the Ineffable, and with the manner of which it is (being).
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

References to 'Thirteenth Aeon' and 'Triple powers' indicate divine archetypal beings dwelling within the Pleroma.

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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 mentions speaking of the 'Ineffable' and the 'Mystery,' emphasizing what cannot be known through ordinary language.

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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 passage contrasts Dissension with Reconciliation and Godlessness with Love of God as opposing principles.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The text repeatedly emphasizes the 'Mystery' and 'Ineffable' nature of the truth that must be known through perception rather than ordinary speech.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The passage centrally focuses on the 'Light,' its Treasury, and the 'Perception of the Light' as essential to knowing the Mystery.

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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.

References to 'Triple powers,' 'Invisibles,' and 'Mystery' imply a structured divine order flowing from higher principles.

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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 defines the Mystery as what 'knoweth' through specific cosmic conditions and emphasizes direct perception of the Light over ordinary speech.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The instruction to bring the power of perception in front of oneself suggests esoteric knowledge reserved for those ready to receive it.

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Inner Lightanthropology

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

The instruction to bring the 'power of the perception of the Light' in front of oneself implies an internal capacity for divine illumination.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The command to perceive the Light internally suggests the divine realm is accessible within the individual rather than externally.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

Specific numbers like 'Twelve Saviours,' 'Nine Guards,' and 'Three Gates' structure the cosmic order described in the passage.

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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.

The distinction between 'Believers' and 'Virgins of the Light' implies a spiritual elite predestined for salvation.

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Renunciation Of Wealthethics

The spiritual danger of attachment to material possessions; wealth as a spiritual obstacle.

The passage explicitly lists 'Covetousness' and 'Love of Wealth' as negative states that the Mystery knows because of.

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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 back to the 'Place of the truth' and the 'Treasury of the Light,' implying a reversal of fall into matter.

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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 text lists 'Separated Partners' and 'Godlessness' as conditions that became before the Mystery knew them.

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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 instruction to bring the power of perception implies a journey upward toward higher knowledge and the Light.

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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 mystical concepts related to the nature of divine mysteries and the ineffable aspects of the divine. They discuss the limitations of human understanding and the supernatural qualities of the divine, albeit within different theological frameworks.
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 mystical insights into the nature of divine mysteries and the path to understanding them. Passage A from Pistis Sophia describes various mystical states and entities, while Passage B from Chapter 7, Section 1e discusses the Divine Reason and the path to simple, unchanging knowledge of the Truth. Both emphasize the transcendence and simplicity of divine knowledge.
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 concepts of creation, divine mysteries, and the nature of the cosmos. They share themes of divine emanations, the structure of the universe, and the role of divine entities in creation, though they come from different religious traditions.
jewish_mysticism|Sefer Yetzirah (The Book of Formation)|Section 1g
The Eighteenth Path is called the House of Influence (by the greatness of whose abundance the influx of good things upon created beings is increased) and from the midst of the investigation the arcana and hidden senses are drawn forth, whic…”
Both passages describe a series of mystical concepts or paths that lead to higher understanding or divine influence. They share a common theme of esoteric knowledge and the structured progression towards spiritual insight, though they come from different traditions.