Gospel of Truth

The Gospel of Truth is a joy for those whove received grace from the Father of Truth, that they might know him through the power of the Word that came from the fullness the one whos in the thought and mind of the Father. They call him Savior. Thats the name of the work hell do to redeem those who had become 17 ignorant of the Father. And the term the Gospel is the revelation of hope, the discovery of those who search for him. Error and Forgetfulness Since all searched for the one from whom they had come all were within him, the uncontainable, inconceivable one whos beyond every thought (and) since ignorance of the Father caused anguish and terror, and the anguish grew thick like a fog, so that no one could see Error was strengthened. It worked on its own matter in vain, not knowing the Truth. It happened in a deluding way, as it (Error) prepared with power, in beauty, a substitute for the Truth. Now this wasnt humiliating for the uncontainable, inconceivable one, because the anguish and forgetfulness and delusion of deceit were like nothing, whereas the Truth is established, unchangeable, unperturbed, beyond beauty. Because of this, disregard Error, since it has no root. It happened in a fog concerning the Father. It happens (now) since it (Error) prepares works in forgetfulness and terror, so that with them it (Error) might attract those in the middle and imprison them. The forgetfulness of Error wasnt revealed; it wasnt a 18 [thought] from the Father. Forgetfulness didnt come into being from the Father, though it did come into being because of him. What comes into being within him is the knowledge, which was revealed so that forgetfulness might be dissolved, and the Father might be known. Forgetfulness came into being because the Father was unknown, so when the Father comes to be known, forgetfulness wont exist anymore. The Gospel This is the Gospel of the one they search for, revealed to those who are complete through the mercies of the Father, the hidden mystery. Through it (the Gospel), Jesus Christ enlightened those who were in darkness through forgetfulness. He enlightened them; he showed them a Way, and the Way is the Truth which he taught them. As a result, Error was angry. It pursued him. It was threatened by him and brought to nothing. They nailed him (Jesus) to a tree, and he became the fruit of the Fathers knowledge. However, it (the fruit) didnt cause destruction when it was eaten, but those who ate it were given joy in the discovery. He discovered them in himself and they discovered him in themselves. As for the uncontainable, inconceivable one the Father, the complete one who made all all are within him, and all need him. Although he kept their completion within himself which he didnt give to all, the Father wasnt jealous. Indeed, what jealousy is there between him and his members? 19 For if, like this, the generation [received the completion,] they couldnt have come [] the Father. He keeps their completion within himself, giving it to them to return to him with a unitary knowledge in completion. Hes the one who made all, and all are within him, and all need him. Like someone whos unknown, he wants to be known and loved because what did all need if not the knowledge of the Father? He became a guide, peaceful and leisurely. He came and spoke the Word as a teacher in places of learning. Those who were wise in their own estimation came up to him to test him, but he confounded them because they were vain. They hated him because they werent wise in Truth. After all of them, all the little children came too; theirs is the knowledge of the Father. When they were strengthened, they received teaching about the Fathers expressions. They knew and they were known; they received glory and they gave glory. In their hearts the living Book of the Living was revealed, which was written in the thought and mind 20 [of the] Father, and before the [foundation] of all within his incomprehensibility. This (book) is impossible to take, since it permits the one who takes it to be killed. No one couldve been revealed among those who’d been entrusted with salvation unless the book had appeared. Because of this, the merciful and faithful Jesus patiently suffered until he took that book, since he knows that his death is life for many. When a will hasnt yet been opened, the wealth of the deceased master of the house is hidden; so too all were hidden while the Father of all was invisible. They were from him, from whom every realm comes. Because of this: Jesus was revealed, put on that book, was nailed to a tree, and published the Fathers edict on the cross. Oh, what a great teaching! Drawing himself down to death, he clothed himself in eternal life, stripped himself of the perishable rags, and clothed himself in incorruptibility, which no one can take from him. When he entered the empty realms of terror, he passed through those who were stripped by forgetfulness, being knowledge and completion, proclaiming the things that are in the heart 21 [] teach those who will [receive teaching]. The Book of the Living Now those who will receive teaching [are] the living who are written in the Book of the Living. They receive teaching