Greco-Christian stream·Chaldean Oracles·Oracles From Porphyry
Oracles from Porphyry
The fragments that survive specifically in Porphyry's citations — chiefly from his Philosophy from Oracles. Porphyry's selection emphasises the soul's purification and the role of theurgic ritual; the section preserves the principal Porphyrian witness to the Chaldean tradition.
Source context
- Theme
- Porphyry as transmitter of theurgic and oracular doctrine within the Neoplatonic lineage
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Neoplatonic theurgy (Iamblichus, De Mysteriis)Iamblichus distinguishes theurgic invocation from philosophical contemplation, a structural parallel to Porphyry's oracular material where divine utterance is received rather than reasoned toward.
- Vedantic transmission doctrineThe role of the teacher as transparent vessel for supra-personal truth in Advaita Vedanta shows cross-tradition congruence with the Porphyrian figure who transmits oracle-speech without originating it.
Oracles From Porphyry
1There is above the Celestial Lights an Incorruptible Flame always sparkling; the Spring of Life, the Formation of all Beings, the Original of all things! This Flame produceth all things, and
nothing perisheth but what it consumeth. It maketh Itself known by Itself. This Fire cannot be contained in any Place, it is without Body and without Matter. It encompasseth the Heavens. And there goeth out from it little Sparks, which make all the Fires of the Sun, of the Moon, and of the Stars. Behold! what I know of God! Strive not to know more of Him, for that is beyond thy capacity, how wise soever thou art. As to the rest, know that unjust and wicked Man cannot hide himself from the Presence of God! No subtilty nor excuse can disguise anything front His piercing Eyes. All is full of God, and God is in All! ________
2There is in God an Immense Profundity of Flame! Nevertheless, the Heart should not fear to approach this Adorable Fire, or to be touched by it; it will never be consumed by this sweet Fire, whose mild and Tranquil Heat maketh the Binding, the Harmony, and the Duration of the World. Nothing subsisteth but by this Fire, which is God Himself. No Person begat Him; He is without Mother; He knoweth all things, and can be taught nothing.
He is Infallible in His designs, and His name is unspeakable, Behold now, what God is! As for us who are His messengers, *We are but a Little Part of God*.
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