Eugnostos the Blessed

[ 1 ] [Eugnostos, to] the [children …] [] and the [] Greetings! I want [you to know] that all [born] of the [earth], since the foundation of [the] world until now, [have inquired] into God, about his being and likeness, and they have failed to find him. And those who consider themselves wise, (guessing) based on the order of the world, have no truth in (their guessing). For they discuss the aeonic order in three ways. Consequently, they are not in agreement [with] each other, [] because some [of them claim] that (the world) [is] self-[inspired].[Others claim] it was [subjected to] [providence], yet others, [that it was subjected to] destiny. None [of] these, [however], has reached [the truth. ] (7 lines lacking) [ 2 ] So whoever [can arrive] to the God of [truth through] a proposition different from these [three propositions] that have been listed, he will agree [on] every point about him, and he will be [immortal]. Although he is immortal, however, he nevertheless lives [among] mortals. Being inexpressible, [He] Who Always Is, neither powers nor authorities have known him, neither the ones who [ordain] nor any created entity. (No one) except [he alone knows] himself, because no divinity is above him, since being eternal, he does not undergo birth. And being unbegotten, he is without [a form]. And [being without] form, he does not take on [(any) form], because [whoever takes on (a) form is] the [creation] of [someone else …] It is) only (that) he [has a likeness that] transcends [everything and (is) better] than anything []. And [ no] likeness [] (5 lines lacking) [ 3 ] [he is blessed]. [Because he cannot be known] [ being] unbegotten (and) [unspeakable], he is called [Father] of the World. Even before anything was visible [of the visible] majesties and authorities, He Who Is in Himself [constantly] embraced the totality of them all, but he was not embraced by anything. He is mind and thought, thinking and instruction and counsel as well, yet he is above counsel and power, all powers being his, because [he] is the source of them all. Because whatever comes [from what is] perishable will perish. [Whatever is] from what is imperishable [will not perish], but will be even more [imperishable, because] it is from [] what is imperishable. [ Because] many [erred] [that is, as is the case with] murderers, [they died] [because they were] un[aware] of the difference. [This much, though, suffices, about the imperishable] God in [] of the [] whoever wants [to trust in the] [discourse I write] down [], let [him forsake] [ 4 ] [the countless concealed matters, and] let him [proceed to the end] of those [that are visible], and [he will discover the invisible things] in those that [are visible]. For thought [will] instruct them, because [the] superior [faith] is (that) those things that are not [visible] are (found in) those that are visible. And that is an epistemological [rule]. The Lord of the [World] was not, strictly speaking, called Father, but Forefather. This is because the Father is the originative principle of those who are to come into being through him. The infinite non-originative principle is Forefather, so that we might be prepared to greet him by name. For we know not who he is. He always understands himself within himself as in a likeness that appears and resembles himself. And [his likeness] was [called] Self-[begotten Father], he [who is before his own presence], because in [his likeness he appeared before] the Unbegotten. [He was not equal in age] with the one who [was before him, who is light], because [at first] he did not know him, [but there was never] a time when he [did not exist, because he was] always [within himself. And some think] he is [not] equal [to him in power]. [Afterward] he revealed [], who [] And then in []self-begotten [ 5 ] [ in] glory, without number, [are those] who are [called] [the generation] that is without a king [among the] existing kingdoms. [And the] entire [multitude] of the kingless ones is called [children] of the unbegotten and of him who manifested himself. The Unknowable is full of every imperishable glory and unspeakable joy. All of his children, therefore, also have repose in him, always rejoicing over their glory that never changes and the immeasurable rejoicing never heard or known among all their worlds and aeons. From him who manifested himself came forth another originative principle [from his] only-begotten, entirely unique [Word], because it is [in] him [who appeared] before the world existed [in the] infinite [aeon], the Father [who manifested] himself, who [is the] originative principle in which the Word dwells, full of radiant, [unspeakable] light. And [in the beginning], when he took thought [to have his likeness] become [a great power of] [ 6 ] [radiant light. immediately the human, the originative principle of that [light, manifested as] the [immortal] androgynous aeon. [The] maleness [is called] Begetter-Mind Who