Dialogue of the Savior - Part 8

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The Emergence of the Word (129,20-131,18)

 

(p.304) The master [said], " When the Father established the world, he

[collected] some of its water, and the word [33] came from it. It [34]

experienced many [troubles, but] it was more exalted than the path [of the

stars] around the entire earth. " [35]

 

[He continued], [36] " The water collected [above] is beyond the stars, and

[beyond] the water <is> a great fire encircling them like a wall. (p.305)

Periods of time [began to be measured] once many of the beings [that] were

within had separated from the rest.

 

" When the [word] was established, he looked [down]. The Father said to him, 'Go,

[send [37] something] from yourself, so that [the earth] may not be in want from

generation to [generation and] from age to age.'

 

" So [he] sent [38] from himself fountains of milk, fountains of honey, oil,

wine, and fine fruit and delicious flavors and sound roots, [so that] the earth

might not be deficient from generation [to] generation and from age to age.

 

" The word is above... stood [and showed] his beauty ....And outside [was a great

light], brighter [than] the one like it, [39] for that one rules over [all] the

realms above and below. [Light was] taken from the fire and dispersed in the

[firmament] [40] above and below. Those over the heaven above and the earth

below depend upon them. Everything is dependent upon them. "

 

When Judas heard this, he bowed down, fell on his knees, [41] and praised the

master.

 

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.304-305

HarperCollins Publishers - New York

ISBN:978-0-06-052378-7

ISBN-10: 0-06-052378-6

 

Notes:

 

[33] Logos, here and below. The text reflects upon the primal water of creation

and the place of the word in the creative process, according to 'Genesis' 1.

Apparently the water is both below and above, as in much of ancient cosmological

thought.

 

[34] Or " He " --i.e., the word--here and below.

 

[35] These are the constellations and stars that rule over what happens on the

earth, according to astronomical and astrological theory.

 

[36] The restoration is tentative. This may simply be a continuation of the

discussion in the previous section.

 

[37] Or " cast, " " emit. "

 

[38] Or " cast, " " emitted. "

 

[39] Probably the sun.

 

[40] I.e., the dome of the sky around the earth, on which the sun, moon, and

stars are set. Cf. 'Genesis' 1:6-8.

 

[41] Or " worshiped. "