pistis.sophia_book_2_part8 Chapter 1

“of my kingdom, being in a great light immeasurable for the gods and all the invisibles, and he will be in great joy and great jubilation. But now, therefore, hearken, that I may discourse with you concerning the grandeur of those who shall receive the mysteries of the First Mystery.”

“He, therefore, who shall receive the [first] mystery of that First Mystery, and it shall be at the time that he cometh out of the body of the matter of the rulers,”

–then the retributive receivers come and lead the soul of that man out of the body.

And that soul will become a great light-stream in the hands of the retributive receivers; and those receivers will be afraid of the light of that soul.

And that soul will go upwards and pass through all the regions of the rulers

and all the regions of the emanations of the Light. And it will not give answers nor apologies nor tokens in any single region of the Light nor in any single region of the rulers; but it will pass through all the regions and cross over them all, so that it goeth and ruleth over all the regions of the first saviour.

“In like manner also he who shall receive the second mystery of the First Mystery and the third and fourth, until he shall receive the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery,”

if it shall be at the time | that he cometh out of the body of the matter of the rulers,–then the retributive receivers come and lead the soul of that man out of the body of matter.

And those souls will become a great light-stream in the hands of the retributive receivers; and those receivers will be afraid of the light of those souls and will become powerless and fall on their faces.

And those souls will straightway soar upwards and cross over all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the emanations of the Light. They will not give answers nor apologies nor tokens in any single region;

but they will pass through all the regions and will cross over them all

and rule over all the regions of the twelve saviours, so that they who receive the second mystery of the First Mystery, will rule over all the regions of the second saviour in the inheritances of the Light.

“In like manner also those who receive the third mystery of the First Mystery and the fourth and fifth and sixth up to the twelfth,–every one will rule over all the regions of the saviour up to whom he hath received the mystery.”

“And he who shall receive in sequence the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery, that is the master-mystery concerning which I discourse with you,”

– | and he who, therefore, shall receive those twelve mysteries which belong to the First Mystery,

if he goeth forth out of the world, will pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the Light, being a great light-stream,

“and he will moreover rule over all the regions of the twelve saviours; but they will not be able to be like unto those who receive the one and only mystery of the Ineffable. But he who shall receive those mysteries will abide in those orders, because they are exalted, and he will abide in the orders of the twelve saviours.”

“It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward, kissed the feet of Jesus and said unto him: My Lord, bear with me and be not wroth with me, if I question thee;”

but have mercy upon us, my Lord, and reveal unto us all things on which we shall question thee.

Now, therefore, my Lord, how doth the First Mystery possess twelve mysteries,

“[and] the Ineffable possess a one and only mystery?”

“Jesus answered and said unto her: Indeed it possesseth a one and only mystery, yet that mystery constituteth three mysteries, although it is the one and only mystery; but the type of every one of them is different.”

And moreover it constituteth five mysteries, although it is a one and only [one]; but the type of every one is different. So that these five mysteries are alike with one another in the mystery | of the kingdom in the inheritances of the Light; but the type of each of them is different. And their kingdom is higher and more exalted than the whole kingdom of the twelve mysteries together of the First Mystery;

but they are not alike in the kingdom [with the one and only mystery] of the First Mystery in the Light-kingdom.

“In like manner also the three mysteries are not [?] alike in the Light-kingdom; but the type of every one of them is different. And they themselves also are not alike in the kingdom with the one and only mystery of the First Mystery in the Light-kingdom;”

and the type of every one of the three of them, and the type of the configuration of each of them, is different from one another.

“The first [mystery of the First Mystery],–if thou accomplishest its mystery altogether and standest and accomplishest it finely in all its figures, then dost thou come straightway out of thy body, become a great light-stream and pass through all the regions of the rulers and all the regions of the Light, while all are in fear of that soul, until it cometh to the region of its kingdom.”

“The second mystery of the First Mystery, on the other hand,–| if thou accomplishest it finely in all its figures,–the man, therefore, who shall accomplish its mystery, if he speaketh that mystery over the head of any man who goeth forth out of the body, and he speaketh it into his two ears, if indeed the man who goeth forth out of the body hath received mysteries for the second time and is sharing in the word of truth,”

amēn, I say unto you: That man, if he goeth forth out of the body of matter, then will his soul become a great light-stream and pass through all the regions, until it cometh to the kingdom of that mystery.

“But if that man hath received no mysteries and is not sharing in the words of truth,–if he who accomplisheth that mystery, speaketh that mystery over the head of a man who cometh forth out of the body and who hath received no mysteries of the Light, and shareth not in the words of truth,”

–amēn, I say unto you: That man, if he cometh forth out of the body, will be judged in no region of the rulers, nor can he be chastized in any region at all, nor will the fire touch him, because of the great mystery of the Ineffable which is with him.

