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Pistis Sophia · 110 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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But if yet in a time of repentance they should renounce [252 ] all the World, with all the 138 matter which is in it, with all the sins of the world, and they (are they) who become in all the subjection to the mysteries of the Light, not any Mystery heard them, nor have they forgiven their sins except by the one mystery of the Ineffable, this which is wont to be merciful to every one and forgiveth the sins of every one. It happened, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, worshipped Maria unto the feet of Jesus, she kissed them said she, Maria, My Lord suffer me seeking from thee, and be not angry with me. Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Seek after that which thou wishest to seek after, and I shall reveal it to thee boldly. But answered Mariham, said she, My Lord, [252 ] then if a brother good (agathos) and who is good (coptic word), we having filled him with all mysteries of the Light, and that brother having a brother or a kinsman, in one word, being a man anyhow, and this (one) being a sinner and being impious, or otherwise, he being not a sinner, and this one of this kind came out of the body, and the heart of the brother good, being pained and being grieved for him because he becometh in judgments with punishments. Now therefore, my Lord, what is that which we shall do until they remove him out of the punishments with the judgments which (are) cruel? But answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Because of this word therefore I said unto you at another time, but hear therefore that I may say in answer that ye may become, [253 ] (that) ye should fulfil every mystery, that they should call of [against] you, Those who are completed with every mystery. Now therefore every man sinner, or otherwise being not sinners, not only that whenever ye should wish for them to take them from the judgments with the punishments which (are) cruel, but (also) for them to remove them unto a righteous body, this which will find the mysteries of the Godhead, and go unto the Height and inherit the kingdom of the Light, do the third mystery of the Ineffable and say ye, Take away the soul of these manhoods, this (man) which we think of in our heart, take him out of every punishment of the Rulers, and hasten quickly, and take it (close) to the Virgin of the Light: and in the same month, the Virgin of the Light (will) seal [253 ] him with a seal more excellent, and in the same month, let the Virgin of the Light cast him unto a body about to become righteous and become good, and he (will) go unto the Height and inherit the kingdom of the Light. But these whenever ye should say them, Amen I say unto you, They are wont to hasten all those who work in all the array of the judgments of the Rulers, and give that soul unto hands 139 of one another, even until they take it up to the Virgin of the Light, and the Virgin of the Light is wont to seal it with a sign of the kingdom of the Ineffable, and is wont to give it to her Receivers, and the Receivers to cast it unto a body being about to be righteous, and he being about to find the mysteries of the Light and become good, and go unto the Height [254 ] and inherit the kingdom of the Light. Behold, this is (that) which ye ask me of.
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

The divine is depicted as a personal Lord who speaks directly to Maria and Jesus.

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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 God, which transcends ordinary language and concepts.

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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 describes a sinner being cast out of a body into punishments and needing to be returned to a righteous body.

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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 righteous/light and the sinner/punishments.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

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

The Ineffable Mystery is described as something that is not heard by those who do not possess it.

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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 references the Light, the Virgin of the Light, and inheriting the kingdom of the Light as central themes of 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 text details punishments, judgments, and the removal of souls from these states by divine intervention.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The passage outlines a process for guiding souls out of punishment and into inheritance of 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.

Salvation is linked to fulfilling mysteries and knowing the Ineffable rather than external rituals.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text specifies that certain mysteries are not heard by those who do not possess them.

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Inner Lightanthropology

The divine spark or luminous quality residing within the human person, potentially recognisable through introspection.

The Virgin of the Light is associated with the mysteries of the Godhead found within.

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Living Godtheology

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

God is portrayed as active and responsive, speaking directly to Maria and Jesus.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

The goal is described as becoming in all the subjection to the mysteries of the Light.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The text uses the paradox that a sinner can be cast into a righteous body through divine action.

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Prayerpraxis

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

Maria directly petitions Jesus to seek for her and reveal what she wishes.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The text mentions renouncing sins and being in subjection to the mysteries as prerequisites for forgiveness.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The Virgin of the Light is described as sealing with a seal more excellent and casting souls into bodies.

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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 sinner is described as being in judgments with punishments away from the Light.

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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 goal is for the righteous to go unto the Height and inherit the kingdom of the Light.

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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.

The text describes the transformation of a sinner into a righteous body that finds the mysteries of the Godhead.

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Related passages · 2 parallels
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XCVI
XCVI. Grounds of Hopefulness for the Righteous: Woes for the Wicked . p. 137 CHAPTER XCVI. 1. Be hopeful, ye righteous; for suddenly shall the sinners perish before you, And ye shall have lordship over them according to your desires. [ 2. A…”
Both passages discuss the fate of the righteous and the wicked, emphasizing the hope and salvation for the righteous and the punishment for the wicked. They share a conceptual parallel in their focus on divine justice and the ultimate reward or penalty for individuals based on their 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 fate of souls after death and the possibility of intervention through mystical means. They share a theme of divine judgment and the potential for redemption or punishment, though they come from different religious traditions.