about which I shall ask thee. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard
these words, saying them Maria, the Magdalene, answered then (but, MS)
Jesus, said he to her, Seek after that which thou wishest to seek after,
and I shall reveal it to thee in an exactness with a certainty, Amen,
amen I say to you, Rejoice in great joy and be [171^a] glad greatly
greatly, ye are seeking after every thing in an exactness, and I shall
be glad greatly greatly, because ye seek after every thing in an
exactness. And ye seek after the manner (in) which it is worthy to seek.
Now therefore, seek after that which thou seekest after, and I shall
reveal it to thee in joy. It happened therefore, Maria having heard
these words, saying them the Saviour, she rejoiced in great joy, and she
was glad for her greatly greatly. Said she to Jesus, My Lord and my
Saviour, then of what kind are the twenty-four Invisibles, and being,
also, of what type: or otherwise rather of what nature: or, then, being
of what nature is their light? But answered Jesus, said he [171^b] to
Maria, What is that which is in this World being like to them: or what,
rather, of Place which is in this World is that which is resembling unto
them? Now therefore unto what shall I compare them: or, rather, is that
which I shall say concerning them: for there is not any one in this
World unto whom I shall be able to compare them; and there is not any of
appearance in it unto whom I shall be able to liken them? Now therefore
there is not any in this World being of the nature of the heaven, Amen I
say to you, Each Invisible, is great(er) than the heaven with the Sphere
which is upon it, and with the twelve Aeons together nine times,
according as I finished saying to you another time. And there is not any
light in this World being preferable unto the light [172^a] of the sun.
Amen, amen I say to you: The twenty-four Invisibles are of light more
than the light of the sun which is in this World ten thousand times
according as I finished saying to you another time. Because that the
light of the sun in his truth of shape is not in this Place. Because
that his light passeth through many veils of Places. But the light of
the sun in his truth of shape, this which becometh in the Place of the
Virgin of the Light shineth more than the twenty-four Invisibles and
with the great Forefather invisible and with also the great
Triple-powered God a ten thousand times, according as I finished saying
to you another time. [172^b] Now therefore, Maria, there is not any
appearance in this world, nor is there light, nor is there shape
comparable to the twenty-four Invisibles, that I should compare them
unto them: but yet another little time, thou with thy brothers of
fellow-disciples, I shall take you unto all the Places of the Height,
and I shall take you unto the three Spaces of the First Mystery, until
the Places only of the Space of the Ineffable. And ye will see all their
shape in truth without comparison. And whenever I should take you unto
the Height, ye will see the glory of those of the Height. And ye will
become in a great wonder greatly greatly. And whenever I should take you
unto the Place of the (Rulers of the) Destiny [173^a] ye will see the
glory in which they become, and out of their great glory which is
preferable, ye will reckon this World with you as darkness of darkness:
and ye will look out upon all the World of the mankind, being about to
become the size of a speck of dust with you, from the great distance
which it is distant from it greatly greatly, with the great size which
it is great(er) than it greatly. And whenever I should take you unto the
twelve Aeons, ye will see the glory in which they become, and from the
great glory the Place of the Rulers of the Destiny will be reckoned with
you as the darkness of the darknesses; and it will become the size of a
speck of dust with you from the great distance which it is distant from
it greatly, with the great size in which it is great(er) than [173^b] it
greatly, according as I finished saying unto you another time. And again
whenever I should take you unto the thirteenth Aeon, and ye will see the
glory in which it becometh, the twelve Aeons will be reckoned with you
of the darkness of the darknesses: and ye will look out upon the twelve
Aeons being about to become the likeness of a speck of dust with you
from the great distance which it is distant from it greatly, with the
greatness of size in which it is great(er) than it greatly. And whenever
I should take you unto the Place of the Middle, ye will see the glory in
which they are, the thirteenth Aeon will be reckoned with you as the
darkness of the darknesses. And also ye will look upon the twelve Aeons
and with all the Destiny and all the arrangement, and with all the
Spheres [174^a] with all their arrays in which they become, they will be
the size of a speck of dust with you from the great distance which it is
distant from it, and the great size (in) which it is great(er) than it
greatly. And whenever I should take you unto the Place of those of the
Right (hand), ye will see the glory in which they become, the Place of
the Middle will be reckoned with you as the night which is in the World
of the mankind: and if ye should look out upon the Middle, it will
become the size of a speck of dust with you, from the great distance
which the Place of those of the Right (hand) are distant from it
greatly. And if I should take you unto the Land of the Light, namely,
the Treasury of the Light, and ye (will) see the glory in which it
becometh, [174^b] the Place of those of the Right (hand) will be
reckoned with you as the light of the hour of mid-day in the World of
the mankind, the sun being not out (of cloud): and if ye should look
upon the Place of those of the Right (hand), it will be the size of a
speck of dust with you, from the great distance which is distant from it
greatly, the Treasury of the Light. And whenever I should take you unto
the Place of those who received the Inheritance, of those who received
the mysteries of the Light, and ye (will) see the glory of the light in
which they become, the Land of the Light will be reckoned with you as
the light of the sun which is in the World of the mankind: and if ye
should look [175^a] upon the Land of the Light, it will be reckoned with
you as a speck of dust, from the great distance which is distant from
it, the Land of the Light, and from the greatness which it is great(er)
than it greatly.
