The Savior Appears
1After he had risen from among the dead, his twelve disciples and seven women continued as his followers and traveled to Galilee, to the mountain called “Harvesting Place and Joy.” When they came together, they were puzzled about the fundamental nature of the world, the plan, divine providence, the power of the authorities, and how the Savior interacts with them in the mystery of the divine plan. The Savior appeared, not with his previous (visible) form, but as the invisible spirit. And his likeness is like that of a tall radiant angel, but what he resembles I must not describe, no mortal being able to bear it, it being entirely pure, perfect flesh like what he taught us about on the mountain called “Of Olives” in Galilee. And he said: “Peace be with you! My peace I give you!” And they were all in awe, being afraid. The Savior laughed and asked them: “What are you pondering? (Why) are you puzzled? What are you seeking?” Philip said: “For the fundamental nature of the world and its plan.” The Savior said to them: “I want you to understand that all born on earth from the foundation of the world until now, being dust, even though they have inquired into God, about his being and likeness, have failed to find him. The greatest sages among them have guessed on the basis of how the world is ordered and (how it) moves along, but their guessing has not attained to the truth. It is said by all philosophers that the (cosmic) order is guided in three (different) ways, thus they are in disagreement. Some of them propose that the world guides itself. Others propose that providence does this, still others that it is fate, but none of these is the case. To repeat, none of the three propositions I have just related approaches the truth, being human (guesses). I, however, originated from the Infinite Light, because I know him, and I am here so I can tell you exactly what the truth is. The life of whatever is self-originated is impure, being self-made. There is nothing clever in (the theory of) providence, and (the theory of) fate is not insightful. To you, though, it is given to know, and anyone (else) who deserves knowledge will receive, anyone who was not begotten by the sowing of impure rubbing, but by the one who was first sent, because he is an immortal among mortals.”
He Who Is
2Matthew said to him: “Lord, none are able to discover the truth but through you, so instruct us in the truth.” The Savior said: “He Who Is is inexpressible. No power knew him, no authority, nothing contingent, or anything created since the foundation of the world until now, but he alone and any to whom he wishes to grant revelation through the one who originated from the First Light. Beginning now, I am the Great Savior. This is because he is deathless and eternal. He is eternal, without birth, because anyone who has been born will be destroyed (in death). He is unbegotten, without beginning, because anyone who had a beginning will have an end. Because no one rules him, he is nameless, because anyone with a name has been created by someone else. And He Who Is possesses an appearance peculiarly his own, unlike anything you have seen and comprehended, yet it is an enigmatic appearance that transcends everything and that excels the world. It gazes at all sides (simultaneously) and beholds itself from itself. Because it is infinite, he can never be comprehended. He is forever indestructible, nothing resembling him. He is the good that never changes. He is without defect. He is eternal. He is blessed. He cannot be known, but he knows himself. He is beyond measure; he cannot be traced out. He is perfect, without imperfection. His blessedness is indestructible. He is called ‘Father of the World.’”
The Appearance and Spirit of He Who Is
3Philip asked: “Lord, how, then, did he appear to the perfect ones?” The perfect Savior said to him: “Before anything that is visible became visible, the majesty and authority existed in him, because he embraces the entirety of the Totalities, whereas nothing embraces him. This is because he is entirely mind, and he is thought and reflection, consideration, reasoning, and power. They all are equivalent powers, being the sources of the Totalities. And their entire race, from first to last, is in his foreknowledge, of the infinite unbegotten Father.” Thomas asked him: “Lord, Savior, what is the reason these came into being, and why were they revealed?” The perfect Savior said: “I originated from the Infinite in order to tell you everything. The Spirit Who Is was the one who begot, having the power ‹of› a begetter and the nature of one who [bestows] form, so that the great wealth concealed in him could be revealed. On account of his mercy and his love he desired to produce fruit by himself, to avoid ‹enjoying› his goodness all alone (by himself), but so that other spirits of the unmoving generation could produce bodies and spirits, glory and honor in indestructability, and his infinite gift, so that his treasure could be manifested by the self-begotten God, the Father of all indestructability and of those that afterward would come into existence, but who had not yet appeared visibly. A great difference prevails among the indestructible ones.” He cried out and said: “Whoever has ears to hear about those who are infinite, let him hear!” And: “I have spoken to those who are awake!” He continued further and said: “Everything that originated from what is perishable will perish, because it originated from what is perishable, but what has originated from what is imperishable will not perish, but will be imperishable. Consequently, many erred because they were unaware of this difference, and they died.”
