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Pistis Sophia · 156 of 160 · tr. George Horner

Document FIFTHb

This is the judgment of the man, (the) slanderer. Said she, Mariham, Woe woe to the sinners. Answered [347 ] also Salome, said she, My Lord, Jesus, a man, murderer having not done sin ever except killing, whenever he should come out of body, what is his punishment? Answered Jesus, said he, A man killer, having not done sin ever except killing, whenever his time should be completed by the Sphere for him to come out of body, are wont to come the Receivers of Ialdabaoth, and bring his soul out of body, and bind her by her feet behind a great demon of face of horse, and he spendeth three days going round with her in the World. After these (things) they are wont to take her out unto the Place of the cold with the snow and punish her there for three years with six months. After these they (are wont to) take her down unto the Chaos (close) to Ialdabaoth with his forty nine demons, and scourge [347 ] her his demons other three years for each (demon) with six months. After these (things) they are wont to take her unto the Chaos (close) to the Persephone, and punish her in her punishments other three years with six months. After these (things) they are wont to take her away upon the road of the Middle, and each of the Rulers of the road of the Middle punisheth her in the punishments of his Places for other three years with six months. And after these they take her to the 195 Virgin of the Light, this who is wont to judge the righteous with the sinners that she may judge her, and whenever the Sphere should turn round she is wont to command, that they cast her unto the Darkness which is outer, until the time (in) which they will take away the Darkness of the Middle she is wont to be destroyed and dissolved. This is the punishment of the man, (a) killer. Said he, Petros, My Lord, [348 ] Let the women be content unto seeking, that we also may seek. Said Jesus to Mariham with the women, Leave the place for your brothers, (the) male that they also may seek. Answered Petros said he, My Lord, then a man, (a) thief, (a) robber, his sin being this continually, whenever he should come out of body, what is his punishment? Said Jesus, This of this kind whenever his time should be completed by the Sphere, are wont to come after him the Receivers of Adonis, and bring his soul out of body and spend three days going round with her teaching her the creatures of the World. After these (things) they are wont to take her down unto Amente (close) to Ariel that he may punish her in his punishments for three months with eight days with hours two. [348 ] And after these (things) they take (her) unto the Chaos (close) to Ialdabaoth, with his forty nine demons, that each of his demons should punish her other three months with eight days with hours two. After these (things) they are wont to take her down upon the road of the Middle, that each of the Rulers of the road of the Middle should punish her by his smoke of darkness with his evil fire for other three months with eight days with hours two. After these (things) they are wont to take her up to the Virgin of the Light, this who is wont to judge the righteous and the sinners, that she may judge her.
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

Divine beings are described with human characteristics such as faces, feet, and the ability to punish.

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Apocatastasiscosmology

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

The Virgin of the Light judges sinners and righteous alike, implying a final restoration or judgment.

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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 bound by feet behind a demon and punished in the World for three days.

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Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

A stark opposition exists between the righteous and sinners, with punishments occurring in Darkness versus Light.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The Virgin of the Light is depicted as a judge who holds power over the righteous and sinners.

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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 centrally details specific punishments for sinners based on their deeds after death.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The text outlines the stages and realms through which the soul travels after death.

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Living Godtheology

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

Jesus is portrayed as an active, personal judge who speaks directly to Mariham and Petros.

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Numerical Mysticismtheology

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

Specific numerical punishments are assigned (three days, three years, forty nine demons).

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The soul is taken through various realms by demons and Rulers of the road to be punished.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

Punishment is associated with being cast into Darkness and dissolved.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The Virgin of the Light commands specific actions upon the soul's arrival.

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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.

The soul is bound and punished away from its divine origin in the Darkness.

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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 Virgin of the Light is associated with judging the righteous, implying a higher 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.

The Virgin of the Light judges the righteous and sinners alike in her capacity as a divine figure.

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Related passages · 4 parallels
buddhism|The Dhammapada|Chapter XXII, Section 1a
p. 74 CHAPTER XXII. THE DOWNWARD COURSE. 306. He who says what is not, goes to hell; he also who, having done a thing, says I have not done it. After death both are equal, they are men with evil deeds in the next world. 307. Many men…”
Both passages discuss the consequences of evil actions and the idea of punishment in the afterlife. They share a common theme of moral accountability and the repercussions of immoral behavior, reflecting a conceptual parallel in their mystical traditions.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XCIX
XCIX. Woes pronounced on the Godless, the Lawbreakers: evil Plight of Sinners in the last Days: further Woes . CHAPTER XCIX. 1. Woe to you who work godlessness, And glory in lying and extol them: Ye shall perish, and no happy life shall be…”
Both passages describe the fate of sinners and the consequences of their actions, emphasizing judgment and punishment. They share a theme of moral accountability and the inevitable reckoning for wrongdoing, though they come from different mystical traditions.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter C
C. The Sinners destroy each other: Judgement of the fallen Angels: the Safety of the Righteous: further Woes for the Sinners . CHAPTER C. 1. And in those days in one place the fathers together with their sons shall be smitten And brothers o…”
Both passages describe the judgment and punishment of sinners, emphasizing the severe consequences for their actions. They share a common theme of divine retribution and the fate of the wicked, though they come from different mystical traditions.
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter CVIII
CVIII. AN APPENDIX TO THE BOOK OF ENOCH. CHAPTER CVIII. 1. Another book which Enoch wrote for his son Methuselah and for those who will come after him, and keep the law in the last days. 2. Ye who have done good shall wait for those days ti…”
Both passages describe the fate of sinners and the righteous after death, detailing their punishments and rewards in the afterlife. They share a conceptual parallel in their focus on divine judgment and the consequences of one's actions in the world.