

Marsanes -- The Nag Hammadi Library

    (Above image of the Gospel of Thomas courtesy of the
    Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont Graduate University)

    Visit the Bookstore for
    a complete selection of translations and books about the Gnostic Gospels.

The Nag Hammadi Library

    Marsanes

Translated by Birger A. Pearson

          ... (10 lines unrecoverable)

          ... and a reward. They came to know; they found him with a pure heart, (and) they are not
          afflicted by him with evils. Those who have received you (pl.) will be given their choice
          reward for endurance, and he will ward off the evils from them. But let none of us be
          distressed and think in his heart that the great Father [...]. For he looks upon the All
          and takes care of them all. And he has shown to them his [...]. Those that ...

          ... (10 lines unrecoverable)

          ... at first.

But as for the thirteenth seal, I have established it, together with the summit of
          knowledge and the certainty of rest. The first and the second and the third are the
          worldly and the material. I have informed you concerning these, that you should [...] your
          bodies. And a sense-perceptible power will [...] those who will rest, and they will be
          kept from passion and division of the union.

The fourth and the fifth, which are above, these you have come to know [...] divine. He
          exists after the [...] and the nature of the [...], that is, the one who [...] three. And
          I have informed you of [...] in the three [...] by these two. I have informed you
          concerning it, that it is incorporeal ... (1 line unrecoverable) ... and after
          [...] within [...] every [...] which [...] your [...]. The fifth, concerning the
          conversion of those that are within me, and concerning those who dwell in that place.

But the sixth, concerning the self-begotten ones, concerning the incorporeal being
          which exists partially, together with those who exist in the truth of the All [...] for
          understanding and assurance. And the seventh, concerning the self-begotten power, which is
          the third perfect [...] fourth, concerning salvation and wisdom. And the eighth,
          concerning the mind, which is male, which appeared in the beginning, and (concerning) the
          being which is incorporeal and the intelligible world. The ninth, [...] of the power which
          appeared in the beginning. The tenth, concerning Barbelo, the virgin [...] of the Aeon.
          The eleventh and the twelfth speak of the Invisible One who possesses three powers, and
          the Spirit which does not have being, belonging to the first Unbegotten (fem.). The
          thirteenth speaks concerning the Silent One who was not known, and the primacy of the one
          who was not distinguished.

For I am he who has understood that which truly exists, whether partially or wholly,
          according to difference and sameness, that they exist from the beginning in the entire
          place which is eternal, <i.e.> all those that have come into existence, whether
          without being or with being, those who are unbegotten, and the divine aeons, together with
          the angels, and the souls which are without guile, and the soul-garments, the likenesses
          of the simple ones. And afterwards, they have been mixed with [...] them. But still [...]
          the entire being [...] which imitates the incorporeal being and the unsubstantial (fem.).
          Finally the entire defilement was saved, together with the immortality of the former
          (fem.). I have deliberated, and have attained to the boundary of the sense-perceptible
          world. <I have come to know> part by part the entire place of the incorporeal being,
          and <I> have come to know the intelligible world. <I have come to know>, when
          <I> was deliberating, whether in every respect the sense-perceptible world is worthy
          of being saved entirely.

For I have not ceased speaking of the Self-begotten One, O [...] became [...] part by
          part the entire place. He descended; again he descended <from> the Unbegotten One
          who does not have being, who is the Spirit. That one who exists before all of them reaches
          to the divine Self-engendered One. The one having being searches [...] and he exists [...]
          and he is like [...] and from [...] dividing [...] I became [...] for many, as it is
          manifest that he save a multitude.

But after all of these things, I am seeking the kingdom of the Three-Powered One, which
          has no beginning. Whence did he appear and act to fill the entire place with his power?
          And in what way did the unbegotten ones come into existence, since they were not begotten?
          And what are the differences among the aeons? And as for those who are unbegotten, how
          many are they? And in what respect do they differ from each other?

