Jesus and James
1The Lord, however, has spoken with me: “Behold now the fulfillment of my redemption. I have granted you a sign concerning these matters, James, my brother, because not in vain have I called you my brother, even though you are not my materialistic brother, and I am not ignorant regarding you, in order that ‹you›, when I grant you a sign: know and hear!
The Existent One
2Nothing existed except the Existent One. I myself, I cannot be named, being from the Existent One, so that I [have been given a] number of names, twofold from the Existent One. I, however, I existed before you did.
Achamoth, the Lower Wisdom, Creates Powers and Divinities
3Because you have asked concerning femaleness: Femaleness existed, but femaleness did not exist [at the beginning], and she prepared for herself powers and divinities, but [she] did not exist [when] I came forth, given that I am an image of the Existent One, but I have brought the image of [him], so that the children of the [Existent One] could know who belong to them and who the aliens are. Behold! I will reveal to you everything of this mystery, because I will be apprehended the day after tomorrow, but my redemption will be near.”
The Twelve Archons
4James said: “Rabbi, you said, ‘I will be apprehended,’ but I, what will I be able to do (for you)?” He said to me: “Do not be afraid, James. They will apprehend you as well, but turn yourself away from Jerusalem, because this is she who always gives the cup of bitterness to the Sons of Light. She is a dwelling-place of a number of archons, but you will preserve your redemption in their presence, so that you can recognize who they are [and] of what kind they are. You will [convince yourself], and hear. They are not [existent ones], but [archons are they, like] the twelve [powers that possess plenary authority] (here) below. [Behold! This is the way it is with all] archons, [and each] one [of them is seated] over his own hebdomad.” James said: “So Rabbi, are there twelve hebdomads instead of the seven in the scriptures?” The Lord said: “James, he who has spoken about this Scripture has understood (it) only up to this point. I, however, will reveal to you what has come forth from what cannot be numbered. I shall grant (you) a sign concerning their number. Regarding what has come forth from the Immeasurable One, I shall grant (you) a sign concerning their measure.”
The Seventy-Two Pairs
5James said: “Now what, Rabbi? Behold! I have discovered their number. There are seventy-two pairs.” The Lord said: “These are the seventy-two heavens, which are the small ones beneath them. These are the powers of the might of all of them, and by them were they established, and these are the ones who were apportioned in every place, which are under the [authority] of the twelve archons. The diminutive power dwelling among them [has] brought [forth] angels for itself, and countless hosts. However, the Existent One was [...] given [...]. On account of [...] Existent One [...]; countless are they. If you want to count them now, you cannot before you throw off blind thought from yourself, this fetter of flesh surrounding you, and then will you attain to the Existent One, and you will no longer be James. You will instead be what exists, and all of the countless ones will all have been named.”
Overcoming the Powers
6‹James, however, said: “Now what›, Rabbi, how will I attain to the Existent One, given that all of these powers and these hosts stand armed against me?” He said to me: “These powers are not armed against you alone, but against others as well. These powers are armed against me, and also with other [powers]. Instead, they are armed against me [with] a court of law. Then to them it was given [...] against me [...] by means of them [...] in this place [...] sufferings, and I will not curse them, but inside me will be a silence and a concealed mystery, yet I am fearful in the presence of their fury.” James said: “Rabbi, if they arm themselves against you, there will nevertheless be no (valid) accusation against you. You have come with knowledge, so that you could reprove their forgetfulness. You have come with remembrance, so that you might reprove their ignorance, but I am not concerned on your account, because you descended into a thick ignorance, but nothing of it has polluted you, because you descended into a thick oblivion, and your remembrance remained with you. You wandered around in mud, and your garments remained unsoiled, and you were not buried in their filth, and they never touched you. And I was not of their kind, though I clothed myself with everything that belonged to them. Oblivion dwells inside me, yet I [remember] things that do not belong to them, and I dwell in their [ignorance]. I have found a knowledge, [and] I [was] not concerned about their sufferings [which are exterior], but I was afraid [in] their [presence], when they apprehend.
James’ Redemption
7What will they do? What will I be able to say, or what kind of message will I be able to speak in order that I can escape from them?” The Lord said: “James, I praise your insight and your fear. If you continue to be lovingly disposed towards suffering, then do not be concerned with anything else than your redemption, for behold, I will fulfil this destiny on the earth, as I have spoken in heaven, and I will reveal to you your redemption.”
