The Sacred Book
1The [sacred] book of the [. . .] great unseen [Spirit],
the Father whose name is unutterable,
who originated] from the heights of [the Fullness,
the] Light of Light from the aeons of Light,
the Light of the [Silence of] Providence
and the Father of Silence,
the [Light] of Speech and Truth,
the Light of the [indestructibilities,
the] infinite Light,
[the] radiance from the aeons of the Light
of the undisclosable, unsignified,
unaging, undeclarable Father,
the aeon of the aeons,
the self-generated, the self-generating, the self-producing,
the alien,
the aeon,
TRUTH, ALĒTHŌS.
The Three Powers
2Three powers proceeded from him, being the Father, the Mother, the Son, from the living Silence, which proceeded from the indestructible Father. These proceeded [from] the Silence of the unknown Father, [and] from that place [pro]ceeded Domedon Doxomedon, [the aeon of] the aeons, and the [Light] of [their] individual powers, [and] in this way the Son [pro]ceeded fourth, the Mother [fifth, the Father] sixth.
He was [unnoticed], yet unannounced. [He is the one] who is unsignified amidst all [the powers], the glories, and the [indestructibilities].
From that place [pro]ceeded the three powers, the three Ogdoads [the Father pro]duces in Silence, together with Providence, from his lap, namely, the Father, the Mother, the Son.
The Ogdoad, on whose account the triple-male child proceeded, being:
Thought
and Logos,
and Indestructibility
and Eternal [Life],
Will,
Mind,
Precognition,
the androgynous Father.
The second Ogdoad-power:
the Mother,
the virgin Barbelon,
Epititioch[. . .]ai,
Memeneaimen, [who] oversees heaven,
Karb[. . .],
the power beyond interpretation,
the unspeakable Mother.
[She is] self-[originate . . .]. She proceeded forth. [She] agreed with the Father [of the] silent [Silence.]
The third Ogdoad-[power]:
the Son of the [silent Silence],
and the crown of the silent Silence,
[and] the glory of the Father,
and the virtue [of the] [Mother].
[He] produces, from the lap, the seven powers of the great Light, being the seven voices, and their completion is speech.
These are the three [powers], the three Ogdoads the Father [pro]duced from his lap [by means of] his Providence. He produced them in that place.
The Doxomedon Aeon
3Domedon Doxomedon came in procession, the aeon of the aeons, and the throne inside him, and the powers [surrounding] him, the glories, and the [indestructibilities. The] Father of the great Light [who pro]ceeded from Silence, he is [the great] Doxomedon aeon, in which [the triple-]male child reposes, and the throne of his [glory] was erected [inside it, the one] on which his undisclosable name [is inscribed], on the tablet, [. . .] one being the speech, the [Father of the Light] of the All, he [who pro]ceeded from Silence as he reposes inside Silence, whose name [is] in an [unseen] symbol.
[A] concealed, [unseen] mystery came in procession:
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I [I I I]
Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē Ē [Ē Ē]
[O] O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
U U [U U U] U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E
A A A A A A A [A A A A] A A A A A A A A A A A.
Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō [Ō Ō Ō] Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō Ō,
and [this] was the way the three powers presented praise to the [great], unseen, unnamable, virginal, unutterable Spirit, and [his] male virgin.
The Three Ogdoads Petition for a Power
4They petitioned [for a] power. A silence of living Silence proceeded, namely, [glories] and indestructibilities in the aeons, [. . . aeons], myriads added [to the . . .], three males, [the three] male offspring. The [male] races filled the great Doxomedon [aeon with] the power of the speech of the [entire Fullness]. Then the triple-male [child of the great] Christ, whom the [great] unseen Spirit had anointed, he whose power [was called] Ainon, presented [praise to] the great unseen Spirit [and his] male virgin, Yoel, [and] the Silence of silent Silence, and the greatness [. . .]. (Codex III pages 45-48 missing; they correspond to Codex IV pages 55-60)
Divine Emanations
5[. . .appeared from] that [place] the cloud [of the] great Light, the living power, the mother of the sacred, indestructible ones, the great power, Mirothoe, and she gave birth to him whose name I name by uttering thrice:
IEN
IEN
EA
EA
EA,
because this is the one, Adamas, the glowing light, who originates from the Man, the Primal Man, through whom and for whom everything came into being, apart from whom nothing came into being. The unknowable, ungraspable Father proceeded and descended from above to abrogate the deficiency.
