she, My Lord, if our parents are the Rulers, then how (is it) written in
the Law of [306^a] Moyses, He who will forsake his father with his
mother, in a death let him die? Then did not the law speak of it? But
these having said them Salome, the power of light which (is) in Maria
the Magdalene boiled up within her, said she to the Saviour, My Lord,
command to me that I may speak with my sister Salome, that I may say
unto her the explanation of the word which she said. It happened
therefore, the Saviour having heard these words, saying them Maria, he
called her happy greatly greatly. Answered the Saviour, said he to
Maria: I command to thee Maria for to say the explanation of the word
which said Salome. But these having said them the Saviour, Maria sprang
up toward Salome she saluted her, said she, My sister Salome because of
the word [306^b] which thou saidst, It is written in the Law of Moyses,
He who will forsake his father with his mother in a death let him die.
Now therefore my sister Salome, the Law did not say this concerning the
soul, nor concerning the body, nor concerning the counterfeit spirit,
for these all the sons are of the Rulers, and ones out of them are, but
the Law did say this concerning the power which came out of the Saviour,
this which is Light-dweller within us to-day. The Law also said, Every
one who will remain outside of the Saviour with his mysteries, his
parents, not only that in a death he will die, but in a perishing he
will perish. These therefore having said them Maria, Salome sprang up
toward Maria, she saluted her again, said she, Salome, There is a power
[307^a] of the Saviour making me understanding as thee also. It happened
the Saviour having heard the words of Maria he called her happy greatly
greatly. Answered also the Saviour, said he to Maria in the midst of the
disciples. Hear therefore Maria, Who it is who compelleth the man, even
until he should do sin. Now therefore are wont the Rulers, they are wont
to seal the counterfeit spirit in unto the soul, that it should not
shake her at every hour, for her to do every sin with every
unlawfulness: and also they are wont to order unto the counterfeit
spirit, saying to it, Whenever the soul (psykikon, MS) should come out
of the body, shake her not, being imparted unto her, convicting her in
all the Places of the judgments, according to Places, because of all the
sins which thou causedst her to do, that they should punish her in all
the Places [307^b] of the judgments, that she should not be able to go
unto the Light, that she should cause them to turn her in unto the
change of the body, in one word, they are wont to order the counterfeit
spirit, Do not shake her at all in any hour except she should say
mystery and loosen all the seals with all the bonds, in which we bound
thee in unto her. And whenever she should say the mysteries and loosen
all her seals with all the bonds with the defence of the Place, and
whenever she should go, allow her to come, she having been reckoned unto
those of the Light of the Height, and she was alien unto us and unto
thee, and thou wilt be able to lay hold on her from that hour. If indeed
she should not say the mysteries of the loosening of thy bonds with thy
seals with the defence of the Place, lay hold on her, dismiss her not,
thou shalt convict [308^a] her in the punishments with all the Places of
the judgments concerning every sin which thou caused her to do: and
after these take them (close) to the Virgins of the Light, this who is
wont to dispatch them unto the cycle another time. These (commands) are
those which are wont the Rulers of the great Destiny of the Aeons they
are wont to deliver them (him, MS) to the counterfeit spirit: and are
wont the Rulers, they are wont to call the Ministers of the Aeons
amounting to (filling, MS) 365, who are wont to give to them the soul
and (of, or to, MS) the counterfeit spirit, being bound in unto one
another, the counterfeit spirit being outside of the soul, the mixture
of the power being the inward of the soul, being within them both, that
they should be able to stand up both: and are wont the Rulers, they are
wont to order unto the Ministers, saying to them, This is the type
[308^b] which ye will put in the body of the matter of the World. They
are wont to say indeed to them: Put the mixture of the power the
innermost of them all, that they should be able to stand up, because it
is their setting up; and after the soul place the counterfeit spirit:
this is the manner which they are wont to order unto their Ministers,
that they should put them down in the bodies of the anti-type: and after
this form are wont the Ministers of the Rulers, they are wont to bring
the power with the soul with the counterfeit spirit, they are wont to
bring them (all) three down unto the World, and they are wont to pour
(them) out unto the World of the Rulers of the Middle. Are wont also the
Rulers of the Middle, they are wont to consider the counterfeit spirit
with the Fate also, whose name is “the Moira” he is wont to conduct the
man, until he cause them to kill him in the death which is reckoned unto
him: [309^a] this (fate) which bound in unto the soul the Rulers of the
great Destiny; and are wont the Ministers of the Sphere, they are wont
to bind (together) the soul with the power with the counterfeit spirit
and with the Fate, they are wont to divide them all, and put them in two
parts, and go round after the man with the woman in the World, these to
whom they gave sign that they (we, MS) will send them in unto them. And
they are wont to give (one) part to the male and (one) part to the woman
in meat of the World or in a breath of the air, or in water or in some
thing (form, MS) which they are wont to drink. All these I shall say
unto you the kind of each soul with the types which are wont to go in
unto the bodies, either man or bird or beast, or wild-beast or creeping
thing or every form which is on the World, I shall say unto you [309^b]
their types in what type they are wont to go in unto the men, I shall