“And they will hasten quickly and hand him over one to another in turn and lead him from region to region and | from order to order, until they bring him before the Virgin of Light, while all the regions are in fear of the mystery and the sign of the kingdom of the Ineffable which is with him. And if they bring him before the Virgin of Light,”

then the Virgin of Light will see the sign of the mystery of the kingdom of the Ineffable which is with him; the Virgin of Light marvelleth and proveth him,

but suffereth them not to bring him to the Light, until he accomplisheth the total citizenship of the light of that mystery, that is the purities of the renunciation of the world and also of the total matter therein. The Virgin of Light sealeth him with a higher seal, which is this [ . . .? ], and letteth him in that month in which he hath come out of the body of matter, light down into a body which will be righteous and find the godhead in truth and the higher mysteries, so that he may inherit them and inherit the Light eternal, which is the gift of the second mystery of the First Mystery of the Ineffable.

“The third mystery of that Ineffable on the other hand,”

–the man indeed who shall accomplish that mystery,

not only if he [himself] cometh forth out of the body, will he inherit the kingdom of the mystery, but if he complete that mystery and accomplish it with | all its figures, that is if he go through with that mystery and accomplish it finely and pronounce the name of that mystery over a man who cometh forth out of the body and hath known that mystery,–let the former have delayed or rather not have delayed,–one who is in the dire chastisements of the rulers and in their dire judgments and their manifold fires,

–amēn, I say unto you: The man who hath come forth out of the body,–if the name of this mystery is pronounced on his behalf, they will hasten quickly to bring him over

and hand him over one to another, until they bring him before the Virgin of Light. And the Virgin of Light will seal him with a higher. seal, which is this [ . . .?], and in that month will she let him light down into the righteous body which will find the godhead in truth and the higher mystery, so that he inherit the Light-kingdom.

This, therefore, is the gift of the third mystery of the Ineffable.

“Now, therefore, every one who shall receive one of the five mysteries of the Ineffable,”

–if he cometh forth out of the body and inheriteth up to the region of that mystery,

then is the kingdom of those five mysteries higher than the kingdom of the twelve mysteries of the First Mystery, and it is higher than all the mysteries | which are below them. But those five mysteries of the Ineffable are alike with one another in their kingdom,

“yet are they not alike with the three mysteries of the Ineffable. He on the other hand who receiveth of the three mysteries of the Ineffable,”

if he cometh forth out of the body, will inherit up to the kingdom of that mystery. And those three mysteries are alike with one another in the kingdom and they are higher and more exalted than the five mysteries of the Ineffable in the kingdom,

but they are not alike with the one and only mystery of the Ineffable.

“He on the other hand who receiveth the one and only mystery of the Ineffable, will inherit the region of the whole kingdom according to its whole glory, as I have already told you at another time.”

And every one who shall receive the mystery which is in the space of the universe of the Ineffable, and all the other mysteries which are united in the Limbs of the Ineffable, concerning which I have not yet spoken unto you, and concerning their expansion and the manner of their setting-up and the type of every one, how it is and wherefor it is named the Ineffable

or wherefor it standeth expanded with all its Limbs and how many Limbs are in it and all its economies, | of which I will not tell you now, but when I come to the expansion of the universe I will tell you all severally,–to wit, its expansions and its description, how it is, and the aggregation [?] of all its Limbs, which belong to the economy of the One and Only, the unapproachable God in truth,

–up to what region, therefore, every one shall receive the mysteries in the space of the Ineffable, up to that region will he inherit up to which he hath received. And those of the whole region of the space of that Ineffable

give no answers in that region, nor give they apologies, nor give they tokens, for they are without tokens and they have no receivers, but they pass through all the regions, until they come to the region of the kingdom of the mystery which they have received.

“In like manner also those who shall receive mysteries in the second space, they have no answers nor apologies, for they are without tokens in that world,”

“which is the space of the first mystery of the First Mystery. And those of the third space, which is without, which is the third space from without [? within],–every region in that space hath | its receivers and its explanations and its apologies and its tokens, which I will one day tell you when I come to speak of that mystery, that is when I shall have told you of the expansion of the universe.”

“Albeit at the dissolution of the universe, that is when the number of the perfect souls is completed and the mystery [through] which the universe altogether hath risen, is completed, I will pass a thousand years according to the years of the Light, being king over all the emanations of the Light and over the whole number of the perfect souls who have received all mysteries.”

“It came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary Magdalene came forward and said: My Lord, how many years of the years of the world is a year of the Light?”

“Jesus answered and said unto Mary: A day of the Light is a thousand years in the world, so that thirty-six-myriads of years and a half-myriad of years of the world are a single year of the Light.”

“I shall, therefore, pass a thousand years of the Light being king in the midst of the last Helper, and being king over all the emanations of the Light and over the whole number of the perfect souls who have received the mysteries of the Light.”

