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Pistis Sophia · 100 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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This is the answer of the words after which ye seek. Now therefore also, Andreas, yet art thou being in unbelief and with ignorance? But whenever ye should come out of the body and go unto the Height, and arrive at the Place of the Rulers, all the Rulers will take shame before you; because ye are the dregs of their matter, and ye became Light purified more than they all. And whenever ye should arrive at the Place of the great Invisibles with the Place of those of the Middle, with those of (the) Right (hand), with the Place of all the great emanations of the Light, ye will take glory together with them all, because ye are the dregs of their matter, and ye became [233 ] light excellent more than they all. And all the Places will hymn before you, even until ye go unto the Places of the kingdom. These therefore saying them the Saviour, knew Andreas clearly not only he, but knew all the disciples in directness that they will inherit the kingdom of the Light. They prostrated all one after (upon, MS ) another at the feet of Jesus, they cried out, they wept, they besought the Saviour, saying, O Lord, forgive the sin of the ignorance of our brother. Answered the Saviour, said he, I forgive and I shall forgive. Because of this therefore dispatched me the First Mystery for me to forgive the sins of everyone. [Half this last line is ornament: more ornament follows, and the title of the Third Document finishes the column.] 127
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Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine is depicted as a personal Saviour who forgives sins and dispatches mysteries.

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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 explicitly states that one must 'come out of the body' to ascend to higher realms.

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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 establishes a stark opposition between Light and ignorance, dregs and purified light, and shame versus glory.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The 'Place of the great Invisibles' indicates a realm beyond ordinary perception where the divine is concealed.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

Light purification and becoming 'light excellent' are repeatedly emphasized as the core transformation required for ascent and glory.

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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 text describes rulers taking shame before the purified disciples and places hymning them until they reach the kingdom.

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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 states that the Saviour knew Andreas and all disciples in directness regarding their inheritance of the kingdom.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The passage begins with 'This is the answer of the words after which ye seek,' indicating 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 text describes becoming 'Light purified more than they all' through spiritual transformation.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The disciples are promised inheritance of the kingdom of the Light based on their internal purification.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

Jesus is portrayed as an active, responsive Saviour who forgives sins and dispatches mysteries.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The statement that disciples are 'dregs of their matter' yet become 'light excellent' presents a paradoxical truth.

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Prayerpraxis

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

The disciples prostrate themselves at Jesus' feet and cry out to him for forgiveness of sin.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The text outlines a movement from the body to the Height and arrival at the Place of the Rulers.

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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 journey involves ascending from the body to the Height and arriving at the Place of the Rulers.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The passage emphasizes purification through Light and forgiveness as prerequisites for ascent and inheritance.

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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 from the body to the Height and arrival at the Place of the Rulers as a central narrative motif.

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Theosis Deificationsoteriology

The doctrine — central to Eastern Orthodox and Maximian theology — that the human person is progressively transformed into a partaker of the divine nature by grace, not merely justified or united in passing ecstasy.

Disciples are transformed into 'Light purified more than they all' and take glory with the great emanations of the Light.

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Related passages · 5 parallels
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 2, Section 1n
“200 Redemption is a work performed by the whole Trinity through the Second Person. (So, too, is Creation. Cf. p. 65, n. 2). 201 i. e. We strive to distinguish the two planes of Being in God. Cf. Athan. Creed: “Neither confounding…”
Shared concept: Theosis Deification — The doctrine — central to Eastern Orthodox and Maximian theology — that the human person is progressively transformed into a partaker of the divine nature by grace, not merely justified or united in passing ecstasy. (derived)
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 489
“Section 11 11. Similarly any one, unable to see himself, but possessed by that God, has but to bring that divine- within before his consciousness and at once he sees an image of himself, himself lifted to a better beauty: now let him ignore…”
Shared concept: Kingdom Within — The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation. (derived)
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 39 (part 3)
“8258, mottled glass buckle having the loop inlaid with blue composition; No. 8259, red faïence double buckle, pierced lengthwise for threading in a necklace.] deceased] he shall be among those who follow Osiris Un-nefer, triumphant. The g…”
Shared concept: Psychopomp Journey — Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms. (derived)
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Page 3 (part 11)
“1-10, 18, 19 as a natural sequel, where p. xxvi [paragraph continues] Enoch summons his children to receive his parting words. Then comes the Apocalypse of weeks, xciii. 1-10, xci. 12-17. The original order of the text, therefore, was:…”
Shared concept: Eschatological Judgment — 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. (derived)
neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter XXI
“Is, therefore, what you add in the third place more true; viz. “ that there is a certain mixed form of hypostasis, consisting of our soul and divine inspiration externally derived ?” Consider this then more accurately, lest we should be dec…”
Shared concept: Inner Light — The divine spark or luminous quality residing within the human person, potentially recognisable through introspection. (derived)