Pistis Sophia

And Mary continued and said to the Saviour : " Lo, my Lord, we have openly, exactly and clearly known that thou hast brought the keys of the mysteries of the Light-kingdom, which forgive souls sins and purify them and make them into refined light and lead them into the Light."

It came to pass then, when Jesus our Lord had chap. 136. been crucified and had risen from the dead on'^^f^^^v^ the third day, that his disciples gathered round round. him, adored him and said : '* Our Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have abandoned father and mother and the whole world and have followed thee." At that time Jesus stood with his disciples on The mvothe water of the Ocean and made invocation with jesu" ° this prayer, saying : " Hear me, my Father, father of all fatherhood, boundless Light : aeeioiid iao adi oia psinother thernops nopsither zagoure pagoure nethmomaoth nepsiomaoth marachachtha ihobarrahau tharnachachan zorokothora ieou [= Yew] sabaoth,'' And while Jesus said this, | Thomas, Andrew, 358. James and Simon the Cananite were in the west 7^^^ f^^^' with their faces turned towards the east, and cUsciiDies. Philip and Bartholomew were in the south turned towards the north, and the rest of the disciples and the women-disciples stood back of Jesus. But Jesus stood at the altar. And Jesus made invocation, turning himself The intertowards the four corners of the world with his fal ^ ^^" ° disciples, who were all clad in linen garments, and saying : '* iao iao iao,'' This is its interpretation : iota, because the universe hath gone

He continueth to make invocation. The apocalypse of the heavens. The figures of the disk of the sun and of the moon. forth ; alpha, because it will turn itself back again ; omega, because the completion of all the completeness will take place. And when Jesus had said this, he said : *' iaphtha iaphtha mounaer mounaer ermanouer ermanouer,'' That is: '* 0 father of all fatherhood of the boundless [spaces], hear me for the sake of my disciples whom I have led before thee, that they may have faith in all the words of thy truth, and grant all for which I shall invoke thee ; for I know the name of the father of the Treasury of the Light." Again did Jesus, — that is Aberamentho, — make invocation, speaking the name of the father of the Treasury of the Light, and said : ** Let all the mysteries of the rulers and the authorities and the angels and the archangels and all powers and I all things of the invisible god Agrammachamarei and Barbelo draw near the Leech [Bdella] on one side and withdraw to the right." And in that hour all the heavens went to the west, and all the seons and the sphere and their rulers and all their powers flew together to the west to the left of the disk of the sun and the disk of the moon.

And the disk of the sun was a great dragon whose tail was in his mouth and who reached to seven powers of the Left and whom four powers in the form of white horses drew. And the base of the moon had the type of a ship which a male and a female dragon steered and two white bulls drew. The figure of a babe was on the stern of the moon who guided the dragons who robbed the light from the rulers. And on its prow was a cat's face. And the whole world and the mountains and the seas fled together to the west to the left. And Jesus and his disciples remained in the Jesus and midst in an aery region on the ways of the way cipies^are of the midst, which Heth below the sphere. And t^t^hTwlyt they came to the first order of the way of the of the midst, midst. And Jesus stood in the air of its region with his disciples. The disciples of Jesus said unto him : '* What is this region | in which we are ? " 360. Jesus said : " These are the regions of the way of thereof the midst. For it came to pass, when the unrepentant rulers of Adamas mutinied and persistently ^^^^^®- practised congress, procreating rulers, archangels, angels, servitors and decans, that Yew, the father of my father, came forth from the Right and bound them to a Fate-sphere.

*' For there are twelve aeons ; over six Sabaoth, the Adamas, ruleth, and his brother Yabraoth ruleth over the other six. At that time then Yabraoth with his rulers had faith in the mysteries of the Light and was active in the mysteries of the Light and abandoned the mysterj^ of congress. But Sabaoth, the Adamas, and his rulers have persisted in the practice of congress. *' And when Yew, the father of my father, saw that Yabraoth had faith, he carried him and all the rulers who had had faith with him, took him unto himself out of the sphere and led him into a purified air in face of the light of the sun between the regions of those of the midst and between [?] the regions of the invisible god. He posted him there with the rulers who had had faith in him. ** But he carried Sabaoth, the Adamas, and his into the five regents. rulers who had not been active in the mysteries of the Light, but have been persistently active in the mysteries of congress, and inbound them Of the *' He bound eighteen-hundred rulers in every of the un- ^eou, and set three-hundred-and-sixty | over them,

rXra^nd ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ other great rulers as lords over the the names three-huudred-and-sixtv and over all the bound of their five . i«i ii iif» i«i regents. rulers, who m the whole world of mankmd are 361. called with these names : the first is called Kronos, the second Ares, the third Hermes, the fourth Aphrodite, the fifth Zeus." CHAP. 137. Jesus continued and said: "Hearken then. Of the that I may tell you their mystery. It came to YewTound^ P^ss then, when Yew had thus bound them, that he drew forth a power out of the great Invisible and bound it to him who is called Kronos. And he drew another power out of Ipsantachounchainchoucheoch, who is one of the three triplepowered gods, and bound it to Ares. And he drew a power out of Chainchoooch, who also is one of the three triple-powered gods, and bound it to Hermes. Again he drew a power out of the Pistis, the Sophia, daughter of Barbelo, and bound it to Aphrodite. Of the f line- " And moreover he perceived that they needed Zeus, the ^ helm to steer the world and the aeons of the chief regent, gpherc, SO that they might not wreck it [the world] in their wickedness. He went into the Midst, drew forth a power out of the little Sabaoth, the Good, him of the Midst, and bound it to Zeus, because he is a good [regent], so that he may steer them in his goodness. And he set thus estab-