When I had inquired about these things, I perceived that he had worked from silence. He
          exists from the beginning among those that truly exist, that belong to the One who exists.
          There is another, existing from the beginning, belonging to the One who works within the
          Silent One. And the silence [...] him works. For as much as this one [...], that one works
          from the silence which belongs to the Unbegotten One among the aeons, and from the
          beginning he does not have being. But the energy of that One <is> the Three-Powered
          One, the One unbegotten before the Aeon, not having being. And it is possible to behold
          the supremacy of the silence of the Silent One, i.e., the supremacy of the energy of the
          Three-Powered. And the One who exists, who is silent, who is above the heaven [...],
          revealed the Three-Powered, First-Perfect One.

When he [...] to the powers, they rejoiced. Those that are within me were perfected
          together with all the rest. And they all blessed the Three-Powered, one by one, who is the
          First-Perfect One, blessing him in purity, everywhere praising the Lord, who exists before
          the All, [...] the Three-Powered. [...] their worship [...] myself, and I will still go on
          inquiring how they had become silent. I will understand a power which I hold in honor.

The third power of the Three-powered, when it (fem.) had perceived him, said to me,
          "Be silent in order that you might know; run, and come before me. But know that this
          One was silent, and obtain understanding." For the power is attending to me, leading
          me into the Aeon which is Barbelo, the male Virgin.

For this reason the Virgin became male, because she had been divided from the male. The
          Knowledge stood outside of him, because it belongs to him. And she who exists, she who
          sought, possesses (it), just as the Three-Powered One possesses (it). She withdrew from
          them, from these two powers, since she exists outside of the Great One, as she [...] who
          is above [...], who is silent, who has this commandment to be silent. His knowledge and
          his hypostasis and his activity are those things of which the power of the Three-Powered
          spoke, <saying>, "We all have withdrawn to ourselves. We have become silent,
          and when we came to know him, that is, the Three-Powered, we bowed down; we [...]; we
          blessed him [...] upon us." [...].

[...] the invisible Spirit ran up to his place. The whole place was revealed; the whole
          place unfolded <until> he reached the upper region. Again he departed; he caused the
          whole place to be illuminated, and the whole place was illuminated. And you (pl.) have
          been given the third part of the spirit of the power of the One who possesses the three
          powers. Blessed is [...]. He said, "O you who dwell in these places, it is necessary
          for you to know those that are higher than these, and tell them to the powers. For you
          (sg.) will become elect with the elect ones in the last times, as the invisible Spirits
          runs up above. And you yourselves, run with him up above, since you have the great crown
          which [...].

But on the day [...] will beckon [...] run up above [...] and the sense-perceptible
          [...] visible [...] and they ...

(two pages missing, plus 14 lines at top of page after that)

... the perception. He is for ever, not having being, in the One who is, who is silent,
          the One who is from the beginning, who does not have being [...] part of [...]
          indivisible. The [...] consider a ...

          ... (approx. 20 lines unrecoverable)

          ... I was dwelling among the aeons which have been begotten. As I was permitted, I have
          come to be among those that were not begotten. But I was dwelling in the great Aeon, as I
          [...]. And [...] the three powers [...] the One who possesses the three powers. The three
          powers [...] the Silent One and the Three-Powered One [...] the one that does not have
          breath. We took our stand [...] in the ...

          ... (approx. 23 lines virtually unrecoverable)

          ... who does not have breath, and he exists in a [...] completely. And I saw [...] him to
          the great (fem.) [...] they knew him ...

          ... (approx. 21 lines virtually unrecoverable)

          ... is active [...] why, again, (does) knowledge [...] ignorant, and [...] he runs the
          risk [...] that he become ...

          ... (9 lines virtually unrecoverable)

          ... those [...]. But it is necessary that a [...] does not have form [...] to this one
          [...] exists before [...] the thought [...] from the beginning [...] the one that ...

