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Pistis Sophia · 104 of 160 · tr. George Horner

Document THIRDd

Say unto them, Do love of God and receive the mysteries of the Light, and go unto the Height unto the kingdom of the Light. Say unto them, Be righteous and receive the mysteries, and go unto the Height unto the kingdom of the Light. Say unto them, Be good and 131 receive the mysteries, and go unto the Height unto the kingdom of the Light. Say unto them, Renounce the Universe, and receive the mysteries of the Light, and go unto the Height unto the kingdom of the Light. These are all the limits of the roads for those who are worthy of the mysteries of the Light. These therefore of this kind who renounced this renunciation, give to them [240 ] the mysteries of the Light, and hide them not from them at all, even if they are sinners and they became in every sin with every unlawfulness, all which I said unto you of the World, that they should turn and repent and should become in the submission which I say to you now, Give to them the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light, do not hide them from them at all, for because of the sinfulness I (we, MS ) brought the mysteries unto the World, that I should forgive all their sins which they did from the first. Because of this therefore I said unto you once, I came not to invite the righteous. Now therefore I brought the mysteries, that they should forgive the sins of every one, and take them unto the kingdom of the Light: for the mysteries, they [240 ] are the free-gift of the First Mystery, for him to blot out the sins with the unlawfulness of all the sinners. It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, came forward Maria, said she to the Saviour, My Lord, then there is man righteous, being complete in all the righteousness, and that man having not any sin at all.—Such a one they will torment him in the punishments with the judgments, or otherwise? Or otherwise rather, that man they will take away in unto the kingdom of the heavens, or not? Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, A man righteous, this being complete in all the righteousness, and he did not any sin [241 ] ever, and such a one having not received any mystery of the Light ever, whenever should happen the time (of his) coming out of the body, immediately are wont to come the Receivers of the one of the great Triple powers, these in whom there is a great (one), and they (will) carry off the soul of that man from the Receivers of Contentious (ones), and spend three days moving round with it in all creations of the World. After the three days they are wont to take it down unto the Chaos, and take it through in all the punishments of the judgments, and send it unto all the judgments. And the fires of the Chaos are not wont to molest it greatly, but [241 ] in part they are wont to molest it for a little time: and in haste quickly they are wont to have mercy on it and bring it up from the Chaoses, and take it on the road of the Middle through 132 all those Rulers. And they are not wont to punish it in their judgments which (are) cruel, but the fires of their Places are wont to molest it in part: and whenever they should take it unto the Place of Iakhthanabas the unmerciful, they are not wont to be able to punish it, indeed at least in his evil judgments, but he is wont to hold it down for a little time, while the fire of his punishments molesteth it in part. And also speedily they are wont to have mercy on it in those their Places.
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine is described as 'the First Mystery' who 'blot out the sins' and 'bring the 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 text states that when a righteous man dies, his soul is taken away from the Receivers of Contentious ones and moved through all creations.

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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 clear opposition between the 'World' and the 'kingdom of the Light', as well as righteous men versus sinners.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The mysteries are described as being hidden from sinners until they repent and become submissive.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The passage repeatedly emphasizes the 'kingdom of the Light' and receiving the 'mysteries of the Light' as central to salvation.

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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 describes punishments, judgments, and punishments of the judgments that occur after death.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The text details the specific path the soul takes after death through creations and punishments.

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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 is conditioned upon receiving the 'mysteries of the Light' rather than moral works alone.

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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 that mysteries are given to those worthy and hidden from sinners until repentance.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The 'kingdom of the Light' is referenced as a destination rather than an internal state.

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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 depicted as active and responsive, forgiving sins and bringing mysteries to the world.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The passage describes the soul's movement through creations and punishments after death under specific 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 instruction is to 'go unto the Height unto the kingdom of the Light' as a reversal of worldly entrapment.

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Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

Fires of Chaos and Places are mentioned as elements that molest or punish the soul temporarily.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

Repentance and submission are required conditions for receiving the mysteries.

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Soul Migrationcosmology

The transmigration of the soul across lives.

The text describes the soul being taken away from one group and moved through various realms after death.

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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 explicitly commands 'go unto the Height unto the kingdom of the Light' as a destination for the worthy.

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Related passages · 6 parallels
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XXXIX
XXXIX. The Abode of the Righteous and of the Elect One: the Praises of the Blessed . CHAPTER XXXIX. 1. [ And it †shall come to pass in those days that elect and holy children †will descend from the high heaven, and their seed †will become o…”
Both passages describe the ultimate reward for the righteous and the role of divine mysteries or blessings in achieving salvation. They emphasize the concept of righteousness leading to a divine abode and the intercession of divine beings.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXIII
LXIII. The unavailing Repentance of the Kings and the Mighty . CHAPTER LXIII. 1. In those days shall the mighty and the kings who possess the earth implore (Him) to grant them a little respite from His angels of punishment to whom they were…”
Both passages discuss the themes of righteousness, repentance, and divine judgment. They emphasize the importance of turning away from sin and seeking forgiveness, highlighting the role of divine mysteries or ordinances in the process of salvation.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXI
LXXXI. The Heavenly Tablets and the Mission of Enoch . CHAPTER LXXXI. 1. And he said unto me: 'Observe, Enoch, these heavenly tablets, And read what is written thereon, And mark every individual fact.' p. 108 2 And I observed the heavenly t…”
Both passages discuss the fate of the righteous and the role of divine mysteries or tablets in determining their destiny. They emphasize the importance of righteousness and the ultimate judgment or reward in the afterlife, reflecting a common mystical theme across different traditions.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XCVII
XCVII. The Evils in Store for Sinners and the Possessors of unrighteous Wealth . CHAPTER XCVII. 1. Believe, ye righteous, that the sinners will become a shame And perish in the day of unrighteousness. 2. Be it known unto you (ye sinners) th…”
Both passages address the theme of judgment and the fate of sinners, emphasizing the consequences of unrighteousness and the importance of righteousness. They share a conceptual parallel in their focus on divine justice and the ultimate reward or punishment based on one's actions.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter CIII
CIII. Different Destinies of the Righteous and the Sinners: fresh Objections of the Sinners . CHAPTER CIII. 1. Now, therefore, I swear to you, the righteous, by the glory of the Great and Honoured and 2 Mighty One in dominion, and by His gr…”
Both passages discuss the differing fates of the righteous and the sinners, with the righteous being rewarded and the sinners being punished. They share a common theme of divine justice and the consequences of one's actions, though they come from different mystical traditions.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter CIV
CIV. Assurances given to the Righteous: Admonitions to Sinners and the Falsifiers of the Words of Uprightness . CHAPTER CIV. 1. I swear unto you, that in heaven the angels remember you for good before the glory of the Great One: and your na…”
Both passages emphasize the importance of righteousness and the reception of divine mysteries or truths. They also discuss the fate of the righteous and the sinners, highlighting the ultimate reward for the righteous and the consequences for the unrighteous.