Some Church Leaders Lack Knowledge and Lead People Astray (76,23-78,31)

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The Revelation of Peter - Part 5 (Jesus speaks to Peter)

 

Some Church Leaders Lack Knowledge and Lead People Astray (76,23-78,31)

 

(p.494) " Others will wander from evil words and mysteries that lead people

astray. Some who do not understand the mysteries and speak of what they do not

understand will boast that the mystery of truth is theirs alone. In arrogance

they will embrace pride and will envy the immortal soul that has been used as

down payment. For every authority, principality, and power of the ages[35] wants

to be with the immortal souls in the created world, in order that these powers,

who do not come from what exists and have forgotten who they are, may be

glorified by the immortal souls that do exist. The powers have not been saved or

shown the way by them, though they always have wished to become imperishable.

For if an immortal soul is empowered by a spirit of thought, at once it is

joined[36] by one of those who were led astray.

 

" Many others, who oppose truth and are messengers of error, will ordain[37]

their error and their law against my pure thoughts. Since they see from one

perspective only, they think that good and evil come from the same source. They

do business in my word.[38] And they will establish harsh fate in which the

generation of immortal souls will run in vain, until my return.[39] For the

immortal souls will surely remain among them. And I have forgiven the

transgressions into which they have fallen through their adversaries, and I have

redeemed them from their slavery, to give them freedom.

 

" Some will create a mere imitation of the remnant in the name of a dead man, who

is Hermas,[40] the firstborn of unrighteousness, in order that the little

ones[41] may not believe in the light that is. These are the workers who will be

cast into the outer darkness,[42] away from the children of light. For they will

not enter, nor do they allow those who are going to their destination, for their

deliverance, to enter.[43]

 

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 Revelation of Peter, p.494

HarperCollins Publishers - New York

ISBN:978-0-06-052378-7

ISBN-10: 0-06-052378-6

 

Notes:

 

[35] Or " realms. "

 

[36] Or " they are joined. " Probably either the immortal soul or the soul and

spirit together are in mind. On the other hand, Werner (in Schneemelcher, ed.,

'New Testament Apocrypha', 2.707) emends the text to read " <the demons> " as the

subject of the clause: " then immediately <the demons> of those (already) led

astray rush upon them. "

 

[37] Or " will lie in ambush with. "

 

[38] Cf. 2 'Corinthians' 2:17.

 

[39] Parousia.

 

[40] Cf. the writings of Hermas in the 'Shepherd of Hermas'.

 

[41] This phrase used to refer to true believers, here and below, is familiar

from 'Matthew' 10:42; 18:6; 10, 14.

 

[42] Cf. 'Matthew' 8:12.

 

[43] Cf. 'Matthew' 23:13; 'Luke' 11:52; 'Gospel of Thomas' 39;102.