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Pistis Sophia · 121 of 160 · tr. George Horner

Document THIRD-u

Concerning the word therefore of the forgiveness of the sins which thou saidst unto us once in a parable, saying, I came to cast fire upon the earth; and also, What is that which I wish, except that it should be kindled: and also thou separatedst plainly, saying, I have a baptism to be baptised in it; and how shall I endure, until it should be completed? Ye are thinking that I came to cast peace upon the earth? Nay but a division is that which I shall send. For from now there are five (who) will become in one house, there are three (who) will be upon two and two upon three. This, my Lord, is the word which thou saidst plainly. The word indeed which thou saidst, I came to cast a fire upon the earth and what is that which [273 ] I wish, except that it should be kindled, which (is) this, my Lord, that thou broughtest the mysteries of the baptisms unto the world? And what is that which thou willest, except that it should eat in after all the sins of the soul and purify them. And also afterwards thou separatedst plainly saying, I have a baptism to be baptised in it, and how shall I endure, even until it should be completed, namely, that thou wilt not remain in the World, even until the baptisms should be completed, and purify the perfect souls. And also the word which thou saidst unto us once, Ye are thinking that I came to cast peace upon the earth? nay, but division is that which I came to cast: because from now there are five (who) will become in one house; there are three (who) will be divided upon two and two upon three, namely, the mysteries of the baptisms [274 ] which thou broughtest unto the World, it having made a division in the bodies of the World: because that the counterfeit spirit with the body with the Fate, it separated them unto one part, the soul also with the power it separated them unto another part, namely, that there are three who will be divided upon two and two upon three. But these having said them Maria, said he the Saviour, Well (done), O spiritual (one) of pure Light, Maria, this is the explanation 152 of the word. Answered also Maria, said she, My Lord yet also I am about to add in seeking from thee. Now therefore, my Lord, bear with me seeking from thee. Behold indeed in boldness we knew the type (in) which are wont the baptisms to forgive sin: now also the mystery of these (this, MS ) three Spaces with the mysteries of this First Mystery with the mysteries of the Ineffable, in what type are they wont to forgive sin [274 ]? Are they wont to forgive in the type of the baptism, or otherwise? Answered also the Saviour, said he, Otherwise but all the mysteries of the three Spaces are wont to forgive to (in, MS ) the soul in (dative, MS ) all the Places of the Rulers all the sins which did the soul from at first; they are wont to forgive to her, and further they are wont to forgive, those which she will do after these, even until the time unto which each of the mysteries will dominate: these I shall say unto you in the Distribution of the Universe viz.: the time up to which each of the mysteries will dominate. And also the mystery of the First Mystery with the mysteries of the Ineffable they are wont to forgive to the soul in all the Places of the Rulers, every sin with every unlawfulness which did the soul.
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Themes
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 explicitly states that the word of forgiveness was spoken unto them once in a parable, indicating the divine generative act within the human soul.

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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 text describes a division between the counterfeit spirit with the body and the soul separated unto another part.

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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 passage contrasts the 'counterfeit spirit' with the 'soul' and describes a division between them within the bodies of the World.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

Maria is called a 'spiritual (one) of pure Light,' and the text discusses the 'mysteries of the Ineffable' and purification through light.

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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 text describes a 'Distribution of the Universe' where each mystery will dominate until time is completed.

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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 references the completion of baptisms and purification of souls until the time when each mystery will dominate.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text explicitly refers to 'mysteries' and 'Ineffable' truths that are revealed to those ready to receive them.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The text states that the mysteries of the baptisms are brought unto the world and that forgiveness is forgiven in the type of the baptism.

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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 Maria and responds to her questions about the mysteries and their purpose.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

The passage centrally describes a division of five into one house and three divided upon two and two upon three as a cosmic structure.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The text uses the paradoxical statement that the Saviour came to cast division rather than peace.

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Prayerpraxis

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

Maria seeks from the Lord in boldness, indicating a direct address to the divine.

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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 goal is described as purifying perfect souls so that the Saviour will not remain in the World until the baptisms are completed.

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Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

The passage references the Saviour's declaration that he came to cast fire upon the earth and kindle it.

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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 repeatedly emphasizes purification of the soul from sins through baptism and mysteries until completion.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The text mentions the 'mysteries of the Ineffable' as a source of forgiveness and purification.

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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 seeks to understand the type in which the mysteries forgive sin, implying a search for inner truth.

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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 a journey of purification and completion of baptisms toward a divine state.

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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.

Purification leads to the state where the Saviour will not remain in the World, implying transformation.

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Related passages · 6 parallels
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 2, Section 1n
200 Redemption is a work performed by the whole Trinity through the Second Person. (So, too, is Creation. Cf. p. 65, n. 2). 201 i. e. We strive to distinguish the two planes of Being in God. Cf. Athan. Creed: “Neither confounding…”
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)
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 1, Section 1d
And we press upwards to those beams which in the Holy Scripture shine upon us; wherefrom we gain the light which leads us unto 55 the Divine praises 64 64 πρὸς τοὺς θεαρχικοὺς ὕμνους. Either (1) “leads us to declare the Divine praises”; or…”
Shared concept: Return To Source — The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination. (derived)
neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter VIII-av
It is well observed by Ficinus, in lib. i. Eunead. ii. Plotin. “that the fire which is enkindled by us is more similar to the heavens than other terrestrial substances. Hence it participates of light, which is something incorporeal, i…”
Shared concept: Ritual Fire — Fire as medium of divine presence. (derived)
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 489
Section 11 11. Similarly any one, unable to see himself, but possessed by that God, has but to bring that divine- within before his consciousness and at once he sees an image of himself, himself lifted to a better beauty: now let him ignore…”
Shared concept: Kingdom Within — The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation. (derived)
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 7 (part 5)
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)
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Page 3 (part 11)
1-10, 18, 19 as a natural sequel, where p. xxvi [paragraph continues] Enoch summons his children to receive his parting words. Then comes the Apocalypse of weeks, xciii. 1-10, xci. 12-17. The original order of the text, therefore, was:…”
Shared concept: Eschatological Judgment — 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. (derived)