362. lished the circling of his order, | that he should spend thirteen [? three] months in every aeon, confirming [it], so that he may set free all the rulers over whom he cometh, from the evil of their wickedness. And he gave him two aeons, which are in face of those of Hermes, for his dwelling. " I have told you for the first time the names Theincorrupof these five great rulers with which the men of of the rethe world are wont to call them. Hearken now ^^^*®* then that I may tell you also their incorruptible names, which are : Orimouth correspondeth to Kronos ; Mounichounaphor correspondeth to Ares ; Tarpetanouph correspondeth to Hermes ; Chosi correspondeth to Aphrodite ; Chonbal correspondeth to Zeus. These are their incorruptible names." And when the disciples had heard this, they chap. 138. fell down, adored Jesus and said : " Blessed are we beyond all men, because thou hast revealed unto us these great wonders." They continued, besought him and said : '' We beseech thee, reveal unto us : What are then these ways ? " And Mary drew nigh unto him, fell down, Mary quesadored his feet and kissed his hands and said : jesus on the *' Yea, my Lord, reveal unto us: What is the ^^J'^''^ *^^ use of the ways of the midst ? For we have heard from thee that they are set over great chastisements. How then, my Lord, will we remove or escape from them ? Or in what way do they seize the souls ? Or | how long a time do they 363. spend in their chastisements ? Have mercy upon us, our Lord, our Saviour, in order that the receivers of the judgments of the ways of the midst may not carry off our souls and judge us in their evil judgments, so that we ourselves may inherit

Of the mysteries which Jesus will give unto his disciples. the Light of thy father and not be wretched and destitute of thee." When then Mary said this weeping, Jesus answered in great compassion and said unto them : " Truly, my brethren and beloved, who have abandoned father and mother for my name's sake, unto you will I give all mysteries and all gnoses. '* I will give you the mystery of the twelve aeons of the rulers and their seals and their ciphers and the manner of invocation for reaching their regions. " I will give you moreover the mystery of the thirteenth seon and the manner of invocation for reaching their regions, and I will give you their ciphers and their seals. ** And I will give you the mystery of the baptism of those of the Midst and the manner of invocation for reaching their regions, and I will announce unto you their ciphers and their seals. '' And I will give you the baptism of those of the Right, our region, and its ciphers and its seals and the manner of invocation for reaching thither. ** And I will give you the great mystery of the Treasury of the Light and | the manner of invocation for reaching thither.

*' I will give you all the mysteries and all the gnoses, in order that ye may be called ' children of the fulness, perfected in all the gnoses and all the mysteries.' Blessed are ye beyond all men on earth, for the children of the Light are come in your time." Jesus continued in the discourse and said : *' It came to pass then thereafter, that the father of my father, — that is Yew, — came and took other three-hundred-and-sixty rulers from the of the conrulers of Adamas who had not had faith in the the^w^y o/ mystery of the Light, and bound them into these *he midst, aerial regions, in which we are now% below the sphere. He established another five great rulers over them, — that is these who are on the way of the midst. ** The first ruler of the way of the midst is Of Parapiex. called Parapiex, a ruler with a woman's shape, whose hair reacheth down to her feet, under whose authority stand five -and -twenty archdemons which rule over a multitude of other demons. And it is those demons which enter into men and seduce them, raging and cursing and slandering ; and it is they which carry off hence and in ravishment the souls and dispatch them through their dark smoke and their evil chastisements."

Mary said : | *' I shall behave badly to question 365. thee. Be not wroth with me if I question on all things." Jesus said : '' Question what thou wilt." Mary said : '* My Lord, reveal unto us in what manner they carry off hence the souls in ravishment, that also my brethren may understand it." Jesus, — that is Aberamentho, — said : '' Since of Yew and indeed the father of my father,— that is Yew — ^^i^^^^^^^^- is the fore-minder of all the rulers, gods and powers who have arisen out of the matter of the Light of the Treasury, and Zorokothora Melchisedec is the envoy to all the lights which are purified in the rulers, leading them into the Treasury of the Light, — these two alone are the great Lights, and their ordinance is that they down go to the rulers and purify them, and that Zorokothora Melchisedec carrieth away the purification of How the demon rulers carry ofiE souls. The chastisements of Paraplex. the lights which they have purified in the rulers and leadeth them into the Treasury of the Light, — when the cipher and the time of their ordinance Cometh, that they go down to the rulers and oppress and constrain them, carrying away the purification from the rulers.