The Reflection of the Father
4Mary asked him: “Then how, Lord, can we come to know that?” The perfect Savior said: “Begin from concealed things to the end of visible things, and the emanation of Thought will itself reveal to you how faith in things invisible is to be found in what is visible, things that belong to the unbegotten Father. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! The Lord of the World is not called ‘Father,’ but ‘Forefather,’ ‹because the Father is› the originative principle of those that will become visible, yet he is [the] Forefather without beginning. He beholds himself within himself, as in a mirror, having appeared in his likeness as the divine Self-Father, and ‹as› the reflector over the reflecting ones, the first existent, the unbegotten Father. He is in fact as old ‹as› the light that is before him, but he does not equal him in power. Afterward he revealed many reflecting, self-begotten ones, of equal age and power, subsisting in glory, (even) without number, whose nation is called ‘The Generation Above Which There Is No Kingdom,’ from the one in which you yourselves have become visible among these ‹kingdoms›. And that whole multitude above which there is no kingdom is called ‘the Children of the Unbegotten Father,’ ‘God,’ ‘[Savior],’ and ‘Son of God,’ whose likeness dwells with you. He is the Unknowable, full of every indestructible glory and unspeakable joy. They are all at repose in him, continually rejoicing in unspeakable joy over his glory that never changes and immeasurable rejoicing. Before now, this was never heard or known among all the aeons and their worlds.”
The Immortal Human, Sophia, and Ogdoad
5Matthew asked him: “Lord, Savior, how was the Human revealed?” The perfect Savior said: “I desire that you know the one who appeared before the world. In the beginning, the infinite, self-grown, self-made Father, who was replete with radiant and unspeakable light, when he chose for his likeness to become a great power, the originative principle of that light suddenly appeared as the deathless androgynous Human, so that through that immortal Human they could obtain their salvation and wake up from oblivion through the one sent as the interpreter, who dwells with you until the end of the impoverished thieves. And his consort is the Great Sophia, who in him was ordained from the beginning for union by the self-begotten Father, from the Immortal Human who was first to appear, even as divinity and kingdom, because this was revealed by the Father, who is called ‘the Human,’ ‘the Self-Father.’ And for his own majesty, he created a mighty aeon, whose name is Ogdoad, who was granted great authority, even ruling over the impoverished creation. From that light and the threefold male Spirit, which belongs to Sophia, his consort, he created gods and angels ‹and› archangels, countless myriads for service. This was because this God created divinity and kingdom, so that he was called ‘God of gods,’ ‘King of kings.’ Within him, the Primal Human possesses his singular mind and thought, being precisely (thought), reflection and contemplation, reason and power. All the existent qualities are perfect and deathless. Regarding indestructability, they are in fact equal, though regarding power, there is a difference similar to the difference between father and son, ‹and son› and thought, and the thought and what remains (thereafter). As I stated before, among created entities, the monad comes first. And after everything (else), anything that appeared was revealed from his power. And from created entities appeared everything that was fashioned, and from what was fashioned appeared what was formed, (and) from what was formed (appeared) what was named. This is how from beginning to end the difference arose among the unbegotten ones.”
The First-Begotten Androgynous Son
6Bartholomew then asked him: “How (is) ‹he› named ‘the Human’ and ‘the Son of Man’ in the Gospel? So, which one of them pertains to the Son?” He who is holy said to him, “I desire that you know that the Primal Human is called ‘the Begetter,’ ‘the Self-Completed Mind.’ He contemplated with his consort, Great Sophia, and manifested his first-begotten, androgynous son. Its male name is called ‘First-Begetting Son of God,’ while its female name is ‘First-Begetting Sophia, Mother of the Universe,’ some calling her ‘Love.’ The first-begotten, who is called ‘Christ,’ created a multitude of countless angels for service from the Spirit and the Light because he wields authority from his Father.” His disciples said to him: “Lord, disclose to us concerning the one called ‘the Human’ so that we can also precisely understand his glory.” The perfect Savior said: “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! On account of his origin from radiant light, the first-begetting Father is named ‘Adam, the Eye of Light,’ [and] his inexpressible, shadowless holy angels continually rejoice in gladness over the reflections they obtained from their Father. The entire kingdom of the Son of Man, who is called ‘the Son of God,’ is replete with inexpressible and shadowless joy, and rejoicing that never changes, rejoicing over his indestructible glory, until now unheard and unrevealed in the aeons and their worlds that originated thereafter. I originated from the self-begotten and primal Infinite Light so that I could reveal all things to you.”
Pistis Sophia
7His is disciples spoke yet again: “Tell us plainly how they descended from the invisibilities, from what is deathless to the world of mortality.” The perfect Savior said: “The Son of Man consorted with his companion Sophia, and manifested a mighty androgynous light. Its male name is called ‘Savior, All-Begetter.’ Its female name is ‘All-Begetter Sophia,’ some calling her ‘Pistis.’ Like a droplet from the light, everyone who enters the world is sent by him to the world of the Almighty, so that they can be watched over by him. And by the will of Sophia the fetter of his oblivion bound the light, so that by means of this, the affair could be ‹revealed› to the entire impoverished world, namely, (the Almighty’s) pride and blindness, and the ignorance that named him. I, however, by the will of the great Light, originated from the places above, ‹loosing› from that fetter, having halted the activity of the thieves. I have aroused that droplet sent from Sophia, so that through me it could bear much fruit and be perfected, and never again become defective, but through me, the Great Savior, be ‹joined› so that his glory could be manifested, so that Sophia could also be rectified of that defect, so that her children could never again grow defective, but could obtain honor and glory and ascend to their Father, and understand the speech of the masculine Light. And you were sent by the Son, who (himself) was sent so that you could obtain light and separate yourselves from the oblivion of the authorities, and that it could never again come to manifestation on your account, that is, the impure rubbing that originates from the fearsome fire that issued from their phallus. Tread on their evil intention.”
