The library · Edition and sources
The Secret Book of John
Samuel Zinner, edited by Mark M. Mattison; Other Gospels · Translated text
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Chapter 11 — Berlin Codex
1. He also commanded that seven kings rule over the heavens, and five over Chaos in the netherworld.
4. The glorious names of those in charge of the seven heavens are these:
5. The first is Yaoth, the lion-faced; the second is Eloaios, the donkey-faced; the third is Aslaphaios, ⟦page 42⟧ the hyena-faced; the fourth is Yao, the dragon-faced with seven heads; the fifth is Adonaios, the dragon-faced; the sixth is Adoni, the monkey-faced; the seventh is Sabbataios, the glowing name of the fire-faced.
6. These are the sevenfold (aspect) of the week; these rule the world.
7. However, Yaldabaoth Saklas, he of many forms, to manifest himself with any face he wished,
8. shared with them of his fire, which belongs to him, as well as his power, but of the pure light and the power he had derived from the mother, he gave nothing to them. As a consequence, he became Christ over them.
9. On account of the ⟦page 43⟧ [glory inside] him, the power of the light, the mother, on account [of these he allowed] himself to be called ‘God,’ in this way disobeying the substance from which he had originated.
10. He further joined the seven powers together with the authorities. When he spoke, they came into existence, and he named them. He set up authorities beginning with the highest:
11. The first, then, is Providence, together with the first (authority), Yaoth; the second ‹is› Divinity, together with the second (authority), Eloaios; the third is Anointing, together with the third (authority), Astaphaios; the fourth is Fire, together with the fourth (authority), Yao; the fifth is Kingdom, together with the fifth (authority), Sabaoth; ⟦page 44⟧ the sixth is [Understanding], together with the sixth (authority), Ad[oni]; [the] seventh is Sophia, [together with] the seventh (authority), Sabbataios.
12. These possess a firmament that corresponds to each heaven
13. and an aeon that corresponds according to the model of the aeons that existed from the beginning, in the pattern of the indestructible ones.
16. However, he saw the creation beneath him, and the host of angels attending him, which had issued forth from him. He said to them: ‘I am a jealous God; there is none other than me,’
17. which already implied to the angels attending him that there is another God, because if there had not been another, how could he be jealous of another?
18. The mother then began ⟦page 45⟧ ‘to move back and forth,’ becoming aware of her deficiency, on account of her companion not having agreed together with her when her perfection accused her.”