Sign-In
Cart
Pistis Sophia: A Gnostic Gospel
Paperback
GnosticismGeneral Christianity
ISBN13: 9781946774002
Publisher: Lightning Source Inc
Published: Feb 25 2017
Pages: 274
Weight: 1.21
Height: 0.58 Width: 8.00 Depth: 10.00
Language: English
This paperback edition of the Pistis Sophia is a complete and accurate reprint of the original translation by G.R.S. Mead in 1921. It contains all of Mead's original notes and running commentary, as well as his annotated bibliography which includes numerous sources and further research material for the reader.
The Pistis Sophia is a gnostic text thought to have been written sometime between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. According to Mead, there were two codices discovered in the late 18th century that contained the original work. The Bruce Codex was brought to Oxford by the famous Scottish traveler Bruce in 1769, and the Askew Codex was given to the British Museum by the heirs of a wealthy doctor in 1785. Both codices were thereafter translated by experts and their contents ordered in a fashion that seemed proper according to their best abilities. Mead's translation followed these efforts, but as he says in his introduction, the order of the contents was changed to place the contents of these Coptic translations roughly in such a sequence that the reader may be led from lower to higher grades of the Gnosis.
The Pistis Sophia itself is of such a marvelous and complex nature, that it is hard to describe in a short space. But generally, the book shows the risen Jesus revealing the lower and higher mysteries to a group of his followers over the period of 22 years. Included in these mysteries are complex cosmologies that the human soul must travel through in order to reach Gnosis with the Father. A new story of the rise and fall of a restorative figure known as the Pistis Sophia is also given by Christ.
The text in the first three of the four books is a dialogue between Jesus and his disciples, including Mary Magdalene, who is the most active in the discussion. Other disciples involved include John the Virgin, Andrew, Bartholomew, James, John, Mary, Martha, Mathew, Philip, Salome, Simon the Canaanite, and Thomas. It is apparent, based on the character of the text, that the work was a compilation of various earlier editions, as some subjects and events are covered multiple times with slight variations. Changes in certain words used in describing the same ideas also illustrate that the collected works were from different time periods.
The first book details how Jesus, after his resurrection, stayed with his disciples for eleven years teaching the lowest of the mysteries. An intricate cosmology is introduced through the details of Jesus ascending the so called aeons in order to do battle with certain servants (archons) of the creator god who stands between human beings and gnosis. It is in this cosmology that the new myth of the Pistis Sophia is introduced and discussed continuing into the second book, where connection between the current work and the Book of Jeu is demonstrated. Interestingly, unlike such other Gnostic myths such as the Apocryphon of John, the Pistis Sophia myth is limited to the lower aeons, not herself being a divine being from the higher levels of heaven.
The third book concerns the ethical code for the adherents of Christianity, and outlines punishments for the transgression of that ethical system. Additionally, human beings and their spiritual nature are discussed, along with their connectedness to each other and when they should be given the mysteries.
The fourth book details further cosmological and astrological systems, including myths of fallen archons and their imprisonment within certain zodiacal spheres. Five realms of punishment with their corresponding types of sinners are revealed, along with the ritual and requirements for their release.
3 different editions
Also available
Also in
Gnosticism
The Gnostic Secrets of the Naassenes: The Initiatory Teachings of the Last Supper
Gaffney, Mark H.
Paperback
The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume
Robinson, James M.
Meyer, Marvin W.
Paperback
Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven't Tried Yet
Watterson, Meggan
Paperback
The Corpus Hermeticum: Initiation Into Hermetics, The Hermetica Of Hermes Trismegistus (Large Print Edition)
Mead, G. R. S.
Hardcover
Pistis Sophia: The Gnostic Tradition of Mary Magdalene, Jesus, and His Disciples
Mead, G. R. S.
Paperback
The Corpus Hermeticum: Initiation Into Hermetics, The Hermetica Of Hermes Trismegistus (Large Print Edition)
Mead, G. R. S.
