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The Nag Hammadi Library
The Sophia of Jesus Christ
Translated by Douglas M. Parrott
The Sophia (Wisdom) of Jesus Christ.After he rose from the dead, his twelve disciples andseven women continued to be his followers, andwent to Galilee onto the mountain called "Divinationand Joy". When they gathered together and wereperplexed about the underlying reality of theuniverse and the plan, and the holy providence, andthe power of the authorities, and about everythingthe Savior is doing with them in the secret of the holyplan, the Savior appeared - not in his previous form,but in the invisible spirit. And his likeness resemblesa great angel of light. But his resemblance I must notdescribe. No mortal flesh could endure it, but onlypure, perfect flesh, like that which he taught us abouton the mountain called "Of the Olives" in Galilee.And he said: "Peace be to you, My peace I give you!"And they all marveled and were afraid. The Saviorlaughed and said to them: "What are you thinkingabout? Are you perplexed? What are you searchingfor?"Philip said: "For the underlying reality of the universeand the plan."The Savior said to them: "I want you to know that allmen are born on earth from the foundation of theworld until now, being dust, while they have inquiredabout God, who he is and what he is like, have notfound him. Now the wisest among them havespeculated from the ordering of the world and (its)
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movement. But their speculation has not reached thetruth. For it is said that the ordering is directed inthree ways, by all the philosophers, (and) hencethey do not agree. For some of them say about theworld that it is directed by itself. Others, that it isprovidence (that directs it). Others, that it is fate. But itis none of these. Again, of the three voices I have just mentioned, none is close to the truth, and (theyare) from man. But I, who came from Infinite Light, Iam here - for I know him (Light) - that I might speakto you about the precise nature of the truth. Forwhatever is from itself is a polluted life; it isself-made. Providence has no wisdom in it. And fatedoes not discern. But to you it is given to know; andwhoever is worthy of knowledge will receive (it),whoever has not been begotten by the sowing ofunclean rubbing but by First Who Was Sent, for he isan immortal in the midst of mortal men."Matthew said to him: "Lord, no one can find the truthexcept through you. Therefore teach us the truth."The Savior said: "He Who Is is ineffable. No principleknew him, no authority, no subjection, nor anycreature from the foundation of the world until now,except he alone, and anyone to whom he wants tomake revelation through him who is from First Light.From now on, I am the Great Savior. For he isimmortal and eternal. Now he is eternal, having nobirth; for everyone who has birth will perish. He isunbegotten, having no beginning; for everyone whohas a beginning has an end. Since no one rulesover him, he has no name; for whoever has a nameis the creation of another."(BG 84, 13-17 adds: He is unnameable. He has nohuman form; for whoever has human form is thecreation of another)."And he has a semblance of his own - not like whatyou have seen and received, but a strangesemblance that surpasses all things and is better
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than the universe. It looks to every side and seesitself from itself. Since it is infinite, he is everincomprehensible. He is imperishable and has nolikeness (to anything). He is unchanging good. He isfaultless. He is eternal. He is blessed. While he isnot known, he ever knows himself. He isimmeasurable. He is untraceable. He is perfect,having no defect. He is imperishability blessed. Heis called 'Father of the Universe'".Philip said: "Lord, how, then, did he appear to theperfect ones?"The perfect Savior said to him: "Before anything isvisible of those that are visible, the majesty and theauthority are in him, since he embraces the whole ofthe totalities, while nothing embraces him. For he isall mind. And he is thought and considering andreflecting and rationality and power. They all areequal powers. They are the sources of the totalities.And their whole race from first to last was in hisforeknowledge, (that of) the infinite, unbegottenFather."Thomas said to him: "Lord, Savior, why did thesecome to be, and why were these revealed?"The perfect Savior said: "I came from the Infinite thatI might tell you all things. Spirit-Who-Is was thebegetter, who had the power <of> a begetter and aform-giver`s nature, that the great wealth that washidden in him might be revealed. Because of hismercy and his love, he wished to bring forth fruit byhimself, that he might not <enjoy> his goodnessalone, but (that) other spirits of the UnwaveringGeneration might bring forth body and fruit, gloryand honor, in imperishableness and his infinitegrace, that his treasure might be revealed bySelf-begotten God, the father of everyimperishableness and those that came to beafterward. But they had not yet come to visibility.Now a great difference exists among the
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