** But straightway when they shall cease from the oppressing and constraining and return to the regions of the Treasury of the Light, it cometh to pass that, if they reach the regions of the Midst, Zorokothora Melchisedec carrieth off the lights and leadeth them unto | the gate of those of the Midst and leadeth them into the Treasury of the Light, and that Yew withdraweth himself into the regions of those of the Eight. " Up to the time of the cipher for them to come forth again, the rulers mutiny through the wrath of their wickedness, going straightway up to the lights, because they [Yew and Melchisedec] are not with them at that time, and they carry off the souls which they may be able to snatch away in ravishment, and destroy them through their dark smoke and their evil fire. ** At that time then this authority, with name Paraplex, along with the demons which stand under her, carrieth off the souls of the violently passionate, of cursers and of slanderers and dispatcheth them through the dark smoke and destroyeth them through her evil fire, so that they begin to be undone and dissolved. Onehundred-and-thirty-and-three years and nine months do they spend in the chastisements of her regions, while she tormenteth them in the fire of her wickedness.

" It cometh to pass then after all these times, when the sphere turneth itself and the httle Sabaoth, Zeus, cometh to the first of the aeons of the sphere, which is called in the world the Ram of Boubastis, that is of Aphrodite ; [and] when she [Boubastis] cometh to the seventh house of the sphere, that is to the Balance, then the veils which are between those of the Right and those of the Left, draw themselves aside, and there looketh from the height out of those of the Right the | great Sabaoth, the Good ; and 367. the whole world and the total sphere [become alarmed] before he hath looked forth. And he looketh down on the regions of Paraplex, so that her regions may be dissolved and perish. And all the souls which are in her chastisements, are carried and cast back [up] into the sphere anew, because they are ruined in the chastisements of Paraplex." *' He continued in the discourse and said : " The chap. 140. second order is called Ariouth the ^Ethiopian, a of Ariouththe female ruler, who is entirely black, under whom stand fourteen other [arch]demons which rule over a multitude of other demons. And it is those demons which stand under Ariouth the Ethiopian, that enter into strife-seekers until they stir up wars and murders arise, and they harden their heart and seduce it to wrath in order that murders may arise.

'' And the souls which this authority will carry off in ravishment, pass one-hundred-and-thirteen years in her regions, while she tormenteth them through her dark smoke and her wicked fire, so that they come nigh unto destruction. " And thereafter, when the sphere turneth itself, and the little Sabaoth, the Good, who is called in the world Zeus, cometh, and he cometh to the fourth aeon of the sphere, that is the Crab, and Boubastis, who is called in the world Aphrodite, cometh into the tenth aeon of the sphere which 368. is called the | Goat, at that time the veils which are between those of the Left and those of the Right, draw themselves aside, and Yew looketh forth to the right ; the whole world becometh alarmed and is agitated together with all the aeons of the sphere. And he looketh on the dwellings of Ariouth the ^Ethiopian, so that her regions are dissolved and ruined, and all the souls which are in her chastisements are carried off and cast back into the sphere anew, because they are ruined through her dark smoke and her wicked fire." Of Triple- Hc continucd further in his discourse and Hekate. Said : '' The third order is called Triple-faced Hekate, and there are under her authority seven-and-twenty [archjdemons, and it is they which enter into men and seduce them to perjuries and lies and to covet that which doth not belong to them.

*' The souls then which Hekate beareth hence in ravishment, she handeth over to her demons which stand under her, in order that they may torment them through her dark smoke and her wicked fire, they being exceedingly afHicted through the demons. And they spend onehundred-and-five years and six months, being chastized in her wicked chastisements ; and they begin to be dissolved and destroyed. " And thereafter, when the sphere turneth itself, and the little Sabaoth, the Good, he of the Midst, who is called in the world Zeus, cometh, 369. and he cometh to the | eighth aeon of the sphere which is called the Scorpion, and when Boubastis, whom they call Aphrodite, cometh, and she cometh to the second aeon of the sphere which is called the Bull, then the veils which are between those of the Right and those of the Left draw themselves aside and Zorokothora Melchisedec looketh out of the height ; and the world and the mountains are agitated and the aeons become alarmed. And he looketh on all the regions of Hekate, so that her regions are dissolved and destroyed, and all the souls which are in her chastisements, are carried off and cast back anew into the sphere, because they are dissolved in the fire of her chastisements/'

