Letters of Christ and Abgarus
THREE VERSIONS
Our earliest Greek text of these - which are found in many forms - is that given by Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History (i. 13), extracted, as he says, by him from the archives of Edessa relating to Abgar and translated from Syriac word for word. A Latin translation of the Syriac letters, by Rufinus of Aquileia, came into being c. 402 AD and greatly furthered the dissemination of the legend in the Western orthodox communities.
Latin Version A copy of a letter written by Abgarus the toparch to Jesus, and sent to him by means of Ananias the runner, to Jerusalem. Abgar Uchama the toparch to Jesus the good Savior, who has appeared in the city of Jerusalem, greeting. I have heard of thee and of thy healings, that they are done by thee without drugs and herbs. For as it is said, thou dost make blind men see again and lame walk, and dost cleanse lepers, and cast out unclean spirits and demons, and heal those tormented by long disease, and raise the dead. And when I heard all these things about thee, then I concluded that either thou art God come down from heaven to do them, or thou art the Son of God, who doest these things. Therefore now I write and beseech thee to visit me, and heal the affliction which I have. Moreover I have heard that the Jews murmur against thee, and wish to do thee injury. Now I have a city, small indeed but noble, which is sufficient for both. The answer, written by Jesus, sent by Ananias the runner to Abgarus the toparch. Blessed art thou, who hast believed in me without having see me. For it is written concerning me, that they who have seen me will not believe in me, and that they who have not seen me shall believe and live. But concerning what thou hast written to me, that I should come to thee, it is necessary that I fulfill here all for which I was sent, and after this fulfillment be taken up again unto Him who sent me. And when I am taken up, I will send to thee one of my disciples, that he may heal thine affliction and give life to thee and them that are with thee. Latin texts add: If anyone has with him this letter, he is sure to walk in peace. |
Greek Version Copy of an epistle written by Abgarus the ruler to Jesus, and sent to him at Jerusalem by Ananias the swift courier. Abgar the Black, sovereign of the country, to Jesus, the good Savior, who has appeared in the country of Jerusalem: Peace. I have heard about thee, and about the healing which is wrought by thy hands without drugs and roots. For, as it is reported, Thou makest the blind to see, and the lame to walk; and Thou cleanest the lepers, and Thou castest out unclean spirits and demons, and Thou healest those who are tormented with lingering diseases, and Thou raisest the dead. And when I heard all these things about Thee, I settled in my mind one of two things: either that Thou art God, who hast come down from heaven, and doest these things; or that Thou art the Son of God, and doest these things. On this account, therefore, I have written to beg of Thee that Thou wouldst weary thyself to come to me, and heal this disease which I have. For I have also heard that the Jews murmur against Thee, and wish to do Thee harm. But I have a city, small and beautiful, which is sufficient for two. The answer of Jesus to the ruler Abgarus by the courier Ananias. Blessed is he that hath believed in me, not having seen me. For it is written concerning me, that those who see will not believe in me, and that those will believe who have not seen me, and will be saved. But touching that which thou hast written to me, that I should come to thee—it is meet that I should finish here all that for the sake of which I have been sent; and, after I have finished it, then I shall be taken up to Him that sent me; and, when I have been taken up, I will send to thee one of my disciples, that he may heal thy disease, and give salvation to thee and to those who are with thee. |
Syriac Version The letter was read before Him, which was written thus: Abgar Ukkama, to Jesus, the Good Physician, who has appeared in the country of Jerusalem. My Lord: Peace. I have heard of Thee and of Thy healing, that it is not by medicines and roots Thou healest, but by Thy word Thou openest the eyes of the blind, Thou makest the lame to walk, cleansest the lepers, and makest the deaf to hear. And unclean spirits and lunatics, and those tormented, them Thou healest by Thy word; Thou also raisest the dead. And when I heard of these great wonders which Thou doest, I decided in my mind that either Thou art God, who hast come down from heaven and doest these things, or Thou art the Son of God, who doest all these things. Therefore, I have written to request of Thee to come to me who adore Thee, and to heal the disease which I have, as I believe in Thee. This also I have heard, that the Jews murmur against Thee and persecute Thee, and even seek to crucify Thee, and contemplate treating Thee cruelly. I possess one small and beautiful city, and it is sufficient for both to dwell in it in quietness. When Jesus received the letter at the house of the chief priest of the Jews, He said to Hannan, the keeper of the archives: Go and say to thy lord, who hath sent thee to Me, "Blessed art thou, who, although thou hast not seen Me, believest in Me, for it is written of Me, Those who see Me will not believe in Me, and those who see Me not, will believe in me. But as to that which thou hast written to Me, that I should come to thee, that for which I was sent here is now finished, and I am going up to my Father, who sent me, and when I have gone up to Him, I will send to thee one of my disciples, who will cure the disease which thou hast, and restore thee to health; and all who are with thee he will convert to everlasting life. Thy city shall be blessed, and no enemy shall again become master of it for ever." |
