Part 26

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, came forward Iohannes, said he, My Lord, then if a man, sinner, lawbreaker, being complete in every unlawfulness; and he ceased from all of them, because of the kingdom of the heavens, and he renounced all the World with all its matter which (is) in it; and we give to him from the beginning the mysteries [243^a] of the Light, these which (are) in the first Space from without (the outward part, MS); and whenever he should receive the mysteries, after a little more time he turned and transgressed, and also after these he turned and ceased from every sin; and he turned and renounced all the World with all the matter which is in it, and cometh also, and becometh in a great repentance; and we know in truth that he wisheth for God; and we give to him the second mystery of the first Space, these which are on the outward part: likewise also again he turned and transgressed, and became also in the sins of the World; and also after these he turned and ceased from the sins of the World, and further he renounced all the World with all the matter which is in it; and further he became in a great repentance; and we knew in an exactness, and [243^b] not being hypocritical; and we turned and gave to him the mysteries of the beginning, these (which) become in the first Space from without (the outward part, MS). Likewise also he turned and sinned and became in every type (type type, MS), wishest thou for us to forgive him until as far as seven times, and we (should) give to him the mysteries, these which are in the first Space from within (the inward part, MS) until as far as seven times, or otherwise. Answered also the Saviour, said he to Iohannes, Not only forgive to him as far as seven times, but Amen I say to you, Forgive him as far as seven times of a multitude of times: and give to him every time the mysteries from the beginning, these which are in the first Space from without (the outward part, MS): perhaps indeed ye will gain the soul of that brother, and he (will) inherit the kingdom of the Light. Because of this when ye had asked me once, saying, Whenever [244^a] our brother should sin against us, wishest thou for us to forgive to him as far as seven times? I answered, I said to you in a parable, saying, Not only as far as seven times, but as far as seven of seventy times. Now therefore forgive to him a multitude of times, and give to him every time the mysteries which (are) on the outward part, these which are in the first Space: perhaps indeed ye (will) gain the soul of that brother, and he (will) inherit the kingdom of the Light. Amen, amen I say to you, He who will vivify one soul, and deliver it, beside the glory which he hath in the kingdom of the Light he will receive other glory on account of the soul which he delivered: so that he who will deliver a multitude of souls, beside the glory which he hath in (the kingdom of the Light) [244^b] he will receive other multitude of glory on account of the souls which he delivered. These therefore having said them the Saviour, sprang up Iohannes said he, My Lord, bear with me, seeking from thee, for from now I am about to begin to seek from thee concerning everything, concerning the manner in which we are to preach to the mankind. If therefore that brother, whenever I should give to him a mystery among the mysteries of the beginning, these which become in the first Space from without (the outward part, MS), whenever I should give to him a multitude of mysteries, and he doeth not that which is worthy of the kingdom of the heavens, wishest thou for us to pass him on in unto the mysteries of the second Space, perhaps we (shall) gain the soul of that brother, and he (will) turn and repent and inherit the kingdom of the Light? Wishest thou for us to pass him on in [245^a] unto the mysteries or otherwise, these which (are) in the second Space? But answered the Saviour said he to Iohannes, If a brother is being not hypocritical, but wisheth for God in truth, ye having given to him a multitude of times the mysteries of the beginning, and this because of the compulsion of the elements of the Destiny, he having not done that which is worthy of the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light, forgive to him, pass him on in, give to him the first mystery which is in the second Space: perhaps indeed ye (will) gain the soul of that brother. And if, having not done that which is worthy of the mysteries of the Light, and he did the transgression with every sin (the sins the sins, MS) and also after these he turned, he became in a great repentance, and he renounced all the World, and he ceased from all the sins of the World, and ye knew in an exactness that [245^b] he was not being hypocritical, but wishing for God in truth, turn again, forgive to him, pass him on inwards, give to him the second mystery in the second Space of the First Mystery: perhaps indeed ye (will) gain the soul of that brother and he (will) inherit the kingdom of the Light. And also if he did not do that which is worthy of the mysteries, and he became in the transgression with every sin (the sins the sins, MS) and also after these he turned, he became in a great repentance, he renounced all the World with all its matter which is in it, and he ceased from the sins of the World, and ye know truly that he was not being hypocritical but wishing for God of the truth, turn ye again forgive to him, (and receive from him his repentance, M) because a compassion of mercy is the First Mystery: pass on, also, that man inwards, give [246^a] to him the three mysteries one after (upon, MS) another in the second Space of the First Mystery. If that man should transgress and become in every sin (the sins the sins, MS) ye shall not forgive to him from this hour, nor shall ye receive from him his repentances, but let him become among you as a scandal and as transgressor: for Amen I say to you, Those three mysteries will become to him witness unto his last repentance, and he hath not repentance from that hour. Amen I say unto you, That man they have not cast back his soul unto the World which is on the Height from this hour, but it will become in the dwelling place of the dragon of the Darkness which is outer. [246^b] For concerning the souls of these men of this kind, I said unto you once in a parable saying, Whenever thy brother sinneth against thee reprove him (thee, MS) between thee and him alone. If he should hearken unto thee, thou wilt gain thy