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Iamblichus: On the Mysteries · 81 of 218 · tr. Thomas Taylor

Chapter XXXI-b

Hence this genus of divination is undefiled and sacerdotal, and is truly divine. This, also, does not, as you say it does, require me, or any other as an arbiter, in order that I may prefer it to a multitude of other things; but it is itself exempt from all things, is supernatural, and has an eternal preexistence, neither 202 receiving a certain opposition, nor a certain transcendency, which has a prearrangement in many things, because it is of itself liberated, and uniformly precedes all things. And to this it is requisite that you, and every one who is a genuine lover of the Gods, should give himself wholly; since by this mean irreprehensible truth will be obtained in divinations, and perfect virtue in souls; and through both these, an ascent will be afforded to theurgists to intelligible fire, which ought to be preestablished as the end of all foreknowledge, and of every theurgic operation. Hence you in vain adduce the opinion of those who think that divination is effected by an evil dæmon, since these do not deserve to be mentioned in speculations concerning the Gods. At the same time, likewise, they are ignorant of the means of distinguishing truth from falsehood, because they are from the beginning nourished in darkness, and are wholly incapable of knowing the principles from which these are produced. Here, therefore, we shall terminate our discussion concerning the mode of divination. 203 SECTION IV.
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Themes
Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

The text describes divination as 'undefiled and sacerdotal' and 'supernatural', implying a hidden nature beyond ordinary perception.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

The text explicitly names 'intelligible fire' as the end of foreknowledge and theurgic operations, symbolizing divine illumination.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

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

The passage emphasizes obtaining 'irreprehensible truth' in divinations through direct spiritual means rather than external arbiter.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The text warns that those ignorant of the principles are nourished in darkness and incapable of knowing truth.

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Inner Lightanthropology

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

Divination is described as a process that reveals truth within the practitioner through spiritual receptivity.

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Living Godtheology

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

The text addresses the Gods directly and describes them as active sources of truth and virtue.

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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 text describes an ascent to intelligible fire as the end of foreknowledge and theurgic operations, implying a return to the divine origin.

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Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

Intelligible fire is designated as the specific end of foreknowledge and theurgic operations, functioning as a medium of divine presence.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

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

Divination is described as 'undefiled' and 'sacerdotal', requiring a state of spiritual cleanliness for truth to be obtained.

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Self Examinationpraxis

Daily review of thought and action as spiritual practice.

The passage instructs the reader to give themselves wholly to the practice as a prerequisite for truth and virtue.

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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 text explicitly states that through divination and virtue, an 'ascent will be afforded to theurgists' toward intelligible fire.

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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.

The goal of the ascent is described as becoming partakers of divine nature through perfected virtue and truth.

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Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

The passage centrally discusses divination as a practice that affords an ascent to theurgists toward intelligible fire.

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