The Letters from Heaven
The "Letters from Heaven" (often called by the German "Himmelsbrief") claim to have been written by God or some divine agent. Many authors restrict the term to apocryphal Christian letters. These often claim miraculous delivery to Earth, magical protection for the possessor, blessings to those who "publish" them, and divine punishment for disbelief of their claims. The original copies are often claimed to have been written in gold letters, or with the blood of Jesus. Many published versions were illuminated. An early and frequent feature is the command for extreme Sabbath observance, as in the Madgeburg Himmelsbrief:
The Madgeburg Himmelsbrief Letter
From the Allentown Morning Call, Allentown, PA. Published in October 1951 by Pumpernickel Bill. Printed with ornate border and image of angel with trumpet (between title words). Archaic font. Provided by Alan E. Mays.
1 That was written by God Himself and was let down at Madgeburg. It was written with golden letters and was sent from God by an angel [. . .] it shall be given to whoever will copy; whoever condemns it shall be forsaken of God.
2 He who labors upon Sunday is damned; therefore, I command you not to labor upon the Sunday, but go regularly to church, but do not ornament yourselves; you shall not wear false hair and not follow pride; of your riches you shall give unto the poor; share abundantly with them and believe that this letter was written by my own hand, and was published by Christ himself; and that you do not like unto unreasoning beasts; you have six days wherein to do all your work, but the seventh; namely that is the Sunday; you shall keep holy; if you do not then I will send war, famine, pestilence and sorrow among you and shall punish you with many plagues.
3 Also, I command you every one, whether he be young or old, small or great, that you never work late on Saturday; rather that you repent of your sins that they may be forgiven; lay up neither silver or gold; follow not after the lusts of the flesh and of matter; remember that I have made you and can destroy you, rejoice not that your neighbor is poor, have the more patience -- or charity -- with him that it may be well with you; you children honor father and mother, so that it may be well with you on earth; he who does not believe this and keep it, is damned and lost; I, Jesus, have written this with my own hand; he who denies it and ridicules it, that same person shall have no help to expect from me; whoever has this letter and does not publish it, he is accursed from the Christian church; and if your sins were as large again, if you repent and are sorry, they shall be forgiven you; whoever does not believe it shall die and be punished in hell; also I shall ask about your sins at the judgment day, where you then must answer; and that same person who carries this letter with him, or has it in his house, he shall not be harmed by thunder storms, he shall be safe from fire and water; and whoever publishes it to the children of mankind, he shall have his reward and shall have a happy departure from out of this world; keep my command that I have sent you by my angel. I, truly God, of Heaven's Throne, God's and Mary's son. Amen.
4 This happened, or transpired, at Madgeburg, in the year 1783, O.S.
A German authority on the Himmelsbrief, H. Stube, said the letters long predated Christianity. Examples in Greek, Arabic, Armenian, Syrian, and Ethiopic have been published with German translations. Jewish and Islamic Himmelsbrief are also reported. These may all derive from an early Greek source. A letter which was said to have fallen from heaven existed in the third century AD (Hippolytos, Refutation of All Heresies). The oldest Letter from Heaven for which we have a full text is the Latin "Letter from Heaven on the observance of the Lord's Day," the original of which dates from the close of the sixth century. St. Boniface denounced this as a "bungling work of a madman or the devil himself." Eckehard (1115 AD) wrote that it had spread over the whole globe then known to man. It has circulated in English in many versions.
A Copy of a Letter Written By Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
TWO TRANSLATIONS
The letter was "printed in St. Kitts, and circulated in Tortola (Virgin Islands) by a woman whose house had been burnt down, and who distributed these copies (sold at six cents apiece) as the charm against the repetition of such an event." Oda calls this the "Lady Cubas Letter" ("Lady Cura" in this version).