say them unto you in the Distribution of the Universe. Now therefore
whenever the Ministers of the Rulers, whenever they should cast the part
in unto the woman and the part also in unto the male, in the way which I
said unto you, even if they are at (a) distance from one another, in a
distance which is much, are wont the Ministers to compel them in
concealment that they should harmonise with one another in the harmony
of the World: and is wont the counterfeit spirit which is in the male,
it is wont to come unto the part which is deposited unto the World in
the matter of his body, he is wont to take it away and cast it unto the
womb of the woman being deposited unto the seed of the wickedness: and
immediately are wont the three hundred (and) sixty five Ministers of the
Rulers, they are wont to go into her belly and [310^a] lodge in it. Are
wont the Ministers to bring the two parts to one another, and also are
wont the Ministers to hold back the blood of every meat of the woman
which she will eat, with the (things) which she drinketh, they are wont
to hold them back in the belly of the woman, even until forty days: they
are wont to knead the blood of the power of the meats, they are wont to
knead it well in the womb of the woman: after the forty days they are
wont to spend thirty other days building (up) his members in the image
of the body of the man, is wont each to build (up) a member, these (of)
which I shall say unto you which Dekans will build it, I shall say them
unto you in the Distribution of the Universe. If therefore it should
happen after these, the Ministers should complete all the body with all
its members in [310^b] seventy days. And after these, are wont the
Ministers they are wont to call in unto the body which they built (up):
first indeed they are wont to call the counterfeit spirit, afterwards
they are wont to call the soul within them, and afterwards they are wont
to call the mixture of the power in unto the soul: and the Fate they are
wont to put it outside of all (but) not mixing in with them, following
them at a distance after them: and after these are wont the Ministers,
they are wont to seal them in unto one another with all the seals which
gave to them the Rulers, and they are wont to seal (added in lower
margin) on the day (in) which they settled in the belly of the woman,
they are wont to seal him in unto the left hand of the (human) form; and
they are wont to seal on the day in which they completed the body on the
right hand: and they are wont to seal on the day in which the Rulers
delivered them unto them in the middle of the skull of the body of the
(human) form: and they are wont to seal on the [311^a] day (in) which
the soul cometh out of the Rulers, they are wont to seal him on the
skull of the (human) form. And they are wont to seal on the day (in)
which they kneaded the members, and separated unto (one) soul, they are
wont to seal him in the skull on right (hand) of the form. And the day
(in) which they bound the counterfeit spirit unto her (the soul) they
are wont to seal him behind the head of the form: and the day in which
breathed the power in unto the body the Rulers, they sealed him on the
cerebellum which is in the middle of the head of the form, and also on
the heart of the form: and also the number of years which will spend the
soul in the body, they are wont to seal him on the forehead, this which
is in the form: so that all these seals they are wont to seal on [311^b]
the form: all these seals I shall say their name unto you at the
Distribution of the Universe. And after the Distribution of the Universe
I shall say unto you because of what thing all these became. And if ye
wish to understand, I am that Mystery. Now therefore are wont the
Ministers, they are wont to complete the whole man, and all these seals
in which they sealed the body; are wont the Ministers, they are wont to
bring the whole speciality, and take them to all the Contentious Rulers,
these which are over all the punishments of the judgments, and they are
wont to give them to their Receivers who (and, MS) being their souls out
of the body: these are wont to give to them the speciality of the seals,
that they should know the time (in) which they will bring the souls out
of (the) bodies; [312^a] And that they should know the time in which
they will bring forth the body, that they should dispatch them to their
Ministers and stand (up) and follow after the soul and become witness of
every sin which she will do, they with the counterfeit spirit concerning
the manner (in) which they will punish her in the judgments. And
whenever the Ministers, whenever they should give the speciality of the
seals to the Contentious Rulers, they are wont to withdraw unto the
arrangement of their works which are prescribed for them by the Rulers
of the great Destiny. And whenever should be completed the number of
month of begetting children, they are wont to bring forth the child,
being small in him the mixture of the power, and being small in him the
soul, and being made small in him the counterfeit spirit. (But) the Fate
indeed [312^b] being great, being not mixed in unto the body of the
arrangement, but following after the soul with the body with the
counterfeit spirit, even until the time in which the soul is coming out
of the body, because of the type of the death by which she will kill
him, according to that which is reckoned unto him by the Rulers of the
great Destiny: or being about to die by a wild-beast, is wont the Fate
to bring the wild-beast toward him until he killeth him: or being about
to die by a creeping thing: or being about to fall unto a pit by a
chance: or being about to strangle himself: or indeed being about to die
by water, or by these of this kind, or indeed by other death worse than
these or better, (good, MS) in one word the Fate is (that) which
compelleth his death toward him. This is the work of the Fate, and she
hath not other work except this, and is wont the Fate to follow after
that man [313^a] until the day of his death.
