Gnostic John the Baptizer — Some Typical Extracts · 13 of 24 · tr. G.R.S. Mead
Section 13
The Treasury am I, Life's Treasury. A crown I became for Life's Gnosis.
He bestowed on me the rulership over the treasures and the shekīnahs which
are there [yonder].
The Treasury am I, Life's Treasury. Of the light-worlds was I the
enlightener. Day in and day out they sing praise to Great [Life], and through
me they mount upward and behold the Light's region.
The Treasury am I, Life's Treasury. A vesture for the light-worlds
became I.
[The Treasury] am I, Life's Treasury. A King for the Nazōræans became
I. I became a King for the Nazōræans, who through my Name find praise and
assurance. Praise and assurance they find through my Name, and on my Name
they mount up and behold the Light's region. For the Men of purity put to the
test—[for them] their eye became full of Light. Full of Light was their eye,
and in their heart Life's Gnosis took seat. Whoever of me, Life's Treasury,
makes his investment, loves not gold and silver, loves not gold and
possessions, [loves not] food of the body, and envy with him has no place.
Envy found with him no place, and he did not forget his night-prayer. He
forgot not the discourses and writings, and he forsook not his Lord's word.
He forsook not the prayer of his Father, Life's Gnosis; wherefor into the
great End-Sea he falls not. He forgot not Sunday, nor did he neglect the
Day's evening. He forgot not the way of Great [Life, the way] of wages and
alms. He will be rapt away in the night-prayer, he will be rapt away in
shining vestures which have come from Great [Life]. Treasures for him fill up
what falls short, and what is empty they load for him full. If he bears a
pure load, he is counted with the Men of piety put to the test who separate
themselves [from the world] in the Name of Yawar. 1 Life's p. 88 Treasury rested upon them, to
their form it gave light, and for them a way to Great [Life's] House has been
established.
I have called with clear voice and directed hereto the disciples: "The
vine who bears fruit, doth ascend; who bears none will here be cut off.
Whosoever lets himself be enlightened through me and instructed, ascends and
beholds the Light's region; whoever does not let himself be enlightened
through me and instructed, is cut off and falls into the great End-Sea."
Life is exalted and is victorious, and victorious is the
Man who has come hither.
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 outlines a final fate where those who do not ascend are cut off and fall into the great End-Sea. [quarantine-w3: eschatological_judgment x mandaean — see rellm data/quarantine/dossiers.jsonl]
Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.
Night-prayer is explicitly mentioned as a required practice that keeps one from falling into the End-Sea. [quarantine-w3: prayer x mandaean — see rellm data/quarantine/dossiers.jsonl]
Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.
The passage repeatedly emphasizes that praise, assurance, and ascent are found through the 'Name' of the divine. [quarantine-w3: sacred_names x mandaean — see rellm data/quarantine/dossiers.jsonl]