The Plan to Defeat the Archons
8James said: “Rabbi, how will you hereafter appear to us again, after you have been taken into custody, and you have fulfilled the destiny, and you have ascended to the Existent One?” The Lord said: “James, after these things I will reveal everything to you, not only for your sake, but on account of the unfaithfulness of humans, so that [faithfulness] may exist among them, because a multitude will [come to] faithfulness, [and] they will increase [in it] until [they come to knowledge], and after this I will appear to reprove the archons. I will reveal to them that he cannot be apprehended. If he is apprehended, then will he apprehend them all. Now, however, I will go. Think on what I have said, and let it enter inside of you.” James said: “Lord, I will hurry, as you have spoken.”
James, the Second Teacher
9The Lord departed from him, and fulfilled what was necessary. When James had heard of his sufferings, he was very sorrowful. ‹He› was on the lookout for the appearance of his coming, but he came after some days, and James was walking about on the mountain called “Gaugelan,” together with his disciples, who listened to him longingly, and ‹they› had him as a comforter, [and] said: “This is the Second [Teacher].”
Jesus Encourages James
10[Then] the crowd dispersed itself, but James remained [behind alone at] prayer [by praying], in the way he was accustomed, and the Lord appeared to him and he ceased praying, fell on his neck, and kissed him. He said: “Rabbi, I have found you. I had heard of the sufferings you endured, and I was very sorrowful, because my compassion you know. I wanted, for this reason, on reflection, that I would not be able to look on this people. They must be judged for the things they have done, because what they have done trespasses everything that is appropriate.” The Lord said: “James, do not worry about me, nor about this people. I am he who existed inside himself. I have never suffered in any way, nor have I been tortured, and this people has done me no harm, but an appearance of the archons was imposed on them, and it was worth it that it [was fulfilled] through them, [but each of] the archons [...] who [...]. [He is] furious over [you, the] ‘Just [God,’ because you used to be] subservient to him, wherefore you bear this name: ‘James the Just.’ You will see how you become sober, because you have seen me. You desisted from this prayer, because you are ‘a Just One of God,’ and now you have fallen on my neck, and you have kissed me. Truly I say to you: You have stirred up great fury and wrath against yourself, but for this cause, that something else would come to pass.” James, however, was fainthearted as he wept, and he was very sorrowful, and both of them seated themselves on a boulder. The Lord said to him: “James, this is why you will receive these sufferings, yet do not feel sorry for yourself, because the flesh is weak. It will receive what is destined for it, but regarding yourself, be not be weak, nor be afraid.” The Lord [fell silent, and] when James had heard this, he wiped away [his] tears which were in [his eyes], and [the grief] which was [in his heart] became much lighter. The Lord [said] to [him: “James], behold, I will reveal to you your redemption.
The Toll Collectors
11When they apprehend [you], and you accept this suffering, a crowd will arm itself against you, so that ‹they› can apprehend you, but three of them in particular will apprehend you, those who are seated as toll collectors. They demand not only toll, but they take away souls violently as well. When you fall into their hands, one of them who is a Watcher among them will say to you: ‘Who are you, and where are you from?’ You will say to him: ‘I am a Son, and I am from the Father.’ He will say to you: ‘What kind of a son are you, and to which father do you belong?’ You will say to him: ‘I am from the Father who [existed] first, and a Son who [is] inside the First-Existent One.’ He [will say] to you: ‘And [from where did you come]?’ You will [say to him: ‘From what existed at first], because I [...]. ‘[...] the aliens?’ You will say to him: ‘They are not completely alien, but they are from Achamoth, that is, from the female, and she made these when she brought down the race from what existed at first. They are, therefore, not aliens, but they belong to us. On the one hand, they belong to us because she who is their Lady is from what existed at first. On the other hand, they are aliens in that the First-Existent One did not unite himself with her at the time when she thought of making them.’ Again he will say to you: ‘Where are you going?’ You will say to him: ‘To the place from which I have come, there will I return,’ but when you say this, you will be away from their activities. When you, however, come into the hands [of the] three minions [who] apprehend [the] souls violently in that place, [...]. You will [say] to them: ‘I am a vessel [more valuable] than [Achamoth, who made you.] [...] your [...], that is, [...] over her root, will you not sober up [yourself]? I, however, will invoke the indestructible knowledge, [which] is Sophia, who dwells inside the Father, who is the mother of Achamoth. No father was apportioned for Achamoth, also [no] male [companion]. She is instead [a female] from a female. She made you without [a male], when she dwelt alone, because she was ignorant concerning those who [...] her mother, because she thought that she was the only one who existed. I, however, will shout up to her mother, and they will then fall into confusion. They will accuse their root and the race of their mother. You, however, will ascend to [those] who are yours [...].
