LITERATURE OF GNOSTIC WISDOM 471
shame, they were not put to shame. Since they were not afraid before me, they
will pass by every gate without fear and will be perfected in the third glory.^18
It was my cross that the world did not accept, my apparent exaltation, my
third baptism in a revealed image.^19 When they had fled from the fire of the
seven authorities, and the sun of the powers of the rulers set, darkness over-
took them. And the world became poor. After they bound him with many re-
straints, they nailed him to the cross, and they fastened him with four nails of
brass.^20 The veil of his temple he tore with his hands. There was a trembling
that overcame the chaos of the earth, for the souls that were in the sleep below
were released, and they arose. They walked about boldly, having shed jealousy
of ignorance and unlearnedness beside the dead tombs; having put on the
new human; having come to know that perfect blessed one of the eternal and
incomprehensible father and the infinite light, which is I.^21 When I came to
my own and united them with myself, there was no need for many words, for
our thought was with their thought. Therefore they knew what I was saying,
for we took counsel about the destruction of the rulers. And therefore I did the
will of the father, who is I.
After we left from our home and came down to this world and came into
being in the world in bodies, we were hated and persecuted, not only by those
who are ignorant^22 but also by those who think that they are advancing the
name of Christ, since they were unknowingly empty, not knowing who they
are, like dumb animals.^23 They persecuted those who have been liberated by
me,^24 since they hate them—those who, should they shut their mouth, would
weep with a profitless groaning because they did not fully know me. Instead,
they served two masters, even a multitude.^25 But you will become victorious
- The chosen ones must pass through the heavenly gates mentioned earlier in the text.
- Gregory Riley suggests that the three baptisms of Jesus are birth, baptism in water, and here,
crucifixion, that is, baptism in blood (in Pearson, NagHammadi Codex VII, p. 171). - This is the apparent crucifixion of Jesus, when another is crucified instead.
- See Matthew 27:51-53, with the tearing of the temple curtain, the earthquake, and the rais-
ing of dead bodies. - These may be ordinary unbelievers, plain folks who are material people of body and flesh
only. The description of the kinds of people in this text resembles the Valentinian threefold
designation of people of body, soul, and spirit (hylics, psychics, and pneumatics). - These are ordinary Christians, leaders or members of the emerging orthodox church—in
Valentinian terms, people of soul. - These are the gnostics, the free spirits—in Valentinian terms, people of spirit.
- See Matthew 6:24. Jesus here seems to maintain that these ordinary Christians serve Christ
and the ruler of the world, Yaldabaoth.