Greco-Christian stream·Pistis Sophia·Third Book — Mysteries of the Light·Chapter 129
Melchisedec follow them and lead them before the Virgin of Light
Melchisedec follow them and lead them before the Virgin of Light
Source context
- Theme
- mysteries of light as a Gnostic-Christian initiatory transmission
Steiner
- GA 69c, 1912-11-16Steiner identifies Gnostic thinkers such as Basilides, Marcion, and Valentinus as bearers of the insight that the Christ-impulse is absolutely necessary for humanity's entire earthly development.
- GA 87, 1902-04-19Steiner notes that the Gnostics held in their foundational views elements drawn from the ancient religious systems of the whole world, situating them within the stream of mystery knowledge.
- GA 228, 1923-07-28Steiner observes that Gnostic writings were destroyed and are known to Europeans only through counter-writings, marking a historical rupture in the transmission of this stream.
Cross-tradition
- NeoplatonismThe Neoplatonic triad of the One, Intellect, and Soul provides a structural parallel to Gnostic hierarchies of light-emanation through which divine knowledge descends into manifest existence.
- HermeticismThe Hermetic texts, particularly the Corpus Hermeticum, share with Gnostic Christianity the framing of salvific knowledge as a direct illumination of the nous by divine light rather than a transmitted doctrine.
- Kabbalah — Or Ein SofThe Kabbalistic concept of Or Ein Sof (infinite light) and its progressive tzimtzum-contraction into the sefirot displays cross-tradition congruence with Gnostic light-mysteries structuring descent and return of divine illumination.
Chapter 129
CHAPTER 129
It came to pass then, when the Saviour had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that Mary answered and said unto Jesus: "My Lord, I have heard thee say: 'He who shall receive of the mysteries of the Ineffable or who shall receive of the mysteries of the First Mystery,--they become flames of light-beams and light-streams and penetrate all the regions until they reach the region of their inheritance.'"
Of the light beams and light-streams.The Saviour answered and said unto Mary: "If they receive the mystery when still in life, and if they come out of the body, they become light-beams and light-streams and penetrate all the regions until they reach the region of their inheritance.
"But if they are sinners and are come out of the body and have not repented, and if ye perform for them the mystery of the Ineffable, in order that they may be removed out of all the chastisements and be cast into a righteous body, which is good and inheriteth the Light-kingdom or is
brought into the last order of the Light, then they will not be able to penetrate the regions, because they do not perform the mystery [themselves]. But the receivers of Melchisedec follow them and lead them before the Virgin of Light. And |330. the servitors of the judges of the rulers make frequent haste to take those souls and hand them over from one to the other until they lead them before the Virgin of Light."