about themselves, and they receive it from the Father, returning to him again. Since the completion of all is in the Father, its necessary for all to go up to him. Then, if someone has knowledge, they receive what are their own, and he draws them to himself, because the one whos ignorant is in need. And its a great need, since they need what will complete them. Since the completion of all is in the Father, its necessary for all to go up to him, and for each one to receive what are their own. He inscribed these things beforehand, having prepared them to give to those who came out from him. Those whose names he knew beforehand were called at the end, so that the one who has knowledge is the one whose name the Father has called, because those whose name hasnt been spoken are ignorant. Indeed, how can someone hear if their name hasnt been called? For the one whos ignorant until the end is a delusion of forgetfulness, and theyll dissolve with it. Otherwise, why do these miserable ones have no 22 name? Why do they have no voice? So if someone has knowledge, theyre from above. If theyre called, they hear, they reply, and they turn to the one who calls them. And they go up to him, and they know how they are called. Having knowledge, they do the will of the one who called them, they want to please him, and they receive rest. Each ones name becomes their own. The one who has knowledge like this knows where they come from and where theyre going. They know like one who, having been drunk, turns from their drunkenness, and having returned to themselves, restores what are their own. Hes returned many from Error. He went before them to the realms from which they had moved away. They had received Error because of the depth of the one who surrounds every realm, though nothing surrounds him. Its a great wonder that they were in the Father, not knowing him, and that they were able to come out by themselves, since they werent able to grasp and know the one in whom they were. He revealed his will as knowledge in harmony with all that emanated from him. This is the knowledge of the living book which he revealed to the 23 generations at the end, letters from him revealing how theyre not vowels or consonants, so that one might read them and think theyre meaningless, but theyre letters of the Truth they speak and know themselves. Each letter is a complete thought, like a book thats complete, since theyre letters written by the Unity, the Father having written them so that the generations, by means of his letters, might know the Father. The Return to Unity His Wisdom meditates on the Word, his teaching speaks it, his knowledge has revealed it, his patience is a crown upon it, his joy is in harmony with it, his glory has exalted it, his image has revealed it, his rest has received it, his love made a body around it, his faith embraced it. In this way, the Word of the Father goes out in all, as the fruit 24 [of] his heart and an expression of his will. But it supports all. It chooses them and also takes the expression of all, purifying them, returning them to the Father and to the Mother, Jesus of infinite sweetness. The Father reveals his bosom, and his bosom is the Holy Spirit. He reveals whats hidden of himself; whats hidden of himself is his Son so that through the mercies of the Father, the generations may know him and cease their work in searching for the Father, resting in him and knowing that this is the rest. Hes filled the need and dissolved its appearance its appearance is the world in which it served, because where theres envy and strife theres need, but where theres Unity theres completion. Since need came into being because the Father wasnt known, when the Father is known, from then on, need will no longer exist. As someones ignorance dissolves when they gain knowledge, and as darkness dissolves when the light appears, 25 so also need dissolves in completion. So the appearance is revealed from then on, but itll dissolve in the harmony of Unity. For now, their works lie scattered. In time, Unity will complete the realms. Within Unity each one will receive themselves, and within knowledge theyll purify themselves from multiplicity into Unity, consuming matter within themselves like fire, and darkness by light, death by life. If indeed these things have happened to each one of us, then its right for us to think about all, so that this house will be holy and silent for the Unity. The Parable of the Jars Its like some whove left their home, having jars that werent any good in places. They broke them, but the master of the house doesnt suffer any loss. Instead he rejoices, because in place of the bad jars are ones that are full and complete. For this is 26 the judgment thats come from above; its judged everyone. Its a drawn, two-edged sword which cuts both ways. The Word, which is in the hearts of those who speak it, appeared. It isnt just a sound, but it was incarnated (embodied). A great disturbance arose among the jars, because some were empty, others filled; some provided for, others poured out; some purified, others broken. All the realms were shaken and disturbed, because they didnt have order or stability. Error was anxious. It didnt know