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 3 — Codex IV
1. [I also] asked to [understand it; and he said] to me: “The monad [is a unity with nothing] higher than it.
2. [It is that which exists] as [God] and as Father of the All, [the unseen] one, who is higher than [the All, who exists as] indestructability, [as] pure light, at which no [eye] can gaze.
3. He [is the] unseen [Spirit] of whom it is improper [to think of] as a god or as anything similar, because he is more than a god, given that nothing exists that is higher than him, because no one ⟦page 3⟧ rules over him.
4. [This is because he does] not [exist] inside something subordinate [to him, given that everything] exists inside him, because he is the one who is self-[established].
5. [He is eternal], given that he stands in need of [nothing], because [he] is complete perfection.
6. [He lacked nothing] so that he would need to be perfected by [it].
7. [Instead], he is forever completely perfect in [light].
8. He is [limitless], given that no one exists [before him] who could place limits on him.
9. He is unfathomable, [given that there] exists before him no one who could [fathom him].
10. [He is] beyond measuring, given that no one [existed before him who could measure] him.
11. [He is unseen, given that no] one has seen [him].
12. [He is eternal], given that he [exists] eternally.
13. He is [unspeakable, given that] no one existed who could conceive of him in order to speak [of him].
14. He cannot be named, given that [no one existed before him] who could name [him].
15. He is [light beyond measure], being pure, sacred, [unstained].
16. He is unspeakable, [existing in perfect] indestructability.
17. (He exists) [not] (confined) inside perfection, nor inside blessedness, nor inside divinity, but he is highly exalted (above these).
18. He is neither somatic, [nor] non-somatic.
19. He is neither large, [nor] small.
20. [It is impossible] to say that he has a quantity or that [he has a quality], because no one can [understand him].
21. He is not a being among [beings, but he is] highly exalted, [not] as [though he were loftier], but (he is lofty in) himself.
22. He neither [participates] in the aeons nor in temporality, because he who participates in [an aeon] that was set up previously [...].
23. He [was not] not assigned a temporal measurement, [given that] he does not obtain anything from another, [because it would be obtained] as a loan, given that he who exists before someone (else) [has no need] to accept (something) from [another].
24. This is because he is the one who gazes at himself, waiting, in ⟦page 4⟧ [his] light, given that the [...] is glorious.
25. To him belongs purity beyond measure.
26. He is an aeon that bestows aeons.
27. He is [life] that bestows life.
28. He is a blessed one who bestows blessedness.
29. He is knowledge that bestows knowledge.
30. [He is] goodness that bestows goodness.
31. [He is] mercy and redemption [that bestow mercy].
32. He is grace that bestows grace,
33. [not] because it belongs to him, but because he bestows [the light] that is beyond measure and comprehension.
34. [How can I speak] with you of him, [given that] his [aeon] is beyond destruction, in repose, and abiding in [silence, resting], existing before [everything, because he] is the leader of [all] aeons, [and] he is the one who grants them strength with his goodness?