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Pistis Sophia · 114 of 160 · tr. George Horner

Document THIRD-n

Now therefore whenever should become completed the time of that man, at first indeed is wont to come out the Fate and lead the man [260 ] in unto the death by the Rulers with their bonds, these in which they were bound by the Destiny: and afterwards are wont to come the Contentious Receivers, and bring that soul out of the body, and afterwards are wont the Contentious Receivers they are wont to spend three days going about with that soul in all the Places, sending it unto all the Aeons of the World: (while) followeth after that soul the counterfeit spirit with the Fate, and is wont the power to withdraw (close) to the Virgin of the Light. And after the three days are wont the Contentious Receivers they are wont to bring that soul down down unto Amente of the Chaos. And whenever they should bring her down unto the Chaos they are wont to deliver her to those who punish. And are wont the [260 ] Receivers to 143 withdraw unto their Places according to the arrangement of the works of the Rulers, because of the coming out of the souls. And is wont the counterfeit spirit, it is wont to become Receiver of the soul, allotting her, convicting her according to the punishment, because of the sins which it caused her to do. And it is wont to become in a great enmity towards the soul, and whenever the soul should complete the punishments in the Chaoses according to the sins which she did, is wont the counterfeit to bring her up from the Chaoses allotting her, convicting her from Place to Place because of the sins which she did. And is wont to bring her out on the road of the Rulers of the Middle. And whenever he should reach them, they are wont to seek from her the mysteries of the Fate. And if she did not find them, they are wont to seek from their Fate. And are wont those Rulers, they are wont to punish that soul [261 ] according to the sins for which she is worthy (to be punished). These I shall say unto you, viz.: the type of their punishment in the Distribution of the Universe. Whenever therefore it should happen, whenever should be completed the time of the punishment of that soul in the judgments of the Rulers of the Middle, is wont the counterfeit spirit, it is wont to bring the soul up from all the Places of the Rulers of the Middle, it is wont to take her up before the light of the sun according to the commandment of the first man Ieou: and it is wont to take her (close) to the judge the Virgin of the Light. She is wont to prove that soul, and find it being a sinful soul. And she is wont to cast her power of light in unto her, because of setting up the soul and the body and the sharing of the perception. These I shall say, viz.: their type, unto you in the Distribution of the Universe. [261 ] And is wont the Virgin of the Light, she is wont to seal that soul and lay her on one of her Receivers, and causeth them to cast her (him, MS ) into a body worthy of the sins which she did: and Amen I say unto you that she shall not release that soul from the changes of the body, having not given her last cycle (of changes) according to the (things) which are worthy (for her). These all therefore I shall say their type unto you with the type of the bodies unto which they shall cast them according to the sins of every soul, these I shall say unto you all (of them), whenever I should finish saying to you the Distribution of the Universe.
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Themes
Aeonscosmology

Divine archetypal beings or eternal attributes dwelling within the Pleroma, often arranged in male-female syzygies.

The text mentions 'Aeons of the World' and 'Rulers of the Middle' as governing powers that distribute souls.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

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

Divine beings are described with human-like roles such as Rulers, Receivers, and the Virgin of the Light.

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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 soul is bound by the body and must be separated from it before judgment.

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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 soul's fate is linked to the sins committed and the distribution of bodies across cosmic levels.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The Virgin of the Light is central to judgment, sealing souls, and revealing truth.

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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 centrally describes the soul's journey through punishments in the Chaoses and judgments of Rulers before final release.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The text outlines the stages a soul undergoes after death, including punishment and judgment.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The speaker addresses the audience with 'Amen I say unto you' and reveals esoteric types of punishment.

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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 soul's perception and truth.

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Living Godtheology

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

Divine entities are depicted as active agents who punish, judge, and distribute souls.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The passage details the soul's guided movement through afterlife realms like Amente, the Chaoses, and the Rulers of the Middle.

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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 Virgin of the Light is described as taking the soul back to her after punishment.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The Virgin of the Light seals the soul and requires purification before release.

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Soul Migrationcosmology

The transmigration of the soul across lives.

Souls are described as being cast into bodies worthy of their sins across cycles.

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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 soul is brought up from the Chaoses and Rulers of the Middle toward the Virgin of the Light.

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