Gnostic John the Baptizer — Some Typical Extracts

An editorial preface states that the pieces gathered under earlier headings have covered material with historic intention, and that a few further extracts requiring no commentary are now added, beginning with 'The Fisher of Souls' tractate. In 'The Fisher of Souls Saga' (§§ 36–39) a first-person speaker declares himself a chosen Fisher, Head of all catchers of fish, who knows the waters and pushes aside swimmers hindering Life's way. He sits in a boat of glory, with Hibil, Shitil, and Anōsh near him, who greet him as Father and Good Fisher. He hears the uproar of fishers who eat fish; a buyer and a fisher exchange curses over stinking fish and false scales. The Chief Fisher calls for his squbrā to sound into the marsh and warn the fish; the fishers hear his call, and he binds them, smites them with an iron club, breaks their ships, burns their nets, and makes them swear an oath. He rejects their offer to serve him, declaring he is a Fisher of souls whom he clothes in glory, while the Seven stay behind. In 'The Light-Ship of the Fisher' (§ 37) the Fisher, an Envoy sent by Life, describes a ship Life built, with Sunday and Life's Son at pole and rudder, and warns the fish against foul-smelling birds. In § 38 the fishers offer partnership, sharing, and their father, mother, mother's net-making; the Fisher stamps on their ships, curses Sirmā, Safnā, Sagiā, Arbānā, and the Planets, and leads his friends aloft. In § 39 the Pure Fisher instructs the fish; Shilmai and Nidbai curse the fishers, who question him and finally beg forgiveness, offering to serve his disciples. 'The Good Shepherd' (§ 11) speaks as a shepherd guarding sheep; a tempest, flood, and dragons come, and he weeps for his lambs trapped in the fold.

The speaker enters a house, mounts to its highest place, and calls his sheep, piping and beating a tabour to lead them to water, promising that those who heed his call and gaze on him he will draw aboard his boat of glory, while those caught are swallowed by the water-whirl. He laments the sheep sunk in the mud and pronounces a series of beatitudes on those who escape the Seven and Twelve, Rūhā, and the age of Nirig (Mars), and who mount to the Radiant Dwelling. In "The Loving Shepherds of the Good Shepherd" (§12), a Treasure calls for a loving shepherd to watch a thousand out of ten thousand; a dialogue follows about sandals of glory that do not decay, about creatures lost to lion, wolf, thief, fire, mud (Messiah), water, and pen-demon (idols), and about weighing each sheep on a scale. An editorial note introduces the Treasury of Life. In "The Treasury of Life" (§57), the Treasury (Sīmath-Haiyē) speaks of being a crown and vesture, given light by Great Life, laid by Neṣab the Radiant over Jordan, calling the wicked from Darkness, and becoming a King for the Nazōræans. An editorial note discusses Mandæan syncretism. In "In the Beginning" (§13), the good ask whether there was one King or two; the answer describes a King of this world with a crown of Darkness who slays his sons, and a King from outside with a crown of Light who instructs his; the soul in the Bowl; the Wicked's fight with Light; the Envoy sent; and Adam awakened, instructed, and ascending. In "Exhortations" (§47), Life's Gnosis instructs the Nazōræans against adultery, theft, magic, and idol-worship. The Song of the Poor's Exaltation is announced.

The input for this span consists entirely of editorial footnotes rather than primary text. In order, the notes gloss salt sea-water against living water, the Heavenly Jordan, cult objects, the Angel of Death's knife, the faithful as birds and sheep, references disputed by Lidzbarski to the Moslim period and 'Bizbat,' worship before Rūhā, the Good Shepherd seeking the lost sheep, N. as the Great Watcher, Yawar the Helper, the Kannā or mixing-bowl, Adam lying like a log, and "One of the Poor am I."