Perfects Himself, [and] its femaleness (is called) Thought, She of Every Wisdom, Conceiver of Wisdoms. [She] who is unchallengeable truthfulness is called Truth because their power is equal to that of their ancestors, [knowing] herself within herself in a mystery, while error challenges her. From the Immortal Human there quite soon appeared the name(s) of divinity and lordship and kingdom, and those that later originated from them. And he who is called Father, Human of the Depth, Self-Father, when he revealed this, created a mighty aeon [for] his own majesty. There is [a consort] with whom in union he [granted] great authority. He ruled [over them], having created myriads of countless [gods] and archangels [for] his service. Now from him [came] divinity and lordship [and kingdom], and those that came into being after [them]. [He, therefore], was called [God] [ 7 ] [of gods, Lord of lords, King] of kings. [And] from [him was manifested] another [ being] the source [of those who came] afterward. [He has] mind and [thought] and will, also thinking [and instruction] and counsel, even what surpasses counsel, and power, perfect and immortal [attributes]. [As to] what is imperishable, they are [equal] to [those] that are like them, but [as to power], they are different, like a father differs from a son, and the son (differs) from thought, and (like) thought excels over everything else. And in such a way, among uncreated things, the monad and the dyad follow upward to [the] decads, and the decads rule over the hundreds, and the hundreds rule over the thousands, and the thousands rule over the ten thousands. It is once again this pattern [that] is found among the immortals: the monad and the thought (are) what pertain to [the immortal] human. The thoughts [pertain] to the decads, and the hundreds pertain to [the instructions, and the thousands] pertain to the counsels, [and] the ten thousands [pertain to] the powers. Those [who now] come [from the ] exist with their [ in] each aeon [] [ 8 ] [ In the beginning, thought] and acts of thoughts [issued from] mind. [Next], instructions [(issued) from] acts of thoughts, counsels [from instructions], power [from counsels]. Then after all [the attributes], everything that [was revealed] manifested from [his powers]. Then [from] what [had been] created, what was [fashioned] manifested. And what was formed manifested from what had been [fashioned]. What was named manifested from what had been formed, with the difference between begotten things manifesting from what had been [named], from the beginning to the end, by the power of all the aeons. Immortal Human is full of every imperishable glory and unspeakable joy. His entire kingdom rejoices with an everlasting rejoicing never heard of or known of in any aeon that [followed] after [them and] its [worlds]. After this, [another] [originative principle] issued from Immortal [Human]; it is [called] Self-perfected [Begetter]. [After he gained the consent] of his [consort, Great Sophia, he] manifested [that first-begotten androgyne], [ 9 ] [called] First-begotten [Son of God]. Its female aspect [is First-]begotten Sophia, [Mother of the World], whom some [call] Love. The First-begotten, because he possesses [his] authority from his [father], created a great [aeon] for his own majesty, [creating] countless myriads of angels for his service. The entire multitude of angels is called Assembly of the Holy Ones; they are the lights and those without shadow. When these angels kiss one other, their embraces [become] angels like [themselves]. Their first-begotten [ Father] is called [ Mind, Adam, who is the eye of light], who [came forth from light], the [son whose entire kingdom is] full [of unspeakable joy] [ nor has it been revealed] [ 10 ] [to any of the aeons] and [their worlds that came] to exist afterward. Then [] came forth from him, [the] Son [of Man]. After consorting [with Sophia, his] companion, he [manifested] a great light, [who is] androgynous. Its [male name] is called [Savior, All-] Begetter. Some call its feminine name [Pistis] Sophia. When the Savior then consorted with his companion, Pistis Sophia, he manifested six spiritual entities, who are androgynous, whose masculine names are these: first, Unbegotten All-Father; second, Self-begotten; [third], Begotten; [fourth], Begotten by the [First]; fifth, [All-begotten]; [sixth ] [These are] the [feminine names]: [first ] (6 lines lacking) [ 11 ] [ fifth, Love Sophia]; sixth, Pistis] Sophia. [And] they have [other names, which] I gave [you earlier]. From the consorting [of those] I just listed, thoughts [appeared in the aeons] listed earlier. [And from] thoughts, deliberations; [and from] deliberations, instructions; [and from] instructions, counsels; and from counsels, wills; and from wills come words. They have alternative names: Thoughts are called gods; deliberations, lords; instructions are archangels; counsels are angels; [wills are] words. [Then] when the