          ... (approx. 6 lines unrecoverable)

          ... these [...] look(ed) at [...] in nine [...] the cosmic hebdomad [...] in a day of
          [...] for ever ...

          ... (8 lines unrecoverable)

          ... and [...] after many years [...], when I saw the Father, I came to know him, and [...]
          many [...] partial [...] for ever [...] the material ones [...] worldly [...] above [...]
          in addition ...

          ... (approx. 18 lines unrecoverable)

          ... out of [...] into those that [...] them into [...] name them. And (as for) their
          nomenclature, bear witness yourselves that you are inferior to their [...] and their
          hypostasis.

But in addition, when ...

          ... (approx. 18 lines unrecoverable)

          ... hidden [...] the third power. The blessed Authority (fem.) said [...] among these and
          [...], i.e., she who does not have [...]. For there is not glory [...] nor even the one
          who [...]. For indeed, the one who ...

          ... (approx. 18 lines unrecoverable)

          ... and the signs of the Zodiac [...], and the [...], and [...] which do not have [...]
          acquire for [...] revolution [...]. But the soul(s) [...] there [...] body(s) of this
          [...] soul(s) of heaven [...] around [...] shape [...] which is ...

          ... (approx. 19 lines virtually unrecoverable)

          ... all the likenesses [...] them [...] all the forms [...] shape(s), so that they [...]
          and become [...] themselves [...], and the [...] the animals [...], and the ...

(2 pages missing)

... there. But their powers, which are the angels, are in the form of beasts and
          animals. Some among them are polymorphous, and, contrary to nature, they have for their
          names which [...]. They are divided and [...] according to the [...] and [...] in form
          [...]. But these that are aspects of sound according to the third originate from being.
          And concerning these, all of these (remarks) are sufficient, since we have (already)
          spoken about them.

For this division takes place again in these regions in the manner we have mentioned
          from the beginning. However, the soul, on the other hand, has different shape<s>.
          The shape of the soul exists in this form, i.e., (the soul) that came into existence of
          its own accord. The shape is the second spherical part, while the first allows it, eEiou,
          the self-begotten soul, aeEiouO. The second schema, eEiou, ... by those
          having two sounds (diphthongs), the first being placed after them ...

          ... (3 lines unrecoverable)

          ... the light.

Control yourselves, receive the imperishable seed, bear fruit, and do not become
          attached to your possessions.

But know that the oxytones exist among the vowels, and the diphthongs which are next to
          them. But the short are inferior, and the [...] are [...] by them. Those that [...], since
          they are intermediate [...]. The sounds of the semivowels are superior to the voiceless
          (consonants). And those that are double are superior to the semivowels, which do not
          change. But the aspirates are better than the inaspirates (of) the voiceless (consonants).
          And those that are intermediate will accept their combination in which they are; they are
          ignorant of the things that are good. They (the vowels) are combined with the
          intermediates, which are less. Form by form, <they constitute> the nomenclature of
          the gods and the angels, not because they are mixed with each other according to every
          form, but only (because) they have a good function. It did not happen that <their>
          will was revealed.

Do not keep on sinning, and do not dare to make use of sin.

But I am speaking to you (sg.) concerning the three [...] shapes of the soul. The third
          shape of the soul is [...] is a spherical one, put after it, from the simple vowels: eee,
            iii, ooo, uuu, OOO. The diphthongs were as follows: ai, au, ei, eu, Eu, ou, Ou, oi,
              Ei, ui, Oi, auei, euEu, oiou, ggg, ggg, ggg, aiau, eieu, Eu, oiou, Ou, ggg, ggg, aueieu,
              oiou, Eu, three times for a male soul. The third shape is spherical. The second shape,
          being put after it, has two sounds. The male soul's third shape (consists) of the simple
          vowels: aaa, eee, EEE, iii, ooo, uuu, OOO, OOO, OOO. And this shape is different
          from the first, but they resemble each other, and they make some ordinary sounds of this
          sort: aeEoO. And from these (are made) the diphthongs.