This letter was found eighteen miles from Iconium, sixty-five years after our blessed Saviour's Crucifixion; transmitted from the Holy City by a converted Jew, faithfully translated from its original Hebrew copy, now in the possession of Lady Cura's family in Mesopotamia. This letter was written by Jesus Christ, and found under a great stone, both round and large, at the foot of the Cross, eighteen miles from Iconium near a village called Mesopotamia; upon the stone was written, or engraved, "Blessed is he that turneth me over!" People that saw it prayed to God earnestly, and desired that he would make it known to them the meaning of this writing, that they might not attempt in vain to turn it over; in the meantime a little child turned it over without any help, to the joy of all that stood by. 1 Whosoever worketh on the Sabbath day shall be cursed; I command you to go to Church, and keep the Lord's day holy, without doing any manner of work. 2 You shall not idly spend your time in bedecking yourself with any superfluities and costly apparel, or vain dresses, for that I have ordained a day of rest; I will have that day kept holy, that your sins may be forgiven you. 3 You shall not break my commandments, but observe and keep them written with my own hands, and spoken with my own mouth. 4 You shall not only go to Church yourself, but also your menservants and maidservants, and observe my words, and learn my commandments. You shall finish your labor every Saturday by 6 o'clock, at which hour the preparation of the Sabbath begins; 5 I advise you to fast FIVE FRIDAYS in every year, beginning with GOOD-FRIDAY, and to continue the four Fridays immediately following, in remembrance of the five bloody wounds which I received for all mankind; you shall diligently and peaceably labor in your respective callings, wherein it has pleased God to call you. 6 You shall love one another with brotherly love, and cause them that are baptized to come to Church and receive the Sacrament, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, and be made members of the Church, in so doing, I will give you a long life and many blessings: your lands shall flourish and your cattle shall bring forth in abundance; and I will give you many blessings and comforts in the greatest temptations; and he that doeth to the contrary, shall be unprofitable; 7 I will also send a hardness of heart upon them, till I see them, but especially upon impenitent unbelievers. 8 He that hath given to the poor shall not be unprofitable. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day, for the seventh day I have taken to rest myself; 9 And he that hath a copy of this my letter, written with my own hands, and spoken with my won mouth, and keepeth it without publishing it to others, shall not prosper; but he that publisheth it to others, shall be blessed of me; and although his sins be in number as the stars of the sky, he that believes in this shall be pardoned, and if he believes not this writing, and the commandments I will send many plagues upon him, and consume both him and his children and his cattle; 10 And whosoever shall have a copy of this my letter written with my own had, and keep it in their house, nothing shall hurt them; neither pestilence, lightning, nor thunder shall do them any hurt, and if a woman be with child and in labor, and a copy of this my letter be about her, and she firmly puts her trust in me, she shall safely be delivered of her child. 11 You shall have no news of me but the Holy Scriptures, until the day of Judgment. All goodness and prosperity shall be in the house where a copy of this my letter shall be found. |
Broadside, printed by J. Evans, 42, West-smithfield, London. This printer was active from 1789 to 1800, according to several on-line sources.