brother. If he should not hearken unto thee, take with thee another, if he should not hearken unto thee with the other, bring him unto the ecclesia, if he should not hearken unto the others, let him become with you as a scandal, [and] which is this, if he should not be profitable in the first mystery, give to him the second; and if he should not be profitable in the second, give to him the three one after another, namely, the ecclesia, and if he should not be profitable in the third mystery, [247^a] let him become with you as scandal and as transgressor. And the word which I said unto you once, that upon witness two, as far as three witnesses, every word shall stand, namely, those three mysteries will be witness unto his last repentance: and Amen I say unto you, Whenever that man should repent, having not any mystery (to) forgive to him his sins, nor have they received his repentance from him, nor have they heard him at all from any of the mysteries except from the first mystery of the First Mystery with the mystery of the Ineffable. These only are those which will receive the repentance of that man from him, and they will forgive his sins, because that compassions of mercy are those Mysteries, forgiving at every time. These therefore [247^b] having said them the Saviour, continued Iohannes, said he to the Saviour, My Lord, then if a brother, sinner greatly, having renounced all the World with the matter which is in it, with all its sins, and with all its cares and we proved him and knew that he (was) not becoming in guile with hypocrisy but he is wishing to become in verity with truth, and ye know that he was worthy of the mysteries of the second Space or the third, wishest thou once for us to give to him out of the mysteries of the second Space or the third, he having not yet received mystery at all of the kingdom of the Light, wishest thou for us to give to him, or otherwise? But answered the Saviour, said he to Iohannes in the midst of the disciples, [248^a] Whenever ye know in an exactness that that man renounced all the World with all its cares with all its life (politeia, MS) with all its sins, and ye know in truth that he becometh not in guile nor was he becoming in hypocrisy, nor was he becoming curious that he should know the (things) of the mysteries that they are being of what kind; but he is wishing for God in truth, this of this kind, hide them not from him, but give to him out of the mysteries of the second Space with the third. And ye also (shall) prove that he is worthy of which mystery: and that which he is worthy of, give to him and hide not from him: (for) otherwise whenever ye should hide (them) from him, ye are guilty of a great offence. [248^b] If ye should give to him once in the second Space or in the third, and he (should) turn also and do sin, ye shall continue also the second time until as far as the third time. If also he should sin, ye shall not continue to give to him, because those three mysteries will become to him witness in his last repentance, and Amen I say unto you, He who will give mystery to that man again in the second Space or in the third, he is guilty of a great offence. But let him become with you as transgressor and as scandal. And Amen I say unto you, That man they have not to cast back his soul unto the World from this hour, but his [249^a] dwelling place is in the midst of the mouth of the dragon of the Darkness which is outer, the place of the weeping with the gnashing of the teeth. And in the dissolution of the World his soul will become petrified and consumed by the cold which is cruel with the fire which is cruel greatly, and it will become non-existent unto age. But if also yet whenever he should turn and renounce all the World with all its cares with all its sins, and become in a great life (politeia, MS) with a great repentance, no mystery having been received from his repentance, nor they having heard of it, for them to have mercy on him and receive from him his repentance and forgive to him his sins, except the mystery of the First Mystery, and with the mystery of the Ineffable. These only are they who will receive the repentance of that man [249^b] from him and will forgive his sins, because that compassions of mercy are those Mysteries, and they are forgivenesses of sin at every time. But these having said them the Saviour, continued also Iohannes, said he, My Lord, suffer me seeking from thee, and be not angry with me, for I am seeking after every thing in an exactness with a certainty, concerning the manner (in) which we shall preach to the men of the World. But answered the Saviour, said he to Iohannes, Seek after every thing which thou seekest after, and I shall reveal to thee more and more in boldness without parable, or in an exactness. But answered Iohannes, said he, My Lord, whenever we should come preaching and (should) go into a city or a village, and (should) come out in front of us [250^a] the men of that city, and we know not what they are, being in great guile with great hypocrisy, and they (should) receive us unto them, and take us in unto their house wishing to make trial of the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light; and become playing the hypocrite with us in the subjection, and we should think that they are wishing for God; and we (should) give to them the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light, and after these (things) we (should) know that they did not that which is worthy of the mystery, and we (should) know that they played the hypocrite with us, and they became with guile toward us, and the mysteries also they did them in derision from place to place, trying us and also our mysteries, then what is the thing which will happen to these of this kind? But answered the Saviour, said he to [250^b] Iohannes, Whenever ye should go into a city or a village, the house unto which ye will go in, and they receive you unto them, give to them a mystery: if they are worthy then ye will gain their souls and they (will) inherit the kingdom of the Light. But if they should not be worthy, but being with guile unto you, and should do the mysteries also in derision, trying you with the mysteries also, then cry up unto the first mystery of the First Mystery, this which is wont to have mercy on every one: say, Even, the mystery which we gave to these souls impious and lawbreaking, having not done that which is worthy of the mystery even, but they made us for derision, return the mystery unto us, and make