He continued and said: ''The fourth order of Parhedron is called Parhedron Typhon, who is a mighty ^ ^°* ruler, under whose authority are two-and-thirty demons. And it is they which enter into men and seduce them to lusting, fornicating, adultery and to the continual practice of intercourse. The souls then which this ruler will carry off in ravishment, pass one -hundred -and -twenty -and -eight years in his regions, while his demons torment them through his dark smoke and his wicked fire, so that they begin to be ruined and destroyed. '* It cometh to pass then, when the sphere turneth itself and the Uttle Sabaoth, | the Good, 37o. he of the Midst, who is called Zeus, cometh, and when he cometh to the ninth aeon of the sphere which is called the Archer, and when Boubastis, who is called in the world Aphrodite, cometh, and she cometh to the third aeon of the sphere which is called the Twins, then the veils which are between those of the Left and those of the Right, draw themselves aside, and there looketh forth Zarazaz, whom the rulers call with the name of a mighty ruler of their regions * Maskelli/ and he looketh on the dwellings of Parhedron Typhon, so that his regions are dissolved and destroyed. And all the souls which are in his chastisements are carried and cast back anew into the sphere, because they are reduced through his dark smoke and his wicked fire." Of Yachthan- Again hc continucd in the discourse and said ^^^^' unto this disciples : ** The fifth order, whose ruler

is called Yachthanabas, is a mighty ruler under whom standeth a multitude of other demons. It is they which enter into men and bring it about that they have respect of persons, — treating the just with injustice, and favour the cause of sinners, taking gifts for a just judgment and perverting it, forgetting the poor and needy, — they [the demons] increasing the forgetfulness in their souls and the care for that which | 371. bringeth no benefit, in order that they may not think of their life, so that when they come out of the body, they are carried in ravishment. '* The souls then which this ruler will carry off in ravishment, are in his chastisements onehundred-and-fifty years and eight months ; and he destroyeth them through his dark smoke and his wicked fire, while they are exceedingly afflicted through the flames of his fire. *' And when the sphere turneth itself and the little Sabaoth, the Good, who is called in the world Zeus, cometh, and he cometh to the eleventh seon of the sphere which is called the Water-man, and when Boubastis cometh to the fifth aeon of the sphere which is called the Lion, then the veils which are between those of the Left and those

of the Right, draw themselves aside, and there looketh out of the height the great lao, the Grood, he of the Midst, on the regions of Yachthanabas, so that his regions are dissolved and destroyed. And all the souls which are in his chastisements are carried off and cast back anew into the sphere, because they are ruined in his chastisements. *' These then are the doings of the ways of the midst concerning which ye have questioned me." And when the disciples had heard this, they chap. I4i. fell down, adored him and said : '' Help us now, Thedis- ' ^ ^ ciples beseech Lord, and have mercy upon us, in order that Jesus to have we may be preserved from these wicked chastise- ^nners"^^^ ments which are prepared for the sinners. Woe | unto them, woe unto the children of men ! For 372. they grope as the blind in the darkness and see not. Have mercy upon us, 0 Lord, in this great blindness in which we are. And have mercy upon the whole race of men ; for they have lain in wait for their souls, as lions for their prey, making it [sc, the prey] ready as food for

their [sc. the rulers'] chastisements because of the forgetfulness and unknowing which is in them. Have mercy then upon us, our Lord, our Saviour, have mercy upon us and save us in this great Jesus said unto his disciples : '* Be comforted Jesus enand be not afraid, for ye are blessed, because his^lscipies. I will make you lords over all these and put them in subjection under your feet. Remember that I have already said unto you before I was crucified : * I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.' Now, therefore, I say unto you : I will give them unto you." Jesus and his disciples ascend higher. He breatheth into their eyes. Their eyes are opened. Jesus explaineth the vision of fire and water, and wine and blood. When then Jesus said this, he chanted a song of praise in the great name. The regions of the ways of the midst hid themselves, and Jesus and his disciples remained in an air of exceedingly strong light. Jesus said unto his disciples : ** Draw near unto me." And they drew near unto him. He turned himself towards the four corners of the world, said the great name over their heads, blessed them and breathed into their eyes.

Jesus said unto them : ** Look up and see what ye may see." And they raised their eyes and saw a | great, exceedingly mighty light, which no man in the^ world can describe. He said unto them anew : '' Look away out of the light and see what ye may see." * They said : " We see fire, water, wine and blood." Jesus, — that is Aberamentho,— said unto his disciples : ** Amen, I say unto you : I have brought nothing into the world when I came, save this fire, this water, this wine and this blood. I have brought the water and the fire out of the region of the Light of the Hghts of the Treasury of the Light ; and I have brought the wine and the blood out of the region of Barbelo. And after a little while my father sent me the holy spirit in the type of a dove. ** And the fire, the water and the wine are for the purification of all the sins of the world. The blood on the other hand was for a sign unto me because of the human body which I received in the region of Barbelo, the great power of the

invisible god. The breath on the other hand advanceth towards all souls and leadeth them unto the region of the Light. *' For this cause have I said unto you: * I The same am come to cast fire on the earth,' — that is : I fSn former am come to purify the sins of the whole world ^^y'^^^* with fire. ** And for this cause have I said to the Samaritan woman : ' If thou knewest of the gift of God, and who it is who saith unto thee : Give me to drink, — thou wouldst ask, and. he would give thee | living water, and there would be in 374. thee a spring which welleth up for everlasting life.' " And for this cause I took also a cup of wine, blessed it and give it unto you and said : * This is the blood of the covenant which will be poured out for you for the forgiveness of your sins.' *' And for this cause they have also thrust the spear into my side, and there came forth water and blood. *' And these are the mysteries of the Light which forgive sins ; that is to say, these are the namings and the names of the Light."