And found eighteen miles from Iconium, fifty three years after our Blessed Savior's Crucifixion. Transmitted from the Holy City by a converted Jew. Faithfully translated from the original Hebrew copy, now in the possession of Lady Cuba's family at Mesopotamia. This letter was written by Jesus Christ, and found under a great stone round and large at the foot of the cross. Upon the stone was engraved, "Blessed is he that shall turn me over." All people that saw it, prayed to God earnestly, desired that he would make this writing known unto them, and that they might not attempt in vain to turn it over. In the mean time there came out a little child, about six or seven years of age, and turned it over without assistance, to the admiration of every person who was standing by. It was carried to the city of Iconium, and there published by a person belonging to the Lady Cuba. On the Letter was written, the commandments of Jesus Christ. Signed by the Angel Gabriel, seventy-four years after Our Savior's birth. 1 Whosoever worketh on the Sabbath-day shall be cursed, I command you to go to church, and keep the Lord's Day Holy, without doing any manner of work. 2 You shall not idly spend your time for bedecking yourself with superfluities of costly apparel, and vain dresses for I have ordained a day of rest. I will have that day kept holy that your sins be forgiven you. 3 You shall not break my commandments, but observe and keep them, write them in your heart, and steadfastly observe that it was written with my own hand and spoken with my own mouth. 4 You shall not only go to church yourself, but also send your men-servants and your maid-servants, and observe my words and learn my commandments; you shall finish your labor every Saturday in the afternoon by six o'clock, at which hour is the preparation of the Sabbath. 5 I advise you to fast five Fridays every year, beginning with Good Friday and continuing the four Fridays immediately following, in remembrance of the five bloody wounds which I received for all mankind. You shall diligently and peaceably labor in your respective callings, where in it hath pleased God to call you. 6 You shall love one another with brotherly love; and cause them that are baptized to come to church and receive the Sacrament, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, and to be made members of the Church, in so doing I will give you a long life and many blessing; and your land will flourish and your cattle bring forth in abundance; and I will give unto you many blessing and comforts in the greatest temptations, and he that doth to the contrary shall be unprofitable. 7 I will also send hardness of heart upon them till I see them, but especially upon the impertinent and unbelievers. 8 He that hath giving to the poor shall not be unprofitable, remember to keep holy the Sabbath day, for the seventh day I have taken to rest myself. 9 And he that hath a copy of this my own letter, written with my own hand, and spoken with my own mouth, and keepeth it without publishing it to others shall not prosper; but he that publisheth it to others, shall be blessed of me, and though his sins be in number as the stars of the sky, and he believe in this he shall be pardoned; and if he believe not in this writing, and this commandment, I will send my own plagues upon him, and consume both him and his children, and his cattle. 10 And whosoever shall have a copy of this letter, written with my own hand, and keep it in their houses nothing shall hurt them, neither lightning, pestilence, nor thunder, shall do them any hurt, and if a woman be with child, and in labor, and a copy of this letter be about her, and she firmly put her trust in me, she shall safely be delivered of her birth. |
Jacob, organizer of the Crusades of the Shepherds, claimed (ca. 1251) the Virgin Mary appeared to him and gave him a letter. While in public he always carried it in his hand. A cult of uniformed flagellants appeared in Germany in 1261 claiming to possess a heavenly letter that had descended upon the altar of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem before a multitude. The text has survived: God, angry at human sin, has decided to destroy all life, but the Virgin intercedes and God grants humanity one last chance to reform. Any priest who refused to pass on the divine message to his congregation would be eternally damned. During the Black Death (1348-9) the same letter, with a paragraph on the plague added, was used as a manifesto by a revived flagellant movement. At gatherings the manifesto was read publicly, the audience being "swept by sobbing and groaning."
Some Letters from Heaven specialized in protection, and accumulated long lists of weapons by which the possessor could not be harmed. The Count Philip Himmelsbrief [1895] granted protection against "spear, sword, sabre, cutlass, knife, tomahawk, rapier, helmet, burdon, [. . .] , and everything prohibited by holy writ, that is from all kinds of weapons, artillery, cannon, musket, rifle, gun or pistol." A preamble mentions its use in the American Revolution and claims that Count Philip of Flanders sponsored it after he was unable to execute a condemned prisoner who had secreted a copy on his person. Various Letters from Heaven in German were printed in Pennsylvania during the 19th and early 20th century.
It may be thought that the Letters from Heaven were a phenomenon of centuries past. But searching online newspaper databases reveals that probably hundreds of Jesus' Sabbath Letters have been published in local newspapers in the United States in the last two centuries, continuing up to the 1960's. Searching on the text "fast five fridays" produced 25 matches using newspapers.com and 72 using newspaperarchive.com. Most of these printings were responding to requests by faithful possessors of the letter, heeding its command to "publish" it. One columnist revealed: "It used to be sent to newspaper editors, demanding that the passage be published in the paper and setting out all sorts of dire consequences if the editors failed to acquiesce." Usually a brief succession of possessors is given, some of whom had bad luck after they did not publish a letter in their possession. Such claimed lineages may go back to the original legendary possessor of the letter. The Holstein Himmelsbrief, which features protection from weapons, has gained favorable newspaper testimonials for its use in both World War II and the Vietnam war: "He kept track of those to whom he sent a copy of the letter and every one of them returned unharmed from the war."
