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Pistis Sophia · 115 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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Added also Jesus in the word, said he, If also a soul is which is not wont to hearken unto the counterfeit spirit (in) all his works, and this (soul) became good, she received the mysteries of the Light, these which (are) in the second Space, or indeed these [262 ] which (are) in the third Space, these which (are) from within 144 (on the inward part, MS ): whenever should be completed the time of that soul (of coming) out of the body; and is wont the counterfeit spirit, it is wont to follow that soul, it with the Fate, it is wont to follow in the road by which it will go unto the Height. And having not yet been distant from the Height, she is wont to say the mystery of the loosing of her seals, with all the bonds of the counterfeit spirit, these with which the Rulers bound it in unto the soul. And whenever they should say them, are wont to be loosed the bonds of the counterfeit spirit, and it is (wont) to cease coming in unto that soul, and it is wont to release the soul according to the commands which ordered unto it the Rulers of the great Destiny, saying to it, Release not this soul except she say unto thee the mystery of the loosing of every seal, these in which we bound thee in unto [262 ] the soul. Whenever it should happen therefore, whenever the soul, whenever she should say the mystery of the loosing of the seals with all the bonds of the counterfeit spirit, and (whenever) it ceaseth coming in unto the soul, and ceaseth being bound in unto her, and in that hour it is wont to say a mystery and dismiss the Fate unto her Place (close) to the Rulers which (are) in the road of the Middle. And she is wont to say the mystery, and dismiss the counterfeit spirit (close) to the Rulers of the Destiny unto the Place in which they bound it unto her. And in that hour she is wont to become a great effluence of light, becoming of light greatly greatly, and are wont the Contentious Receivers, these which brought her out of the body, they are wont to fear before the light of that soul, and fall down upon their face. And in that hour is wont that soul, she is wont to become a great effluence of light, and she is wont to [263 ] become wing of light all of her, and to pass through every Place of the Rulers with all the arrays of the Light, even until she goeth unto the Place of her kingdom unto which she received mystery. If also it is a soul, having received mystery in the first Space, reckoning from without (which is from without, MS ), and after receiving the mysteries and completing them, and turned (not M ) and committed sin again, after the completion of the mysteries; and also if should be completed the time of the coming out of that soul, are wont to come the Contentious Receivers and bring that soul out of the body: and is wont the Fate with the counterfeit spirit, they are wont to follow that soul because that the counterfeit spirit is being bound in unto her with the seals and the bonds of the Rulers, it is wont to follow after that soul walking on the roads of the counterfeit spirit: she is wont to say the mystery of the loosening [263 ] of all the bonds 145 and all the seals with which the Rulers bound the counterfeit spirit in unto the soul. And whenever should the soul say the mystery of the loosening of the seals, immediately are wont to be loosened the bonds of the seals, these which bound the counterfeit spirit in unto the soul.
Themes
Archonscosmology

Malevolent planetary rulers or demiurgic powers that govern the material world and obstruct the soul's ascent.

The 'Rulers' are depicted as binding the soul and counterfeit spirit with seals and bonds, functioning as obstructive powers.

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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 emphasizes the soul's liberation from the body and the danger of being bound in by the material realm.

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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 fundamental opposition between the 'soul' and the 'counterfeit spirit', as well as light versus darkness or good versus evil.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

Light is repeatedly described as the destination of the soul's journey and the medium through which mysteries are revealed.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The passage outlines the specific rituals and conditions for the soul's liberation from the body at death.

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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 contingent upon the soul receiving and saying the 'mystery' of the loosing of seals rather than external works.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text refers to 'mysteries' that must be spoken to effect liberation from bonds and seals.

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Inner Lightanthropology

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

The liberated soul is described as becoming a great effluence of light greatly greatly from within.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The liberated soul receives the mysteries of the Light and becomes an effluence of light internally.

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Living Godtheology

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

The Rulers are depicted as active agents who bound and released the soul according to commands.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

Numbers, proportions, and mathematical relationships as the underlying structure of divine reality.

The text references specific spatial levels such as the 'first Space', 'second Space', and 'third Space'.

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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.

The distinction is made between souls that are good and those that commit sin again after receiving mysteries.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The passage describes the soul's movement through spaces and realms guided by Rulers and Fate after liberation.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The requirement to say the mystery of loosing seals implies a state of preparedness for divine encounter.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The text emphasizes the ontological power of speaking specific 'mysteries' and 'secrets' to release bonds.

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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.

The soul must be 'wont to hearken unto the counterfeit spirit' as a condition for receiving mysteries.

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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 liberated soul is described as passing through every Place of the Rulers until reaching the Place of her kingdom.

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Related passages · 5 parallels
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 26 (part 1)
PLATE XVIII. My soul (5) seeth the great god within the boat of Ra on the day of souls. My soul is (6) in the front among those who tell the years. Come; the eye of Horus, which stablisheth glories (7) upon the brow of Ra and rays of lig…”
Both passages describe the soul's journey after death and the process of liberation from bonds or fetters. They share themes of mystical knowledge (mysteries in Pistis Sophia, words of Osiris in the Egyptian text) that facilitate the soul's ascent or passage through the afterlife.
mandaean|Gnostic John the Baptizer — Portents at John's Birth|Section 16
When Messiah said this, Yahyā cries aloud; tears come to him without ceasing, and he speaks: "[God] forbid that the high King of Light should look for lot in deceivers. The soul is not like the blood, that it should become heated in the bod…”
Both passages describe the soul's journey after death and the process of liberation from bodily constraints through mystical knowledge or rituals. They share the theme of the soul's ascent and the role of specific mysteries or vestments in facilitating this journey.
neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter VIII‡
“The soul is bound to the body, by a conversion to the passions arising from her union with it.” And, “the soul binds herself in the body.” Philolaus also says, that the ancient theologists and prophets asserted, ως δια τινας τιμωριας α ψυχ…”
Both passages discuss the relationship between the soul and the body, focusing on the soul's liberation from the body and the constraints imposed by the material world. They share the concept of the soul's struggle with earthly bonds and the process of liberation through mystical knowledge or mysteries.
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 418
Section 2 2. Let every soul recall, then, at the outset the truth that soul is the author of all living things, that it has breathed the life into them all, whatever is nourished by earth and sea, all the creatures of the air, the divine st…”
Both passages discuss the nature and journey of the soul, emphasizing its liberation and transformation into a state of light and divinity. They share a mystical perspective on the soul's elevation and its interaction with spiritual realms.
platonism|Plato: Phaedrus|Section 1p
And there is a law of Destiny, that the soul which attains any vision of truth in company with a god is preserved from harm until the next period, and if attaining always is always unharmed. But when she is unable to follow, and fails to b…”
Both passages discuss the journey of the soul after death and the role of knowledge or mysteries in determining the soul's fate. They share a conceptual parallel in the idea that the soul's understanding and recitation of certain truths or mysteries can influence its post-mortem journey and ultimate destiny.