Apocryphon of John

Further dialogue on the destinies of souls: those who receive the Spirit, those who repent after long wandering, those who deny the light, and the reincarnation of the almost-saved.

1And John asked, "Lord, what is the end of those who know, and then deny?"

2And the Savior answered, "They shall be gathered to the place of the angels of poverty, where there is no repentance, and they shall wait for the day of judgment.

3For they had received the light, and they hardened themselves against the light; and they had heard the word, and they cast it away.

4To whom much is given, of him much shall be required; and to whom much is committed, of him they shall ask the more.

5But they who never knew, and were held captive in forgetfulness — if they repent in the body, or in the last hour, the Afterthought shall yet reach them.

6For the mercy of the Mother-Father is without measure."

7John said, "Lord, what of the souls that seem righteous in the flesh, yet have not received the Spirit — will they be saved?"

8And the Savior said, "There is a righteousness of the body, and there is a righteousness of the spirit.

9The righteousness of the body is as a shadow — it profits for a season, but in the day of the ascent it does not carry the soul upward.

10But the righteousness of the spirit is from the Spirit of Life, and it is as wings unto the soul; it lifts her up, and she passes the archons without hindrance.

11Therefore it is the Spirit which saves, and not the body. And those who have not yet received the Spirit — let them not despair, for the Spirit goes where it wills.

12And many who were far shall be brought near; and many who were near shall be found far.

13For the Father regards the heart, and not the appearance; and the Mother knows her own, and gathers them, though they be scattered unto the ends of the earth."

14Then John said, "Lord, is the body altogether evil?"

15And the Savior answered, "The body is the garment of the soul — not evil in itself, but a prison when it forgets its purpose, and a temple when it remembers.

16The archons made the garment, but the Spirit wears it, and transforms it from within.

17Despise not the body, but do not be ruled by it. Let the Spirit govern the flesh, and the flesh shall become the instrument of the light."

18John said, "Lord, what must we do that we may find the way?"

19And the Savior said, "Seek the Spirit of Life within thee. For the kingdom is not in the outer places, nor in the visible things.

20The kingdom is within, even as the Father is within, and the Mother is within, and the Son is within. Three in one, and one in three, abiding in the unwavering race.

21Silence thy thoughts, and the Light shall speak. Still thy body, and the Spirit shall move. Empty thy heart of the counterfeit, and the true shall enter in.

22Live as one who is passing through, and not as one who has arrived.

23Love thy fellow spirits, for they are of the same fullness from whence thou camest."

24And John asked, "Lord, what of those who have blasphemed against the Spirit?"

25And the Savior said, "These are they who have looked upon the light and have called it darkness; they have tasted the truth and have called it a lie.

26Their souls are handed over unto the authorities of the lower places, and they abide in torment, until the judgment.

27For the Spirit is merciful, but the Spirit will not be mocked. And they who have set themselves against the Spirit have set themselves against themselves."

28John said, "Lord, and if one turns back, even from such a state — is there hope?"

29And the Savior answered, "The door of repentance is not shut, save by the one who shuts it within himself.

30If he knock, even at the last hour, with a true heart — I am able to open unto him.

31But many knock with the hand, and not with the heart; and of these, many are sent away, not because the door is shut, but because their knock was not knocking."

32John said, "Lord, teach us of the reincarnation of souls. How is it that a soul returns again unto the flesh?"

33And the Savior said, "The soul that hath not completed her task — she cannot enter the perfect rest.

34She is joined unto a body that is worthy to teach her; and she is led, through another life, unto the remembrance which she lost.

35This is not a punishment, but a mercy. The Mother-Father is patient, and will not lose her own.

36Yet the soul which has received the knowledge and the Spirit returns not again. She ascends, and the bonds of the archons hold her no more."

37John asked, "Lord, how shall we know that a soul has received the Spirit?"

38And the Savior said, "By her fruits shalt thou know her. Where the Spirit abides, there is love unfeigned, and peace unshaken, and joy unbroken, and patience, and kindness, and self-mastery.

39But where the counterfeit spirit abides, there is strife, and envy, and bitterness, and self-seeking, and a cleaving to the things that perish.

40Thou canst not hide either spirit long; for that which is within comes forth, sooner or later, in word and in deed."

41John said, "Lord, is the knowledge the same for all, or do the races differ?"

42The Savior answered, "There is one truth, but many are its paths; and there is one fullness, but many dwelling places within it.

43The knowledge is one, but the vessels are many. And the Father is over all, and through all, and in all who receive him.

44Divide not the one body by the many members, nor reject the member because it is not as thou art."

45John said, "Lord, shall there be an end to this age?"

46And the Savior said, "The age shall pass away, and the archons shall be stripped of their power, and the counterfeit spirit shall be judged and confined.

47And the perfect race shall be gathered, even from the four winds, and from the hidden places, and from the depths, and from the heights.

48And there shall be one fold and one Shepherd, and the fullness shall be without deficiency, and the light shall swallow up the darkness."

49John said, "Lord, when shall these things come to pass?"

50And the Savior said, "The hour is hid from the lower aeons, but the signs are already given.

51When the children of the light are persecuted, and the sons of darkness are exalted in the seats of the earth, then the end draws near.

52When knowledge is hated, and deception is welcomed, and the counterfeit is called the true, then the hour is at hand.

53But watch, and be sober; and walk in the light while it is day, for the night cometh, wherein no man can walk."

54John said, "Lord, who shall overcome, in that hour?"

55And the Savior said, "He that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved. And he that has the Spirit of Life — he shall not be moved.

56For he is rooted in the fullness, and no wind of the lower places can uproot him.

57Be of good cheer. I have overcome the archons, and I am with you unto the close of the age."