It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his
disciples, sprang up Maria the Magdalene, said she, My Lord, be not
angry with me, seeking (from) thee, because that we are seeking after
every thing in an exactness. But, answered Jesus, said he to Maria, Seek
after that which thou wishest to seek after, and I, I shall reveal it to
thee boldly without parable. And every thing which thou seekest after, I
shall say to thee in an exactness with a certainty, and I shall complete
you with every power [175^b] with every Pleroma, from the inward part of
the inward parts as far as the outward part of the outward parts, from
the Ineffable even unto the darkness of the darknesses, that they should
call of (against you, MS), the Pleromas which are complete in every
knowledge. Now therefore, Maria, seek that which thou art seeking after,
and I shall reveal it to thee in great joy with great delight. It
happened therefore, Maria having heard these words, speaking them the
Saviour, she rejoiced in great joy greatly and she was delighted, said
she, My Lord, then the men of the World, these who received the
mysteries of the Light, will they become preferable to the emanations of
the Treasury in thy kingdom? [176^a] Because that I heard thee saying,
Whenever I should take you unto the Place of those who receive the
Mysteries, the Place, the Land of the Light will be reckoned with you as
a speck of dust, from the great distance which it is distant from it,
and with the great glory in which it becometh, namely the Land of the
Light of the Treasury, the Place of the emanations, then therefore, my
Lord will the men who receive the mysteries become preferable to (those
who belong to) the Land of the Light, and become preferable to them in
the Kingdom of the Light? But answered Jesus, said he to Maria, Fairly,
however, at least thou seekest after everything in an exactness with a
certainty: but hear, Maria, that I may speak with thee upon the
Consummation of the Aeon with the catching-up [176^b] of the Universe.
It shall not happen thus, but I said unto you, Whenever I should take
you unto the Place of the Inheritance of those who receive the mystery
of the Light, the Treasury of the Light, the Place of the emanations, it
will be reckoned with you as a speck of dust, and as the light of the
sun of the day only. They said therefore, These will happen in the time
of the consummation of the catching-up of the Universe. The twelve
Saviours of the Treasury with the twelve arrays of each of them, namely,
the emanations of the seven Voices with the five Trees will become with
me in the Place of the Inheritances of the Light, being Kings with me:
each one of them being King [177^a] over his emanations: and also each
one of them is becoming King according to his glory: the great according
to his greatness, the small according to his smallness: and the Saviour
of the emanations of the first Voice, they will become in the Place of
the souls of those who received the First Mystery of the First Mystery
in my Kingdom: and the Saviour of the emanations of the second Voice
will become in the Place of the souls of those who received the Second
Mystery of the First Mystery. Likewise also the Saviour of the
emanations of the third Voice will become in the Place of the souls of
those who receive the Third Mystery of the First Mystery in the
Inheritances of the Light. And the Saviour of the emanations of the
fourth Voice of the Treasury of the Light [177^b] will become in the
Place of the souls of those who receive the Fourth Mystery of the First
Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the fifth [_sic_] Saviour
of the fifth Voice of the Treasury of the Light will become in the Place
of the souls of those who receive the Fifth mystery of the First Mystery
in the Inheritances of the Light. And the sixth Saviour of the
emanations of the sixth Voice of the Treasury of the Light will become
in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Sixth mystery of the
First Mystery. And the seventh Saviour of the emanations of the seventh
Voice of the Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls
[178^a] of those who receive the Seventh mystery of the First Mystery in
the Treasury of the Light. And the eighth Saviour, namely, the Saviour
of the emanations of the first Tree of the Treasury of the Light will
become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Eighth mystery
of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the ninth
Saviour, namely, the Saviour of the emanations of the second Tree of the
Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls of those who
