Greco-Christian stream·Pistis Sophia·Second Book — The Repentances of Pistis Sophia·Chapter 80
Martha again came forward and said: "My Lord, |175
Now, therefore, give me commandment to set forth their solution in openness · Martha interpreteth the words of Sophia from Psalm vii
Source context
- Theme
- intercession of light-powers on behalf of the repentant soul amid hierarchical Pleromic structures
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Neoplatonism — hypostatic intercessionThe Neoplatonic schema of descending hypostases mediating between the One and the fallen soul offers a structural parallel to the Pistis Sophia's light-powers acting as intermediaries within a layered cosmological hierarchy.
- Jewish Kabbalistic tradition — Sefirot as channels of divine mercyThe Kabbalistic conception of the Sefirot as graduated channels through which divine mercy reaches the soul in need of tikkun (repair) displays cross-tradition congruence with the light-powers' intercessory role in this chapter.
- Valentinian Gnosticism — syzygy and redemptive pleromaValentinian teaching on paired aeons within the Pleroma acting to restore errant spiritual entities to their proper station offers a doctrinal parallel to the hierarchical intercession depicted in Pistis Sophia's ongoing repentance sequence.
Chapter 80
CHAPTER 80
Martha again came forward and said: "My Lord, |175. I am sober in my spirit and understand the words which thou sayest. Now, therefore, give me commandment to set forth their solution in openness."
And the First Mystery answered and said unto Martha: "I give thee commandment, Martha, to set forth the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered in her song."
And Martha answered and said: "My Lord, these are the words which thy light-power hath prophesied aforetime through David in the seventh Psalm, saying:
"'12. God is a righteous vindicator and strong and long-suffering, who bringeth not on his wrath every day.
Martha interpreteth the words of Sophia from Psalm vii."'13. If ye turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow and made it ready.
"'14. And he hath made ready for him instruments of death; he hath made his arrows for those who will be burnt up.
"'15. Behold, injustice hath been in labour, hath conceived wrong and brought forth iniquity.
"'16. It hath digged a pit and hollowed it out. It will fall into the hole which it hath made.
"'17. Its wrong will return on its own head, and its injustice will come down on its pate.'"
When Martha had said this, the First Mystery which looketh without, said unto her: "Well said, finely, Martha, blessed [one]."