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 5 — Codex II
1. She became the universal womb because she is the one who exists before all of them, the Mother-Father, the Primal Man, the holy Spirit, the triple-male, the triple-powerful, the triple-named androgynous one, and the eternal aeon among the unseen ones, even the first one to issue forth.
2. ‹She› entreated the unseen, virginal Spirit — that is, Barbelo — to grant her Precognition, and the Spirit agreed,
3. and when he had [agreed], Precognition approached, and attended Providence, she who originates from the Idea of the unseen, virginal Spirit.
4. She extolled him [and] his perfect power, Barbelo, because they had come into being on account of her.
5. She also entreated once more to grant her [Indestructibility], and he agreed.
6. When he had [agreed], Indestructibility [approached], and attended Idea and Precognition.
7. She extolled the unseen one and Barbelo, the one on whose account they had come into being.
8. Barbelo also entreated to grant her eternal life, and the unseen Spirit agreed, and when he had agreed, Eternal Life approached,
9. and they [attended] and extolled the unseen [Spirit] and Barbelo, on whose account they had come into being.
10. She also entreated once more to grant her truth, and the unseen Spirit agreed.
11. Truth approached, and they attended and extolled the unseen, ⟦page 6⟧ admirable Spirit and his Barbelo on whose account they had come into being.
12. This is the aeonic pentad of the Father, which is the Primal Man, the image of the unseen Spirit.
13. This is Providence — that is, Barbelo — and Idea, and Precognition, and Indestructibility, and Eternal Life and Truth.
14. This is the androgynous aeonic pentad, being the aeonic decad, which is the Father.