“And ye, my disciples, and every one who shall receive the mystery of the Ineffable, will | abide with me on my right and on my left, being kings with me in my kingdom.”

“And they who shall receive the three mysteries of that Ineffable, will be fellow-kings with you in the Light-kingdom; but they will not be alike with you and with those who receive the mystery of the Ineffable, but they will rather abide behind you, being kings.”

“And they who receive the five mysteries of the Ineffable, will also abide behind the three mysteries, being also kings. And moreover they who receive the twelfth mystery of the First Mystery, will also again abide behind the five mysteries of the Ineffable, being also kings according to the order of every one of them. And all who receive of the mysteries in all the regions of the space of the Ineffable,”

will also be kings and abide before those who receive the mystery of the First Mystery, expanded according to the glory of every one of them, so that those who receive the higher mysteries, will abide in the higher regions, and those who receive the lower mysteries, will abide in the lower regions, being kings in the light of my kingdom.

“These alone are the allotment of the kingdom of the first space of the Ineffable. |”

“They on the other hand who receive all the mysteries of the second space, that is of the space of the First Mystery,”

will again abide in the light of my kingdom, expanded according to the glory of every one of them, and every one of them being in the mystery up to which he hath received. And those who receive the higher mysteries, will also abide in the higher regions, and those who receive the lower mysteries, will abide in the lower regions in the light of my kingdom.

“This is the allotment of the second king for those who receive the mystery of the second space of the First Mystery.”

“Those on the other hand who receive the mysteries of the third space, that is of the first space from without, those again will abide behind the second king, expanded in the light of my kingdom, according to the glory of every one of them, every one abiding in the region up to which he hath received mysteries, so that those who receive the higher mysteries, will abide in the higher regions, and those who receive the lower mysteries, will abide in the lower regions.”

“These are the three allotments of the Light-kingdom. The mysteries of these three allotments of the Light are exceedingly numerous. Ye shall find them in the two great Books of Yew.”

“But I will give you and tell you the great mysteries | of every allotment, those which are higher than every region, that is the heads according to every region and according to every order which will lead the whole race of men into the higher regions, according to the space of the Inheritance. Of the rest of the lower mysteries, therefore, ye have no need; but ye will find them in the two Books of Yew, which Enoch hath written whilst I spake with him out of the tree of gnosis and out of the tree of life in the paradise of Adam.”

“Now, therefore, when I shall have explained unto you the whole expansion, I will give you and tell you the great mysteries of the three allotments of my kingdom, that is the heads of the mysteries which I will give you and tell you in all their figures and all their types and in their ciphers and the seals of the last space, that is the first space from without.”

“And I will tell you the answers and the apologies and the tokens of that space. The second space which is within, possesseth no answers nor apologies nor tokens nor ciphers nor seals; but it possesseth only types and figures.”

“When the Saviour had finished saying all this unto his disciples, | Andrew came forward and said: My Lord, be not wroth with me, but have mercy upon me and reveal unto me the mystery of the word concerning which I shall question thee, for it hath been hard for me and I have not understood it.”

“The Saviour answered and said unto him: Question concerning that on which thou desirest to question, and I will reveal it unto thee face to face without similitude.”

“And Andrew answered and said: My Lord, I am astonished and marvel exceedingly, how the men who are in the world and in the body of this matter, if they come forth out of this world, will pass through these firmaments and all these rulers and all lords and all gods and all these great invisibles and all those of the region of the Midst and those of the whole region of the Right and all the great [ones] of the emanations of the Light, and enter into them all and inherit the Light-kingdom.”

“This matter, therefore, is hard for me.”

“When then Andrew had said this, the spirit of the Saviour was roused in him; he cried out and said: How long am I to endure you? How long am I to bear with you? Have ye then not even yet understood and are ye ignorant? Know ye then not and do ye not understand that ye and all angels and all archangels and the gods and the lords and all the rulers and all the great invisibles | and all those of the Midst and those of the whole region of the Right and all the great [ones] of the emanations of the Light and their whole glory,”

“–that ye all one with another are out of one and the same paste and the same matter and the same substance, and that ye all are out of the same Mixture. And at the commandment of the First Mystery the Mixture was constrained, until all the great [ones] of the emanations of the Light and all their glory purified themselves, and until they purified themselves from the Mixture. And they have not purified themselves of themselves,”

“but they have purified themselves by necessity according to the economy of the One and Only, the Ineffable. They indeed have not at all suffered”

“and have not at all changed themselves in the regions, nor at all torn themselves asunder nor poured themselves into bodies of different kinds and from one into another, nor have they been in any affliction at all. Ye then in particular are the refuse of the Treasury”

and ye are the refuse of the region of the Right and ye are the refuse of the region of those of the Midst and ye are the refuse of all the invisibles and of all the rulers; in a word, ye are the refuse of all these.

And ye are in great sufferings and great afflictions in your being poured from one into another of different kinds of bodies |