Answered Maria, said she, Then every man who (is) on the World, then
every work which is reckoned unto them by the Destiny either good or
evil, or sin or death or life, in one word, every thing which is
reckoned unto them by the Ruler of the Destiny will happen to them.
Answered the Saviour, said he to Marihamme, Amen, I say unto you, Every
thing which is reckoned to each by the Destiny, either every good (deed)
or every sin, in one word every thing which is reckoned unto them, they
are wont to go on them. Because of this therefore I brought the key of
the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens; or otherwise there was no
flesh (which) will be saved upon the World, for without mysteries there
is not any (who) will go unto the kingdom of the Light either righteous
(or) when he had done sin. Because of this therefore of this kind, I
brought the keys of the mysteries [313^b] unto the World, that I should
unloose the sinners, these who will believe me, and who will hearken to
me, that I should unloose them from the bonds with the seals of the
Aeons of the Rulers and bind them in unto the seals (added in upper
margin) with the vestures with the arrays of the Light, that he whom I
shall loosen upon the World from the bonds with the seals of the Aeons
of the Rulers, they shall loosen him in the Height from the bonds with
the seals of the Aeons of the Rulers, and he whom I shall bind upon the
World in unto the seals with the vestures with the arrays of the Light,
they (will) bind him in the land of the Light in unto the arrays of the
inheritances of the Light. Because of the sinners I despoiled myself at
this time, I brought the mysteries to them, that I should unloose them
from the Aeons of the Rulers, and bind them in unto the inheritances of
the Light: not only (for) the sinners but also the righteous, that I
should give to them the mysteries, [314^a] and they (will) take them
unto the Light: for without mystery it is not possible to take them unto
the Light: Because of this therefore I hid not it, but I cried out
plainly, and I separated not the sinners: but I cried out, and I said
unto all men the sinners with the righteous (ones), saying, Seek that ye
may find, knock that they may open to you: for every one who seeketh in
truth will find, and he who knocketh they will open to him. For I said
unto every man that they should seek after the mysteries of the kingdom
of the Light, these which will purify them and make them pure (Light),
and they (will) take them unto the Light. Because of this therefore
Iohannes the baptist prophesied about me, saying, I indeed baptised you
in water unto repentance unto the forgiveness of your sins: he who is
coming after me [314^b] is more excellent than I, this whose fan (is) in
his hand, he is about to purify his threshing-floor, the chaff indeed he
is burning it in a fire which is not wont to be quenched, but the wheat
he is gathering it in unto his barn. My power which (is) in Iohannes
prophesied about me, knowing that I shall bring the mysteries unto the
World, and I (shall) purify the sins of the sinners, these who will
believe me, and hearken unto me, and I (shall) make them pure light, and
take them unto the Light. These therefore having said them Jesus,
answered Maria, said she, My Lord, then whenever the men go that they
should seek, and come upon teachings of error, by what are they about to
know that they are reckoned unto thee or otherwise? Answered the
Saviour, said he to Maria, I said unto you once, Be as the wise
money-changers, because that which is [315^a] good he taketh it, that
which is bad he casteth it out. Now therefore, say to every man who will
seek the Godhead, Whenever a wind of north, ye are wont to know that a
coolness is that will happen, whenever a south wind cometh out, ye are
wont to know that (added in upper margin) burning-heat with a warmth is
that which will happen. Now therefore say unto them, If ye knew the face
of the heaven with the earth out of the winds, Whenever some therefore
now should come up (close) to you and preach to you a Godhead, and ye
know in an exactness that their words agreed and suited (to) all your
words, these which I said unto you by witnessings two up to three, and
they have agreed in the constitution of the air with the heavens with
the cycles with the stars (aster) with the planet (phoster) with all the
earth with all which are in it with all the waters also with all which