them alien to the mystery of thy kingdom unto age. And shake off the dust [251^a] of your feet unto a witness to them, saying to them, Your souls shall become as the dust of your house. And Amen I say to you, In that hour will return to you every mystery which ye gave to them, and they will take them away from them every word with every mystery of the Place unto which they received figure. Concerning the men therefore of this kind I said unto you in a parable once, saying, The house unto which ye go in and they receive you unto it, say to them, The peace to you. And if they are worthy, let your peace come upon them, and if they are not worthy, let it return unto you your peace, namely, if those men do that which is worthy of the mysteries [251^b] and wishing for God of the truth, then give to them the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light. But if rather they are playing the hypocrite with you, and they are being with guile unto you, ye having not known, and ye gave to them the mysteries of the kingdom of the Light; and also after these (things) they did the mysteries in derision, and they made trial also of you with the mysteries also, do the first mystery of the First Mystery and he will make return unto you every mystery which ye gave to them (him, MS). And he will make them alien to the mysteries of the Light unto age. And these men of this kind, [and] they will not cast them back unto the World from this hour: but Amen I say unto you, Their dwelling place shall (be) in the midst of the mouth of the dragon of the Darkness which is outer. But if yet in a time of repentance they should renounce [252^a] all the World, with all the matter which is in it, with all the sins of the world, and they (are they) who become in all the subjection to the mysteries of the Light, not any Mystery heard them, nor have they forgiven their sins except by the one mystery of the Ineffable, this which is wont to be merciful to every one and forgiveth the sins of every one.

It happened, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, worshipped Maria unto the feet of Jesus, she kissed them said she, Maria, My Lord suffer me seeking from thee, and be not angry with me. Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Seek after that which thou wishest to seek after, and I shall reveal it to thee boldly. But answered Mariham, said she, My Lord, [252^b] then if a brother good (agathos) and who is good (coptic word), we having filled him with all mysteries of the Light, and that brother having a brother or a kinsman, in one word, being a man anyhow, and this (one) being a sinner and being impious, or otherwise, he being not a sinner, and this one of this kind came out of the body, and the heart of the brother good, being pained and being grieved for him because he becometh in judgments with punishments. Now therefore, my Lord, what is that which we shall do until they remove him out of the punishments with the judgments which (are) cruel? But answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Because of this word therefore I said unto you at another time, but hear therefore that I may say in answer that ye may become, [253^a] (that) ye should fulfil every mystery, that they should call of [against] you, Those who are completed with every mystery. Now therefore every man sinner, or otherwise being not sinners, not only that whenever ye should wish for them to take them from the judgments with the punishments which (are) cruel, but (also) for them to remove them unto a righteous body, this which will find the mysteries of the Godhead, and go unto the Height and inherit the kingdom of the Light, do the third mystery of the Ineffable and say ye, Take away the soul of these manhoods, this (man) which we think of in our heart, take him out of every punishment of the Rulers, and hasten quickly, and take it (close) to the Virgin of the Light: and in the same month, the Virgin of the Light (will) seal [253^b] him with a seal more excellent, and in the same month, let the Virgin of the Light cast him unto a body about to become righteous and become good, and he (will) go unto the Height and inherit the kingdom of the Light. But these whenever ye should say them, Amen I say unto you, They are wont to hasten all those who work in all the array of the judgments of the Rulers, and give that soul unto hands of one another, even until they take it up to the Virgin of the Light, and the Virgin of the Light is wont to seal it with a sign of the kingdom of the Ineffable, and is wont to give it to her Receivers, and the Receivers to cast it unto a body being about to be righteous, and he being about to find the mysteries of the Light and become good, and go unto the Height [254^a] and inherit the kingdom of the Light. Behold, this is (that) which ye ask me of. Answered Maria, said she, Now therefore, my Lord, then thou didst not bring Mysteries indeed unto the World, that the man should not die by the death which is reckoned unto him by the Rulers of the Destiny: because if it is being reckoned unto one for to die by the sword, or for to die by the waters or in torture with torment with violence which (are) in the laws, or by other evil deaths, then thou didst not bring mystery unto the world, that the man should not die among them by the Rulers of the Destiny, but that he should die in a death sudden, that he should not suffer any tribulation by these deaths of this kind: because that, we, very many are those who are pursuing us [254^b] because of thee, and we, many are those who persecute us because of thy name, that whenever they should torment us we should say the mysteries and come out of the body immediately having not suffered any tribulation. Answered the Saviour, said he to all his disciples, Because of this word which ye ask me of, I said to you at another time: but hear also that I may say unto you at another time: not only ye but every man who will complete the first mystery (of the First Mystery of the Ineffable, he who will do therefore that Mystery, M), and (will) complete it (in) its figures with all its types with its positions, doing indeed it and coming not out of body, but after completing that mystery with its figure with all its type, afterwards therefore, every time at which he will name that mystery, [255^a] he will be delivered from all those which are reckoned unto him by the Rulers of the Destiny, and at that hour he cometh out of the body of the matter of the Rulers, and his soul