twelve powers who were [just discussed consorted] with one another. Each (pair) manifested [six spiritual powers]. As [the masculine] among the six (pairs) [are] six each, so [those female spirits are six each]. [And these seventy-two powers manifested ] (2 lines lacking) [ 12 ] [ the three hundred sixty]. [Their union reflects the will of the Father, who manifested them] so that they could become [types]. [Consequently, our aeon] became the same [type] as [Immortal] Human. [Time] became the same [type as his] first-begotten [son]. The year [became the same type] as the Savior. The twelve months became the same [type] as the twelve [powers who] manifested from the Savior: They are the angels. The three hundred sixty days of the year became the same type as the three hundred sixty powers who manifested from the Savior. Because they are countless, days with their hours and moments became the same type as the angels who originated from (the three hundred sixty powers). And so, once again, the father of those who became manifest, All-Begetter, soon created twelve [aeons] for [the service] of the twelve (powers). Thus each of the [aeons] of the seventy-two powers who manifested [from him] [possess five] firmaments [in all their heavens], so that [there are three hundred sixty firmaments ] (2 lines lacking) [ 13 ] [ . . . that] have [just been mentioned]. [When] the firmaments [were completed], they were [called the three hundred sixty heavens] of the [first] aeons. [And they are all] perfect and [good]. [And] thus [the] defect of femaleness was manifested. [Now the first] aeon is that of [Immortal] Human. The second is that [of the Son of] Man, who is called First-Begotten. The third is that of the son of the Son of Man, who is called Savior. Encompassing these is the aeon [of the] Unruled One, of [the] eternal [God] and the [infinite], of the aeons of the immortals, [above the Ogdoad that manifested in] chaos. [Now Immortal Human revealed aeons] and [kingdoms and powers and granted authority to] all [who manifested] from him [ of] chaos. (5 lines lacking) [ 14 ] [ countless in glory]. They [received] their [names, those] who belong to the [beginning] and [the middle and the] infinite, [the perfect completed], [the] first aeon, [and the second] and the third. [The first] within it was called [Above] Unity [and Repose]. Each has [its name], and the naming [of] the third [aeon] as Assembly was [on account of] the multitude that appeared in the one, so that they all might be gathered together and named Assembly, from the Assembly that transcends the [heavens]. When the [Assembly] of the Ogdoad was manifested, it [was named, because it was androgynous, congruent with a male element and] a [female] element. [The male element] was [called] Assembly, [and the female element, Life, to show that] the life of all [things came from a female]. [And] each [name ] (3 lines lacking) [ 15 ] (Line 1 lacking) [ gods of] the [gods; and the gods of the gods revealed] gods in [their wisdoms]; and the gods [revealed] from their instructions [lords of] lords; [and] the [lords of] lords revealed [from their] counsels lords; and [the lords] revealed from [their powers] archangels; and the [archangels] revealed from their words angels. And from them manifested shapes and structures and forms, and all the aeons and their worlds. All the immortals possess [authority from the power] of [Immortal Human to name] them. [Sophia] [they called] Silence, [because she perfected her] entire [majesty] [by meditating without] a word. [] (8 lines lacking) [ 16 ] [ unspeakable glory, never heard of, because] they cannot [be sent] into [any created entity]. They created [hosts] of archangels [and] angels, (hosts) of [countless] myriads for [service and] glory, even [virgins and] spirits, who are unspeakable [lights]. Because [they experience neither sickness] nor weakness, but they only have to will, and it immediately comes to be. And in this way the aeon was completed, with the heaven and firmament, from Immortal Human [and] his Sophia, [that contained in] it the [pattern of every aeon and every world, and of those that came into being] afterward, [to supply the types from there] in the [heavens of chaos and their] worlds. [And all natures ] [ forever rejoicing] [ 17 ] [over their unchanging glory and the repose beyond measure, that cannot be described] or [grasped by any among all the aeons] and their powers that came to be [afterward]. [] this much is sufficient for you. [Everything] I have just [told you], I expressed in [a way] so that you could preserve it [all], until the Word who has no need to be taught appears among you, and he will interpret these things to you with knowledge that is self-consistent and clear. For [to] everyone who has, more will be added. Eugnostos SUPPORT FAQs CONTACT mark.m.mattisonluminescence-llc.net (616) 259-0196 LUMINESCENCE, L.L.C. As an Amazon Associate, Luminescence, L.L.C. earns from qualifying purchases.