Apocryphal books (New Testament); Christian heresies -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Gnosticism
This ends the episode of Pistis Sophia, who is not again mentioned until
we come to the Fourth Document. The author now turns to what was
probably the main reason for attempting the continuation of the First
Document, which is the questioning of Mary Magdalene and the other
disciples upon the order and use of the Heavenly Places, and the
Saviour’s replies thereto.[21] Beginning with the answer to Mary’s
question as to the nature of the twenty-four Unseen Ones of whom Pistis
Sophia was one, the Saviour promises Himself to lead the disciples
through all the Upper worlds right up to that of the Ineffable One
Himself, each successive world and even Place being, it is said, so
greatly superior in size and in light to the lower ones, that they will
appear like grains of dust when viewed from it. He also tells them that
the beatitudes in store for them will be progressive, beginning with the
Millenium which will ensue when the number of perfect souls is
accomplished, the Kerasmos purified and “caught up,” and the Twelve
Disciples established with Jesus as joint Kings reigning over the
blessed in the Last Parastates or Helper—a name given to the world which
is placed in our universe immediately over the Treasure-house. Here they
will apparently receive further instruction and be given “mysteries”
which will enable them to mount to the upper universes before, it is
expressly said, the “Projections” or emanations of the Treasure-house
who are concerned with the administration of the scheme of salvation.
The details of this scheme are extremely complicated, the Saviour
several times promising to explain further in a subsequent revelation
constantly referred to as “the Distribution of the Universe.”
But its final aim is indicated without ambiguity. Jesus, who as we have
seen was hailed in the First Document as the First Mystery in the
address of the Spirits written on the vesture of light sent to Him on
the Mount of Olives, is throughout this part of the Second Document
always spoken of by that title; and we are told that those who receive
the highest mystery of all, called the “Mystery of the Ineffable One,”
will be absorbed into His being. “That Man is I, and I am that Man,” are
the words in which this announcement is made, and the full meaning of
the phrase can be appreciated by other sentences in the narrative which
go to show that this First Mystery is the first Being to come forth from
the Ineffable One, and is regarded as a “Twin Mystery” or Father and
Son, the first-named or “First Mystery looking inwards” being alone
capable of remaining in contemplation of the greatness of the Ineffable
One, while the Son or “First Mystery looking outwards” is sent to earth
in the Person of Jesus Himself.[22]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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