← Home
Pistis Sophia · 144 of 160 · tr. George Horner

Document THIRDŒ

Added also Maria, said she, My Lord, but I heard that the prophets went unto the Light. Added also the Saviour said he to Maria, Amen amen I say to thee, Not any prophet went unto the Light. But the Rulers of the Aeons who spake with them out of the Aeons, they gave to them the mystery 179 of the Aeons; and I having come unto the Place of the Aeons, Helias—I turned him, I dispatched him unto the body of Iohannes the baptist. But the rest also I turned them unto righteous bodies, these who will find the mysteries of the Light, and go unto the Height and inherit the kingdom of the Light, Abraham indeed with Isaak with Iakob, I forgave to them all their sins with all their unlawfulnesses, and I gave to them the mysteries of the Light in the Aeons, and I put [317 ] them in the Place of Iabraoth with all the Rulers who repented: and while I go unto the Height, and come, being about to go unto the Light, I shall take away their souls with me unto the Light. But Amen I say to thee Maria: He (they, MS ) will not go unto the Light, I not having taken away thy soul, thine with that of all thy brothers unto the Light. But the rest also of the patriarchs with the righteous since the time of Adam even until now, those who are in the Aeons with all the arrays of the Rulers: I having come unto the Place of Aeons, I caused these, the Virgin of the Light to turn them unto all bodies being about to become righteous (ones), these (are those) who will find all the mysteries of the Light and go in and inherit the kingdom of the Light. Answered Maria, said she, We are happy beyond every man for these greatnesses which thou revealedst to us. Answered the Saviour, said he to [318 ] Maria with all the disciples. Yet I shall reveal to you all the greatnesses of the Height from inward part of the inward parts even until the outward part of the outward parts, that ye may become being complete in every knowledge and with every pleroma with the height of the heights with the depth of the depths. Continued also Maria, said she to the Saviour, My Lord, behold, we knew in boldness in an exactness plainly that thou broughtest the keys of the Mysteries of the kingdom of the Light, these which are wont to forgive the sins of the souls and purify them, and make them pure light and take them unto the Light. [Half this line is ornament, two lines of ornament follow, and the title of the Fourth Document follows with ornament below.] 180
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The text explicitly mentions 'Rulers of the Aeons' who speak with prophets and dwell in the Place of Aeons.

All passages →
Body As Obstacleanthropology

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

The text describes turning souls from righteous bodies into bodies that will become righteous.

All passages →
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 body and the Aeons with the material world.

All passages →
Divine Lighttheology

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

Light is a central motif throughout the passage as the destination of souls and the source of mysteries.

All passages →
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 outlines who will inherit the kingdom of the Light versus those who will not.

All passages →
Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

Salvation is linked to finding the mysteries of the Light and inheriting the kingdom through knowledge.

All passages →
Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text refers to 'mysteries' and keys reserved for those who find them.

All passages →
Inner Lightanthropology

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

The text mentions purifying souls and making them pure light.

All passages →
Kingdom Withinanthropology

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

The kingdom of the Light is inherited by those who find its mysteries.

All passages →
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 reveals keys of mysteries.

All passages →
Pleromacosmology

The divine fullness or totality of the highest realm, populated by aeons and divine attributes, contrasted with the deficient material world.

References to the 'heights' and 'depths' imply the divine fullness of the highest realm.

All passages →
Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The text describes turning souls toward bodies and guiding them to the Light.

All passages →
Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

The narrative involves turning souls from bodies back to the Place of Aeons and the Height.

All passages →
Ritual Puritypraxis

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

Souls are purified before they can inherit the kingdom of the Light.

All passages →
Soul Migrationcosmology

The transmigration of the soul across lives.

The text discusses turning souls from bodies and taking them unto the Light.

All passages →
Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

The passage describes ascending to the Height and going unto the Light as a journey of ascent.

All passages →
Related passages · 1 parallel
neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter XIb
But when she places herself on the seat of the God, she becomes coadapted to his stable prophetic power: and from both these preparatory operations she becomes wholly possessed by the God. And then, indeed, he is present with and illuminat…”
Both passages discuss the concept of divine inspiration and the role of prophets or prophetesses in receiving and transmitting divine messages. They describe rituals and preparations that facilitate this divine connection, highlighting the intermediary role of the prophet in communicating with the divine.