So also the fourth and the fifth. With regard to them, they were not allowed to reveal
          the whole topic, but only those things that are apparent. You (pl.) were taught about
          them, that you should perceive them, in order that they, too, might all seek and find who
          they are, either by themselves alone [...], or by each other, or to reveal destinies that
          have been determined from the beginning, either with reference to themselves alone, or
          with reference to one another, just as they exist with each other in sound, whether
          partially or formally.

They are commanded to submit, for their part is generated and formal. (They are
          commanded) either by the long (vowels), or by those of dual time value, or by the short
          (vowels), which are small [...], or the oxytones, or the intermediates, or the barytones.

And consonants exist with the vowels, and individually they are commanded and they
          submit. The constitute the nomenclature of the angels. And the consonants are
          self-existent, and as they are changed, <they> submit to the hidden gods by means of
          beat and pitch and silence and impulse. They summon the semivowels, all of which submit to
          them with one accord, since it is only the unchanging double (consonants) that coexist
          with the semivowels.

But the aspirates and the inaspirates and the intermediates constitute the voiceless
          (consonants). Again [...] they are combined with each other, and they are separate from
          one another. They are commanded and they submit, and they constitute an ignorant
          nomenclature. And they become one or two or three or four or five or six, up to seven,
          having a simple sound, <together with> these which have two sounds, [...] the place
          of the seventeen consonants. Among the first names, some are less. And since these do not
          have being, either they are an aspect of being, or they divide the nature of the mind,
          which is masculine, (and) which is intermediate.

And you (sg.) put in those that resemble each other with the vowels and the consonants.
          Some are: bagadazatha, begedezethe, bEgEdEzEthE, bigidizithi, bogodozotho, buguduzuthu,
            bOgOdOzOthO. And the rest [...] babebEbibobubO. But the rest are different: abebEbibob,
          in order that you (sg.) might collect them, and be separated from the angels.

And there will be some effects. The first (fem.), which is good, is from the triad. It
          [...] has need of ... (1 line unrecoverable) ... their shapes. <The> dyad and
          the monad do not resemble anything, but they are first to exist. The dyad, being divided,
          is divided from the monad, and it belongs to the hypostasis. But the tetrad received (the)
          elements, and the pentad received concord, and the hexad was perfected by itself. The
          hebdomad received beauty, and the ogdoad received [...] ready ... (1 line
            unrecoverable) ... greatly. And the decad revealed the whole place. But the eleven and
          the twelve have traversed [...] not having [...] it is higher [...] seven ...

          ... (9 lines virtually unrecoverable)

          ... promise that [...] begin to separate them by means of a mark and a point, the one
          which quarrels from the one which is an enemy.

Thus [...] of being ... (1 line unrecoverable) ... the letters [...] in a holy
          or according to a bond existing separately. And <they> exist with each other in
          generation or in birth. And according to [...] generation, they do not have [...] these
          ...

          ... (10 lines unrecoverable)

          ... one [...] speaking the riddle.

Because within the sense-perceptible world there exists the temple, which measures
          seven hundred cubits, and a river, which [...] within [...] for ever, they [...] three
          [...] to the four [...] seals [...] clouds, and the waters, and the forms of the wax
          images, and some emerald likenesses.

For the rest, I will teach you (sg.) about them. This is the generation of the names.
          That (fem.) which was not generated [...] from the beginning ...

          ... (9 lines virtually unrecoverable)

          ... time(s), when confined, when spread out, when diminished. But there exists the gentle
          word, and there exists another word which approaches, being [...] in this manner ... (1
            line unrecoverable) ... And he [...] the difference [...] and the [...] the all and a
          [...] the undivided beings, and the power [...] having a share in the joy separately and
          [...], whether ...