are in them, say unto them, Those who come [315^b] unto you and their
words suit and agree in all the knowledge which I said unto you, then
receive them (as) belonging unto us. These are the (things) which ye
will say unto the men to whom ye preach, that they should keep
them(selves) from the teachings of error. Now therefore because of the
sinners I despoiled my(self) I came unto the World, that I should
deliver them, because that the righteous (ones) indeed, these who did
not do any of evil ever, and these who did not do sin at all, it is
necessary for them to find the mysteries, these which (are) in the Book
of Ieou, these which I caused Enokh to write in the paradisos, while
speaking with him out of the Tree of the Knowledge and out of the Tree
of the life. And I caused him to put them in the rock of Ararad. And I
put Kalapatauroth, the Ruler who (is) over Ghemmout, this (one) upon
whom are the feet [316^a] of Ieou, and he it is who goeth round all the
Aeons with the Destinies. That Ruler I put him being vigilant unto the
Books of Ieou because of the Flood, and that no Ruler should envy them
and should destroy them. These which I shall give to you whenever I
finish saying unto you the Distribution of the Universe. These therefore
having said them the Saviour, answered Maria, said she, My Lord, then
who therefore also is the man who is upon the World, who sinned not at
all, this (one) being sound from unlawfulness? For whenever he should be
sound from one he will not be able to be sound from another, that he
should find the mysteries which are in the Books of Ieou. For I say that
there is not man upon the World who will be able to be sound from sin.
For whenever he should be able to be sound from one he would not be able
to be sound from another. Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, I
[316^b] say to you that they will find one in thousand, two in ten
thousand because of the completion of the mystery of the First Mystery,
these which I shall say whenever I should finish Distributing to you the
Universe. Because of this therefore I despoiled my(self) I brought the
mysteries unto the World, because they become all under the sin, and
they all come short of the free-gift of the mysteries. Answered Maria,
said she to the Saviour, My Lord, before that thou camest unto the Place
of the Rulers, and before that thou camest into the World did no soul go
unto the Light? Answered the Saviour said he to Maria, Amen amen I say
unto you, Before that I came unto the world not any soul went in unto
the Light. And now therefore I having come, I opened the gates of the
Light, and I opened the roads which take in unto the Light. And now
therefore [317^a] he who will do that which is worthy of the mysteries,
let him receive the mysteries and go unto the Light. Added also Maria,
said she, My Lord, but I heard that the prophets went unto the Light.
Added also the Saviour said he to Maria, Amen amen I say to thee, Not
any prophet went unto the Light. But the Rulers of the Aeons who spake
with them out of the Aeons, they gave to them the mystery of the Aeons;
and I having come unto the Place of the Aeons, Helias—I turned him, I
dispatched him unto the body of Iohannes the baptist. But the rest also
I turned them unto righteous bodies, these who will find the mysteries
of the Light, and go unto the Height and inherit the kingdom of the
Light, Abraham indeed with Isaak with Iakob, I forgave to them all their
sins with all their unlawfulnesses, and I gave to them the mysteries of
the Light in the Aeons, and I put [317^b] them in the Place of Iabraoth
with all the Rulers who repented: and while I go unto the Height, and
come, being about to go unto the Light, I shall take away their souls
with me unto the Light. But Amen I say to thee Maria: He (they, MS) will
not go unto the Light, I not having taken away thy soul, thine with that
of all thy brothers unto the Light. But the rest also of the patriarchs
with the righteous since the time of Adam even until now, those who are
in the Aeons with all the arrays of the Rulers: I having come unto the
Place of Aeons, I caused these, the Virgin of the Light to turn them
unto all bodies being about to become righteous (ones), these (are
those) who will find all the mysteries of the Light and go in and
inherit the kingdom of the Light. Answered Maria, said she, We are happy
beyond every man for these greatnesses which thou revealedst to us.
