Greco-Christian stream·Pistis Sophia·Second Book — The Repentances of Pistis Sophia·Chapter 92
Ineffable knoweth why unmercifulness hath arisen and why mercifulness hath arisen
Ineffable knoweth why unmercifulness hath arisen and why mercifulness hath arisen
Source context
- Theme
- fewness of souls receiving the mysteries of light and conditions of entry into the treasury of light
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Valentinian GnosticismValentinian pneumatic anthropology similarly distinguishes pneumatic, psychic, and hylic classes of souls, with only the pneumatic class assured of entry into the Pleroma — a structural parallel to the Pistis Sophia's restriction of light-treasury access to those who receive the full mysteries.
- Matthean Gospel tradition (Matt. 22:14)The logion 'many are called but few are chosen' presents cross-tradition congruence with the chapter's insistence that, despite the universal offer of mysteries, only a small number of souls will complete the ascent to the light-world.
- Neoplatonic soteriology (Plotinus, Enneads I.6)Plotinus's account of the soul's return to the One as achievable only by those who persistently purify the intellective faculty shows cross-tradition congruence with the soteriological selectivity expressed in this chapter's teaching on mystery-reception.
Chapter 92
CHAPTER 92
It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished saying these words unto his disciples, that they rejoiced in great joy and exulted when they heard Jesus say these words.
And Jesus continued again in the discourse and said unto them: "Hearken, therefore, now still
further, O my disciples, so that I discourse with you concerning the whole gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable.
Of the gnosis of the mystery of the Ineffable."That mystery of the Ineffable knoweth why unmercifulness hath arisen and why mercifulness hath arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why ruin hath arisen and why everlasting eternity hath arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why the reptiles have arisen and why they will be destroyed.
"And that mystery knoweth why the wild beasts have arisen |210. and why they will be destroyed.
"And that mystery knoweth why the cattle have arisen and why the birds have arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why the mountains have arisen and why the precious stones therein have arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of gold hath arisen and why the matter of silver hath arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of copper hath arisen and why the matter of iron and of stone hath arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of lead hath arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of glass hath arisen and why the matter of wax hath arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why herbs, that is the vegetables, have arisen and why all matters have arisen.
"And the mystery knoweth why the waters of the earth and all things in them have arisen and why also the earth hath arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why the seas |211. and the waters have arisen and why the wild beasts in the seas have arisen.
"And that mystery knoweth why the matter of the world hath arisen and why it [the world] will be utterly destroyed."