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The Sophia of Jesus Christ · 3 of 11
The Appearance and Spirit of He Who Is
1.Philip asked: “Christ, how, then, did he appear to the perfect ones?”
2.The perfect Savior said: “Before anything ‹of› what is visible became visible, the majesty and the authorities existed in him, because he embraces the Totalities of the world, whereas nothing embraces him.
3.This is because he is entirely mind; he is reflection; he is thought and wisdom; he is reasoning and power.
4.They all are equivalent powers, being the source of the Totalities.
5.And all of them that came to be, from first to ‹last›, were in his foreknowledge, of the infinite unbegotten Father.”
6.Thomas asked: “Christ, Savior, what is the reason these came into being, and why were they revealed?”
7.The perfect Savior said, “I originated from the Infinite in order to tell you everything.
8.The Spirit Who Is was the one who begot, having the power of a begetter and the nature of one who [bestows] form, so that the great wealth that dwelt in him could be revealed.
9.On account of his mercy and his love he desired to produce fruit by himself, to avoid ‹enjoying› his goodness all alone (by himself), but so that other spirits of the unmoving generation could produce bodies and fruit, glory and indestructability, and his infinite gift, so that his treasure could be manifested by the unbegotten God, the Father of all indestructability and of those that afterward would come into existence, but who had not yet appeared visibly.
10.A great difference prevails among the indestructible ones.”
11.And he cried out: “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear about the indestructible ones! I will speak to those who are awake!”
12.He continued further and said: “Everything that originated from what is perishable will perish, because it originated from what is perishable. Whatever originated from what is imperishable will not perish, because it is from what is imperishable.
13.Consequently, many erred because they were unaware of this difference, and they died.”
Asked of Guide
Why does the Savior call some beings 'indestructible' and others perishable here?
The chapter explains that the indestructible ones originate from the Imperishable Father and the Spirit Who Is, so their being comes from what is imperishable and therefore they do not perish. The perishable beings come from what is perishable and so “everything that originated from what is perishable will perish,” a causal link the Savior uses to distinguish their destinies.
This distinction functions as a metaphysical taxonomy: origin determines fate, and the Spirit’s desire to “produce fruit” allows indestructible offspring to exist and manifest the Father’s treasure. The passage echoes themes in the Apocryphon of John, which also makes cosmic lineage the criterion for who is savable and who belongs to the fallen, visible order.
Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.