Apocryphal books (New Testament); Christian heresies -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Gnosticism
These therefore having said them the Saviour, came forward the
disciples, they cried out all one after (upon, MS) another, saying, O
Saviour, thou distracted us greatly with the greatnesses which thou
sayest to us, and because thou tookest away our souls, and they became
compelled to come out of us in unto thee, (for) because that ones out of
thee they are. Now therefore because of these greatnesses were
distracted our souls these which thou sayest unto us, and they were
pressed greatly greatly unto a wishing to come out of us unto the Height
unto the Place of thy kingdom. These therefore having said them the
disciples, added also the Saviour, said he to his disciples, Whenever ye
should go to cities or kingdoms or countries, preach to them at first,
saying, Seek at every hour, and [257^a] leave not off even until ye find
the mysteries of the Light, these which will take you in unto the
kingdom of the Light. Say unto them, Take heed unto you of the teachings
of error, otherwise there are a multitude coming in my name saying, I
am, being not I, and they will deceive a multitude. Now therefore every
man who cometh (close) to you and believe you, and hearken unto your
words, and do that (which is) worthy of the mysteries of the Light, then
give to them the mysteries of the Light, and hide not them from them:
and he who is worthy of the mysteries which are high, give them to him,
and he who is worthy of the mysteries which are lower, give them to him,
and hide not any from any. The mystery indeed of the raising the dead
and curing the sicknesses, give it not to any, nor teach in it: because
that mystery is the (mystery) of the Rulers, it with all its namings.
Because of this therefore [257^b] give it not to any, nor teach in it,
even until ye establish the faith in all the World: that whenever ye
should come into cities or countries and they do not receive you unto
them, and they believe you not and they hearken not unto your words, and
ye should raise dead (ones) in those places, and cure the lame with the
blind with the sicknesses which are various in those places: and through
you all these of this kind they will believe you, that ye are preaching
the God of the Universe, and they (will) believe every word from you:
because of this therefore I gave to you that mystery, even until ye
establish the faith in all the World. These therefore having said them
the Saviour, he added also in the word, said he to Maria, Now therefore
hear, Maria, concerning [258^a] the word of which thou sought from me,
What it is which compelleth the man even until he doeth sin. Now
therefore they are wont to bear the child, the power in him being small,
and being small in him the soul, and being small in him the counterfeit
spirit also in one word, being small the three together: having not any
of them any perception of thing whether good or evil, from the weight of
the heedlessness which weigheth greatly: and also being small the body
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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