The Wisdom of Jesus Christ - Part 8

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Eternal Realms and Aeons Appear (108,16-111,11)

 

(p.293) Then Thomas said to [him], " Master, Savior, how many realms are there of

those who surpass the heavens? "

 

The perfect Savior said, " I congratulate you for asking about the exalted

realms, for your roots are in infinite places. [32] When those whom I have

already discussed were revealed, the self-conceiving Father moved to create

twelve eternal realms to serve twelve angels. They all are perfect and good.

This is the way in which the defect of femaleness became apparent. " [33]

 

They said to him, " How many realms are there for the immortals, starting with

those that are infinite? "

 

The perfect Savior said, " Whoever has ears to hear should hear. The first

eternal realm is that of the Child of Humanity, who is called the first to

conceive, and the Savior, who has appeared. The second eternal realm is that of

the Human called Adam, eye of light. What holds these is the realm over which

there is no kingdom, the realm of the eternal infinite God, the self-conceived

aeon of the aeons in it, the eternal aeon of the immortals, whom I have already

described. This is the aeon above the seventh realm that appeared from Sophia,

which is the first realm.

 

" The immortal Human has revealed realms, powers, and kingdoms, and has given

authority to all who come through him, that they might do what they want until

the last things above chaos. They came together with each other and disclosed

every majesty, even from spirit, and a multitude of lights, glorious and without

number. The first, the second, and the third eternal realms were named in the

beginning. The first is called unity and rest. Each has its own name, and the

third realm was called assembly, after the great multitude that appeared. [34] A

multitude of beings revealed themselves in One. Because the many gather and

experience unity, <they> are called the assembly, from the assembly that

surpasses heaven. [35] We call them the assembly of the eighth realm. It

appeared in an androgynous form and was given male and female names. The male

part was called the assembly and the female part life, to indicate that from a

female came life for all the realms.

 

The Nag Hammadi Scriptures (The International Edition)

Edited by Marvin Meyer; Advisory Board: Wolf-Peter Funk, Paul-Hubert Poirier,

James M. Robinson; Introduction by Elaine H. Pagels

The Wisdom of Jesus Christ, p.293

HarperCollins Publishers - New York

ISBN:978-0-06-052378-7

ISBN-10: 0-06-052378-6

 

Notes:

 

[32] Pp.109-10 are missing from the Codex III version. The following pages are

added from BG 8502, 107-11.

 

[33] The defect of femaleness refers to the fallen state of the world below,

often described as being due to Sophia's mistake. The story of Sophia is

recounted in 'Wisdom of Jesus Christ' (BG 8502), 118-21.

 

[34] Several minor emendations [corrections] of numbers and other features of

the preceding sentences have been made on the basis of the text of 'Eugnostos

the Blessed.'

 

[35] Here the Codex III version resumes.