what to do; it grieved, mourned, and hurt itself, because it knew nothing. The knowledge, which is its (Errors) destruction, approached it (Error) and all that emanated from it. Error is empty, with nothing inside it. Truth came into their midst, and all that emanated knew it. They welcomed the Father in Truth with a complete power that joins them with the Father. Truth is the Fathers mouth; the Holy Spirit is his tongue. Everyone who loves the Truth and are joined to the 27 Truth are joined to the Fathers mouth. By his tongue theyll receive the Holy Spirit. This is the revelation of the Father and his manifestation to his generations. He revealed what was hidden of himself; he explained it, because who has anything, if not the Father alone? Coming into Being Every realm emanates from him. They know theyve come out from him like children who are from someone whos completely mature. They knew they hadnt yet received form or a name. The Father gives birth to each one. Then, when they receive form from his knowledge, although theyre really within him, they dont know him. But the Father is complete, knowing every realm thats within him. If he wants to, he reveals whomever he wants, giving them a form and a name. He gives a name to them, and causes those to come into being who, before they come into being, are ignorant of the one who made them. Im not saying, then, that those who havent yet come into being are nothing, but they exist 28 in the one who will want them to come into being when he wants, like a later time. Before everything is revealed, he knows what hell produce. But the fruit which he hasnt yet revealed doesnt yet know anything, nor does it do anything. In addition, every realm which is itself in the Father is from the one who exists, who establishes them from what doesnt exist. For those who have no root have no fruit either. They think to themselves, Ive come into being, but theyll dissolve by themselves. Because of this, those who didnt exist at all wont exist. The Parable of the Nightmares What, then, did he want them to think of themselves? He wanted to them to think, Ive come into being like the shadows and phantoms of the night. When the light shines on the terror which they received, they know that its nothing. In this way, they were ignorant of the Father, whom 29 they didnt see. Since it was terror and disturbance and instability and doubt and division, many illusions were at work among them, and vain ignorance, like they were deep in sleep and found themselves in nightmares. Either theyre running somewhere, or unable to run away from someone; or theyre fighting, or being beaten; or theyve fallen from heights, or fly through the air without wings. Sometimes, too, its like someone is killing them, even though no ones chasing them; or they themselves are killing those around them, covered in their blood. Until those who are going through all these nightmares can wake up, they see nothing, because these things are nothing. Thats the way it is with those whove cast off ignorance like sleep. They dont regard it as anything, nor do they regard its 30 other works as real, but they abandon them like a dream in the night. They value the knowledge of the Father like they value the light. The ignorant have acted like theyre asleep; those whove come to knowledge have acted like theyve awakened. Good for the one who returns and awakens! Blessed is the one whos opened the eyes of those who cant see! The Holy Spirit hurried after them to revive them. Having given a hand to the one who lay on the ground, it set them up on their feet, because they hadnt yet arisen. It gave them the knowledge of the Father and the revelation of the Son, because when they saw him and heard him, he granted them to taste him and to grasp the beloved Son. The Revelation of the Son When he was revealed, he taught them about the Father, the uncontainable one, and breathed into them whats in the thought, doing his will. When many had received the light, they turned 31 to him. For the material ones were strangers, who didnt see his form or know him. For he came by means of fleshly form, and nothing could block his path, because incorruptibility cant be grasped. Moreover, he said new things while he spoke about whats in the Fathers heart and brought out the complete Word. When the light spoke through his mouth, and by his voice gave birth to life, he gave them thought, wisdom, mercy, salvation, and the Spirit of power from the infinity and sweetness of the Father. He caused punishments and torments to cease, because they led astray into Error and bondage those who needed mercy. He dissolved and confounded them with knowledge. He became: a Way for those who were led astray, knowledge for those who were ignorant, a discovery for those who were searching, strength for those who were wavering, and purity for those who were impure. The Parable of the Sheep Hes the shepherd who left behind the ninety- 32 nine sheep which werent lost. He went and searched for the one which was lost. He rejoiced when he found it, because ninety-nine is a number expressed with the left hand. However, when the one is found, the numerical sum moves to the right hand. In this