          ... (7 lines unrecoverable)

          ... power [...] he exists in every place, [...] them always. He dwells with the corporeal
          and the incorporeal ones.

This is the word of the hypostasis that one should [...] in this way: if [...] with
          their [...] helping those who stir up the [...] manifest [...]. If one knows him, he will
          call upon him.

But there are words, some of which are two, but others existing separately ...

          ... (10 lines virtually unrecoverable)

          ... or according to those that have duration. And these either are separate from them, or
          they are joined to one another or with themselves, either the diphthongs, or the simple
          vowels, or every [...] or [...] or [...] exist just as [...] exist [...] the consonants
          [...] they exist individually until they are divided and doubled. Some have the power
          [...] according the letters that are consonants ...

          ... (8 lines virtually unrecoverable)

          ... by themselves [...] and three (times) for the vowels, and twice for the consonants,
          and once for the entire place, and with ignorance for those which are subject to change
          [...] which became [...] together with the entire place [...] finally.

And [...] they all [...] they are hidden, but they were pronounced openly. They did not
          stop without being revealed, nor did they stop without naming the angels. The vowels join
          the consonants, whether without or within, [...] they said [...] teach you (sg.) [...]
          again for ever. They were counted four times, (and) they were engendered three times, and
          they became ...

          ... (2 lines unrecoverable)

          For these reasons, we have acquired sufficiency; for it is fitting that each one acquire
          power for himself to bear fruit, and that we never cast aspersions on the mysteries [...]
          the [...]. For [...], which is [...] the souls [...] the signs of the Zodiac [...] a new
          hypostasis.

And the reward which will be provided for such a one is salvation. But the opposite
          will happen there to the one who commits sin. The one who commits sin by himself [...]
          will be in a [...] in a ...

          ... (2 lines unrecoverable)

          ... in order that before you (sg.) examine the one who <...>, one might tell another
          about an exalted power, and a divine knowledge, and a might which cannot be resisted. But
          you shall examine who is worthy that he should reveal them, knowing that those who commit
          sin [...] down to [...] as they [...] the Father [...] that which is fitting. Do not
          desire to give power to the sense-perceptible world. Are you (pl.) not attending to me,
          who have received salvation from the intelligible world? But (as for) these <words>
          - watch yourselves - do not [...] them as a(n) ...

          ... (3 lines unrecoverable)

          ... understand [...], and he takes [...] the rest, I will speak of them. The perfection
          [...], in order that it might increase [...] who commit sin ... (1 line unrecoverable)
          ... the embodied souls did not understand them. Those that are upon the earth, as well as
          those outside of the body, those in heaven, are more than the angels. The place which we
          talked about in every discourse, these [...] stars ... (1 line unrecoverable) ...
          book(s) [...] whether already [...] into the [...]. Blessed is [...], whether he is gazing
          at the two, or he is gazing at the seven planets, or at the twelve signs of the Zodiac, or
          at the thirty-six Decans ...

          ... (9 lines virtually unrecoverable)

          ... and these numbers, whether those in heaven or those upon the earth, together with
          those that are under the earth, according to the relationships and the divisions among
          these, and in the rest [...] parts according to kind and according to species ... (1
            line unrecoverable) ... they will submit, since she has power [...] above [...] they
          exist apart ...

(Of the remaining 26 pages, 10 are missing and the remaining 16 are so badly
          decomposed that only a few scattered words and phrases are recognizable.)

Marsanes

   Original translation of this text was prepared by members of the

Coptic Gnostic Library Project of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont Graduate School.

The Coptic Gnostic Library Project was funded by UNESCO, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and other Institutions.

 E. J. Brill has asserted copyright on texts published by the Coptic Gnostic Library Project.

The translation presented here has been edited,  modified and formatted for use in the Gnostic Society Library.

For academic citation, please refer to published editions of this text.

    | Nag Hammadi Library | Gnostic Society
    Library | Gnosis Archive |