The Greater Aeons
8Then Thomas asked [him]: “Lord, Savior, how many aeons surpass the heavens?” The perfect Savior said: “I praise you for asking about the great aeons, because your roots dwell in the infinities. When those whom I discussed before were revealed, he [supplied ...]. and arrive at a unity, we name them ‘Assembly of the Ogdoad.’ It manifested as androgynous and was named part male and part female. The male is called ‘Assembly,’ whereas the female is called ‘Life,’ so that it could be demonstrated that the life for all the aeons came from a female. And all names were obtained from the originative principle. This was because from his harmony with his thought, the powers appeared most rapidly who were called ‘gods,’ and on the basis of their wisdom, [the] gods of the gods revealed gods, ‹and the gods› on the basis of their wisdom revealed lords, and the lords of the lords on the basis of their acts of thought revealed lords, and the lords on the basis of their power revealed archangels, the archangels on the basis of their words revealed angels, simulacra appearing from them possessing structure and shape and appellation for all the aeons and their worlds. And the immortals I have just now described, they all wield authority from the Immortal Human, who is called ‘Silence,’ because when they contemplated (silently) without (outward) speech, the majesty that is hers was brought to completion. Because the indestructible ones possessed authority, each one created a large kingdom in the Ogdoad, and thrones and temples, firmaments for their respective majesties, because all of them originated through the will of the Mother of the World.”
The Angels, Firmaments, and Realms
9The holy apostles then said to him: “Lord, Savior, speak to us of those who dwell in the aeons, because it is necessary for us to inquire concerning them.” The perfect Savior said: “You can ask about anything, and I will give you the answer. They created angelic hosts, countless myriads for service and their glory. They created virgin spirits, the inexpressible and unwavering lights, because they experience no infirmity or weakness, but (instead show) will. In this way were the aeons rapidly completed together with the heavens and the firmaments in the glory of the Immortal Human and his consort Sophia. From there all the aeons and worlds and those that arrived thereafter obtained the model for the creation of their likenesses, (both) in the heavens of chaos and in their worlds. And every nature, beginning with the revelation of chaos, dwells in the shadowless light and in indescribable joy and in unspeakable rejoicing. They continually enjoy their glory that never fades and their infinite repose, which is indescribable among all the aeons and all their powers that came into being thereafter. Everything I have now told you, I said so that you could shine in the light even more than these.”
Mother Sophia and Yaldabaoth
10Mary asked him: “Holy Lord, from where did your disciples originate, and to where are they going, and how should they act here?” The perfect Savior said to them: “I desire that you know that Sophia, the Mother of the World and the consort, by herself, without her male (counterpart), wanted to bring these into existence. However, by the will of the Father of the World, so that his ungraspable benevolence could be manifested, he created the curtain between the immortals and those that arrived thereafter, that the result could follow that [...] [...] and breath, and could from two become one, just as it was from the beginning, that you could produce much fruit and ascend to He Who Is from the beginning, in unspeakable joy and glory, and [honor and] the gift of [the Father of the World]. [Consequently], whoever knows [the Father in perfect] knowledge [will go] to the Father [and repose in] the unbegotten [Father]. However, [whoever knows him imperfectly] will go [to the deficiency] and the repose [of the Ogdoad]. [Now], whoever silently knows the immortal [Spirit] of light, by reflecting and agreeing with the truth, if he gives to me signs of the Invisible One, he will become a light in the silent Spirit. Whoever knows the Son of Man in knowledge and love, if he gives me a sign of the Son of Man, he can go to the dwelling-places of those in the Ogdoad.
Final Exhortation and Joyful Preaching
11Behold! I have disclosed to you the name of the Perfect One, the entire will of the Mother of the holy angels, so that here the masculine [host] may be brought to completion, so that [in the aeons] there [could appear the infinities, as well as] those that [came into existence in the] unfathomable [riches of the Great] Invisible [Spirit, so that they] all [could partake in his benevolence], even the riches [of their repose] without any [kingdom over it].
I originated [from the first] sent one, that I could disclose to you He Who Is from the beginning, on account of the pride of the arch-begetter and his angels, because they boast about themselves, saying that they are gods.
And I came to free them from their blindness, so that I could announce to everyone concerning the God who dwells above the world.
Tread, therefore, on their graves, shame their evil intention, break their yoke, and awaken my own.
I have granted you authority over everything as the Sons of Light, so that with [your] feet you could tread on their power.”
These are the matters [the] blessed Savior [spoke, and he vanished] from their midst.
[All the disciples] were then in [great, unspeakable joy] in [the Spirit from] that day onward.
[And his disciples] began preaching [the] divine Gospel of [the] eternal,
The Sophia of Jesus Christ