Then the great Logos, the self-generated God, and the indestructible Man, Adamas, merged with one another. A Logos of Man came into being, but the Man came into being through an act of speech. He presented praise to:
the great unseen ungraspable virginal Spirit,
and the male virgin,
and the triple-male child,
and the male [virgin], Youel,
and Esephech, keeper of splendor,
the child of the child,
and the crown of its glory,
the great Doxomedon aeon,
and the thrones inside him,
and the powers surrounding him,
the glories,
and the indestructibilities,
and their entire Fullness that I mentioned previously,
and the earth of the air, the receiver of God,
where the sacred men of the great Light obtain an image,
the men of the Father of the silent living Silence,
the Father and their entire Fullness, as I mentioned previously.
The Four Lights
6The great Logos, the self-generated God, and the indestructible Man, Adamas, presented praise. They petitioned for a power and an eternal might for the self-generated one, for the completion of the four aeons, so that by means of them there would appear […] the glory and power of the unseen Father of the sacred men of the great Light who will enter the world, the image of the night.
The indestructible Man, Adamas, petitioned them that a son would come from himself, so that he would become father of the unmoving indestructible race, so that by means of it Silence and Voice might appear, and that by means of it the dead aeon would lift itself, in order that it might dissolve, and in this way there proceeded from above the power of the great Light, the Manifestation. She gave birth to the four great lights:
Harmozel,
Oroiael,
Davithe,
Eleleth,
and the great indestructible Seth, the son of the indestructible Man, Adamas, and in this way the perfect Hebdomad, which exists in concealed mysteries, was completed. When she [obtains] the [glory], she becomes eleven Ogdoads, and the Father nodded approval. The entire Fullness of the lights was pleased.
Companions for the Lights
7Their companions proceeded for the completion of the Ogdoad of the self-generated God:
Grace, of the first light, Harmozel;
Perception, of the second light, Oroiael;
Understanding, of the third light, Davithe;
Discretion, of the fourth light, Eleleth.
This is the first Ogdoad of the self-generated God, and the Father nodded approval. The entire Fullness of the Lights was pleased.
The ministers proceeded:
the first, the great Gamaliel, (of) the first great light, Harmozel;
and the great Gabriel, (of) the second great light, Oroiael;
and the great Samlo, (of) the great light, Davithe;
and the great Abrasax, of [the great light], Eleleth,
and the companions proceeded by the will of the pleasure of the Father:
Memory, of the great one, Gamaliel, the first;
Love, of the great one, Gabriel, the second;
Peace, of the great Samblo, the third;
Eternal Life, of the great one, Abrasax, the fourth.
In this way the five Ogdoads were completed, totaling forty, as a power beyond interpretation.
Then the great self-generated Logos and the Speech of the Fullness of the four lights presented praise to:
the great unseen unnamable virginal Spirit,
even the male virgin,
and the great Doxomedon aeon,
and the thrones inside them,
and the powers surrounding them,
glories, authorities, and powers,
the triple-male child,
and the male virgin Youel,
and Esephech, keeper of splendor, [the child] of the child,
and the crown of [its] glory,
the entire Fullness,
and all the glories dwelling there,
the infinite Fullnesses,
and the unnamable aeons,
so that they might name the Father, the fourth, with the indestructible race, that they might call the seed of the Father the seed of the great Seth.
The Great One Erects Thrones for the Lights
8Then everything shook, and shaking seized the indestructible ones. Then the three male children descended from above to the unborn and self-begotten ones, and to those begotten in that which is begotten. The Greatness proceeded forth, the entire Greatness of the great Christ.
