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Pistis Sophia · 91 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth all the Gods, and he will be exalted over them all. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth all the luminaries (phoster), and he will be exalted over them all. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth all the pure (lights), and he will be exalted over them all. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth all the Triple powers, and he will be exalted over them all. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth all the Forefathers, and he will be exalted [213 ] over them all. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth all the Invisibles, and he will be exalted over them all. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth the great Forefather invisible, and he will also be exalted over him. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth all those of the Middle, and he will be exalted over them all. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth the emanations of the Treasury of the Light, and he will be exalted over them all. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth the Confusion, and he will be exalted over all of it. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth the whole Place of the Treasury, and he will be exalted over all of it. He is a man being upon the World, but he will become King with me in my kingdom. He is a man [214 ] being upon the World, but he becometh King in the Light. He is a man being upon the World, but not one (out) of the World is he, and Amen I say to you, That man is I and I am that man: and in the dissolution of the World, namely, whenever the Universe should be caught-up and whenever should be caught-up all the number of the perfect souls, and I become ruling in the midst of the last Helpers, ruling over all the emanations of the Light, and ruling over the seven Amens, with the five Trees, with the three Amens, with the nine Guards, and ruling over the child of the child, namely the [214 ] Twin-saviours, and ruling over the twelve Saviours, with all the number of the perfect souls, these which will receive the mystery of the Light. And every man who will receive the mystery in the Ineffable will become fellow-King with me, they will sit on my right (hand) and on my left in my kingdom. And Amen 116 I say to you, Those men are I, and I am those. Because of this therefore I said unto you once, Ye will sit upon your thrones on my right (hand) and on my left in my Kingdom and ye will reign with me. Because of this therefore I did not spare, nor was I ashamed, calling you, My brothers and my [215 ] friends, because that ye will become fellow-Kings with me in my kingdom. These therefore I am saying them unto you, I am knowing that I shall give to you the Mystery of the Ineffable, which Mystery is I, and I am that Mystery.
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

The divine is described using human attributes such as being a 'man' and sitting on thrones.

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Apophatic Theologytheology

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

The text refers to the 'Ineffable' Mystery which transcends ordinary description.

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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 states that the man is upon the World but excelleth all the Gods and will be exalted over them, implying transcendence of material limitation.

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Cosmic Sympathycosmology

The Stoic and Plotinian doctrine that all parts of the cosmos are bound by hidden affinities, so that a movement in one part resonates through the whole; the metaphysical basis for astrology, magic, and divination.

The dissolution of the World is linked to the liberation of souls and the ruling over emanations.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The text emphasizes the 'Ineffable' Mystery and the concealment of the divine nature from ordinary perception.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

Light is repeatedly referenced as a hierarchy that the man excelleth and will be exalted over.

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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 lists multiple levels of divine beings (luminaries, pure lights, Triple powers) that the man excelleth and will be exalted over.

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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 explicitly states that receiving the Mystery of the Ineffable leads to becoming a fellow-King and knowing that 'Those men are I'.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text mentions the 'Mystery of the Ineffable' which is reserved for those who will receive it.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The passage declares that 'Those men are I, and I am those', merging the individual with the divine realm.

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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 portrayed as active and dynamic, ruling over emanations and sitting on thrones.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

The text declares 'Those men are I, and I am those', indicating a merging of identity with the divine.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

Specific numbers like 'seven Amens', 'five Trees', 'three Amens', and 'nine Guards' are listed as elements of the divine structure.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The text presents a paradoxical identity where the man is upon the World yet excelleth all Gods and is I.

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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 dissolution of the World and the catching-up of souls imply a reversal of entrapment back to the divine.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The text references specific divine names such as the 'seven Amens', 'three Amens', and 'nine Guards' that are ruled over.

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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 emphasizes that 'Those men are I' and knowing this leads to exaltation over all powers.

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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 phrase 'being upon the World' implies a current state of exile or entrapment from the divine origin.

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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 passage describes the dissolution of the World and the exaltation over all powers as a movement toward the divine.

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Related passages · 3 parallels · 2 contrasts
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 29 (part 1)
PLATE XXI. "Thou dost place thy disk in the west, and my two hands are [raised] in adoration [of thee] when thou settest (30) as a living being. Behold, thou art the maker of eternity, and thou art adored [when] thou settest in the heaven…”
Both passages emphasize the exaltation and divine status of a human figure, highlighting their superiority over various divine entities and their eventual reign in a divine kingdom. The themes of divine kingship and the union of the human with the divine are central to both texts.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXII
LXII. Judgement of the Kings and the Mighty: Blessedness of the Righteous . CHAPTER LXII. 1. And thus the Lord commanded the kings and the mighty and the exalted, and those who dwell on the earth, and said: 'Open your eyes and lift up your…”
Both passages describe a divine or exalted figure who will be elevated above all others and will reign in a kingdom. They share themes of judgment, righteousness, and the ultimate victory of the chosen one, reflecting a conceptual parallel in their mystical traditions.
mandaean|Gnostic John the Baptizer — Some Typical Extracts|Section 12
Life is exalted and is victorious, and victorious is the Man who has come hither. The next piece I have selected, treats of the source of all glory and enlightenment, called the Treasury of Life, that in which all spiritual powers and bles…”
Both passages emphasize the exaltation and victory of a divine or perfected human figure, and the concept of a mystical treasury or source of light and glory. They share themes of kingship, enlightenment, and the divine nature of the central figure.
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 165 (part 2)CONTRASTS
The more perfect the man, the more compliant he is, even towards his fellows; we must temper our importance, not thrusting insolently beyond what our nature warrants; we must allow other beings, also, their place in the presence of the Godh…”
Both passages discuss the nature of human exaltation and relationship to the divine, but they take opposing positions. Passage A emphasizes the superiority and exaltation of a man over all divine beings and entities, claiming unity with the divine. Passage B, however, warns against human arrogance and the danger of exalting oneself above the Intellectual-Principle, advocating for humility and compliance within the divine order.
taoism|Tao Te Ching|Chapter 66CONTRASTS
That whereby the rivers and seas are able to receive the homage and tribute of all the valley streams, is their skill in being lower than they;--it is thus that they are the kings of them all. So it is that the sage (ruler), wishing to be a…”
[auto] Both passages discuss the concept of leadership and exaltation, but they present opposing views. Passage A emphasizes humility and service as the path to leadership, while Passage B emphasizes superiority and exaltation over others.