the mysteries of the Light and go unto the Height of the kingdom of the
Light. Say unto them, Do love of man, and be worthy of the mysteries of
the Light, and go unto the Height of the kingdom of the Light. Say unto
them, Be meek and receive the mysteries of the Light, and go unto the
Height unto the kingdom of the Light. Say unto them, Be peaceable and
receive the mysteries of the Light, and go unto the Height unto the
kingdom of the Light. Say unto them, Be merciful and receive the
mysteries of the Light, and go unto the Height unto the kingdom of the
Light. Say unto them, Do alms and receive the mysteries of the Light,
and go unto the Height unto the kingdom of the Light. Say unto them,
[239^b] Minister unto the poor with those who are sick, with those who
are paralysed, and receive the mysteries of the Light, and go unto the
Height unto the kingdom of the Light. Say unto them, Do love of God and
receive the mysteries of the Light, and go unto the Height unto the
kingdom of the Light. Say unto them, Be righteous and receive the
mysteries, and go unto the Height unto the kingdom of the Light. Say
unto them, Be good and receive the mysteries, and go unto the Height
unto the kingdom of the Light. Say unto them, Renounce the Universe, and
receive the mysteries of the Light, and go unto the Height unto the
kingdom of the Light.
These are all the limits of the roads for those who are worthy of the
mysteries of the Light. These therefore of this kind who renounced this
renunciation, give to them [240^a] the mysteries of the Light, and hide
them not from them at all, even if they are sinners and they became in
every sin with every unlawfulness, all which I said unto you of the
World, that they should turn and repent and should become in the
submission which I say to you now, Give to them the mysteries of the
kingdom of the Light, do not hide them from them at all, for because of
the sinfulness I (we, MS) brought the mysteries unto the World, that I
should forgive all their sins which they did from the first. Because of
this therefore I said unto you once, I came not to invite the righteous.
Now therefore I brought the mysteries, that they should forgive the sins
of every one, and take them unto the kingdom of the Light: for the
mysteries, they [240^b] are the free-gift of the First Mystery, for him
to blot out the sins with the unlawfulness of all the sinners.
It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his
disciples, came forward Maria, said she to the Saviour, My Lord, then
there is man righteous, being complete in all the righteousness, and
that man having not any sin at all.—Such a one they will torment him in
the punishments with the judgments, or otherwise? Or otherwise rather,
that man they will take away in unto the kingdom of the heavens, or not?
Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, A man righteous, this being
complete in all the righteousness, and he did not any sin [241^a] ever,
and such a one having not received any mystery of the Light ever,
whenever should happen the time (of his) coming out of the body,
immediately are wont to come the Receivers of the one of the great
Triple powers, these in whom there is a great (one), and they (will)
carry off the soul of that man from the Receivers of Contentious (ones),
and spend three days moving round with it in all creations of the World.
After the three days they are wont to take it down unto the Chaos, and
take it through in all the punishments of the judgments, and send it
unto all the judgments. And the fires of the Chaos are not wont to
molest it greatly, but [241^b] in part they are wont to molest it for a
little time: and in haste quickly they are wont to have mercy on it and
bring it up from the Chaoses, and take it on the road of the Middle
through all those Rulers. And they are not wont to punish it in their
judgments which (are) cruel, but the fires of their Places are wont to
molest it in part: and whenever they should take it unto the Place of
Iakhthanabas the unmerciful, they are not wont to be able to punish it,
indeed at least in his evil judgments, but he is wont to hold it down
for a little time, while the fire of his punishments molesteth it in
part. And also speedily they are wont to have mercy on it in those their
Places. [242^a] And they are not wont to take it out of the Aeons, that
the Rulers of their Aeon should not take it away in the firmaments, but
they are wont to take it through the road of the light of the sun and
take it up (close) to the Virgin of the Light, until she should prove it
and find it free from sin, and she is not wont to cause them to take it
unto the Light, because the sign of the kingdom of the Mystery is not
becoming with it, but she is wont to seal it in a seal which is
excellent, and cause them to cast it unto the body among the Aeons of
the righteousness: this body which is about to become good, and find the
sign of the mysteries of the Light and inherit the kingdom of the Light
unto age. If that (one) sinneth once or twice or thrice, this, also,
they will reject unto the World according to the type of the sins which
he did, these of which I shall say their types unto you, [242^b]
whenever I should finish saying unto you the Distribution of the
Universe. But Amen, amen I say unto you, Even if a man (is) righteous
having not done any sin at all, it is impossible for them to take him
unto the kingdom of the Light, because that the sign of the kingdom, of
the mysteries is not becoming with him, in one word, it is impossible to
take the soul unto the Light without the mysteries of the kingdom of the
Light.