receive the Ninth mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of
the Light. And the tenth Saviour of the emanations of the third Tree of
the Treasury of the Light will [178^b] become in the Place of the souls
of those who receive the Tenth mystery of the First Mystery in the
Inheritances of the Light. Likewise also the eleventh Saviour, namely,
the Saviour of the fourth Tree of the Treasury of the Light will become
in the Place of the souls of those who receive the Eleventh mystery of
the First Mystery in the Inheritances of the Light. And the twelfth
Saviour, namely, the Saviour of the emanations of the fifth Tree of the
Treasury of the Light will become in the Place of the souls of those who
receive the Twelfth mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of
the Light. And the seven (seventh, MS) Amens with the five (fifth, MS)
Trees with the three [179^a] Amens will become on right-hand of me being
King in the Inheritance of the Light. And the Twin-saviours, namely, the
child of the child and with the nine Guards, they indeed will remain
also on left of me being King in the Inheritance of the Light. And every
Saviour will be King over the arrays of his emanations in the
Inheritances of the Light, as also they are in the Treasury of the
Light. And the nine Guards of the Treasury of the Light will become,
being preferable unto the Saviours in the Inheritances of the Light. And
the Twin-saviours will become preferable unto the nine Guards in the
Kingdom. And [179^b] the three Amens will become preferable unto the
Twin-saviours in the Kingdom. And the five Trees will become preferable
unto the five Amens in the Inheritances of the Light. And Ieou with the
Guard of the Veil of the great Light with the Receivers of Light with
the great two Chief Captains with the great Sabaoth, the good, they will
become being King in the first Saviour of the first Voice of the
Treasury of the Light, this which will become in the Place of those who
receive the First Mystery of the First Mystery. Because that Ieou with
the Guard of the Place of those on Right (hand) with Melkhisedek the
great Receiver of the Light, with the great [180^a] two Chief Captains
who came out of the Light which is choice, which is pure, greatly, of
the First Tree even unto the fifth. Ieou indeed he is the Overseer of
the Light who came forth first from the pure light of the first Tree.
The Guard also of the Veil of those of (the) Right (hand) who came forth
out of the second Tree. And the two Chief Captains came forth also out
of the pure light choice greatly of the third Tree with the fourth in
the Treasury of the Light. But Melkhisedek also came forth out of the
fifth Tree. Sabaoth the great also (the) good, this whom I called, my
Father, [180^b] he came forth out of Ieou the Overseer of the Light.
These six therefore by the command of the First Mystery, the last Helper
caused to become in the Place of those of (the) Right (hand) for the
arrangement of the collection of the Light which is of the Height of the
Aeons of the Rulers, and in the World with every race which is in them.
These which I shall say unto you of the work of each over which they put
him in the Distribution of the Universe. Because of the height therefore
of the work in which he put him, they will become fellow-kings in the
First Mystery of the first Voice of the Treasury of the Light, this
which will become in the Place of the souls of those who receive the
First Mystery of the First Mystery. And the Virgin of the Light with the
great [181^a] Captain of the Middle, this who were wont the Rulers of
the Aeons to call, The great Iao, according to the name of a great Ruler
who (is) in their Place; he, with the Virgin of the Light, with his
twelve Deacons, this from whom ye received shape, and ye received the
power out of them, they will also all become Kings: with the first
Saviour of the first Voice in the Place of the souls of those who will
receive the First Mystery of the First Mystery in the Inheritances of
the Light. And with the fifteen Helpers of the seven Virgins of the
Light, these who become in the Middle will be distributed in the Places
of the twelve Saviours, [181^b] with the others also, Angels of the
Middle, each according to his glory, and (shall) be kings with me in the
Inheritances of the Light. And I, I shall rule over all of them in the
Inheritances of the Light.
These therefore, all which I said to you will not happen in this time,
but they are about to happen in the Consummation of the Aeon, namely,
the dissolution of the Universe. And that is the whole dissolution of
the numbering of the perfect souls of the Inheritances of the Light.
