Gnostic John the Baptizer — Portents at John's Birth · 10 of 32 · tr. G.R.S. Mead
Section 10
"A blind man who writes a letter: a villain who has become virtuous. He
abandoned wantonness and abandoned theft and reached unto faith in almighty
Life.
"A desolate house who ascends again to the height: one of position who
has become humble. He quitted his palaces and quitted his pride and built a
house on the sea [-shore]. A house he built on the sea [-shore], and into it
opened two doors, so that he might bring in unto him whoever lay down there
in misery,—to him he opened the door and took him within to himself. If he
would eat, he laid for him a table with Truth, If he would drink, he mixed
for him [wine-] cups [with Truth], If he would lie down, he spread a bed for
him in Truth. If he would depart, he led him forth on the way of Truth. He
led him forth on the way of Truth and of faith, and then he ascends and
beholds the Light's region.
"A widow who a virgin becomes: a woman who already in youth has been
widowed. She kept her shame closed, and sat there till her children were
grown. 1 If she passes over, her face does not pale in her husband's 2 presence.
"Foul water that is made tasty: a girl wanton who has got back her
honour: she went up a hamlet and she went down a hamlet without taking her
veil from her face.
"A stone with oil softens: a heretic who has come down from the
mountain. 3 He abandoned magic and sorcery and made p. 51 confession to almighty Life. He
found a fatherless and filled him full and filled full the widow's pockets.
"Therefor baptize me, O Yahyā, with thy baptizing and utter o'er me the
Name thy wont is to utter. If I show myself as thy pupil, I will remember
thee in my writing; if I attest not myself as thy pupil, then wipe out my
name from thy page. Thou wilt for thy sins be haled to account, and I for my
sins will be haled to account."
When Yeshu Messiah said this, there came a Letter out of the House of
Abathur: "Yahyā, baptize the deceiver in Jordan. Lead him down into the
Jordan and baptize him, and lead him up again to the shore, find there set
him."
Then Rūhā 1 made herself like to a dove and threw a cross 2 over the Jordan. A
cross she threw over the Jordan and made its water to change into various
colours. 3 "O Jordan," she says, "thou sanctifiest me and thou sanctifiest my seven
sons."
[Then follows what, from its animadversion on Christian institutions
and especially on the use of the crucifix, is plainly a later addition. Rūhā
is apparently still speaking; she is the Mother of all heresies.]
"The Jordan in which Messiah Paulis 4 was baptized, have I
made into a 'trough.' 5 The bread which Messiah Paulis receives, p. 52 have I made into a 'sacrament.'
The drink which Messiah Paulis receives, have I made into a 'supper.' The
head-band which Messiah Paulis receives, have I made into a 'priest-hood.' 1 The staff which Messiah Paulis receives, have I made into a 'dung [-stick].'" 2
Themes
◆Anthropomorphismtheology
Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.
Divine agents are described with human-like actions such as writing letters, building houses, and sitting.
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 concludes with a promise that both the deceiver and the speaker will be haled to account for their sins.