It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his
disciples, came forward Iohannes, said he, My Lord, then if a man,
sinner, lawbreaker, being complete in every unlawfulness; and he ceased
from all of them, because of the kingdom of the heavens, and he
renounced all the World with all its matter which (is) in it; and we
give to him from the beginning the mysteries [243^a] of the Light, these
which (are) in the first Space from without (the outward part, MS); and
whenever he should receive the mysteries, after a little more time he
turned and transgressed, and also after these he turned and ceased from
every sin; and he turned and renounced all the World with all the matter
which is in it, and cometh also, and becometh in a great repentance; and
we know in truth that he wisheth for God; and we give to him the second
mystery of the first Space, these which are on the outward part:
likewise also again he turned and transgressed, and became also in the
sins of the World; and also after these he turned and ceased from the
sins of the World, and further he renounced all the World with all the
matter which is in it; and further he became in a great repentance; and
we knew in an exactness, and [243^b] not being hypocritical; and we
turned and gave to him the mysteries of the beginning, these (which)
become in the first Space from without (the outward part, MS). Likewise
also he turned and sinned and became in every type (type type, MS),
wishest thou for us to forgive him until as far as seven times, and we
(should) give to him the mysteries, these which are in the first Space
from within (the inward part, MS) until as far as seven times, or
otherwise. Answered also the Saviour, said he to Iohannes, Not only
forgive to him as far as seven times, but Amen I say to you, Forgive him
as far as seven times of a multitude of times: and give to him every
time the mysteries from the beginning, these which are in the first
Space from without (the outward part, MS): perhaps indeed ye will gain
the soul of that brother, and he (will) inherit the kingdom of the
Light. Because of this when ye had asked me once, saying, Whenever
[244^a] our brother should sin against us, wishest thou for us to
forgive to him as far as seven times? I answered, I said to you in a
parable, saying, Not only as far as seven times, but as far as seven of
seventy times. Now therefore forgive to him a multitude of times, and
give to him every time the mysteries which (are) on the outward part,
these which are in the first Space: perhaps indeed ye (will) gain the
soul of that brother, and he (will) inherit the kingdom of the Light.
Amen, amen I say to you, He who will vivify one soul, and deliver it,
beside the glory which he hath in the kingdom of the Light he will
receive other glory on account of the soul which he delivered: so that
he who will deliver a multitude of souls, beside the glory which he hath
in (the kingdom of the Light) [244^b] he will receive other multitude of
glory on account of the souls which he delivered. These therefore having
said them the Saviour, sprang up Iohannes said he, My Lord, bear with
me, seeking from thee, for from now I am about to begin to seek from
thee concerning everything, concerning the manner in which we are to
preach to the mankind. If therefore that brother, whenever I should give
to him a mystery among the mysteries of the beginning, these which
become in the first Space from without (the outward part, MS), whenever
I should give to him a multitude of mysteries, and he doeth not that
which is worthy of the kingdom of the heavens, wishest thou for us to
pass him on in unto the mysteries of the second Space, perhaps we
(shall) gain the soul of that brother, and he (will) turn and repent and
inherit the kingdom of the Light? Wishest thou for us to pass him on in
[245^a] unto the mysteries or otherwise, these which (are) in the second
Space? But answered the Saviour said he to Iohannes, If a brother is
being not hypocritical, but wisheth for God in truth, ye having given to
him a multitude of times the mysteries of the beginning, and this
because of the compulsion of the elements of the Destiny, he having not
done that which is worthy of the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light,
forgive to him, pass him on in, give to him the first mystery which is
in the second Space: perhaps indeed ye (will) gain the soul of that
brother. And if, having not done that which is worthy of the mysteries
of the Light, and he did the transgression with every sin (the sins the
sins, MS) and also after these he turned, he became in a great
repentance, and he renounced all the World, and he ceased from all the
sins of the World, and ye knew in an exactness that [245^b] he was not
being hypocritical, but wishing for God in truth, turn again, forgive to
him, pass him on inwards, give to him the second mystery in the second
Space of the First Mystery: perhaps indeed ye (will) gain the soul of