Holstein Letter 1724
Published: Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, Pennsylvania), 20 Nov. 1968, p. 29. Title: "Letter Area Soldiers Carried In WWII Now Sent To Men In Vietnam."
1 In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as Christ stopped at the Mount, sword or guns, shall not stop whoever carries this letter with him. He shall not be damaged through the enemies' guns or weapons. God will give strength, that he may not fear robbers or murderers, and guns, pistols, sword and muskets shall not be hurt through the cannon of Angel Michael. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. God be with you, and whosoever carries this letter with him shall be protected against all danger. And who does not believe in it may copy it and tie to the neck of a dog, and shoot at him, he will see this is true. Whosoever has this letter shall not be taken prisoner nor wounded by the enemy. Amen
2 A true as it is that Jesus Christ died and ascended to Heaven and suffered on earth by the living God. The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost I pray in the name of Christ's blood that no ball shall hit you. Be it of Gold, Silver, or Lead, or metal. God in Heaven may deliver me of all my sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
3 This letter was found in Holstein, 1724. Where it fell from Heaven. It was written in golden letters and moved over the Baptism of Madaginery and when they tried to seize it, it disappeared until 1791. That everybody may copy it and communicate it to the world. Then it is further written who ever works on Sunday shall be condemned. Neither you shall not work on Sunday, but go to Church, and give the poor of your wealth. For you are not like the reason-less animal.
4 I command you six days you shall work and on the seventh day you shall listen to the Holy Word of God. If you do not do so I will punish you with hard times, epidemics and war. I command that you shall not work too late on Saturdays. Let you be rich or poor, you shall pray for your sins that they may be forgiven. Do not swear by His name. Do not desire Gold or Silver. Do not fear the intrigues of men and be sure as fast as I can crush you. Also be not false with your tongue. Respect Father and Mother. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.
5 And I will give you good health and peace. But he who does not believe in it, he shall not have happiness or blessing. If you do not convert yourself, you certainly will be punished at the day of judgment. When you cannot account for your sins whoever has this letter in his house no lightning shall strike it. And whosoever carries this letter shall bring fruit. Keep my commandments in which I have sent to you through my angels in the name of my Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
6 Psalm 91-7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.
The Latter-Day Letter From Heaven
Published: The Daily-Herald (Provo, Utah), 21 Sept. 1969, p. 30. Title: "Would You Believe A Letter From Jesus?"
1 Whosoever worketh on the Sabbath Day shall not prosper. I command you to worship and keep the Lord's Day holy. Without doing any manner of work. You shall not idly spend your time bedecking yourselves with costly apparel and dresses. For I have ordained it to be a day of rest. I will have it kept holy that your sins may be forgiven you. You shall not only go to the temple but also send your man servant and maid servant, and observe my words and commandments. You shall finish your labors every Saturday at 8 o'clock at which hour is the preparation of the Sabbath. I command you to fast five Fridays every year, beginning with Good Friday, immediately following in remembrance of the five wounds which I received for all mankind.
2 You shall diligently and peaceably labor in all your respective callings it has pleased God to place you in. You shall love one another with brotherly love, and cause those that are baptized attend worship and receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and to the members of the church in so doing. I will give long life and many blessings and your land shall flourish and your cattle shall bring forth in abundance. I will give unto you many comforts in the greatest temptations and he that does contrary shall be unprofitable.
3 I will also send hardness of heart upon them until I see them, but especially upon the unpenitent and unbelieving, he that giveth freely to the poor shall not be unprofitable [. . .].
4 But if he believe not in me and in my commandments, I will send many plagues upon him and consume him and his cattle, and in coming ages when my saints arise in the nations of the Earth, I will be with them when they go forth to baptize the nations in my name even as I submitted to be baptized by my servant John, and I will bless my people in their afflictions and I will strengthen them where persecuted by their enemies, uphold them when nigh unto falling and establish their feet when traveling in difficult places and uneven paths.
5 And in the Latter-Day when the New Jerusalem, my Holy City, shall be sanctified and consecrated on the earth, then the 10 tribes shall be gathered together to my Holy Temple and my glory shall be there and the reward shall be great and whosoever shall have a copy of these, my words, and put their trust in me and obey the ordinances which I have commanded, them will I deliver in time of storm and famine and pestilence. And if any woman be with child and in labor, and a copy of thus letter be about her, and she firmly put her trust in me, she shall be delivered all goodness and prosperity shall be in the house where a copy of this letter shall be found.
