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Pistis Sophia · 127 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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These therefore having said them the Saviour, sprang up forward Maria, said she, My Lord, there is ear of my Light-dweller, and I understood all the word which thou saidst: concerning this word therefore which thou saidst unto us once in a parable [284 ], The servant who knew the wish of his lord and prepared not, nor did the wish of his lord, he will receive great stripes, but he who knew not and did not, he will be worthy of little (stripes): because every one to whom they entrusted more they will seek after more from him, and unto whom they committed many (things) they will require of him many, namely, my Lord, he who knoweth the Deity and he found the mystery of the Light, (and) he transgressed, they will punish him in a great judgment more than him who knew not the Godhead. This my Lord is the explanation of the word. Added also Maria, said she to the Saviour, My Lord, if the faith with the mysteries come to manifestation, now therefore whenever souls, whenever they should come unto the world for many of cycles, and they neglect to [285 ] receive mystery, trusting that whenever they should come unto the 159 world for another cycle they will receive them, then indeed do they not run risk of not attaining to receive the mysteries? Answered the Saviour, said he to his disciples, Preach to all the world, saying to the men, strive that ye receive the mysteries of the Light at this time which is troublous and go in unto the kingdom of the Light. Do not cast a day in unto a day or a cycle in unto a cycle, and trust that ye attain unto receiving the mysteries, whenever we should come unto the world for another cycle: and these know not when is about to become the number of the perfect souls, for whenever should become the number of the perfect souls I shall shut therefore the gate of the Light. And there is not any (who) will go in from this hour, nor is there any (who) cometh out afterwards. [285 ] Because that was completed the number of the perfect souls, and was completed the mystery of the First Mystery, this because of which the Universe became, which is I, that Mystery. And from this hour there is not any (who) will go in unto the Light, and there is not any who will be able to come out: because in the completion of the time of the number of the perfect souls, before that I put forth the fire unto the World for to purify the Aeons with the veils with the firmaments with all the earth all the other matter which (is) upon it, yet also are becoming the mankind. In that time therefore will be more manifested the faith with the mysteries in those days: and there are many souls coming by the cycle of the change of the body, and they are coming unto the World, some of them being in this present [286 ] time, having heard me teaching: in the completion of the number of the perfect souls they will find the mysteries of the Light and receive them: and they (will) come up to the gate of the Light and find it, having been completed the number of the perfect souls, namely, the completion of the First Mystery, and that is the knowing of the Universe. And they will find it, I having shut up the gate of the Light. And it is not possible for any to come in, or for any to come out from this hour. These souls therefore will knock in unto the gate of the Light, saying, Lord open to us. I shall answer that I may say to them, I know you not whence ye are. And they will say to me, We received out of thy mysteries, and we completed all thy teaching, and thou [286 ] taughtest to us in the highways.
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The text mentions purifying the Aeons with veils and firmaments.

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Apocatastasiscosmology

The doctrine of the periodic restoration or recurrence of all things to their original state after vast cycles.

The promise of mysteries manifesting in those days suggests a restoration or revelation.

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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.

Maria states she understood all the word which thou saidst concerning this word therefore which thou saidst unto us once in a parable.

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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 states that souls will come by the cycle of the change of the body.

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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 Light with the World and purifies the Aeons with veils.

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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 links the completion of souls to the manifestation of faith and mysteries.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

The gate of the Light is shut up, and souls must knock in asking to be opened.

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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 references the Light, the gate of the Light, and the Light-dweller as central themes.

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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 text describes a great judgment where transgressors will be punished more severely than those who knew not the Godhead.

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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 tied to knowing the Deity and finding the mystery of the Light rather than faith alone.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The mysteries are reserved for those who come unto the world at this troublous time.

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Inner Lightanthropology

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

Maria refers to her Light-dweller and the mystery of the Light residing within.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The Light is associated with Maria's internal state rather than an external realm.

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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 actively speaks and responds to Maria's plea for the mysteries.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

The text emphasizes the completion of the number of perfect souls as a critical threshold for receiving mysteries.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

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

The parable warns that knowing more leads to greater stripes rather than lesser ones.

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Prayerpraxis

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

Soul knock in unto the gate of the Light saying Lord open to us.

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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.

Souls are described as coming up to the gate of the Light and finding it after cycles.

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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.

Knowing the Deity and the mystery of the Light is presented as a prerequisite for receiving mysteries.

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Soul Migrationcosmology

The transmigration of the soul across lives.

Souls come by the cycle of the change of the body and 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.

Souls are described as coming up to the gate of the Light.

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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 text implies a transformation through receiving mysteries and knowing the Deity.

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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 Universe is identified with 'that Mystery' which is I.

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Related passages · 2 parallels
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 25 (part 2)
Saith Osiris Ani: "Hail, thou god Annitu! Hail, O Runner, (2) dwelling in thy hall! O thou great god, grant thou " that my soul may come unto me from wheresoever it may be. If it would tarry, then bring thou unto me (3) my soul from wher…”
Both passages deal with the theme of the soul's journey and the importance of spiritual preparation. They emphasize the need for the soul to be ready and to receive divine mysteries or teachings to ensure a favorable outcome in the afterlife.
sufism|The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi)|STORY XVa
Counsels of Reserve given by the Prophet to his Freedman Zaid. At dawn the Prophet said to Zaid, "How is it with thee this morning, O pure disciple?" He replied, "Thy faithful slave am I." Again he said, "If the garden of faith has bloomed…”
Both passages discuss the importance of spiritual knowledge and the consequences of not acting upon it. They also emphasize the urgency of seeking mystical truths and the finality of judgment or enlightenment.