He erected countless myriads of glorious thrones inside the four aeons surrounding them, countless myriads (of) powers and glories and indestructibilities, and they proceeded in this manner, and the indestructible, spiritual church grew inside the four lights of the great living self-generated one, the God of truth, who praised, sang, (and) extolled with one voice in unified agreement, with an unceasing mouth:
to the Father,
and the Mother,
and the Son,
and their entire Fullness, as I mentioned .
The five seals possessing the myriads,
and the archons over the aeons,
and the bearers of the glory of the leaders
were commanded to manifest themselves to the deserving.
Amen.
The Seed of the Great Seth
9Then the great Seth, the son of the indestructible Man, Adamas, presented praise to:
the great unseen, unnamable, unutterable, virginal Spirit,
even the ,
,
virgin Youel,
and Esephech, keeper of splendor,
and the crown of his glory, the child of the child,
and the great Doxomedon aeons,
and the Fullness, as I mentioned previously,
and he petitioned on behalf of his seed.
Then there came forth from that place the great power of great light, Plesithea:
the mother of the angels,
the mother of lights,
the glorious mother,
the four-breasted virgin,
bearing the fruit from Gomorrah as a spring, and from Sodom,
being the fruit of the spring of Gomorrah dwelling inside her.
She proceeded forth through the great Seth.
Then the great Seth was glad on account of the gift bestowed on him by the indestructible child. He extracted his seed from the four-breasted virgin, and he deposited it with him inside the fourth aeon, inside the third great light, Davithe.
The Creation of the Material World
10Five thousand years later, the great light Eleleth spoke: “Let there be a ruler over Chaos and Hades,” and a cloud appeared [named] the hylic Sophia [. . .].
[She] gazed out over the portions [of Chaos]. Her face resembled [. . .] in her shape [. . .] blood, and [the great] angel Gamaliel spoke [to the great Gabriel], the minister of [the great light] Oroiael. He [said: “Let an] angel come forth [to] rule over Chaos [and Hades].”
Then the cloud [was compliant, producing] two monads, each [possessing] light. [. . . the throne] she had erected in the cloud [above].
Then Sakla, the great [angel, beheld] the great demon [accompanying him, Nebr]uel, and [together] they became a spirit of the earth who begets. [They begot] ministering angels.
Sakla [spoke] to the great [demon] Nebruel: “Let [the] twelve aeons come into being in [the . . .] aeon, worlds [. . .].”
[. . .] the great angel [Sakla] said by the will of the self-generated one, “There shall [be] the [. . .] numbering seven [. . .],” and he said to the [great angels]: “Go, and [let each] of you rule over his (own) [world].”
Each [of these] twelve [angels] came [forth]:
[The first] angel is Ath[oth]. [He is the one] whom [the great] generations of men call [. . .].
[The] second is Harmas, [who] is [fire-eye].
The third [is Galila].
[The] fourth is Yobel.
[The fifth is] Adonaios, who is [called] Sabaoth.
The sixth [is Cain, whom] the [great generations of] men call the sun.
The [seventh is Abel].
The eighth, Akiressina.
The [ninth, Yubel].
The tenth is Harm[oupiael].
[The] eleventh is Arch[ir-Adonin].
The twelfth [is Belias].
[These are] the ones stationed over Hades [and Chaos], and after the foundation [of the world], Sakla said to his [angels]: “I, even I am a [jealous] God, and apart from me nothing has [come into being,” because he] relied on his (own) substance.
Then a voice came from on high, saying: “The Man exists, and the Son of the Man.”
The first mold was formed on account of the descent of the image above, which reflects its voice on high, of the image that has peered out, through the peering out of the image above. Repentance came into being on account of this.
Repentance and the Seed of the Great Seth
11She obtained her completion and her power by the will of the Father and his pleasure, through which he was pleased with the great indestructible, unmoving race of the great, mighty men of the great Seth, so that he could sow it inside the aeons that had been produced, so that through her the deficiency could be fulfilled, because she descended from above down to the world, being the image of the night. When she had proceeded forth, she petitioned on behalf of the seed of the archon of this aeon and authorities who originated from him, the polluted (seed) of the demon-begetting god who will be destroyed, and (she petitioned on behalf of) the seed of Adam and the great Seth, which resembles the sun.