Other so-called "Letters From Heaven" can be found at:
The Naassene Psalm
In his refutation of the Gnostic Naassenes, Hippolytus of Rome (Refutation of All Heresies V:x.2ff) incorporates into his discussion the so-called Naassene Psalm, a two-part hymn which Hippolytus says belongs to the Naassenes. Except for the first lines, which have an expanded meter, this hymn is in anapests, the most common meter of the Roman Imperial Period. Its poetic form has attracted numerous scholars.
Hippolytus Quotation 1 The Law of Universal Genesis was the first born nous; the second, Chaos shed by the firstborn. The third was received by the soul [. . .]. 2 Clad in the shape of a hind Sophia is worn away with death's slavery. 3 Now She has mastery and glimpses light: now She is plunged in misery and weeps. 4 Now She is mourned, and her self rejoices. Now she weeps and is finally condemned. 5 Now She is condemned and finally dies. 6 And now She reaches the point where hemmed in by evil, She knows no way out. Misled, She has entered a labyrinth. 7 Then Jesus said, "Behold, Father, she wanders the earth pursued by evil. Far from thy Breath she is going astray. She is trying to flee bitter Chaos, and does not know how she is to escape. Send me forth, O Father, therefore, and I, bearing the seal shall descend and wander all Aeons through, all mysteries reveal. I shall manifest the forms of the gods and teach them the secrets of the holy way which I call Gnosis [. . .]." |
Literal Translation 1 Primal principle of all things was the first-born Mind; the second, poured forth from the first-born, was Chaos; the third, which received being and form from both, is the Soul. 2 And it is like the timid deer which is hunted upon the earth by death, which constantly tries its power upon it. 3 It is today in the Kingdom of Light, tomorrow it is flung into misery, plunged deep in woe and tears. 4 On joy follow tears, On tears follows the judge, 5 On the judge follows death. 6 And wandering in the labyrinth it seeks in vain for escape. 7 Jesus said: Look, Father, upon this tormented being, how far from thy breath it wanders, sorrowful upon earth. It seeks to flee the bitter chaos, but knows not how to win through. For its sake send me, Father; bearing the seals will I descend, whole aeons will I travel through, all mysteries will I open, and the forms of gods will I display; and the hidden things of the holy way—Gnosis I call it—I will bestow. |
Mead Translation 1 First was there Mind the Generative Law of All; Second to the Firstborn was Liquid Chaos; Third Soul through toil received the Law. 2 Wherefore, with a deer's form surrounding her, She labours at her task beneath Death's rule. 3 Now, holding sway, she sees the Light; And now, cast into piteous plight, she weeps; 4 Now she weeps, and now rejoices; Now she weeps, and now is judged; 5 Now is judged, and now she dieth; 6 Now is born, with no way out for her; in misery She enters in her wandering the labyrinth of ills. 7 And Jesus said: O Father, see! Behold the struggle still of ills on earth! Far from Thy Breath away she wanders! She seeks to flee the bitter Chaos, And knows not how she shall pass through. Wherefore, send me, O Father! Seals in my hands, I will descend; Through Æons universal will I make a Path; Through Mysteries all I'll open up a Way! And Forms of Gods will I display; The secrets of the Holy Path I will hand on, And call them Gnosis. |
Harnack Paraphrase
1 The generating principle of the universe, the first in order, was 'reason'; but the second principle was the firstborn's emitted 'chaos'; and the third principle was received by the soul, which descends from both. 2 Therefore, fashioned like a trembling deer, the soul wrests herself free from the grip of death strengthening itself by such exertions. 3 Now she wins the mastery and sees the light; 4 Now plunged into woe, she weeps; 5 Again, in the depths of evil, 6 The unhappy one becomes ensnared in a maze. 7 Then spake Jesus: "Behold, O Father! this being, pursued by ills, roams astray upon earth, far from thy breath. It seeks to escape bitter chaos, and knows not whither to find escape. Therefore, send me, O Father, with the seals in my hand will I descend: all eons will I traverse, all mysteries reveal, and show the forms of the gods. I will deliver the secret of the holy way, and call it Gnosis." |