(powers of intercession and art not idle, wherefore dost thou not ask understanding of the Lord,
and obtain it from Him)."
4 [ 57 ]: 5 I say to him, "Sir, I that have thee with me have (but) need to ask thee and enquire of
thee; for thou showest me all things, and speakest with me; but if I had seen or heard them apart
from thee I should have asked of the Lord, that they might be shown to me."
5 [ 58 ]: 1 "I told thee just now," saith he, "that thou art unscrupulous and importunate, in enquiring
for the interpretations of the parables. But since thou art so obstinate, I will interpret to thee the
parable of the estate and all the accompaniments thereof, that thou mayest make them known
unto all. Hear now," saith he, "and understand them.
5 [ 58 ]: 2 The estate is this world, and the lord of the estate is He that created all things, and set
them in order, and endowed them with power; and the servant is the Son of God, and the vines
are this people whom He Himself planted;
5 [ 58 ]: 3 and the fences are the [holy] angels of the Lord who keep together His people; and the
weeds, which are plucked up from the vineyard, are the transgressions of the servants of God;
and the dainties which He sent to him from the feast are the commandments which He gave to
His people through His Son; and the friends and advisers are the holy angels which were first
created; and the absence of the master is the time which remaineth over until His coming."
5 [ 58 ]: 4 I say to him; "Sir, great and marvelous are all things and all things are glorious; was it
likely then," say I, "that I could have apprehended them?" "Nay, nor can any other man, though
he be full of understanding, apprehend them." "Yet again, Sir," say I, "explain to me what I am
about to enquire of thee."
5 [ 58 ]: 5 "Say on," he saith, "if thou desirest anything." "Wherefore, Sir,]" say I, "is the Son of
God represented in the parable in the guise of a servant?"
6 [ 59 ]: 1 "Listen," said he; "the Son of God is not represented in the guise of a servant, but is
represented in great power and lordship." "How, Sir?" say I; "I comprehend not."
6 [ 59 ]: 2 "Because," saith he, "God planted the vineyard, that is, He created the people, and
delivered them over to His Son. And the Son placed the angels in charge of them, to watch over
them; and the Son Himself cleansed their sins, by laboring much and enduring many toils; for no
one can dig without toil or labor.
6 [ 59 ]: 3 Having Himself then cleansed the sins of His people, He showed them the paths of life,
giving them the law which He received from His Father. Thou seest," saith he, "that He is
Himself Lord of the people, having received all power from His Father.
6 [ 59 ]: 4 But how that the lord took his son and the glorious angels as advisers concerning the
inheritance of the servant, listen.
6 [ 59 ]: 5 The Holy Pre-existent Spirit. Which created the whole creation, God made to dwell in
flesh that He desired. This flesh, therefore, in which the Holy Spirit dwelt, was subject unto the
Spirit, walking honorably in holiness and purity, without in any way defiling the Spirit.
6 [ 59 ]: 6 When then it had lived honorably in chastity, and had labored with the Spirit, and had
cooperated with it in everything, behaving itself boldly and bravely, He chose it as a partner with
the Holy Spirit; for the career of this flesh pleased [the Lord], seeing that, as possessing the Holy
Spirit, it was not defiled upon the earth.
6 [ 59 ]: 7 He therefore took the son as adviser and the glorious angels also, that this flesh too,
having served the Spirit unblamably, might have some place of sojourn, and might not seem to
ron
(Ron)
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