Answered the Saviour, said he to [318^a] Maria with all the disciples.
Yet I shall reveal to you all the greatnesses of the Height from inward
part of the inward parts even until the outward part of the outward
parts, that ye may become being complete in every knowledge and with
every pleroma with the height of the heights with the depth of the
depths. Continued also Maria, said she to the Saviour, My Lord, behold,
we knew in boldness in an exactness plainly that thou broughtest the
keys of the Mysteries of the kingdom of the Light, these which are wont
to forgive the sins of the souls and purify them, and make them pure
light and take them unto the Light.
* * * * *
[Half this line is ornament, two lines of ornament follow, and the title
of the Fourth Document follows with ornament below.]
THE FOURTH DOCUMENT
A PART OF THE BOOKS OF THE SAVIOUR
[318^b] It happened therefore, they having crucified our Lord Jesus, He
rose out of those who are dead on his third day, gathered unto him his
disciples, they prayed him, saying, Our Lord be compassionate to us,
because we forsook father and mother with all the World, we followed
thee.
Then Jesus stood (up) with his disciples at the water of the Ocean and
he invoked with this prayer saying, Hear me, my Father, the Father of
every fatherhood, the boundless Light: a e ē i o u ō i a o a o i ō i a
psinother— ther(i)nops—nōpsither—zagourē—pagouri—nethmomaoth—
nepsiomaoth—marakhakhtha—thobarraban—tharnakhakhan—
zorokothora—Ieou—sabaoth: But these saying them Jesus, Thomas with
Andreas with Iakobos with Simon the Kananites they were being on the
west, their faces being turned unto the east. [319^a] But Philippos with
Bartholomaios, they were being on the south, being turned unto north.
But the remainder of disciples with the women disciples, they were
standing behind Jesus. But Jesus was standing at the altar, and cried
out Jesus, turned him(self) about it unto the four corners of the World
with his disciples, all being wrapped in linen garments, saying, i a o i
a o (written above) i a o. This is its (his, MS) interpretation i ō t a,
The Universe came out alpha, They will turn them. ō, Will become the
completion of all the completions. But these he having said them Jesus,
said he, Iaphtha iaphtha mounaēr, mounaēr, ermanouēr, ermanouēr, which
is this, O Father of every fatherhood of the Boundless Ones, thou shalt
hear me concerning my disciples whom I brought into thy presence,
because that they shall believe every word of thy truths: [319^b] and do
thou everything which I shall cry up unto thee concerning them: because
I know the name of the Father of the Treasury of the Light. Again also
cried out Jesus, who Aberamenthō is, saying the name of the Father of
the Treasury of the Light, and said he, Let all the mysteries of the
Rulers with the authorities, with the Angels with the Archangels, with
every power, with every work of the invisible God ag(x
corrected)rammakhamar(inserted)ei with the Barbēlo the bdella, let them
draw near apart and separate them(selves) on (the) right (hand). But at
that hour all the heavens came unto the west with all the Aeons with the
Sphere with their Rulers with all their powers, they ran all unto the
west on (the) left (hand) of the disk of the sun with the disk of the
moon. But the disk of the sun was being a great dragon with his tail
within his mouth, being mounted on [320^a] seven powers of the Left, and
drawing under him viz.: four powers being in the likeness of white
horses: but the going (basis, MS) of the moon was being of the type of a
ship, with a dragon male with a dragon female being for rudder unto it,
with two calves of white drawing under it, with the likeness of a child
behind the moon steering the dragons who rob the light of the Rulers
from them: with a face of cat in front of him. And all the World with
the mountains with the seas ran all of them unto the west unto the left.
