The Gnostic Bible: Gnostic Texts of Mystical Wisdom form the Ancient and Medieval Worlds

(Elliott) #1
LITERATURE OF GNOSTIC WISDOM 28l

but the image of the bridal chamber above.
So its veil was torn from top to bottom.^56
It was right for some below to ascend.

GARMENT OF LIGHT


The rulers do not see you
who wear the perfect light,
and they cannot seize you.
You put on the light
in the mystery of union.

REUNION IN THE BEDROOM


If the woman and man had not come apart,
they would not know death.^57
Christ came to repair the split, there from the beginning,
and join the two and give them life
who had died because of separation.
Now the woman and man are one in the chamber
with the bed, and those so joined will not come apart again.
Eve and Adam separated because when they joined
it was not in the chamber with the bed.

ADAM'S SOUL


The soul of Adam came into being through
a breath blowing into him.^58 Breath is spirit.
The element given him is his mother.
Soul became spirit. When he was joined to spirit,
he spoke words incomprehensible to the powers.


  1. These observations are based on accounts of the rending of the temple veil at the time of
    the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; also Luke 23:45; Hebrews 10:19-20).

  2. This is similar to the saying above, in "Eve in Adam," about Adam and Eve in original union,
    resultant disunion, and final reunion.

  3. On the breath blowing into Adam, see Genesis 2:7, a verse variously interpreted in gnostic
    literature.

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