way, what needs the one that is, the whole right hand draws what it needs, takes it from the left hand, and moves it to the right, so the number becomes one hundred. This is a symbol of the sound of these numbers; this is the Father. Even on the Sabbath, he worked for the sheep which he found fallen in the pit. He saved the life of the sheep, having brought it up from the pit, so that you may know in your hearts youre children of the knowledge of the heart what is the Sabbath, on which it isnt right for salvation to be idle, so that you may speak of the day which is above, which has no night, and of the light that doesnt set, because its complete. Speak then from the heart, because youre the completed day, and the light that doesnt cease dwells within you. Speak of the Truth with those who search for it, and of knowledge with those whove sinned in their Error. Doing the Fathers Will 33 Strengthen the feet of those who stumble, and reach out to those who are sick. Feed those who are hungry, and give rest to those who are weary. Raise up those who want to arise, and awaken those who sleep, because youre the understanding thats unsheathed. If strength is like this, it becomes stronger. Be concerned about yourselves. Dont be concerned about other things which youve rejected from yourselves. Dont return to eat your vomit. Dont be eaten by worms, because youve already shaken it off. Dont become a dwelling-place for the devil, because youve already brought him to naught. Dont strengthen your obstacles which are collapsing, as though youre a support. For the lawless one is nothing, to be treated more harshly than the just, doing his works among others. Do then the Fathers will, because youre from him. For the Father is sweet, and goodness is in his will. He knows whats yours, that you may find rest in them. For by the fruits they know whats yours, because the children of the Father 34 are his fragrance, since theyre from the grace of his expression. Because of this, the Father loves his fragrance, and reveals it in every place. And when it mixes with matter, it gives his fragrance to the light, and in tranquility he causes it to rise above every form and every sound. For its not the ears that smell the fragrance, but its the Spirit that smells, and draws the fragrance to itself, and sinks down into the Fathers fragrance. He shelters it, then, and takes it to the place from which it came, from the first fragrance which has grown cold. Its something in a soul-endowed delusion, like cold water sunk into loose earth. Those who see it think that its just earth. Afterwards, it dissolves again. If a breath draws it, it becomes warm. So the fragrances which are cold are from the division. Because of this, faith came. It dissolved the division, and it brought the fullness thats warm with love, so that the cold may not return, but rather the unitary thought of completion. Restoring what was Needed This is the Word of the Gospel of the discovery of the fullness, which comes for those who are awaiting 35 the salvation which is coming from above. The hope for which theyre waiting is waiting for those whose image is light with no shadow in it. If at that time the fullness comes, the need of matter doesnt come through the infinity of the Father, who comes to give time to the need although no one can say that the incorruptible one will come like this. But the depth of the Father multiplied, and the thought of Error didnt exist with him. Its something thats fallen, which is easily set upright in the discovery of the one whos to come to what hell return, because the return is called repentance. Because of this, incorruptibility breathed out. It followed after the one who sinned, so that they might rest, because forgiveness is what remains for the light in need, the Word of fullness. For the doctor hurries to the place where theres sickness, because thats what he (or she) wants to do. The one in need, then, doesnt hide it, because one (the doctor) has what they need. In this way the fullness, which has no need but fills the need, is what he 36 provided from himself to fill up whats needed, so that they might receive grace; because when they were in need, they didnt have grace. Because of this, a diminishing took place where there is no grace. When what was diminished was restored, what they needed was revealed as fullness. This is the discovery of the light of Truth which enlightened them, because it doesnt change. Because of this, they spoke of Christ in their midst: Seek, and those who were disturbed will receive a return and hell anoint them with ointment. The ointment is the mercy of the Father, who will have mercy on them. But those whom he anointed are those who have been completed, because full jars are the ones that are anointed. But when the anointing of one dissolves, it empties, and the cause of the need is the place where the ointment leaks, because a breath and its power draws it. But from the one who has no need, no seal is removed, nor is anything emptied, but what it needs is filled again by the Father, whos complete. The Fathers Paradise Hes good. He knows his plants, because he planted them in his paradise. Now his paradise is a place of