Pistis Sophia · 120 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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And are not wont those Contentious (ones) they are not wont to prevail to pass through the Chaoses, for them to come unto the arrays which are above the Chaoses, and 150 convict the souls which come out of those Places.

Now therefore the souls which receive mysteries, it is not allowed for them to overpower them, and take them out of the Chaos, that should convict them the Contentious Ministers, but are wont the Contentious Ministers, they are wont to convict the souls of the sinners, and lay hold on these which received not mysteries, these which are wont to bring from the Chaoses.

The souls however who receive mysteries have not (any) work (for which) to convict them, because they are not wont to come out of their Places.

[271 ] And also whenever they should come, they are not able to prevail to stand up before them, nevertheless indeed they are not wont to be able to take them in those Chaoses.

Hear, also, that I may say unto you the word in truth in what type is wont the mystery of the baptism to forgive sin.

Now therefore whenever the souls should do sin, yet being upon the World are wont to come however at least the Contentious Ministers, and bear witness to all the sins which the soul did, lest haply indeed they should come out of the Place of the Chaos, that they should convict her in the judgments, these which are out(side) of the Chaoses.

And is wont the counterfeit spirit, it is wont to bear witness of all the sins which did the soul, that also he should convict her in the judgments, these which are out(side) of the Chaoses.

And not only because it beareth witness of them, but every sin of the souls it is wont to seal [272 ] the sins, and affix them in unto the soul, that all the Rulers of the judgments of the sinners should recognise her, that she is a sinful soul, and that they should know the number of the sins which she did from the seals which affixed unto her the counterfeit spirit, that they should punish her according to the number of the sins which she did.

This is the manner in which they are wont to do to every soul of sinner.

Now therefore he who will receive the mysteries of the baptisms, are wont the mysteries of those, they are (it is, MS ) wont to become in a great fire being fierce greatly (and) wise, and it burneth the sins: and they are wont to go in unto the soul in concealment, and it eateth in after all the sins, these which affixed in unto it the counterfeit spirit, they are wont to go also [272 ] in unto the body in concealment, and pursue all the pursuers in concealment, and separate them on each side of the body; for it is wont to pursue the counterfeit spirit and (with, MS ) the Fate, and separate them outside the power and (with, MS ) the soul, and them on (one) side of the body, so that the counterfeit spirit with the Fate with the body it is wont to separate them unto one part: the 151 soul also with the power it is wont to separate them unto another part.

The mystery also of the baptism is wont to remain in the midst of the two, and remain separating them from one another, that it should cleanse them and purify them, that they should not be defiled by the matter.

Now therefore Maria, this is the manner in which are wont the mysteries of the baptisms to forgive sin and with every unlawfulness.

These then having said them the Saviour, said he to his disciples, Understand ye in what manner I am speaking with you?

Sprang up Maria, said she [273 ]: Yea, My Lord, truly I fully take in every word which thou sayest.

Themes

◆Body As Obstacleanthropology

The material body viewed as a prison, tomb, or source of error that hinders spiritual knowledge and return.

The body is described as a site where the counterfeit spirit and Fate are separated from the soul.

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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 righteous souls who receive mysteries and the Contentious Ministers who convict 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 remaining in concealment within the soul and body.

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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 details the judgment of souls by Rulers of the judgments based on sins affixed by the counterfeit spirit.

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◆Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The text describes the soul's movement through Chaoses and arrays after death to face judgment.

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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 receiving mysteries and understanding the truth of baptism 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 warns that only those who receive mysteries are protected from being convicted by Contentious Ministers.

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◆Inner Lightanthropology

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

The mysteries are said to remain in the midst of the two parts and cleanse them.

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◆Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The mysteries reside within the soul and body rather than being external.

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◆Living Godtheology

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

The Saviour speaks directly to disciples and Maria as a personal reality.

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◆Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The passage describes the soul's movement through Chaoses and arrays after death.

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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 text implies the soul's movement toward higher realms and purification from lower states.

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◆Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

The mysteries are described as a great fire that burns sins within the soul.

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◆Ritual Puritypraxis

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

The primary mechanism for forgiveness is the cleansing and purifying power of the baptismal mysteries.

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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's ability to withstand conviction depends on its internal state regarding mysteries.

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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.

Souls are depicted as coming from the Chaoses and being separated from the power and soul.

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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 mentions souls coming to arrays above the Chaoses and moving upward through realms.

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◆Tripartite Soulanthropology

Division of the human being into three principles: spirit (pneuma), soul (psyche), and body/matter (hyle or soma).

The text distinguishes between the soul, power, and body as distinct entities that can be separated.

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Related passages · 2 parallels

◆christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 14 (part 6)

“These souls have a perverted conscience, which tortures them; their sins are always before their eyes; they see all their injustice and frivolity, their conceit and the misery which they have caused, their scorn and arrogance, but now their…”

Both passages discuss the concept of souls and their relationship with sin and divine judgment. They explore how souls are judged based on their actions and the role of divine mysteries or spiritual practices in cleansing or protecting the soul from sin.

◆neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 606

“Section 16 16. But if that Principle can never fall to evil and we have given a true account of the soul's entry or presence to body, what are we to say of the periodic Descents and Returns, the punishments, the banishment into animal forms…”

Both passages discuss the concept of the soul's relationship with the body and the consequences of sin or attachment to the material world. They describe processes of purification and release from these attachments, though within different theological frameworks.