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Pistis Sophia · 117 of 160 · tr. George Horner

Document THIRD-q

And also are wont these Receivers, they are wont to take that soul up to the Virgin of the Light, and also is wont that soul, she is wont to give to the Virgin of the Light the seals with the glory of the hymn. And is wont [265 ] the Virgin of the Light and with the other seven Virgins of the Light, they are all wont to prove that soul, and all to find their signs in her, with their seals with their baptisms with their chrisms. And is wont the Virgin of the Light, she is wont to seal that soul; and the Receivers of the Light are wont to baptise that soul, and give to her the chrism spiritual. And are wont each of the Virgins of the Light, they are wont to seal her with their seals, and also are wont the Receivers of the Light, they are wont to deliver her up to the great Sabaoth the good, this who (is) at the gate of the Life in the Place of those of the Right (hand), this whom they are wont to call, The Father. And is wont that soul, she is wont to give the glory of the hymn with his seals with his defences. And [266 ] is wont Sabaoth the great, good, he is wont to seal her with his seals. And is wont the soul, she is wont to give her knowledge with the glory of the hymns with the seals of every Place of those of the Right (hand), they are all wont to seal her with their seals. And is wont Melkhisedek the great Receiver of the Light, this who (is) in the Place of those of the Right (hand), he is wont to seal that soul. And are wont the Receivers of Melkhisedek, they are wont to seal that soul, and to receive her unto the Treasury of the Light. And she is wont to give the glory with the honour with the respect of the hymns with all the seals of all the Places of the Light. And are wont those of all the Places of the Treasury of the Light, they are wont to seal her with their seals. And she is wont to go unto the Place of her inheritance. [266 ] These therefore the Saviour having said them unto his disciples, said he to 147 them, Understand ye in what manner I am speaking with you? Sprang up again Maria, said she, Yea, my Lord, I understand in what manner thou art speaking with me, and I shall comprehend all of them. Now therefore concerning these words which thou sayest my understanding maketh four meanings in me, and my Light-dweller, it led and it was glad, it boiled in me wishing to come out of me and to go in unto thee. Now therefore, My Lord, hear that I may say unto thee the four meanings which became in me. The first meaning indeed which happened in me (is) concerning the word which thou saidst, Now therefore is wont the soul, she is wont to give the defence with the seal to all the Rulers who (are) in the Place of the King, the Adamas, and she is wont to give the defence [267 ] with the honour with the glory of all their seals with the hymn of the Places of the Light. Concerning this word therefore which thou saidst unto us once, they having brought to thee the stater, thou sawest it being of silver and brass, thou soughtest, That of whom is this image? Said they, That of the King it is. But thou having seen it, that it was mixed in silver and brass, saidst thou, Give the part, that of the King to the King.
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Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

Divine beings are described with human attributes such as having a 'gate of the Life' and being called 'The Father'.

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Birth Of Word In Soulanthropology

Eckhart's signature doctrine that the Father eternally begets the Son in the ground of the soul; the human interior as the actual site of the divine generative act, distinct from inner_light's static indwelling.

The text describes the 'glory of the hymn' rising from the soul to 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 described as being taken up and purified from material form.

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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 text describes a resonant connection where the soul's signs are found in the Virgins of the Light.

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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 centers on the 'Virgin of the Light' and the 'glory of the hymn' as central themes of purification and ascent.

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Divine Providencetheology

Pronoia — the doctrine that the divine actively orders the unfolding of the cosmos and human affairs toward intelligible ends, against pure chance or blind necessity.

The divine beings actively guide and seal the soul toward its inheritance.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The passage details the ritual process of taking a soul to the Virgin of the Light and sealing it for entry into the Place of Life.

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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 Virgin of the Light proves the soul's identity through signs rather than external ritual alone.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

Maria's understanding reveals an inner meaning concealed within the outer words spoken by the Saviour.

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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 'glory of the hymn' and the soul's capacity to give it.

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Living Godtheology

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

Divine figures are depicted as active agents who seal, prove, and guide the soul.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

The soul is sealed by the Virgin of the Light and united with the Father in the Place of Life.

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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 text distinguishes between the 'Receivers of the Light' and the 'Treasury of the Light', implying a spiritual elite.

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Prayerpraxis

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

Maria speaks directly to the Lord asking to understand his words.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The passage describes the soul being taken up and guided through heavenly realms by divine agents.

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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 soul is taken up to the Virgin of the Light and given knowledge of the Father's seals.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The process involves baptism, chrism, and seals that cleanse or prepare the soul for entry into the Light.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

Divine titles like 'The Father' and 'Melkhisedek' are invoked with ontological weight.

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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.

Maria's understanding of the four meanings reveals an inner comprehension of the divine message.

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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 the soul being taken up to the Virgin of the Light and sealed by higher powers.

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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 soul is transformed through sealing with divine seals and given knowledge of the Father's glory.

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Unity Of Beingtheology

The doctrine that all existence is ultimately one substance or one divine reality; non-duality as a theological claim.

The Virgin of the Light and the seven Virgins are described as a collective entity working together.

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Related passages · 7 parallels
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 2, Section 1n
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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|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter XVIII-b
A certain thing of this kind also may take 71 place in the harmony and crasis of the universe: for the same things may be the salvation of the whole, through the perfection of the things inherent and the recipients; but may be noxious to th…”
Shared concept: Cosmic Sympathy — 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. (derived)
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Shared concept: Funerary Navigation — Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death. (derived)
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Shared concept: Psychopomp Journey — Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms. (derived)
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13.) Man can attain real similarity to God and perfect beatitude only by decisively willing to put his will into the Son, as the Heart or Light of the Father. "God has the eternal and unchangeable will to generate His Heart and his Son, an…”
Shared concept: Birth Of Word In Soul — Eckhart's signature doctrine that the Father eternally begets the Son in the ground of the soul; the human interior as the actual site of the divine generative act, distinct from inner_light's static indwelling. (derived)
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The Key <This longer tractate presents itself explicitly as a summary or abridgement of the General Sermons (CH II-IX), and discusses the Hermetic view of knowledge and its role in the lives and afterlives of human beings. The attentive re…”
Shared concept: Pneumatic Elect — A spiritual elite who possess the divine spark and are predestined for salvation, contrasted with psychic (faithful) and hylic (material) persons. (derived)
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Shared concept: Ritual Purity — The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine. (derived)