Pistis Sophia 65.6 · 65.6

Light from their light-fellows

ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩϥⲓ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ· ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲧⲟⲣⲡⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲡⲣⲟⲃⲟⲗⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲩⲑⲁⲇⲏⲥ· ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲁⲩⲛⲟϫⲟⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲛ ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥϫⲟⲟϥ ϫⲉⲁⲩϫⲓ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲣⲟⲧ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ· ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲏ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉ ϫⲉⲛ̅ϭⲉϭⲟⲙ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ· ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲉⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩϥⲓⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲉⲡⲣⲟⲃⲟⲗⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲩⲑⲁⲇⲏⲥ ⲁⲩⲟⲩⲣⲟⲧⲧⲟⲛⲱ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩϩ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲩϣⲃ̅ⲣ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲓ̈ⲛ· ϫⲉⲁⲩⲛⲟϫⲟⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲕϭⲟⲙ ϫⲟⲟϥ ϫⲉⲁⲩⲧⲁⲛϩⲟ ⲛϩⲉⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲧⲏⲩ· ϫⲉⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲟⲩ. ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉ ϫⲉⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ· ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲛϩⲟ ⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲥϩⲩⲗⲏ· ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϥⲓⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅ ⲛ̅ϣⲟⲣⲡ̅· ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲛⲉϥⲛⲁⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲡⲉ: ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲛ ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲕϭⲟⲙ ϫⲟⲟϥ ϫⲉⲁⲩⲧⲁϩⲟ ⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲙⲉⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲁⲩϩⲉ· ⲏ̅ ϫⲉⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲩϩⲉ· ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉ ϫⲉⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩϫⲉ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲁⲩⲧⲁϩⲟ ⲉⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥϭⲟⲙ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ· ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲛⲉⲩⲛⲁⲃⲱⲗ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ·

They have not taken for themselves from the lights of Pistis Sophia, those which they had plundered from the emanations of the Self-willed, but they poured them into Pistis Sophia. And again the word which it has said: "They who are unstrung have received gladness of heart" — that is: all the other powers of Pistis Sophia, those the emanations of the Self-willed have not taken, became exceedingly glad and filled themselves with light from their light-fellows, for these poured it into them. And the word which thy power has said: "They have quickened souls, having poured in the breath, that they should not die" — that is: when they poured the lights into Pistis Sophia, they quickened the body of her matter, whose lights were taken at the first, and which was about to perish. And again the word which thy power has said: "They have raised up limbs which had fallen, or that they should not fall" — that is: when they poured her lights into her, they set upright all her powers, these which were about to be dissolved.