And Jesus with his disciples remained in the midst of the aëry Place in
the roads of the road of the Middle, this which is below the Sphere. And
they came unto the first array of the road (added in margin, MS) which
is in the Middle. But Jesus stood (up) in the air of her (of the road)
Place with his disciples. Said the disciples of Jesus to him, What is
this Place in which we are? [320^b] Said Jesus, These are the Places of
the road of the Middle: for it happened, having been disorderly the
Rulers of the Adamas, they continued working intercourse, begetting
Rulers and Archangels and Angels and Ministers and Dekans. Came out on
(the) Right Ieou the Father of my Father, he bound them in a Destiny of
the Sphere: for there are twelve Aeons becoming, Sabaoth the Adamas
ruling over six, and Iabraoth his brother ruling over other six. Then
therefore Iabraoth believed the mysteries of the Light with his Rulers,
and he worked in the mysteries of the Light, he forsook the mysteries of
the intercourse. But Sabaoth indeed the Adamas remained working in the
intercourse with his Rulers. And Ieou the Father of my father, having
seen, that believed Iabraoth, he took him away with all the Rulers who
believed [321^a] with him: he received (him) unto him(self) from the
Sphere, he took him unto a (Place of) air, which was purified in the
presence of the light of the sun, between the Places of those of the
Middle, and between the Places of the invisible God. He put him there
with the Rulers who believed him. And he took away Sabaoth the Adamas
with his Rulers, these who worked not in the mysteries of the Light, but
who continued working in the mysteries of the intercourse. He bound them
in unto the Sphere. He bound eighteen hundred Rulers in every Aeon: he
put three hundred and sixty over them. He put another five great Rulers
ruling over the three hundred sixty and over all the Rulers who are
bound, these whom they are wont to call in all the World of the mankind
by these names: the first they are wont to call him, Kronos; the second,
Ares; the third, The hermes; the fourth, The aphrodite; the fifth,
[321^b] The zeus. Continued further Jesus, said he, Hear also that I may
say unto you their mystery. It happened therefore, Ieou, having bound
them thus, he drew a power out of the great Invisible, he bound it in
this which they are wont to call it, Kronos. And also he drew another
power out of Ipsantakhounkhainkhoukheokh, who is one among the three
triple-powered gods, he bound it in Ares: and he drew a power out of
Khainkhōōōkh, being one also among the three triple-powered gods. He
bound it in the hermes. Again also he drew a power out of the Pistis the
Sophia, the daughter of the Barbēlōs, he bound it in Aphrodite. And also
he noticed that they needed a rudder for him to steer the World and
(with, MS) the Aeons of the Sphere, that they should not destroy it in
their evil doing, he went up unto the Middle, he drew a power out of
[322^a] the Little Sabaoth the good, he of the Middle, he bound it in
Zeus, because that good is (he), for him to steer them in his goodness.
And he arranged the turning about of his array thus, for him to spend
thirteen months in Aeon (after) Aeon standing still, that every Ruler
upon whom he cometh should liberate (from) the wickedness of their evil
doing. And he gave to him the two Aeons for dwellingplace in the
presence of those of the hermes. I said unto you at the first time the
names of these five great Rulers, these in which are wont the men of the
World to call them: hear also now that I may say unto you also their
incorruptible names, which are these, Orimuth for Kronos, Munikhunaphōr
for Ares, Tarpetanuph for Hermes, Khōsi for the aphrodite, Khōnbal for
Zeus, namely their incorruptible names. But having heard [322^b] these
(words) the disciples, they prostrated, they worshipped Jesus, said
they, Happy are we, we, beyond every man, because thou revealedst to us
these great wonders. They added also, they prayed him, saying, We pray
thee, reveal to us, About (in, MS) what also are these roads. Drew near
in unto him Mariham, she prostrated, she worshipped unto his feet, and
she kissed his hands, said she, Yea, my Lord, reveal to us, What is the
need of the roads of the Middle: for we heard thee that they are put
over great punishments: what therefore is the manner, our Lord, (in)
which we shall escape? or (in) which we shall be quit of them? or are
they wont to lay hold on the souls in what manner? or are they (the
souls) wont to spend how much time in their punishments. Have compassion
upon us, our Lord, our Saviour, that should not take away our souls the
Receivers of the judgments of the roads of the Middle. And that they
should not judge [323^a] us, in their punishments which are evil, that
we may inherit also the Light of thy Father, that we should not become
being poor and cut away from thee. These therefore saying them Mariham
weeping, answered Jesus in great compassion, said he to them, Truly, my
brothers and my beloved, these who have forsaken father and mother
because of my name, that I should give to you every mystery with every
knowledge, I shall give to you the mystery of the twelve Aeons of the
Rulers with their seals with their tickets with the manner of invoking
them to go unto their Places. And I shall give to you the mystery of the
thirteenth (thirteen, MS) Aeon with the manner of invoking to go unto
its Place (their Places, MS). And I shall give to you their tickets with
their seals. And I shall give to you the mystery of the baptism of those
of the Middle with the manner of invoking to go unto their Place and
their [323^b] tickets with their seals, I shall show to you them. And I
shall give to you the baptism of those of the Right, our Place, with his
tickets with his seals, and with the manner of invoking to go thither.