that brother and he (will) inherit the kingdom of the Light. And also if
he did not do that which is worthy of the mysteries, and he became in
the transgression with every sin (the sins the sins, MS) and also after
these he turned, he became in a great repentance, he renounced all the
World with all its matter which is in it, and he ceased from the sins of
the World, and ye know truly that he was not being hypocritical but
wishing for God of the truth, turn ye again forgive to him, (and receive
from him his repentance, M) because a compassion of mercy is the First
Mystery: pass on, also, that man inwards, give [246^a] to him the three
mysteries one after (upon, MS) another in the second Space of the First
Mystery. If that man should transgress and become in every sin (the sins
the sins, MS) ye shall not forgive to him from this hour, nor shall ye
receive from him his repentances, but let him become among you as a
scandal and as transgressor: for Amen I say to you, Those three
mysteries will become to him witness unto his last repentance, and he
hath not repentance from that hour. Amen I say unto you, That man they
have not cast back his soul unto the World which is on the Height from
this hour, but it will become in the dwelling place of the dragon of the
Darkness which is outer. [246^b] For concerning the souls of these men
of this kind, I said unto you once in a parable saying, Whenever thy
brother sinneth against thee reprove him (thee, MS) between thee and him
alone. If he should hearken unto thee, thou wilt gain thy brother. If he
should not hearken unto thee, take with thee another, if he should not
hearken unto thee with the other, bring him unto the ecclesia, if he
should not hearken unto the others, let him become with you as a
scandal, [and] which is this, if he should not be profitable in the
first mystery, give to him the second; and if he should not be
profitable in the second, give to him the three one after another,
namely, the ecclesia, and if he should not be profitable in the third
mystery, [247^a] let him become with you as scandal and as transgressor.
And the word which I said unto you once, that upon witness two, as far
as three witnesses, every word shall stand, namely, those three
mysteries will be witness unto his last repentance: and Amen I say unto
you, Whenever that man should repent, having not any mystery (to)
forgive to him his sins, nor have they received his repentance from him,
nor have they heard him at all from any of the mysteries except from the
first mystery of the First Mystery with the mystery of the Ineffable.
These only are those which will receive the repentance of that man from
him, and they will forgive his sins, because that compassions of mercy
are those Mysteries, forgiving at every time. These therefore [247^b]
having said them the Saviour, continued Iohannes, said he to the
Saviour, My Lord, then if a brother, sinner greatly, having renounced
all the World with the matter which is in it, with all its sins, and
with all its cares and we proved him and knew that he (was) not becoming
in guile with hypocrisy but he is wishing to become in verity with
truth, and ye know that he was worthy of the mysteries of the second
Space or the third, wishest thou once for us to give to him out of the
mysteries of the second Space or the third, he having not yet received
mystery at all of the kingdom of the Light, wishest thou for us to give
to him, or otherwise? But answered the Saviour, said he to Iohannes in
the midst of the disciples, [248^a] Whenever ye know in an exactness
that that man renounced all the World with all its cares with all its
life (politeia, MS) with all its sins, and ye know in truth that he
becometh not in guile nor was he becoming in hypocrisy, nor was he
becoming curious that he should know the (things) of the mysteries that
they are being of what kind; but he is wishing for God in truth, this of
this kind, hide them not from him, but give to him out of the mysteries
of the second Space with the third. And ye also (shall) prove that he is
worthy of which mystery: and that which he is worthy of, give to him and
hide not from him: (for) otherwise whenever ye should hide (them) from
him, ye are guilty of a great offence. [248^b] If ye should give to him
once in the second Space or in the third, and he (should) turn also and
do sin, ye shall continue also the second time until as far as the third
time. If also he should sin, ye shall not continue to give to him,
because those three mysteries will become to him witness in his last
repentance, and Amen I say unto you, He who will give mystery to that
man again in the second Space or in the third, he is guilty of a great
offence. But let him become with you as transgressor and as scandal. And
Amen I say unto you, That man they have not to cast back his soul unto
the World from this hour, but his [249^a] dwelling place is in the midst
of the mouth of the dragon of the Darkness which is outer, the place of
the weeping with the gnashing of the teeth. And in the dissolution of