It came to pass then thereafter that Jesus Jesus and gave command : ** Let all the powers of the Left descend^o* go to their regions." And Jesus with his dis-®^^*^' ciples remained on the Mount of Galilee. The disciples continued and besought him : " For how long then hast thou not let our sins which we have committed, and our iniquities be forgiven and made us worthy of the kingdom of thy father ? " And Jesus said unto them : '' Amen, I say Jesus promiseth to give them the mystery of the forgiveness of sins. unto you : Not only will I purify your sins, but I will make you worthy of the kingdom of my father. And I will give you the mystery of the forgiveness of sins, in order that to him whom ye shall forgive on earth, it will be forgiven in heaven, and he whom ye shall bind on earth, will be bound in heaven. I will give you the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, in order that ye yourselves may perform them [sc. the mysteries] for men." And Jesus | said unto them : " Bring me fire and vine branches." They brought them unto him. He laid out the offering, and set down two wine-vessels, one on the right and the other on the left of the offering. He disposed the offering before them, and set a cup of water before the wine-vessel on the right and set a cup of wine before the wine-vessel on the left, and laid loaves according to the number of the disciples in the middle between the cups and set a cup of water behind the loaves.

Jesus stood bjefore^he offering, set the disciples ^ behmd him, all clad with linen garments, and in their hands the cipher of the name of the fgjithgr of the Treasury of the Light, and he made invocation thus, saying : '* Hear me, 0 Father ,_ father of all fatherhood, boundless Light : iao ioud iao aoi dia psinother theropsin opsither nephthomaoth nephiomaoth marachachtha marmarachtha ieana menaman amanei {of heaven) israi amen amen souhaibai appaap amen amen deraarai (behind) amen amen sasarsartou amen amen koukiamin miai amen amen iai iai touap amen amen amen main mari marie marei amen amen ** Hear me, 0 Father, father of all fatherhood. I invoke you yourselves, ye forgivers of sins, ye purifiers of iniquities. | Forgive the sins of 376. the souls of these disciples who have followed me, and purify their iniquities and make them worthy to be reckoned with the kingdom of my father, the father of the Treasury of the Light, for they have followed me and have kept my commandments. ** Now, therefore, 0 Father, father of all fatherhood, let the forgivers of sins come, whose names are these : siphirepsnichieu zenei herimou sochabricher euihari na nai (have mercy upon me) dieisbalmerich meunipos chirie entair mouthiour smour peucher oouschous minionor isochobortha»

*' Hear me, invoking you, forgive the sins of these souls and blot out their iniquities. Let them be worthy to be reckoned with the kingdom of my father, the father of the Treasury of the Light. " I know thy great powers and invoke them : auer bebro athroni e oureph e one souphen knitousochreoph mauonbi mneuor souoni chocheteoph choche eteoph memoch anemph. '' Forgive [sing.] the sins of these souls, blot out their iniquities which they have knowingly and unknowingly committed, which they have committed in fornication and adultery unto this day ; forgive them then and make them worthy to be reckoned with the kingdom of my father, so that they are worthy to receive of this offering, holy Father. '' If thou then, Father, hast heard me and forgiven the sins of these souls | and blotted out 377. their iniquities, and hast made them worthy to Directions as to the future use of the rite. Of three other mystic rites. be reckoned with thy kingdom, mayest thou give me a sign in this offering." And the sign which Jesus had said [? besought] happened. Jesus said unto his disciples : '' Eejoice and exult, for your sins are forgiven and your iniquities blotted out, and ye are reckoned with the kingdom of my father.'*

And when he said this, the disciples rejoiced in great joy. Jesus said unto them : *' This is the manner ] and way and this is the mystery which ye are to - perform for the men who have faith in you, in whom is no deceit and who hearken unto you in all good words. And their sins and their iniquities will be blotted out up to the day on which ye have performed for them this mystery. But hide this mystery and give it not unto all men, but unto him who shall do all the things Avhich I have said unto you in my commandments. *' This then is the mystery in truth of the baptism for those whose sins are forgiven and whose iniquities are blotted out. This is the baptism of the first offering which showeth the way to the region of Truth and to the region of the Light." Thereafter his disciples said unto him : " Rabbi, reveal unto us the mystery of the Light of thy father, since we heard thee say : * There is still a fire-baptism and there is still a baptism of the holy spirit of the Light, and there is | a spiritual chrism ; these lead the souls into the Treasury of the Light.' Tell us, therefore, their mystery, so that we ourselves may inherit the kingdom of thy father."