Paperback
The Magdalene Revolution: The Return of the Sacred Feminine and the Birth of Radical Equality
Harvey, Andrew
Hardcover
Pistis Sophia: The Gnostic Text of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Jesus, and His Disciples
Mead, G. R. S.
Hardcover
The Gnostic Gospels: Including the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary Magdalene
Jacobs, Alan
Nersessian, Vrej
Hardcover
Not in His Image (15th Anniversary Edition): Gnostic Vision, Sacred Ecology, and the Future of Belief
Lash, John Lamb
Paperback
The Book of Jubilees: Origins of Creation, the Watchers, and Divine Law Uncovered - Lost Genesis Texts Explained
Pakal, Elias
Paperback
Jesus and the Lost Goddess: The Secret Teachings of the Original Christians
Gandy, Peter
Freke, Timothy
Paperback
Pistis Sophia: The Gnostic Text of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Jesus, and His Disciples
Mead, G. R. S.
Paperback
A Beginner's Guide to Gnosticism: Understanding Archons, the Demiurge and Hidden Truths of Reality
Kissinger, Harmony
Paperback
The Books of Enoch Revealed: The Wicked Watchers, Metatron, and the Fruits of Forbidden Knowledge
Churton, Tobias
Paperback
The Gnostic Religion: The Message of the Alien God and the Beginnings of Christianity
Jonas, Hans
Paperback
Quantum Spirituality: Science, Gnostic Mysticism, and Connecting with Source Consciousness
Canova, Peter
Paperback
The Complete Nag Hammadi Scriptures for Beginners: Exploring the Hidden Wisdom and Mystical Roots of the Gnostic Gospels
Veridian, Aurelia
Paperback
Thrice-Greatest Hermes; Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis [Three Volumes in One]
Hermes, Trismegistus
Mead, G. R. S.
Paperback
Motivation Coloring Book for Adult: Coffee is My Best Friend (Coffee, Animals and Flower design pattern)
Jupiter Coloring
Paperback
Essential Gnostic Scriptures: Texts of Luminous Wisdom from the Ancient and Medieval Worlds?Including the Gospels of Thomas, Judas, and Mary Magdalene
Meyer, Marvin
Barnstone, Willis
Paperback
Pistis Sophia: The Gnostic Text of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Jesus, and His Disciples
Mead, G. R. S.
Paperback
Floral Coloring Books Flower Designs for Adults Relaxation: An Adult Coloring Book
Flower Coloring Books for Adults
Paperback
The Complete Nag Hammadi and Gnostic Library: Hidden Scriptures, Esoteric Knowledge, and the Origins of Christian Beliefs Revealed
Valencore, Tiberius
Paperback
The Guardian Alliance: Gridwork and New Earth Prophecy - Volume I: Foundations of Planetary Architecture
Angel, Indigo
Hardcover
Broken Vessels: Theogonies of the Divine Light in Judaism and Christianity
Orlov, Andrei A.
Hardcover
The Forbidden Book of Enoch: Ancient Secrets of Angels, Demons, and the End of Days
James, Hyart
Paperback
Pistis Sophia: The Gnostic Tradition of Mary Magdalene, Jesus, and His Disciples
Mead, G. R. S.
Paperback
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas: The Real Story of the Son of the Carpenter
Ald
Kadesh-Vale, Ruah Selene
Paperback
La Revolucion de Maria Magdalena: El Retorno de Lo Femenino Sagrado Y El Nacimiento de la Igualdad Radical
Harvey, Andrew
Paperback
Gnostic Presences in Ethiopia: Spiritual Lore and Magic in Ethiopian Christianity
Cartocci, Paolo
Paperback
The Chaldean Oracles Of Zoroaster: To Which Is Added the Hypostasis of the Archons
Author, Unknown
Paperback
The Sophia of Jesus Christ and Eugnostos the Blessed: The Divine Feminine and T
Lumpkin, Joseph B.