rest. This 37 is the completion in the Fathers thought, and these are the words of his meditation. Each of his words is the work of his one will in the revelation of his Word. When they were still in the depths of his thought, the Word which was the first to come out revealed them along with a mind that speaks the one Word in a silent grace. He was called the Thought, since they were in it before being revealed. It happened, then, that he was the first to come out at the time when it pleased the one who wanted it. Now the Father rests in his will, and is pleased with it. Nothing happens without him, nor does anything happen without the will of the Father, but his will is incomprehensible. His trace is the will, and no one can know him, nor does he exist for people to scrutinize so that they might grasp him, but when he wills, what he wills is this even if the sight doesnt please them in any way before God the will of the Father, because he knows the beginning of all of them, and their end, for in the end hell greet them directly. Now the end is receiving knowledge of the one whos hidden; this is the Father, 38 from whom the beginning has come, and to whom all whove come out from him will return. They were revealed for the glory and the joy of his name. The Fathers Name Now the name of the Father is the Son. Hes the one who first gave a name to the one who comes out from him, who was himself, and he gave birth to him as a Son. He gave him his name which belonged to him. Hes the one to whom everything around the Father belongs. The name and the Son are his. Its possible for him to be seen; the name, however, is invisible, because it alone is the mystery of the invisible which comes to ears that are filled completely with it by him. For indeed, the Fathers name isnt spoken, but its revealed through a Son. In this way, then, the name is great. Who, then, will be able to utter a name for him, the great name, except him alone to whom the name belongs, and the children of the name, those in whom the Fathers name rests, and who themselves, in turn, rest in his name? Since the Father is unbegotten, its he alone who gave birth to him for himself as a name, before he had made the generations, so that the Fathers name might be over their head as Lord, which is the 39 true name, confirmed in his command in complete power. For the name isnt from words and naming; the name, rather, is invisible. He gave a name to him alone. He alone sees him, he alone having the power to give him a name, because whoever doesnt exist has no name. For what name will they give one who doesnt exist? But the one who exists, exists also with his name, and he alone knows it, and hes given a name to him alone. This is the Father; his name is the Son. He didnt hide it within, then, but it existed. The Son alone gave a name. The name, then, belongs to the Father, as the name of the Father is the beloved Son. Where, indeed, would he find a name, except from the Father? But doubtless one will ask their neighbor, Who is it wholl give a name to the one who existed before them, as if 40 offspring didnt receive a name from those who gave them birth? First, then, its right for us to consider what the name is. Its the true name, the name from the Father, because its the proper name. So he didnt receive the name on loan, the way others do, according to the form in which each one will be produced. This, then, is the proper name. Theres no one else who gave it to him. But hes unnameable, indescribable, until the time when he whos complete spoke of him alone. And its he who has the power to speak his name and to see him. So when it pleased him that his beloved name should be his Son, and he gave the name to him who came out from the depth, he disclosed his secrets, knowing that the Father is without evil. Because of this, he brought him out so that he might speak about the place, and his resting place from which he had come, 41 and to glorify the fullness, the greatness of his name, and the Fathers sweetness. The Place of Rest Each one will speak about the place from which they came, and theyll hurry to return again to the place where they received their restoration to receive from the place where they were, receiving a taste from that place and receiving nourishment, receiving growth. And their place of rest is their fullness. All that have emanated from the Father, then, are fullnesses, and the roots of all that have emanated from him are within the one who caused them all to grow. He gave them their destinies. Then each one was revealed, so that through their own thought [] for the place to which they send their thought is their root, which takes them up through all the heights, up to the Father. They embrace his head, which is rest for them, and theyre grasped, approaching him, as though to say that they receive his expression by means of kisses. But theyre not revealed 42 in this way, because they neither exalted themselves, nor wanted the Fathers glory, nor did they think of him as trivial or harsh or wrathful; but hes without evil, unperturbed, and sweet. He knows every realm before theyve come into existence, and he has no need to be instructed. This is the way of those