Jesus said unto them : " There is no mystery of the highwhich is more excellent than these mysteries on teriS?nd which ye question, in that it will lead your souls °^^® ^'^*^ into the Light of the lights, into the regions of Truth and Goodness, into the region of the Holy of all holies, into the region in which there is neither female nor male, nor are there forms in that region, but a perpetual indescribable Light. Nothing more excellent is there, therefore, than these mysteries on which ye question, save only the mystery of the seven Voices and their nineand-forty powers and their ciphers. And there is no name which is more excellent than them all, the name in which are all names and all lights and all powers. " Who then knoweth that name, if he cometh of the out of the body of matter, nor smoke nor darkness tSTnaml nor authority nor ruler of the Fate-sphere nor angel nor archangel nor power can hold down the soul which knoweth that name ; but if it cometh out of the world and sayeth that name to the fire, it is quenched and the darkness withdraweth. '' And if it sayeth it to the demons | and to 379. the receivers of the outer darkness and their rulers and their authorities and their powers, they will all sink down and their flame will burn and they will cry out : ' Holy, holy art thou, most holy of all holies.'

" And if one sayeth that name to the receivers of the wicked chastisements and their authorities and all their powers and also to Barbelo and the invisible god and the three triple-powered gods, straightway if one will say this name in those regions, they will all fall one on another, will be undone and destroyed and cry out : * 0 Light of all lights, which is in the boundless lights, remember us and purify us.' " And when Jesus had finished saying these words, all his disciples cried out, wept with loud sobbing, saying : . . . [Lacuna of Eight Leaves.]

. . . [and lead them forth to the fire- rivers chap. 144. and fire-seasl and take vengeance on it therein P^ *^^ ^,^^^- -J^ ^ ^ tisement oi for another six months and eight days. There- the curser. after they lead it up on the way of the midst, and every one of the rulers of the way of the midst chastizeth it in his chastisements another six months and eight days. Thereafter they lead it to the Virgin of Light, who judgeth the good and the evil, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the SBons of the sphere. And the servitors of the sphere lead it forth to a water which is below the sphere ; and it becometh | a seething fire 38o. and eateth into it, until it purifieth it utterly. ** And then cometh Yaluham, the receiver of Sabaoth, the Adamas, who handeth the souls the cup of forgetfulness, and he bringeth a cup filled with the water of forgetfulness and handeth it to the soul, and it drinketh it and forgetteth all regions and all the regions to which it hath gone. And they cast it down into a body which will spend its time continually troubled in its heart.

** This is the chastisement of the curser." Mary continued and said : *' My Lord, the man who persistently slandereth, if he cometh out of the body, whither shall he get or what is his chastisement ? *' Of the chas- Jesus Said : *' A man who persistently slandereth, theTknderer. ^^ ^is time is Completed through the sphere, that he cometh out of the body, then Abiout and Charmon, the receivers of Ariel, come, lead his soul out of the body and spend three days going round with it and instructing it concerning the creatures of the world. ** Thereafter they lead it below into Amente before Ariel, and he chastizeth it in his chastisements eleven months and twenty-and-one days. " Thereafter they lead it into the chaos before Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons, and every one of his demons fall upon it another eleven months and twenty-and-one days, scourging it with fiery whips. 381. '* Thereafter | they lead it into fire-rivers and boiling fire-seas, to take vengeance on it therein another eleven months and twenty-andone days. *' And thereafter they carry it on to the way of the midst, and every one of the rulers on the way of the midst chastizeth it in his chastisements another eleven months and twenty-andone days.

*' Thereafter they carry it to the Virgin of Light, who judgeth the righteous and the sinners, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the seons of the sphere. And the servitors of the sphere will lead it to a water which is below the sphere ; and it becometh a seething fire and eateth into it until it purifieth it utterly. ** And Yaluham, the receiver of Sabaoth, the Adamas, bringeth the cup of forgetfulness and handeth it to the soul, and it drinketh it and forgetteth all regions and all things and all the regions through which it hath gone. And they deliver it unto a body which will spend its time being afflicted. ** This is the chastisement of the slanderer." Mary said : ** Woe, woe, unto sinners ! " chap. 145. Salome answered and said : *' My Lord Jesus, a murderer who hath never committed any sin but murdering, if he cometh out of the body, what is his chastisement ? " Jesus answered and said : *' A murderer who | Of thechas- 1 ,i ' 1 1 ^ ' 1 J ^ ' '0 tisement of

hath never committed any sm but murdermg, it the murhis time is completed through the sphere, that he ^®^®^* cometh out of the body, the receivers of Yaldabaoth come and lead his soul out of the body and bind it by its feet to a great demon with a horse's face, and he spendeth three days circling round with it in the world. ** Thereafter they lead it into the regions of the cold and of the snow, and they take vengeance on it there three years and six months. ** Thereafter they lead it down into the chaos before Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons, and every one of his demons scourgeth it another three years and six months. ** Thereafter they lead it down into the chaos before Persephone and take vengeance on it with her chastisements another three years and six months. *' Thereafter they carry it on to the way of Peter protesteth against the women. Of the chastisement of the thief. the midst, and every one of the rulers of the way of the midst taketh vengeance on it with the chastisements of its regions another three years and six months. *' Thereafter they lead it unto the Virgin of Light, who judgeth the righteous and the sinners, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she commandeth that it shall be cast into the outer darkness until the time when the darkness of the midst shall be up-raised ; it [the soul] will be destroyed and dissolved.

