Chapter VII
Evil As Privationtheology
Augustinian and Plotinian doctrine that evil has no positive being of its own but is a lack, distortion, or absence of the good — denying ontological dualism while preserving moral seriousness.
The passage contrasts a 'fallacious and dæmoniacal nature' with an 'intelligible and divine essence,' implying evil is a lack or distortion of the good.
All passages →Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology
Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.
The passage emphasizes consulting the divine intellect about purification and liberation rather than relying on external rituals alone.
All passages →Hidden Sayingssoteriology
Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.
The text explicitly states that the part concerning good is 'divinely delivered' by the Egyptians and not omitted, indicating esoteric revelation.
All passages →Inner Lightanthropology
The divine spark or luminous quality residing within the human person, potentially recognisable through introspection.
The reference to the 'divine intellect' suggests an internal luminous quality accessible through spiritual practice.
All passages →Kingdom Withinanthropology
The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation.
The divine intellect is consulted internally rather than externally, implying the divine realm is accessible within the practitioner.
All passages →Mystical Unionsoteriology
The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.
The text describes a union between the human good and the prior divine God as a state of liberation.
All passages →Return To Sourcesoteriology
The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.
The goal is described as ascending to an intelligible and divine essence from a fallacious nature, indicating a journey back to the origin.
All passages →Ritual Puritypraxis
The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine.
The text explicitly lists purification as one of the concerns addressed by the theurgists regarding the soul's liberation.
All passages →Self Knowledgesoteriology
The recognition of one's own true divine nature as the primary path to liberation; 'know thyself' as soteriology.
The practice involves directing attention to things beneficial for the soul and purifying it from a fallacious nature.
All passages →Spiritual Ascentpraxis
A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.
The passage explicitly describes the ascent of the dæmon from a fallacious nature to an intelligible and divine essence.
All passages →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 text states that the human good is a union with the prior divine God, implying transformation into a partaker of the divine nature.
All passages →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 defines 'theurgists' as those who consult the divine intellect about purification and liberation rather than disturb it with trifling concerns.
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