Apocryphal books (New Testament); Christian heresies -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Gnosticism
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,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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