First Apocalypse of James

After the resurrection, the Lord appears to James and reveals the deeper mysteries — the names of the seven women disciples, the work of the seventy-two heavens, and the commission of James as bishop in Jerusalem.

1James was sitting upon a hill, brooding by himself, when there came down unto him One in shining apparel — even the Lord — and stood before him. And James said: Rabbi, hath it come to pass that I am at peace?

2The Lord said: James, peace be unto thee from peace. Love from love. Grace from grace. Faith from faith. Life from holy life.

3And James said: Rabbi, in what way did the Pre-existent send Thee? In what way wast Thou received? In what way wast Thou born? In what way didst Thou come forth?

4And the Lord said: James, the Pre-existent sent Me forth. He sent Me through the Mother — that is, Sophia. She gave Me forth, that I might be made manifest in the flesh, that I might endure for the salvation of the All. The Pre-existent and the Mother and Myself — we are one. The Father is in Me; I am in the Father; and the Mother is in both of us.

5James said: Rabbi, are there indeed three Pleromas, and not just one?

6The Lord said: There is the Pleroma of the Father; there is the Pleroma of the Mother; there is the Pleroma of the Son. And these three are one Pleroma. He that hath received the Father hath received the Mother and the Son also; he that hath received the Mother hath received the Father and the Son also; he that hath received the Son hath received the Father and the Mother also.

7James said: Rabbi, who are the seven women that have been Thy disciples? Behold, all the women bless Thee. I, even I — I marvel how it is that powerless vessels have become strong by perception which is in them.

8The Lord said: Thou hast spoken well. The Spirit of perception, the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of patience, the Spirit of remembrance, the Spirit of fear, and the Spirit of love — these have given themselves unto the women. Therefore are they made strong, even though they be esteemed weak.

9James said: Rabbi, when shall the saints be received? When shall the kingdom come?

10The Lord said: James, in the day when the seventy-two firmaments shall be unveiled, and the names of the seventy-two angels which preside over them shall be made known unto the children of light — then shall the saints be gathered. The angels of the firmaments shall give them passage; the powers shall not detain them; the toll-collectors shall not take them captive.

11Now thou, James — go thou unto Jerusalem. Stand thou as bishop and overseer of the brethren. Confirm them in the faith. Be a witness unto my name. They shall hate thee for my sake; but the Father shall vindicate thee. Even when they cast thee down from the temple, thou shalt rise up; and thou shalt come unto Me.

12And James bowed himself, and worshipped the Lord. And the Lord blessed him; and He went up. And James returned unto Jerusalem, that he might fulfil the work which had been given him.

13Glory be unto the Father, and unto the Mother, and unto the Son. Glory be unto the Pleroma of the three. Forever and ever. Amen.