Greco-Christian stream·Pistis Sophia·Third Book — Mysteries of the Light·Chapter 116
Mary interpreteth the same from a former saying
This, my Lord, is the word which thou hast spoken clearly · I am come to cast peace on the earth? Nay, but I am come to cast division
Source context
- Theme
- mysteries of light as esoteric knowledge within Gnostic Christian initiation
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
- GA 69c, 1912-11-16Steiner identifies the Christ impulse as the central developmental necessity in Gnostic thought, naming Basilides, Marcion, and Valentinus as key representatives of this mystery-knowledge orientation.
- GA 87, 1902-04-19Steiner notes that the Gnostics synthesised ancient religious systems worldwide with an esoteric core, indicating their role as custodians of mystery-knowledge in the early Christian era.
- GA 228, 1923-07-28Steiner observes that Gnostic writings were systematically destroyed, leaving Europeans to know the Gnostics only through polemical counter-writings, underscoring the hidden transmission of their light-mysteries.
Cross-tradition
- Hermetic traditionHermetic texts such as the Corpus Hermeticum present light as both the substance of the divine intellect and the medium of initiation, showing cross-tradition congruence with Gnostic mysteries-of-light cosmology.
- NeoplatonismPlotinus describes the ascent of the soul toward the One as a movement from darkness into intelligible light, a structural parallel to Gnostic initiatory passages through successive light-realms.
- KabbalahThe Kabbalistic doctrine of the Ohr Ein Sof — infinite divine light progressively contracted and revealed through the Sefirot — shows cross-tradition congruence with Gnostic hierarchies of luminous emanation.
Chapter 116
CHAPTER 116
When then |301. the Saviour had said this, he said unto his disciples: "Understand ye in what manner I discourse with you?"
Mary interpreteth the same from a former saying.Then Mary started forward and said: "Yea, my Lord, in truth I enquire closely into all the words which thou sayest. Concerning the word then of the forgiveness of sins thou hast spoken unto us in similitude aforetime, saying: 'I am come to cast fire on the earth,' and again: 'What will I that it burn?' And again thou hast distinguished
it clearly, saying: 'I have a baptism, to baptize in it; and how shall I endure until it is accomplished? Think ye I am come to cast peace on the earth? Nay, but I am come to cast division. For from now on five will be in one house; three will be divided against two, and two against three.' This, my Lord, is the word which thou hast spoken clearly.
"The word indeed which thou hast spoken: 'I am come to cast fire on the earth, and what will I that it burn?'--that is, my Lord: Thou hast brought the mysteries of the baptisms into the world, and thy pleasure is that they should consume all the sins of the soul and purify them. And thereafter again thou hast distinguished it clearly, saying: 'I have a baptism, to baptize in it; and |302. how shall I endure until it is accomplished?'--that is: Thou wilt not remain in the world until the baptisms are accomplished and purify the perfect souls.
"And moreover the word which thou hast spoken unto us aforetime: 'Think ye I am come to cast peace on the earth? Nay, but I am come to cast division. For from now on five will be in one house; three will be divided against two, and two against three,'--that is: Thou hast brought the mystery of the baptisms into the world, and it hath effected a division in the bodies of the world, because it hath separated the counterfeiting spirit and the body and the destiny into one portion; the soul and the power on the other hand it hath separated into another portion;--that is: Three will be against two, and two against three."
And when Mary had said this, the Saviour
said: "Well said, thou spiritual and light-pure Mary. This is the solution of the word."