And I shall give to you the great mystery of the Treasury of the Light
and with the manner of invoking to go thither. I shall give to you every
mystery with every knowledge, that they should call you, The sons of the
Pleroma which is complete in every knowledge and every mystery. Ye are
happy indeed beyond every man who (is) upon the earth, because the sons
of the Light came in your time.
Added also in the word Jesus, said he, It happened therefore after these
(things), came the Father of my Father, namely, Ieou, he took away other
three hundred with sixty Rulers among the Rulers also of the Adamas,
these who did not believe the mysteries of the Light: he bound them in
these [324^a] aery Places in which we are now below the Sphere, he
placed five other great Rulers over them, namely, those who become upon
the road of the Middle. The first Ruler of the road of the Middle (added
in upper margin) they are wont to call him The (feminine) Paraplex a
Ruler being of shape of woman, with her (his, MS) hair reaching down
upon her (his, MS) feet: with fifteen arch-demons under her (his, MS)
authority ruling over many other demons: and those demons they are those
which are wont to go in unto the men, and cause them to be angry and
curse and slander. And they are those which are wont to take away the
souls by robbery, and send them through their smoke of darkness with
their evil punishments. Said she, Mariham, I shall not fail in seeking
from thee, Be not angry with me, while I am seeking after every thing.
Said Jesus, Seek [324^b] after that which thou wilt. Said she, Mariham,
My Lord, reveal to us in what manner are they wont to take away the
souls by robbery, that my brothers also should understand it (them, MS).
Said Jesus, namely, Aberamentho, Since the Father of my Father, namely,
Ieou, he is the Provider of all the Rulers with the Gods with the
powers, these which became in the matter of the Light of the Treasury.
And Zorokothora Melkhisedek he also is the Legate of all the Lights
which are purified among the Rulers, taking them in unto the Treasury of
the Light. These two only are the great Lights, their business being
this, for them to come down unto the Rulers and purify them. And
Zorokothora Melkhisedek took away the purification of the Lights which
they purified among the Rulers, and took it unto the Treasury [325^a] of
the Light, whenever should become the ticket, and with the time of their
array, for them to come down unto the Rulers and oppress them and
afflict them, taking away the purification from the Rulers. But in the
hour in which they release them from the oppression of the afflicting,
and withdraw unto the Places of the Treasury of the Light, when they
should reach unto the Places of the Middle, is wont Zorokothora
Melkhisedek, he is wont to take away the lights, and take them into the
gate of those of the Middle, and take them unto the Treasury of the
Light. And is wont Ieou also to withdraw him(self) unto the Places of
those on the Right until the time also of the ticket for them to come
out. Are wont the Rulers therefore to be disorderly through the anger of
their evil doing. Immediately they are walking up with the Lights,
because that they (Ieou and M.) are not with them at that hour. And they
are wont to take away the souls which they will be able to carry off by
robbery [325^b] and waste them away by their smoke of darkness and their
evil fire. Then therefore the souls the quick-tempered (ones) with the
cursers with the slanderers, is wont to take them away the authority
called the Paraplex with the demons which are under her and send them
through the smoke of darkness and destroy them by her evil fire, and
they begin to be consumed and to be dissolved. They (the souls) are wont
to spend hundred thirty three years with nine months in the punishment
of her Places, while she tormenteth them in the fire of her evil doing.
It is wont to happen therefore after all these times, whenever the
Sphere should turn round and the little Sabaoth the Zeus cometh unto the
first of the Aeons of the Sphere, this (one) whom they are wont to call
in the World the Ram of the Bubasti, namely the Aphrodite. [326^a]
Whenever (Aphrodite) should come unto the seventh House of the Sphere,
namely, the Balance, they are wont to draw (away) the veils which are
between those on the Left with those on the Right, and is wont to look
out of the Height among those on the Right the great Sabaoth the good,
and all the World with all the Sphere (are troubled) before that he
looked: and he looked down upon the Places of the Paraplex, and her
Places dissolved and perished. And all the souls which (are) in her
punishments, they are wont to take them away and throw them back unto
the Sphere another time, because that they were (being) destroyed in the
punishments of the Paraplex.