Then the great angel Hormos arrived to make ready the seed of the great Seth, by means of the virgins of the polluted sowing (with seed) of this aeon, inside a sacred vessel begotten by the Logos through the holy Spirit.
Then the great Seth arrived with his seed, and it was sowed inside the aeons that had been produced, their number agreeing with the numerical value of “Sodom.” Some say Sodom is the place where the great Seth pastures, being Gomorrah; others, however, that the great Seth removed his planting from Gomorrah and transplanted it in a second place that he named Sodom.
This is the race that came forth through Edokla, because she gave birth to Truth and Justice by speaking, being the beginning of the seed of eternal life, which is for those who will persevere owing to the knowledge of their emanation. This is the great, indestructible race that has come forth through three worlds to the world, and the deluge transpired as a type of the consummation of the aeon, but it will be dispatched into the world because of this race.
A conflagration will overtake the earth, and grace will be for those of the race (that came to be) through the prophets and the watchers who watch over the life of the race. Because of this race, famines will come, and plagues, but these things will come to pass on account of the great, indestructible race. On account of this race, temptations will arrive, even a deceit of false prophets.
Then the great Seth witnessed the work of the devil, even his many disguises, his plots against the indestructible, unmoving race, and the persecutions from his powers and his angels, and their error (by which) they acted against themselves.
Then the great Seth presented praise to:
the great, unnamable, virginal Spirit,
and the male virgin Barbelon,
and the triple-male child Telmael Telmael Heli Heli Machar Machar Seth,
the power that lives, ALĒTHES ALĒTHŌS,
and the male virgin Youel,
and Esephech, keeper of splendor, the crown of his glory,
and the great Doxomedon aeon,
and the thrones inside him,
and the powers surrounding them,
and the entire Fullness, as I mentioned previously,
and he petitioned for watchers over his seed.
The Three Descents of Seth
12Then from the great aeons came forth four hundred ethereal angels, in whose company was the great Aerosiel and the great Selmechel, to watch over the great indestructible race, its fruit, and the great men of the great Seth, from the time and the moment of Truth and Justice, until the consummation of the aeon and its archons, whom the great judges sentenced to death.
Then the great Seth was dispatched by the four lights, by the will of the self-generated one, and the entire Fullness, through and the pleasure of the great unseen Spirit, and the five seals, and the entire Fullness.
He traversed the three parousias I mentioned previously: the deluge, and the conflagration, and the sentencing of the archons, and the powers, and the authorities, in order that she who had strayed would be saved by means of the reconciling of the world, and the baptism by a body begotten by the Logos, which the great Seth secretly made ready for himself through the virgin, in order that the holy ones would be begotten by the holy Spirit through unseen secret symbols, through the reconciling of world with world, through the renunciation of the world and the god of the thirteen aeons, and the sessions of the holy, unspeakable, indestructible ones, in the lap and great light of the Father, which pre-existed with his Providence, and which instituted through her the sacred baptism that excels the heaven, through the indestructible one begotten by the Logos, even the living one, Jesus, even he whom the great Seth donned, and through him he nailed the powers of the thirteen aeons, and confirmed those who are produced and removed.
He equipped them with an armor of knowledge of this truth, in an invincible strength of indestructibility. There appeared to them:
the great attendant Yesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus, the living water,
and the great chiefs, Jacob the great,
and Theopemptos, and Isavel,
and those who oversee the spring of truth, Micheus, and Michar, and Mnesinous,
and he who oversees the baptism for the living,
and those who cleanse,
and Sesengenpharanges,
and those who oversee the gates to the waters, Micheus and Michar,
and those who oversee the high mountain, Seldao and Elainos,
and the receivers of the great race;
the indestructible mighty men the great Seth;
the ministers of the four lights, the great Gamaliel, the great Gabriel, the great Samblo, and the great Abrasax,
and those who oversee the rising of the sun, Olses, and Hupneus, and Heurumaious,
and those placed over the entrance into the repose of eternal life, the rulers Mixanther and Michanor,
and the watchers of elect souls, Akramas and Strempouchos,
and the great power Heli Heli Machar Machar Seth,
and the great, unseen, unnamable, unutterable virgin Spirit, and Silence,
and the great light Harmozel;
the place of the living self-generated one, the God of truth, and who accompanies him,
the indestructible Man, Adamas;
the second, Oroiael, the place of the great Seth;
and Jesus, who possesses life, and who came and crucified what is in the Law;
the third, Davithe, the place of the sons of the great Seth;
the fourth, Eleleth, the place of the souls of the reposing sons;
the fifth, Yoel, who is placed over his name who will be appointed to baptize with the sacred baptism that exceeds the indestructible heaven.