" This is the chastisement of the murderer." Peter said : " My Lord, let the women | cease to question, in order that we also may question." Jesus said unto Mary and the women : " Give opportunity to your men brethren, that they also may question." Peter answered and said : ** My Lord, a robber and thief, whose sin is this persistently, when he Cometh out of the body, what is his chastisement ? " Jesus said : ** If the time of such an one is completed through the sphere, the receivers of Adonis come after him, and lead his soul out of the hodj, and they spend three days circling round with it and instructing it concerning the creatures of the world. *' Thereafter they lead it down into the Amente before Ariel, and he taketh vengeance on it in his chastisements three months, eight days and two hours. *' Thereafter they lead it into the chaos before Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons, and every one of his demons taketh vengeance on it another three months, eight days and two hours. ** Thereafter they lead it on to the way of the midst, and every one of the rulers of the way of the midst taketh vengeance on it through his dark smoke and his wicked fire another three months, eight days and two hours.

** Thereafter they lead it up unto the Virgin of Light, who judgeth the righteous and the sinners, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the eeons of the sphere. And they lead it forth into a water which is below the sphere ; | and it becometh a seething 384. fire and eateth into it until it purifieth it utterly. ** Thereafter cometh Yaluham, the receiver of Sabaoth, the Adamas, bringeth the cup of forgetfulness and handeth it unto the soul ; and it drinketh it and forgetteth all things and all the regions to which it had gone. And they cast it into a lame, halt and blind body. *' This is the chastisement of the thief." Andrew answered and said : *' An arrogant, overweening man, when he cometh out of the body, what will happen to him ? " Jesus said: *' If the time of such an one isofthechascompleted through the sphere, the receivers of theTrrogant. Ariel come after him and lead out his soul [out of the body] and spend three days travelling round in the world [with it] and instructing it concerning the creatures of the world.

*' Thereafter they lead it down into the Amente before Ariel ; and he taketh vengeance on it with his chastisements twenty months. *' Thereafter they lead it into the chaos before Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons ; and he and his demons, one by one, take vengeance on it another twenty months. ** Thereafter they carry it on to the way of the midst ; and every one of the rulers of the way of the midst taketh vengeance on it another twenty months. ** And thereafter they lead it unto the Virgin of Light, that she may judge it. And when the sphere turneth itself, she handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the aeons of the sphere. And the servitors of the sphere | 385. lead it into a water which is below the sphere ; and it becometh a seething fire and eateth into it until it purifieth it. *' And Yaluham, the receiver of Sabaoth, the Adamas, cometh and bringeth the cup with the water of forgetfulness and handeth it to the soul ; and it drinketh and forgetteth all things and all the regions to which it had gone. And they cast it up into a lame and deformed body, so that all despise it persistently.

** This is the chastisement of the arrogant and overweening man." Thomas said : '' A persistent blasphemer, what is his chastisement ? " ofthechas- Jcsus Said: ** If the time of such an one is the bias* ° completed through the sphere, the receivers of phemer. Yaldabaoth come after him and bind him by his tongue to a great demon with a horse's face ; they spend three days travelling round with him in the world, and take vengeance on him. *' Thereafter they lead him into the region of the cold and of the snow, and take vengeance on him there eleven years. " Thereafter they lead him down into the chaos before Yaldabaoth and his forty-and-nine demons, and every one of his demons taketh vengeance on him another eleven years. " Thereafter they lead him into the outer darkness until the day when the great ruler with the dragon's face | who encircleth the dark- 386. ness, shall be judged. And that soul becometh frozen up [?] and destroyed and dissolved. *' This is the judgment of the blasphemer." Bartholomew said : " A man who hath inter- chap. 147. course with a male, what is his vengeance ? "

Jesus said: "The measure of the man who Of the chas- 1 , 1 • , • , 1 1 1 £ J.1 tisement of hath mtercourse with males and ot the man him who with whom he lieth, is the same as that of the ^^*^ ^^*^^: *' When then the time is completed through the sphere, the receivers of Yaldabaoth come after their soul, and he with his forty-and-nine demons taketh vengeance on it eleven years. " Thereafter they carry it to the fire-rivers and seething pitch-seas, which are full of demons with pigs' faces. They eat into them and take vengeance on [?] them in the fire-rivers another eleven years. ** Thereafter they carry them into the outer darkness until the day of judgment when the great darkness is judged ; and then they will be dissolved and destroyed." Thomas said : " We have heard that there are some on the earth who take the male seed and the female monthly blood, and make it into a lentil porridge and eat it, | saying : ' We have 387. faith in Esau and Jacob.' Is this then seemly or Jesus was wroth with the world in that hour

