Greco-Christian stream·Pistis Sophia·Third Book — Mysteries of the Light·Chapter 118
Now, therefore, my Lord, concerning the word which thou sayest: |304
Mary, thou spiritual and light-pure Mary · First Mystery, it will be forgiven
Source context
- Theme
- mysteries of light as initiation-knowledge within Gnostic Christian cosmology
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
- GA 69c, 1912-11-16Steiner identifies Gnostic thought — particularly in Basilides, Marcion, and Valentinus — as carrying the insight that the Christ impulse is absolutely necessary for the whole development of humanity on earth, making gnosis inseparable from the question of light-mysteries.
- GA 87, 1902-04-19Steiner notes that the Gnostics held, in addition to ancient religious systems of the whole world, a foundational view that was still widespread in early Christianity, positioning Gnostic light-knowledge as a bridge between old mysteries and the new Christ event.
- GA 228, 1923-07-28Steiner observes that Gnostic writings were almost entirely destroyed and are known to Europeans only through polemical counter-writings, meaning direct access to Gnostic light-doctrine has been historically suppressed.
- GA 8, chapter 9Steiner treats the Apocalypse of John as the culminating mystery-text in which the mysteries of light are no longer hidden but revealed, the city needing no sun because the revelation of God illumines it — a structural endpoint for the light-mystery stream.
Cross-tradition
- Neoplatonism / Plotinian light-metaphysicsPlotinus's emanationist schema — the One radiating Nous and Soul as descending light — shows cross-tradition congruence with Gnostic mysteries of light as graded illumination proceeding from an ineffable first principle.
- Zoroastrian light-cosmologyThe Zoroastrian opposition of Ahura Mazda (uncreated light) and Angra Mainyu (darkness) offers cross-tradition congruence with Gnostic frameworks in which cosmic light is the primary ontological category of divine reality.
- Egyptian mystery tradition / Hermetic PoimandresThe Hermetic Poimandres opens with a vision of boundless light identified as the divine Nous, showing cross-tradition congruence with the Gnostic mysteries of light as direct noetic encounter with the highest principle.
Chapter 118
CHAPTER 118
When then the Saviour had said this, he said unto his disciples: "Understand ye in what manner I speak with you?"
And Mary answered again and said: "Yea, my Lord, already have I seized on all the words
Mary interpreteth the same from Psalm xxxi.which thou sayest. Now, therefore, my Lord, concerning the word which thou sayest: |304. 'All the mysteries of the three spaces forgive sins and cover their [sc. the souls'] iniquities,'--David, the prophet, then hath prophesied aforetime concerning this word, saying: 'Blessed are they whose sins are forgiven and whose iniquities are covered.'
"And the word which thou hast spoken: 'The mystery of the First Mystery and the mystery of the Ineffable forgive all men who shall receive those mysteries, not only the sins which they have committed from the beginning onwards, but also they impute them not to them from this hour unto all eternity,'--concerning this word David hath prophesied aforetime, saying: 'Blessed are those to whom the Lord God will not impute sins,'--that is: Sins will not be imputed from this hour to those who have received the mysteries of the First Mystery and who have received the mystery of the Ineffable."
He said: "Well said, Mary, thou spiritual and light-pure Mary. This is the solution of the word."
And Mary continued again and said: "My Lord, if the man receiveth mysteries from the mysteries |305. of the First Mystery and again turneth and sinneth and transgresseth, and if he thereafter again turneth and repenteth and prayeth in any [mystery] of his mystery, will it be forgiven him, or not?"
The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "Amēn, amēn, I say unto you: Every one who shall receive the mysteries of the First Mystery,
Of forgiveness even unto twelve times of those who have received the mysteries of the First Mystery.if he again turneth and transgresseth twelve times and again twelve times repenteth, praying in the mystery of the First Mystery, it will be forgiven.
"But if after the twelve times he again transgresseth and turneth and transgresseth, it will not be forgiven him for ever, so that he should turn himself to any [mystery] of his mystery; and this [man] hath not repentance unless he receiveth the mysteries of the Ineffable, which have compassion at every time and forgive at every time."