Paperback
The Nag Hammadi Scripture for Beginners: Unveiling the Lost Gnostic Gospels, Myths, and Wisdom
Jones, Tabitha
Paperback
Irenaeus and the Glory of God: Gnosticism, Recapitulation and True Humanity in Christ
Whitworth
Paperback
Evagrius's Kephalaia Gnostika: A New Translation of the Unreformed Text from the Syriac
Ramelli, Ilaria L. E.
Paperback
Fragments of the Pleroma: The Gnostic, Martinist, and Hermetic Traditions of the Apostolic Church of the Pleroma
Phosphoros, Tau
Paperback
Thrice-Greatest Hermes: Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis (3 books in One ) Volumes I-II-III (Annotated)
Mead, G. R. S.
Paperback
Voices of Gnosticism: Interviews with Elaine Pagels, Marvin Meyer, Bart Ehrman, Bruce Chilton and Other Leading Scholars
Conner, Miguel
Paperback
Finding Your Religion: When the Faith You Grew Up with Has Lost Its Meaning
McLennan, Scotty
Paperback
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene: A Guide to Divine Wisdom and Spiritual Healing
Forward, The Way
Paperback
Paradise Transcended: The Gospel of Gnosis and the Kingdom Within
Ex Lux Aeturnus, Elder Zimriah
Hardcover
Irenaeus and the Glory of God: Gnosticism, Recapitulation and True Humanity in Christ
Whitworth
Hardcover
The Gospel Of Thomas: A Literal Translation Of The Hidden Sayings Of Jesus
Shaver, Derek A.
Paperback
The Hidden Secret of God the Bible Decoded by Neville Goddard: Volume One (Large Print Edition)
Goddard
Alio Publishing Group
Paperback
The Hidden Secret of God: The Bible Decoded by Neville Goddard: VOLUME ONE
Alio Publishing Group
Goddard, Neville
Paperback
The Gnosis or Ancient Wisdom in the Christian Scriptures: Or the Wisdom in a Mystery
Kingsland, William
Paperback
Levitikon: An Exposition of the Fundamental Principles of the Doctrine of the Primitive Catholic Christians
Fabré-Palaprat, Bernard-Raymond
Hardcover
Pistis Sophia: The Gnostic Text of Jesus, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Jesus, and His Disciples
Mead, G. R. S.
Paperback
EGYPTIAN MYSTERIES Volume 1: Shetaut Neter, The Mysteries of Neterian Religion and Metaphysics
Ashby, Muata
Paperback
The Hymns of Hermes: Songs of the Soul - The Secret Teachings of Hermes Trismegistus - Echoes of Gnosis Collection Vol. II - Gnostic Books (Large Print Edition)
Mead, G. R. S.
Animatarot
Paperback
Secrets of the Watchers and the Nephilim: Prophecies from the Book of Enoch
Kissinger, Harmony
Paperback
The Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross: A History of the Rosicrucians
Waite, Arthur Edward
Waite, A. E.
Paperback
Satan's Secret Pylon: An exposition of the Satanic philosophy at the heart of the Apostolic Johannite Church
Freeman, Reginald
Paperback
Gnostic America: A Reading of Contemporary American Culture & Religion according to Christianity's Oldest Heresy
Burfeind, Peter M.
Paperback
The Gospel of Philip: When Love, Knowledge, and Spirit Are One
Ald
Kadesh-Vale, Ruah Selene
Mattison, Mark M.
Paperback
The Gnostic New Age: How a Countercultural Spirituality Revolutionized Religion from Antiquity to Today
Deconick, April
Paperback
The Book of Giants: Exploring Fallen Angels, the Nephilim, and Gnostic Traditions
Cancemu, Jesuè
Paperback
From Ritual to Romance: The True Source of the Holy Grail (Aziloth Books)
Weston, Jessie Laidlay
Paperback
The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire
Häberl, Charles
Paperback