Of the chastisement of a foul act of sorcery. Of the afterdeath state of the righteous man who hath not been initiated. and said unto Thomas : ** Amen, I say : This sin is more heinous than all sins and iniquities. Such men will straightway be taken into the outer darkness and not be cast back anew into the sphere, but they shall perish, be destroyed in the outer darkness in a region where there is neither pity nor light, but howling and grinding of teeth. And all the souls which shall be brought into the outer darkness, will not be cast back anew, but will be destroyed and dissolved." John answered [and said] : *' A man who hath committed no sin, but done good persistently, but hath not found the mysteries to pass through the rulers, when he cometh out of the body, what will happen unto him ? " Jesus said : *' If the time of such an one is completed through the sphere, the receivers of Bainchoooch, who is one of the triple-powered gods, come after his soul and lead his soul with joy and exultation and spend three days circling round with it and instructing it concerning the creations of the world with joy and exultation.

'* Thereafter they lead it down into the Amente and instruct it concerning the instruments of chastisement in the Amente ; but they will not take vengeance on it therewith. But they will only instruct it concerning them, and the smoke of the flame of the chastisements | catcheth it only a little. ** Thereafter they carry it up unto the way of the midst and instruct it concerning the chastisements of the ways of the midst, the smoke from the flame catching it a little. *' Thereafter they lead it unto the Virgin of Light, and she judgeth it and depositeth it with the little Sabaoth, the Good, him of the IVIidst, until the sphere turneth itself, and Zeus and Aphrodite come in face of the Virgin of Light, while Kronos and Ares come behind her. ** At that hour she taketh that righteous soul and handeth it over to her receivers, that they may cast it into the aeons of the sphere. And the servitors of the sphere lead it forth into a water which is below the sphere ; and a seething fire ariseth and eateth into it until it purifieth it utterly. " Thereafter cometh Yaluham, the receiver of Saba5th, the Adamas, who giveth the cup of forgetfulness unto the souls, and he bringeth the water of forgetfulness and handeth it to the soul ; [and it drinketh it] and forgetteth all things and all the regions to which it had gone.

*' Thereafter there cometh a receiver of the little Of the cup Sabaoth, the Good, him of the Midst. He himself ^ "^ ^^' bringeth a cup filled with thoughts and wisdom, and soberness is in it ; [and] he handeth it to the soul. And they cast it into a body which can neither sleep nor forget because of the cup of soberness which hath been handed unto it ; but | it will whip its heart persistently to question about 389. the mysteries of the Light until it find them, through the decision of the Virgin of Light, and inherit the Light for ever." Mary said : *' A man who hath committed all chap. 148. sins and all iniquities and hath not found the mysteries of the Light, will he receive the chastisements for them all at once ? " Jesus answered: "Yea, he will receive it; a sinner if he hath committed three sins, he will receive eachTepar^'^ chastisement for three." ate sin. John said : "A man who hath committed all sins and all iniquities, but at last hath found the mysteries of the Light, is it possible for him to be saved ? "

Even the Jesus Said : ** Such a man who hath committed Inners, if all sins and all iniquities, and he findeth the mys- shau inherit ^^^^^^ c>f the Light, and performeth and fulfilleth the kingdom, them and ceaseth not nor doeth sins, will inherit the Treasury of the Light." Of the time Jcsus Said unto his disciples : '* When the sphere for thebirth tumcth itself , and Kronos and Ares come behind sMfi^ncTth^e ^^^ Virgin of Light and Zeus and Aphrodite mysteries. come in face of the Virgin, they being in their own seons, then the veils of the Virgin draw themselves aside and she falleth into joy in that hour when she seeth these two light-stars before her. And all the souls which she shall cast at that hour into the circuit of the aeons of the sphere, that they | 390. may come into the world, will be righteous and good and find at this time the mysteries of the Light ; she sendeth them anew that they may find the mysteries of the Light. " If on the other hand Ares and Kronos come in face of the Virgin and Zeus and Aphrodite behind her, so that she seeth them not, then all the souls which she shall cast in that hour into the creatures of the sphere, will be wicked and wrathful and do not find the mysteries of the Light." Thcdis- When then Jesus said this unto his disciples

seec^h Jesus 11^ ^be midst of the Amente, the disciples cried mercy upon ^^^ wcpt, [saying] : '* Woe, woe unto sinners, them. on whom the negligence and the forgetfulness of the rulers lie until they come out of the body and are led to these chastisements ! Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, son of the Holy [One], and have compassion with us, that we may be saved from these chastisements and these judgments which are prepared for the sinners ; for we also have sinned, our Lord and our Light." . . . the righteous [man]. They went forth three The proby three to the four zones of heaven and they ouhe ^^^ proclaimed the goodness of the kingdom in the ^i'^^*^®^* whole world, the Christ inworking with them through the words of confirmation and the signs and the wonders which followed them. And thus was known the kingdom of God on the whole earth and in the whole world of Israel as a witness for all the nations which are from the rising unto the setting [of the sun]. FRINTBD IN GREAT BRITAIN BY NKILL AND CO., LTD., EDINBURGH.