Before therefore the Consummation these (things) which I said to you
will not happen. But each will happen in his Place in which they put him
from at first, until they complete the numbering of the collection
[182^a] of the perfect souls. The seven (seventh, MS) Voices with the
five (fifth, MS) Trees, and with the three Amens, and with the
Twin-saviours with the nine Guards, and with the twelve Saviours, and
with those of the Place of those of the Right (hand), and with those of
the Place of the Middle, each will remain in the Place in which they put
them, until mount up all the numbering of the perfect of the souls of
the Inheritances of the Light. And all the Rulers also who repented,
they will remain also in the Place in which they put them, until mount
up all the numbering of the souls of the Light: they are coming all each
in their time in which she receives Mystery. And they will precede all
the Rulers who repented. [182^b] And they are coming unto the Place of
those of the Middle, and those of the Middle will baptise them (with)
the spiritual unction, and seal them with the seal of their mystery and
they will pass through in unto those of all Places of the Middle, and
they will pass through in to the Place of those of (the) Right (hand),
and the interior of the Place of the nine Guards, and the interior of
the Place of the Twin-saviours, and the interior of the Place of the
three Amens, with the twelve Saviours, and the interior of the five
Trees, with the seven Voices, each giving to them their seal of their
mysteries, and all (will) make their entry, and go unto the Place of the
Inheritances [183^a] of the Light: and each (will) remain in the Place
up to which he received mysteries in the Inheritances of the Light, in
one word, all the souls of the mankind, these who will receive the
mysteries of the Light will precede all the Rulers who repented, and
they will precede those of all the Places of those of the Middle, with
those of all the Places of those of (the) Right (hand), and they will
precede those of all the Place of the Treasury of the Light, in one
word, they will precede those of all the Places of the First precept,
and (will) all enter and go unto the Inheritances of the Light, even
unto the Place of their mystery, that each may remain in the Place unto
which they received mystery. [183^b] And those of the Place of the
Middle, with those of (the) Right (hand) and with those of all the Place
of the Treasury, each in the Place of the array in which they put him
from at first, until the Universe should be caught up: each of them will
complete his charge in which they put him, in regard to the collection
(gathering in) of the souls who received mystery, in regard to this
charge, that they should seal all the souls who will receive mysteries,
these who will pass through unto their inner (place) unto the
Inheritances of the Light. Now therefore, Maria, this is the word about
which thou seekest of me in an exactness with a certainty. As for the
rest therefore now, he who hath ear to hear let him hear.
It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words sprang
[184^a] up Maria the Magdalene, said she, My Lord, my Light-dweller,
hath ear, and I comprehend every word which thou sayest. Now therefore,
my Lord, concerning the word which thou sayest that all the souls of the
race of the mankind, these who will receive the mystery of the Light
will precede in unto the Inheritances of the Light before all the Rulers
who will repent, and before every Place of those of (the) Right (hand),
and before every Place of the Treasury of the Light. Concerning this
word therefore, my Lord, which thou saidst unto us once, The first will
be last and the last will be first, namely, all the race of the men who
will precede in unto the kingdom of the Light as [184^b] those of all
the Places of the Height, namely, the first. Concerning this therefore,
my Lord, thou saidst to us, He who hath ear to hear let him hear,
namely, thou wast wishing to know whether we grasp every word which thou
sayest. This, therefore, my Lord, is the word. It happened therefore,
when she (Jesus, MS) had finished saying these words, the Saviour
wondered greatly at the assertion of the words which she saith, because
that she had (MS) become spirit quite pure. Answered further Jesus, said
he to her, Well (done), O pure spiritual Maria, this is the explanation
of the word.