who possess something of the immeasurable greatness from above, as they wait for the complete one alone, whos a Mother for them. And they dont go down to Hades, nor do they have envy or groaning, nor death within them, but they rest in the one who rests, not striving nor twisting around in the search for Truth. But they themselves are the Truth, and the Father is within them, and theyre in the Father, being complete. Theyre undivided from the truly good one. They dont need anything, but they rest, refreshed in the Spirit. And theyll listen to their root. Theyll devote themselves to those things that theyll find in their root and not suffer loss to their soul. This is the place of the blessed; this is their place. Conclusion As for the others, then, may they know, where theyre at, that its not right 43 for me, having come to the place of rest, to say anything else, but Ill come to be in it, and will devote myself continually to the Father of all and the true brothers (and sisters), those upon whom the Fathers love is emptied and in whose midst there is no need. Theyre the ones who are revealed in Truth; they exist in the true eternal life, and they speak of the light thats complete and thats filled with the Fathers seed, and thats in his heart and in the fullness. His Spirit rejoices in it, and glorifies the one in whom it existed, because hes good. And his children are complete, and worthy of his name, because hes the Father. Its children like this that he loves. Notes on Translation Page 17: It happened in a deluding way. Cf. Jrgen Magnusson, Rethinking the Gospel of Truth: A Study of Its Eastern Valentinian Setting (Uppsala University), 2006, p. 77, contra most translators, who tend to use creation or form for plasma instead of delusion. Kendrick Grobel translates She was at work upon a molded figure in The Gospel of Truth: A Valentinian Meditation on the Gospel (Abingdon Press), 1960, p. 33 (but cf. p. 34); Attridge and MacRae translate it set about with a creation in James M. Robinson, ed., The Coptic Gnostic Library: A Complete Edition of the Nag Hammadi Codices, Volume I (Brill), 2000, p. 83 (but cf. the note in their commentary section later in the volume on page 45); Marvin Meyer translates she assumed a fashioned figure in The Nag Hammadi Scriptures (HarperOne), 2007, p. 36; Celene Lillie translates She became a molded form in Hal Taussig, ed., A New New Testament (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 2013, p. 230; and Bentley Layton translates she took up residence in a modeled form in The Gnostic Scriptures (Doubleday), 1987, p. 253. The pronoun in the phrase is feminine (which could refer to Error, which is feminine in Coptic) but can also be rendered as it, as Coptic has no neuter gender. delusion of deceit. Also following Magnusson ( op. cit., p. 94); cp. Grobel, deceitful figure ( op. cit., p. 44); Attridge and MacRae, creature of deceit ( op. cit., p. 83); Meyer, deceptive figure ( op. cit., p. 36); Lillie, molded forms are lies ( op. cit., p. 230); Layton, modeled form of deception ( op. cit., p. 253). disregard. Grobel translates look with scorn ( op. cit., p. 46); Attridge and MacRae ( op. cit., p. 83), Meyer ( op. cit., p. 36), and Layton ( op. cit., p. 253) translate despise; but cf. Lillie, op. cit., p. 230, and Magnusson, op. cit., pp. 78, 79. Page 18: thought. The reconstruction is that of Magnusson, op. cit., p. 81. This is the Gospel of the one they search for the Way is the Truth which he taught them. Based on personal correspondence with Lance Jenott dated November 15, 2017. Page 19: the Fathers expressions. Literally, the forms of the Fathers face. Page 20: whod been entrusted with. Grobel ( op. cit., p. 62), Meyer ( op. cit., p. 38), and Layton ( op. cit., p. 255) translate those who believed in; Attridge and MacRae translate those who have believed in ( op. cit., p. 87); Lillie translates those who trust in ( op. cit., p. 231); but cf. Magnusson, op. cit., pp. 137, 138. Page 21: delusion. Grobel translates figure ( op. cit., p. 74); Attridge and MacRae ( op. cit., p. 89) and Meyer ( op. cit., p. 35) translate creature; Lillie translates creatures ( op. cit., p. 231); Layton translates modeled form ( op. cit., p. 256); but cf. Magnusson, op. cit., p. 100. Page 22: He revealed his will as knowledge in harmony with all that emanated from him. For clarity, this translation follows Lillie in omitting the preceding phrase which creates a logical incoherence: If his will hadnt come out from him. It appears that either the author changed direction mid-sentence, or the scribe copying this text made an error. Pages 23, 34, and 41: expression. Literally, form of face. Page 34: delusion. Grobel translates animate mold ( op. cit., p. 152); Attridge and MacRae ( op. cit., p. 105), Meyer ( op. cit., p. 44), and Lillie ( op. cit., p. 235) translate form; Layton translates modeled form ( op. cit., p. 261); but cf. Magnusson, op. cit., p. 116. Page 42: a Mother, following Meyer, op. cit., p. 47 (but cf. n. 49); Lillie, op. cit., p. 238 (but cf. note); Layton, op. cit., p. 264; alternatively, is there; cf. Grobel, op. cit., p. 196; Attridge and MacRae, op. cit., p. 117; Magnusson, op. cit., p. 126.