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Pistis Sophia · 159 of 160 · tr. George Horner

Document FIFTHe

Then she is wont to take away that righteous soul and deliver her up to her Receivers and cast her unto the Aeons of the Sphere, that the Ministers of the Sphere may take her out unto water being underneath the Sphere, that it may become a smoke [353 ] boiling, that it may eat in at her until it should purify her entirely. And is wont to come Ialouham the Receiver of Sabaoth, the Adamas, this who is wont to give the cup of forgetfulness to the souls. And he is wont to bring the water of forgetfulness, and give it to the soul and she forgetteth every thing with every Place unto which she went. Afterwards is wont to come a Receiver of the little Sabaoth, the good, he of the Middle, he is wont to bring also a cup, full of the understanding and wiseness and with watchfulness in it, and giveth it to the soul, and they cast her unto a body, that she will not be able to sleep nor will she be able to forget, because of the cup of the watchfulness which they gave to her, but it will become beating her heart continually, seeking after the mysteries of the Light, [353 ] until she find them by the precept of the Virgin of the Light, and inherit the Light eternal (of-unto-age, MS ). Said Mariham, Then a man having done every sin and every unlawfulness, having not found the mysteries of the Light is he about to receive all his punishments at one time? Said Jesus, Yea, he is about to receive them. If also those which he did (were) three he is about to receive three punishments. Said Iohannes, Then a man having done every sin and every unlawfulness, but at the last he found the mysteries of the Light is it possible for him to be saved? Said Jesus, This of this kind who did every sin and every unlawfulness, and found the mysteries of the Light, and did them and completed them, and did not cease, nor did sin, he is about to inherit the Treasury of the Light. Said Jesus to his disciples, If should [354 ] the Sphere turn round and (if) Kronos with Ares should come behind the Virgin of the Light; and Zeus with the Aphrodite should come in the presence of the Virgin, being in their own Aeons, they are wont to draw (away) the veils of the Virgin; she is wont to become cheerful in that hour, seeing these two stars of light in her presence. And every soul which she will cast unto the cycle of the Aeons of the Sphere at that hour, for them 199 to come out unto the world, they are wont to become righteous and good, and they are wont to find the mysteries of the Light at this time. (Or if not) she is wont to dispatch them another time, that they may find the mysteries of the Light. If Ares also with Kronos should come to the presence of the Virgin, Zeus with the Aphrodite beg behind her, not seeing them, every soul which she will cast [354 ] unto the creatures of the Sphere at that hour, they are wont to become evil and wrathful, and they are not wont to find the mysteries of the Light. These therefore while Jesus is saying them to his disciples in the Middle of Amente, cried out, wept the disciples, Woe woe to the men the sinners, these upon whom the neglect lieth and the forgetfulness of the Rulers, until they come out of body and they take them unto these punishments. Have mercy on us, have mercy on us, the Son of him who is holy, and have compassion on us, that we should be saved from these punishments and these judgments, which are prepared for the sinners.
Themes
Aeonscosmology

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

The text repeatedly references 'Aeons of the Sphere', 'Ministers of the Sphere', and specific Aeonic figures like Kronos, Zeus, and Aphrodite.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

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

Divine beings are described with human characteristics such as having a cup, being good or wrathful, and possessing hearts that beat.

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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 cast into a body that prevents sleep and causes constant seeking until mysteries are found.

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Cosmic Dualismtheology

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

Reality is structured around opposing principles such as righteous/evil, light/darkness, and good/wrathful souls.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The passage centers on the 'Light eternal' that souls must inherit through finding its mysteries.

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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 final punishments and judgments prepared for sinners based on their deeds.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

The passage details the soul's journey through afterlife realms like the Sphere and Aeons.

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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 explicitly defined as inheriting the Light eternal through finding the mysteries of the Light.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text mentions 'mysteries of the Light' that must be found and inherited by those who complete them.

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Inner Lightanthropology

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

The Virgin of the Light is described as a source from which souls inherit eternal light.

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Living Godtheology

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

Divine beings are depicted as active agents who bring cups, cast souls, and respond to prayer.

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Prayerpraxis

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

Disciples cry out and beg for mercy from the Son of the holy one to be saved from punishments.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The soul is guided through realms by Receivers and Ministers until it either finds mysteries or is punished.

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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 soul's journey involves being cast back into the Sphere and eventually inheriting the Light eternal.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

Purification of the soul is described as a necessary process before inheritance occurs.

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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 Virgin of the Light is veiled until stars appear, symbolizing a state of exile from divine visibility.

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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 soul seeks mysteries and moves through Aeons toward the Light eternal.

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Related passages · 4 parallels
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 discuss the fate of souls after death, the consequences of sin, and the ultimate reward for the righteous. They share a common theme of divine judgment and the transformation of souls based on their actions in life.
mandaean|Gnostic John the Baptizer — Portents at John's Birth|Section 16
When Messiah said this, Yahyā cries aloud; tears come to him without ceasing, and he speaks: "[God] forbid that the high King of Light should look for lot in deceivers. The soul is not like the blood, that it should become heated in the bod…”
Both passages describe the journey of the soul after death and the role of divine entities in this process. They share themes of purification, judgment, and the soul's ultimate fate based on its actions in life.
platonism|Plato: Phaedo|Section 1‰
Those again who have committed crimes, which, although great, are not unpardonable-who in a moment of anger, for example, have done violence to a father or mother, and have repented for the remainder of their lives, or who have taken the li…”
Both passages discuss the fate of souls after death, including the concept of purification and the consequences of one's actions in life. They also mention the idea of souls being judged and the possibility of redemption or punishment based on their deeds.
platonism|Plato: Phaedrus|Section 1p
And there is a law of Destiny, that the soul which attains any vision of truth in company with a god is preserved from harm until the next period, and if attaining always is always unharmed. But when she is unable to follow, and fails to b…”
Both passages describe the journey of the soul after death, involving stages of purification, judgment, and reincarnation based on the soul's actions and knowledge of divine truths. They share the theme of the soul's progression and the influence of divine entities on this process.