It happened therefore also after all these words, added Jesus in the
word, said he to his disciples, [185^a] Hear that I may speak with you
concerning the glory of those of the Height as they become, according as
I was speaking with you unto to-day. Now therefore whenever I should
take you unto the Place of the last Helper, this who surroundeth the
Treasury of the Light, and whenever I should take you unto the Place of
that last Helper, and ye (should) see the glory in which he is, the
Place of the Inheritance of the Light, (it) will be reckoned with you of
the size of a city only of the World from the greatness in which
becometh the last Helper, and with the great light in which it is: and
after these I shall speak with you also of the glory of the Helper who
is above the lesser [185^b] Helper, nor shall I speak with you of the
Place of these who are above all the Helpers, for there is not a kind of
word unto them in this World, for there is not likeness in this World
being like to them, that I should compare it unto them. Nor is there
size, nor is there light which is comparable unto them, that I should
speak of them. Not only in this World, but also they have not likeness
also in those of the Height of the Righteousness from their Place
downward. Because of this therefore in fact there is not the manner of
word for them in this World from the great glory of those of the Height,
and there is not the great and immeasurable size. Because of this
therefore there is not the manner of word for it in this World. It
happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his
disciples, came forward [186^a] Maria the Magdalene, said she to Jesus,
My Lord, Be not angry with me, seeking from thee, because that I molest
thee in a multitude of times. Now therefore, my Lord, be not angry with
me seeking after every thing in an exactness with a certainty, because
my brothers preach them in the race of the mankind, that they should
hear and repent and be delivered from the judgments which are cruel of
the wicked Rulers, and go unto the Height and inherit the kingdom of the
Light: because that, my Lord, not only are we compassionate of
ourselves, but we are compassionate of all the race of the mankind, that
they should be delivered from all the judgments which are cruel. Now
therefore, my Lord, concerning this we are seeking after everything in
[186^b] an exactness, because my brothers preach them to all the race of
the men that they should not come unto hands of the Rulers which are
cruel, of the Darkness, and that they should be delivered from the hands
of the Receivers which are cruel of the Darkness which is without. It
happened, Jesus having heard these words, saying them Maria, answered
the Saviour becoming in great mercy in unto her. Said he to her, Seek
after that which thou wishest to seek after it, and I shall reveal to
thee in an exactness and a certainty without parable. It happened
therefore, Maria having heard these words, saying them the Saviour, she
rejoiced in great joy, and she delighted greatly, said she to Jesus, My
Lord, then the second [187^a] Helper is great(er) than the first Helper?
About how much of size, and he is distant from him about how much
distance, or otherwise he is shining more than he about how many times?
Answered Jesus, said he to Maria in the midst of the disciples, Amen,
amen I say to you, The second Helper is distant from the first Helper in
a great distance immeasurable in reference to the height above and
beneath, in reference to the depth and in reference to the length with
the breadth: for he is being distant from him greatly greatly in a great
(amount) immeasurable by the Angels with the Archangels and by the Gods
with all the Invisibles: and greater he is than him greatly greatly
[187^b] immeasurable by the angels with the archangels and by (the) Gods
with all the Invisibles, and he shineth more than him immeasurable
greatly greatly there not being measure unto the light which becometh
from him, being immeasurable by the Angels with the Archangels and by
the Gods with all the Invisibles as I finished saying to you another
time. Likewise also the third Helper with the fourth with the fifth, one
being great(er) than one infinitely, and he shineth more than him, and
he is distant from him in a great distance immeasurable by the Angels
with the Archangels with the Gods with all the Invisibles, according as
[188^a] I finished saying to you another time. And also I shall say unto
you the type of each in their Distribution. It happened therefore, Jesus
having finished saying these words unto his disciples, came again
forward Maria the Magdalene, she added, said she to Jesus, My Lord, then
those who receive the mystery of the Light will become in what type in
the midst of the last Helper? But answered Jesus, said he to Maria in
the midst of the disciples. Those who received the mysteries of the
Light, whenever they should come out of the body of the matter of the
Rulers, each according to the mysteries which he received, being about
to become in his array. Those who receive mystery also which is high,
they will remain in the array which is high. Those who receive also the
mysteries which are lower they will become in the array which is lower,
in one word [188^b] the Place (in) which each received mystery, even
unto it will he remain in his array in the Inheritance of the Light.
Because of this therefore I said unto you once. The Place (in) which
your heart is about to become, there your treasure; namely, that the
Place (in) which each received mystery even unto it is about to become
there.
It happened, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his
disciples, came forward Iohan(nes), said he to Jesus, My Lord and my
Saviour, command to me also, that I may speak in thy presence, and be
not angry with me seeking after everything in an exactness with a
certainty, because that, my Lord, in a promise thou promisedst to me to
reveal everything which I shall seek from thee. Now therefore my Lord,
hide not anything from us at all in [189^a] the thing which we shall
seek from thee.