the World his soul will become petrified and consumed by the cold which
is cruel with the fire which is cruel greatly, and it will become
non-existent unto age. But if also yet whenever he should turn and
renounce all the World with all its cares with all its sins, and become
in a great life (politeia, MS) with a great repentance, no mystery
having been received from his repentance, nor they having heard of it,
for them to have mercy on him and receive from him his repentance and
forgive to him his sins, except the mystery of the First Mystery, and
with the mystery of the Ineffable. These only are they who will receive
the repentance of that man [249^b] from him and will forgive his sins,
because that compassions of mercy are those Mysteries, and they are
forgivenesses of sin at every time. But these having said them the
Saviour, continued also Iohannes, said he, My Lord, suffer me seeking
from thee, and be not angry with me, for I am seeking after every thing
in an exactness with a certainty, concerning the manner (in) which we
shall preach to the men of the World. But answered the Saviour, said he
to Iohannes, Seek after every thing which thou seekest after, and I
shall reveal to thee more and more in boldness without parable, or in an
exactness. But answered Iohannes, said he, My Lord, whenever we should
come preaching and (should) go into a city or a village, and (should)
come out in front of us [250^a] the men of that city, and we know not
what they are, being in great guile with great hypocrisy, and they
(should) receive us unto them, and take us in unto their house wishing
to make trial of the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light; and become
playing the hypocrite with us in the subjection, and we should think
that they are wishing for God; and we (should) give to them the
mysteries of the kingdom of the Light, and after these (things) we
(should) know that they did not that which is worthy of the mystery, and
we (should) know that they played the hypocrite with us, and they became
with guile toward us, and the mysteries also they did them in derision
from place to place, trying us and also our mysteries, then what is the
thing which will happen to these of this kind? But answered the Saviour,
said he to [250^b] Iohannes, Whenever ye should go into a city or a
village, the house unto which ye will go in, and they receive you unto
them, give to them a mystery: if they are worthy then ye will gain their
souls and they (will) inherit the kingdom of the Light. But if they
should not be worthy, but being with guile unto you, and should do the
mysteries also in derision, trying you with the mysteries also, then cry
up unto the first mystery of the First Mystery, this which is wont to
have mercy on every one: say, Even, the mystery which we gave to these
souls impious and lawbreaking, having not done that which is worthy of
the mystery even, but they made us for derision, return the mystery unto
us, and make them alien to the mystery of thy kingdom unto age. And
shake off the dust [251^a] of your feet unto a witness to them, saying
to them, Your souls shall become as the dust of your house. And Amen I
say to you, In that hour will return to you every mystery which ye gave
to them, and they will take them away from them every word with every
mystery of the Place unto which they received figure. Concerning the men
therefore of this kind I said unto you in a parable once, saying, The
house unto which ye go in and they receive you unto it, say to them, The
peace to you. And if they are worthy, let your peace come upon them, and
if they are not worthy, let it return unto you your peace, namely, if
those men do that which is worthy of the mysteries [251^b] and wishing
for God of the truth, then give to them the mysteries of the kingdom of
the Light. But if rather they are playing the hypocrite with you, and
they are being with guile unto you, ye having not known, and ye gave to
them the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light; and also after these
(things) they did the mysteries in derision, and they made trial also of
you with the mysteries also, do the first mystery of the First Mystery
and he will make return unto you every mystery which ye gave to them
(him, MS). And he will make them alien to the mysteries of the Light
unto age. And these men of this kind, [and] they will not cast them back
unto the World from this hour: but Amen I say unto you, Their dwelling
place shall (be) in the midst of the mouth of the dragon of the Darkness
which is outer. But if yet in a time of repentance they should renounce
[252^a] all the World, with all the matter which is in it, with all the
sins of the world, and they (are they) who become in all the subjection
to the mysteries of the Light, not any Mystery heard them, nor have they
forgiven their sins except by the one mystery of the Ineffable, this
which is wont to be merciful to every one and forgiveth the sins of
every one.