Word by word

ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩϥⲓmpoufithey have not takenⲛⲁⲩnaufor themselvesⲉⲃⲟⲗebolawayϩⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛhnnouoeinfrom the lightsⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥntpistisof PistisⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁsophiaSophia·ⲛⲁⲓ̈naithose whichⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲧⲟⲣⲡⲟⲩntautorpouthey had plunderedⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩntootoufromⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲡⲣⲟⲃⲟⲗⲟⲟⲩⲉnneproboloouethe emanationsⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲩⲑⲁⲇⲏⲥmpauthadēsof the Self-willed·ⲁⲗⲗⲁallabutⲁⲩⲛⲟϫⲟⲩaunojouthey poured themⲉϩⲟⲩⲛehouninⲉⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥetpistisinto PistisⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁsophiaSophiaⲁⲩⲱauōandⲟⲛonagainⲡϣⲁϫⲉpshajethe wordⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥϫⲟⲟϥentasjoofwhich it has saidϫⲉⲁⲩϫⲓjeaujithey have receivedⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲩⲣⲟⲧnouourota gladnessⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧnhētof heart·ⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲏnchinēnamely thoseⲉⲧⲃⲏⲗetbēlwho are unstrungⲉⲃⲟⲗebol(loosed).ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈etepaithatⲡⲉpeisϫⲉⲛ̅ϭⲉϭⲟⲙjenchechomthe other powersⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩtērouallⲛ̅ⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥntpistisof PistisⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁsophiaSophia·ⲛⲁⲓ̈naithoseⲉⲧⲉⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩϥⲓⲧⲟⲩetempoufitouwhich they have not takenⲛ̅ϭⲓⲛⲉⲡⲣⲟⲃⲟⲗⲟⲟⲩⲉnchineproboloouenamely the emanationsⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲩⲑⲁⲇⲏⲥmpauthadēsof the Self-willedⲁⲩⲟⲩⲣⲟⲧⲧⲟⲛⲱauourottonōbecame exceedingly glad.ⲁⲩⲱauōandⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩϩaumouhthey filled themselvesⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛnouoeinwith lightⲉⲃⲟⲗeboloutϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲩϣⲃ̅ⲣ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲓ̈ⲛhmpeushbrouoinfrom their light-fellows·ϫⲉⲁⲩⲛⲟϫⲟⲩjeaunojoufor they poured itⲉϩⲟⲩⲛehouninⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩeroouinto them.ⲁⲩⲱauōandⲡϣⲁϫⲉpshajethe wordⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲕϭⲟⲙentatekchomwhich thy powerϫⲟⲟϥjoofhas saidϫⲉⲁⲩⲧⲁⲛϩⲟjeautanhothey have quickenedⲛϩⲉⲛⲯⲩⲭⲏnhenpsukhēsoulsⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩϫⲉeunoujehaving poured inⲙ̅ⲡⲧⲏⲩmptēuthe breath·ϫⲉⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲟⲩjenneumouthat they should not die.ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈etepaithatⲡⲉpeisϫⲉⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩϫⲉjenterounoujewhen they pouredⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛnnouoeinthe lightsⲉϩⲟⲩⲛehouninⲉⲧⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥetpistisinto PistisⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁsophiaSophia·ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲛϩⲟautanhothey quickenedⲙ̅ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁmpsōmathe bodyⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲥϩⲩⲗⲏnteshulēof her matter·ⲡⲁⲓ̈paithisⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϥⲓⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛentaufinefouoeinwhose lights were takenⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅nhētfout of itⲛ̅ϣⲟⲣⲡ̅nshorpat the first·ⲡⲁⲓ̈paithis whichⲉⲛⲉϥⲛⲁⲧⲁⲕⲟenefnatakowas about to perishⲡⲉpe(was):ⲁⲩⲱauōandⲟⲛonagainⲡϣⲁϫⲉpshajethe wordⲉⲛⲧⲁⲧⲉⲕϭⲟⲙentatekchomwhich thy powerϫⲟⲟϥjoofhas saidϫⲉⲁⲩⲧⲁϩⲟjeautahothey have raisedⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲙⲉⲗⲟⲥnhenmeloslimbsⲉⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩeratouuprightⲉⲁⲩϩⲉeauhewhich had fallen·ⲏ̅ēorϫⲉⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲩϩⲉjenneuhethat they should not fall·ⲉⲧⲉⲡⲁⲓ̈etepaithatⲡⲉpeisϫⲉⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩϫⲉjenterounoujewhen they pouredⲉϩⲟⲩⲛehouninⲉⲣⲟⲥerosinto herⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛnnesouoeinher lightsⲁⲩⲧⲁϩⲟautahothey set uprightⲉⲣⲁⲧⲟⲩeratouon their feetⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥϭⲟⲙnneschomher powersⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩtērouall·ⲛⲁⲓ̈naithese whichⲉⲛⲉⲩⲛⲁⲃⲱⲗeneunabōlwere about to be dissolvedⲉⲃⲟⲗebolaway·

The setting

Peter’s decoding turns to the integrity of the couriers. Gabriel and Michael handled the whole recovered treasure — the lights plundered back from the emanations — and took nothing of it for themselves; all of it went into Pistis Sophia. Then the joy-verse: the ones who "have gotten joy of heart" are Sophia’s other powers, the ones never stolen, who became exceedingly glad and filled themselves with light from their light-fellows — the restored powers sharing their refill sideways. The quickening-verse: the breath poured in so that they should not die is the body of Sophia’s matter revived at the point of perishing. And the raised limbs are all her powers set back on their feet, just as they were about to be dissolved.

A note on this passage

The first clause is an audit finding: the angels "have not taken for themselves" any of the treasure that passed through their hands. In a cosmos where light is currency and every power from the Self-willed downward has been skimming — the whole fall of Sophia began with predators harvesting her light — the couriers’ clean hands are worth stating outright. It is the qualification behind their beatitude: what makes a minister blessed is precisely what he does not pocket. The emanations plunder; the deacons deliver intact; the entire moral geometry of the book sits in that difference.

Then a quieter, lovelier mechanism: the powers of Sophia that were never robbed "filled themselves with light from their light-fellows" — shbr-ouoein, fellow-of-light, a compound this book coins the way Greek coins its syn- words. The restored parts do not hoard their refill; it passes sideways, member to member, until even the untouched are brighter than before. Paul’s figure of the body’s members rejoicing together (1 Corinthians 12:26) is here run in reverse — not suffering shared but surplus. And the passage ends with the two rescues caught at the last instant: the matter-body quickened "as it was about to perish," the powers set upright "as they were about to be dissolved." The flood arrives, both times, exactly at the deadline.

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