The Golden Verses of Pythagoras · 6 of 122 · tr. Florence M. Firth

Section 5 (part 1)

p.

9 NOTES ON THE GOLDEN VERSES OF PYTHAGORAS FROM THE COMMENTARIES OF HIEROCLES.

The Golden Verses may be divided into two parts, the first treating of the Practical or Human Virtues, whose aim is the making of Good Men; and the second, treating of the Contemplative or Divine Virtues, the end of which is to make Good Men into Gods.

One is greatly struck by the wonderful completeness of the Verses, and their scientific arrangement.

They can be divided into groups dealing with practically every aspect and affair of life.

p.

10 At the end of the first part (verse 47), we find the Most Solemn Oath that if a man follow these precepts faithfully, he will be ready to tread the further path, to devote himself to the Contemplative Virtues, and to become truly God-like, overcoming Death, and gaining a knowledge of the Gods.

The Verses may be grouped in the following manner:-- PART I.--THE PRACTICAL VIRTUES.

Verses.

1-3.

Concerning Higher Intelligences.

4.

Concerning Relations.

5-8.

Concerning Friends.

9-12.

Concerning One's Lower Nature.

13-14.

Concerning One's General Behaviour.

15-20.

Concerning Death and Misfortunes.

21-23.

Concerning Doctrines.

24-31.

Concerning Actions and Speech.

32-34.

Concerning the Body.

35-39.

Concerning the Manner of Life.

40-45.

Concerning Introspection.

46, 47.

Oath Concerning the Result of the Practical Virtues.

p.

11 PART II.--THE CONTEMPLATIVE VIRTUES.

48.

Concerning the Help of the Gods.

49-51.

Concerning the Nature and Constitution of Gods and Men.

52, 53.

Concerning the Nature of the Universe, and what is possible.

54-60.

Concerning Ignorance, and the Liberty of the Soul.

61-66.

Concerning Knowledge and Deliverance.

67-69.

Concerning Purifications.

70, 71.

Concerning the Result of the Contemplative Virtues.

NOTES Verse 1.

"Worship the Immortal Gods" with an understanding as to their order and function in the universe.

For it is Impossible to worship unless you understand to some extent the nature and function of that which you worship.

The Gods do not occupy their position by accident, nor from carelessness on the part of the Great Architect, nor are they isolated units independent of each other, but rather are they linked together in such a way as to form p.

12 one perfect whole, like the different parts of one animal.

Pythagoras seems to have divided the beings in the universe roughly into three orders:-- (1) The Immortal Gods whose who live perpetually in the knowledge of God the Father and Creator of all, being secured from change or separation from Him); (2) The Heroes, and (3) The Terrestrial Dæmons.

2.

Besides the Power that creates a universe, it is necessary that there should be a power that preserves and sustains it, and this power is embodied in the created beings.

For in their essence all beings are of one nature with the Father, and just in so far as they are conscious of Him will they carry out His will and design.

They are said to be bound by an Oath to preserve all things in their respective places and to maintain the beauty and harmony of the universe; but this Oath is in reality innate and essential to them, because it is born p.

13 with them and is part of their divine nature.

Therefore, the Oath is constantly observed by the Immortal Gods, they being always conscious of the Divine Will; but by the Heroes only to the extent to which they understand and know God.

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Themes

Active Contemplationpraxis

A form of meditation that uses imagery, imagination, or symbolic thought rather than purely empty stillness.

[auto] The second part of the Verses is dedicated to 'Contemplative or Divine Virtues.'

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Covenanttheology

A binding agreement or relationship between the divine and a people or individual, establishing mutual obligations.

The text mentions a 'Most Solemn Oath' that binds the follower to the precepts.

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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.

It describes a 'Great Architect' and beings bound by an Oath to 'maintain the beauty and harmony of the universe'.

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Emanation Hierarchycosmology

A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.

Pythagoras is described as dividing beings into three orders: Gods, Heroes, and Terrestrial Dæmons.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

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

[auto] The culmination of the faithful path involves 'gaining a knowledge of the Gods.'

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Meditationpraxis

Disciplined inward attention — sitting, focused, or open-awareness practice — as a stand-alone term that umbrellas active_contemplation, inner_silence, and dhyana-style sitting.

The text emphasizes 'Contemplative Virtues' and 'Introspection' as spiritual practices.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

[auto] The text states the aim is to 'become truly God-like,' indicating a merging or union with the divine nature.

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Pneumatic Electsoteriology

A spiritual elite who possess the divine spark and are predestined for salvation, contrasted with psychic (faithful) and hylic (material) persons.

Only those who follow precepts 'faithfully' will be ready to tread the further path to become God-like.

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Prayerpraxis

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

Verse 1 instruction is to 'Worship the Immortal Gods'.

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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.

[auto] The goal of the path is to become truly God-like and overcome Death, implying a return to divine origin.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

Verses 67-69 are grouped under 'Concerning Purifications'.

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Self Examinationpraxis

Daily review of thought and action as spiritual practice.

Verses 40-45 are grouped under 'Concerning Introspection'.

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Spiritual Ascentpraxis

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

[auto] The passage explicitly describes a staged progression from Practical Virtues to Contemplative Virtues leading to becoming God-like.

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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.

[auto] The text explicitly states the aim of the Contemplative Virtues is to 'make Good Men into Gods' and become 'truly God-like'.

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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 passage states that 'in their essence all beings are of one nature with the Father'.

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