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Pistis Sophia · 87 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled himself him the great Light of the Lights, and because of what he (they, MS ) proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones), and that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled himself the First precept, and because of what he separated the seven Mysteries, and because of what also they called it (him, MS ), the First [204 ] precept. And because of what he (they, MS ) proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled himself the great Light of the Marks of Light, and because of what he stood (up) without emanation, and because of what he (they, MS ) proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled himself the First Mystery, namely, the twenty-fourth Mystery (reckoning) outward, and because of what he counterfeits within him the twelve Mysteries according to the number of the numbering of the Boundless Uncontainable (ones), and because of what he proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled themselves the twelve [204 ] Immoveable (ones), and because of what indeed they set them up with all their arrays, and because of what they proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled themselves the Unshakeable (ones), and because of what they set them up divided unto twelve arrays, and because of what they proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones) these which belong unto (the) arrays of the Space of the Ineffable. And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what they despoiled them the Inconceivable (ones) which belong (to) the second (two, MS ) Space of the Ineffable, and because of what they proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled [205 ] themselves the twelve Undesignated (ones), and because of what they set them up after all their arrays of the Unrevealed (ones), namely also, some Uncontainable (ones) of the Boundless (ones), and because of what indeed they proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled themselves the Unrevealed (ones) these which did not reveal themselves, nor brought they them unto that which manifesteth according to the arrangement of the Only One, the Ineffable, and because of what they proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones). And that Mystery 111 indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled themselves the Most profound (ones), and because of what they distributed them being one only array, and because of what they [205 ] proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled themselves the twelve arrays of the Unspeakable (ones), and because of what indeed they separated them, being three Parts, and because of what indeed they proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones). And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled themselves all that Incorruptible (ones), being twelve Places, and because of what they placed them being distributed one after another in one only array, and because of what also they separated them and they made them diverse arrays, being themselves Uncontainable (ones) and Boundless (ones), and because of what they proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones).
Themes
Apophatic Theologytheology

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

The text repeatedly defines the Mystery through negation ('Fatherless ones', 'Unrevealed ones', 'Ineffable').

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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 Fatherless ones are associated with despoiling and separation from the divine light.

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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 the Fatherless ones and the Light/Mysteries.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The Mystery is defined by its concealment within the Fatherless ones and ineffable spaces.

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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 passage describes a descending chain of Mysteries from the First precept to the twelve arrays.

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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 text explicitly defines 'that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth' as the central subject.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The passage is structured around esoteric knowledge reserved for those who understand the despoiling of light.

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Infinite Cosmoscosmology

The doctrine of the universe as boundless and without center or circumference, populated by innumerable worlds — Bruno's rejection of the closed Aristotelian sphere; the divine and the cosmos as ontologically infinite.

References to 'Boundless Uncontainable (ones)' suggest an ontologically boundless reality.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The Mystery is identified as residing within the individual through despoiling and separation.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

The text extensively references specific numbers such as twelve arrays, twenty-fourth Mystery, and Boundless Uncontainable ones.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The concept of despoiling oneself to know the Light presents a paradoxical spiritual dynamic.

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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 act of despoiling oneself implies a movement back toward the divine origin from which light proceeded.

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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 passage defines the Mystery as knowledge derived from the self's despoiling and separation.

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Related passages · 2 parallels
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 discuss the emanation of divine entities or principles from a higher, often ineffable source. They share a common theme of hierarchical divine structures and the process of creation or manifestation through these structures.
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 424
Section 8 8. This is the explanation of Plato's Triplicity, in the passage where he names as the Primals the Beings gathered about the King of All, and establishes a Secondary containing the Secondaries, and a Third containing the Tertiarie…”
Both passages discuss complex hierarchies of divine or metaphysical entities, emphasizing the emanation and differentiation from a primordial source. They share a theme of layered realities and the process of creation or manifestation from a higher, transcendent principle.