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Pistis Sophia · 92 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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Now therefore not only ye will reign with me, but every man who will receive the Mystery of the Ineffable, they will become ruling with me in my kingdom, and I am them, and they are I: but my throne will become more excellent than they, because that ye will suffer in the World beyond every man, even until ye preach every word which I shall say unto you: but your thrones will become fastened unto mine in my kingdom. Because of this I said [215 ] unto you once, The place in which I shall become, will become with me also my twelve Deacons: but Maria the Magdalene with Iohannes the Virgin will become excelling all my disciples. And every man who will receive Mystery of the Ineffable, they will become on my left and on my right, and I am they and they are I. And they will be equal with you in every thing. But nevertheless your thrones will become excelling theirs, and my throne even mine will become excelling yours. And every man who will find the word of the Ineffable, Amen I say unto you, The men will know that word, they will know the knowledge of all these words which I said unto you, those of the depth and those of the height, those of the length with those of [216 ] the breadth, in one word, they will know the knowledge of all these words which I said unto you, and those which I said not unto you, these I shall say unto you according to Place and according to array in the Distribution of the Universe. And Amen I say unto you, They will know in what sort the World is placed, and they will know in what type all the things of the Height are placed, and they will know because of what thing the Universe became. These therefore having said them the Saviour, sprang up Maria the Magdalene, said she, My Lord bear with me, and be not angry with me seeking after every thing in an exactness with a certainty. Now therefore, my Lord, then is one the word of the Mystery of the Ineffable and one the word of the knowledge of the Universe [216 ]? Answered the Saviour, said he, Yea one (is) the Mystery of the Ineffable and one is 117 the word the knowledge of the Universe. But also answered Maria, said she to the Saviour, My Lord, bear with me, seeking from thee, and be not angry with me. Now therefore, my Lord, except we live and know all the word of the Ineffable, shall we not be able to inherit the kingdom of the Light? But answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Yea, for every one who will receive the Mystery of the kingdom of the Light, each will go and inherit even unto the Place unto which he received mystery; but he will not know the knowledge of the Universe because of what all these (things) became, except he should know the one word of the Ineffable namely, the knowledge of the Universe. And also openly [217 ] I am the knowledge of the Universe. And also it is impossible to know the one word of the knowledge, except forsooth he receive the First Mystery of the Ineffable: but every man who will receive mystery in the Light will go each and inherit unto the Place unto which he received mystery. Because of this I said unto you once, He who believeth a prophet will receive the reward of a prophet, and he who believeth a righteous (man) will receive the reward of a righteous man, namely, even unto the Place which each receiveth mystery he will go unto it. He who receiveth, being prepared is going to inherit the mystery which is less, and he who will receive mystery being more excellent he is going to inherit the Places which are exalted.
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine is described using human attributes such as sitting on a throne and being angry.

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Apophatic Theologytheology

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

The text emphasizes the 'Ineffable' nature of the word, suggesting it transcends ordinary categories.

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Cosmic Consciousnessanthropology

A state of awareness transcending ordinary human consciousness, often involving unity with the universe or higher dimensions.

The text describes knowing the place and type of all things in the Height and Universe.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The 'Ineffable' word is central to the passage, indicating a radical concealment of divine knowledge.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The text explicitly mentions inheriting the kingdom of the Light and the word of the Ineffable being associated with Light.

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Eschatological Judgmentsoteriology

Final, collective cosmic judgment as an event in which the wicked are sentenced and the cosmos restored; distinct from psychopomp_journey (individual passage at death) and emphasising verdict where Zoroastrian frashokereti emphasises restoration.

The passage outlines rewards for belief in prophets and righteous men based on their mysteries received.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

Salvation and inheritance are contingent upon receiving the Mystery of the Ineffable and knowing its word rather than faith alone.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The 'Mystery of the Ineffable' is reserved for those who will receive it, implying esoteric knowledge.

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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 responsive, capable of speaking and receiving requests from followers.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

The text declares 'I am they and they are I,' indicating a merging of divine and human identity.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The statement 'I am they and they are I' presents a paradoxical identity that defines the relationship between the divine and followers.