From now on, however, through the indestructible Man Poimael, and those deserving of supplication, the renunciations of the five seals at the baptism-spring, they will know their receivers when they are instructed concerning them, and they will be known by them, and they shall not in the least taste death.
A Baptismal Hymn
13IĒ IEUS ĒŌ OU ĒŌ ŌUA, ALĒTHŌS ALĒTHŌS, O Yesseus Mazareus Yessedekeus, O living water, O child of the child, O glorious name, ALĒTHŌS ALĒTHŌS, the eternal Being, I I I I ĒĒĒĒ EEEE OOOO UUUU ŌŌŌŌ AAAA{A}, ALĒTHES ALĒTHŌS ĒI AAAA ŌŌŌŌ, O Being who beholds the aeons, ALĒTHES ALĒTHŌS, AEE ĒĒĒ I I I I UUUUUU ŌŌŌŌŌŌŌŌ, who is eternally eternal, ALĒTHES ALĒTHŌS, IĒA AIŌ inside the heart, who exists UAEI EISAEI EIOEI EIOSEI! This great name of yours dwells inside me, O self-generated Perfect One. You who are not outside of me, I behold you, O you who are unseen by all, because who can grasp you in a different language? Because I have known you, I have now merged with the unchangeable one. I have armed myself with the armor of light. I have become Light, because the Mother was in the Place for the excellent beauty of grace. I have therefore extended my hands when they were folded. I have been shaped inside the circle of the wealth of light in my lap, which produces the shape of the many light-begotten ones where no accusation reaches. ALĒTHŌS, I shall I proclaim your glory, because I have grasped you, SOU IĒS IDE AEIŌ AEIE OIS, O Aeon, Aeon, O God of Silence! I thoroughly honor you. You are my place of rest, O Son, ĒS ĒS O E, formless one among formless ones, raising the Man inside whom you will cleanse me to enter your life, in accord with your indestructible name. Therefore, the incense of life dwells inside me. I have mixed it with water according to the mold of all the archons, so that I might live with you in the well-being of the holy ones, you who exist forever, ALĒTHŌS ALĒTHŌS.
Conclusion
14This is the book the great Seth wrote and deposited high in the mountains where the sun has not risen, nor is that (even) possible, and since the days of the prophets, and apostles, and preachers, the name has not in the least arisen in their hearts, nor is that (even) possible, and their ear has not heard it.
The great Seth wrote this book with letters in 130 years. He deposited it on the mountain called Charaxio, with the plan that at the end of the times and eras, in agreement with the wish of the self-generated God and the complete Fullness, with the gift of the inscrutable, ungraspable, fatherly will, it may come to light and appear for this sacred, indestructible generation of the great Savior and for those who dwell with them in love, and the great, unseen, eternal Spirit and his only-begotten Son, and light eternal, also its great, indestructible companion, and indestructible Sophia, and Barbelon, and the complete Fullness, in eternity. Amen.
The gospel of Egyptians, the God-written, sacred secret book.
Grace, understanding, perception, and discretion for him who copied it, Eugnostos the beloved in the Spirit – Gongessos is my name in the flesh – and my companion lights in indestructibility.
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, ICHTHYS.
God-written, the sacred book of the great unseen Spirit. Amen.
The Sacred Book of the Great
Unseen Spirit.
Amen.