The Transmission of the Revelation
12[...] to the [First-Existent One and the] appearance of the twelve disciples and of [the seventy]-two pairs [and the] female Achamoth, which is translated ‘Sophia,’ but (I have revealed) who I am, and the indestructible Sophia through whom you will be saved together with all the children of the Existent One, which they themselves have recognized, and have concealed [inside] themselves. You will conceal her [inside] of you, and you will be silent, but you will reveal it to Addaios when you depart (from the body), and immediately [war will be waged] against this land. [Weep], therefore, for him who remains in Jerusalem. Let Addeos, however, bear these things in his mind. In the tenth year Addeos will sit down, and write them down, and [when] he has written them down [...], and they will be given [to Manael, because he] possesses this [holy name ...]. [...] his name will be called ‘Levi.’ Then he will [not] bring forth a [single] word of [what I] had said previously. [He will take] a woman, one from Jerusalem, of ‹his› [tribe, and] together with her will beget [two] sons. They will inherit these things, [and] the understanding of the [older one] will become arrogant, and [these] will be taken from him, from out of his mind. However, the younger will grow in them, and this will be apportioned to him, concealed inside him until [he] comes to the age of seven[teen] years, [and the land will wage] war [...]. [... a] large number [of provinces ... while a number] will be saved through [him]. His companions will eagerly emulate him [...], he will be proclaimed [by] them, and [they will proclaim] this message. [Then] will it become a seed of [salvation].”
The Seven Women Disciples
13James said: “[I] am pleased [with all of these things], and they are [well with what is inside] my soul.
Yet these [other things] will I ask of you: Who are the [seven] women who [have become] your disciples?
And behold! All women praise you.
I myself marvel at how [power]less vessels have become strong by means of a [perception] dwelling inside them.”
The Lord [said]: “You do well [to marvel ...]. [...].
[...] a spirit of [wisdom,]
[a spirit] of reflection,
[a spirit] of counsel and of [power],
a spirit [of mind],
a spirit of knowledge,
[a spirit] of fear.
[At that time], when we had passed over [the region of this] archon, who [is named] Adonaios, [I went in] towards him, and [he was] ignorant, [because when] I departed from him, [when he] thought that I am [a] son of his, he was gracious [to me], as though I were his son,
and then, before ‹I› appeared in this place, they were brought among [this] people, because in [this place] there were no prophets [...].
[...] will fulfil.”
James [said]: “Rabbi, [you] have [convinced] my heart [of] this.
The [seven who were appointed] together, which ones among them are [more honored than the others]?”
The Lord said: “[James], I praise you [on account of your discernment ...], word [...], because [you have] thrown away from [yourself the] cup, that is, the bitterness,
[because] none of the [archons] will array themselves against you, [because you] have [begun] to recognize [those who are yours].
From the beginning to the end throw away from yourself all lawlessness,
and take care, so that they do not become envious of you when you speak these [lofty] words.
Be in agreement with this [other matter]:
Salome, and
Mariam, [and]
[Ars]inoe [...].
[... offerings of first-fruits ...,]
[because] the priest [of the Exalted One] accepts [first-fruits, and] these he brings [as] burnt offerings and [sacrificial offerings].
I, however, am not of this kind,
but offerings of first-fruits from the [Indestructible One I] bear up to Heaven [and outspread] them, so that the power of [the truth] can appear,
because what is destructible has ascended to what is indestructible, and [the] activity of the female has attained to the activity of the male.”
James said: “Rabbi, now these three, were they thrown into their [destruction], because they have been abused, and [they have] also [been] persecuted [...].”
[... Sappira and Susa]nna [and Johanna].
Behold! [I] have [revealed] every matter [to you, and I have] in no respect [omitted (anything) ...], because you have obtained [the first-fruits offering] of knowledge, and now [you know] which [place] it is [to which you will] go.
[..., and] you will [also find rest].
I, however, will depart, and I will appear [to them], because they have been faithful to you, so that [they] will be in agreement for their [blessing] and salvation, and so that this revelation may be realized.”
And at that time he went away.
The Martyrdom of James
14He immediately upbraided the twelve, and bestowed [among them] a unity [and an efflu]ence of knowledge [...].
[...]. Instead of [...].
However, the majority of the [judges], when they recognized [that] there was no (legal) cause against him, [they released] him.
The [others and] the people [apprehended him], saying to those who had risen up: “[Let us] take [this one] from this earth, because he is not [worthy] of life.”
These now grew afraid.
They rose up, saying: “We have no part in this blood, because a just man will perish by injustice.”
James went, so that [...]. [...].
“[My] Father [in heaven, forgive] them, because [they know] not what [they do].”
The Apocalypse of James