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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.

A specific group of twelve Deacons and Maria are identified as receiving mysteries and inheriting places distinct from others.

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Prayerpraxis

Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.

Maria directly addresses the Lord in a petitionary request for understanding.

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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 promise of inheriting the Place unto which one received mystery implies a return to the divine origin.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The 'word of the Ineffable' is presented as a powerful ontological key to knowing the universe.

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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.

Knowing the word of the Ineffable is linked to knowing one's own true nature and place in the divine order.

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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 text describes a journey where followers suffer until they preach every word given to them.

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Related passages · 7 parallels
celtic|The Mabinogion|Tale PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC|
“I will give thee,” said the King, “my daughter in marriage, and half my kingdom with her, and the two Earldoms as a gift.” “Heaven reward thee, lord,” said Peredur, “but I came not here to woo.” “What seekest thou then, chieftain?” “I am s…”
Both passages explore themes of quests for mystical knowledge and the challenges associated with achieving higher understanding or power. Peredur's journey to the Castle of Wonders and his encounters with magical beings parallel the disciples' quest for the Mystery of the Ineffable and their dialogue with the Saviour about inheriting the kingdom of the Light.
celtic|The Mabinogion|Tale TALIESINd
I will supplicate my Lord that I get refuge in him, A regard I may obtain in his grace; The Son of Mary is my trust, great in him is my delight, For in him is the world continually upholden. God has been to instruct me and to raise my expe…”
Both passages emphasize the importance of divine favor and the rewards for those who seek and receive mystical knowledge or grace. They also highlight the hierarchical nature of spiritual attainment and the special status of certain individuals within the divine realm.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 38 (part 8)
I am he who riseth and shineth; the wall of walls; the only One, [son] of an only One. Ra (24) never lacketh his form, he never passeth away, he never passeth away. Verily, I say: I am the plant which cometh forth from Nu, and my mother i…”
Both passages express themes of divine unity, transcendence, and the mystical knowledge that leads to union with the divine. They share a conceptual parallel in the idea of the mystical self being one with the divine, yet distinct in their cultural and religious contexts.
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 scene of judgment and the exaltation of the righteous, with a focus on the role of the divine figure (the Saviour in Passage A and the Son of Man in Passage B) and the ultimate reward for those who have received divine mysteries or are righteous. The themes of unity with the divine and the inheritance of a heavenly kingdom are also present in both.
mandaean|Gnostic John the Baptizer — Some Typical Extracts|Section 13
The Treasury am I, Life's Treasury. A crown I became for Life's Gnosis. He bestowed on me the rulership over the treasures and the shekīnahs which are there [yonder]. The Treasury am I, Life's Treasury. Of the light-worlds was I the enligh…”
Both passages discuss the concept of spiritual enlightenment and the attainment of divine knowledge, emphasizing the role of a mystical figure (John the Baptizer in Passage A and the Saviour in Passage B) in guiding individuals towards this knowledge. They also highlight the idea of ascending to a higher spiritual realm through this enlightenment.
platonism|Plato: Republic|Section 1r
There you are right, he said, since we have made them to share in all things like the men. Well, I said, and you would agree (would you not?) that what has been said about the State and the government is not a mere dream, and although diff…”
Both passages discuss the concept of ruling and the qualities of those who will rule. In Plato's Republic, the philosopher kings are described as those who despise worldly honors and esteem justice above all else. Similarly, in the second passage, those who receive the Mystery of the Ineffable are said to become rulers in the kingdom, sharing in the divine nature and knowledge. Both texts emphasize the importance of certain qualities and knowledge for those who will govern.
western_esoteric|Transcendental Magic II: The Ritual (Éliphas Lévi)|21. The Science Of The Prophetsf
This empire will be political and religious; it will offer the solution of all problems agitated in our own days, and will endure for 354 years and 4 months, after which it will be succeeded by the return of the reign of Orifiel, an epoch o…”
Both passages discuss the establishment of a universal kingdom or empire, involving prophecy and the role of a specific group or nation in achieving it. They share the theme of a future reign and the conditions under which it will be realized, though the details and contexts differ.