Eugnostos the Blessed

Eugnostos the blessed writes to his children — refuting the philosophers who say all things came of themselves, and proclaiming the Unbegotten Father, His Son, the Mother, and the immortal Aeons.

1Eugnostos the blessed unto them which are his — rejoice. I would have you to know that all men born from the foundation of the world unto the present time, being dust, while inquiring concerning God — who He is, and what He is like — have not found Him.

2The wisest among them have speculated about the truth from the ordering of the world. And the speculation hath not reached the truth. For there are three opinions concerning the ordering of the world, by all the philosophers. Therefore they agree not.

3Some say that it ordereth itself by itself; others, that it is ruled by Providence; others, that it is destiny. But it is none of these. For of the three opinions which I have just mentioned, none is true.

4Now whatever is from itself is an empty life; it is self-made. Providence is foolish. Destiny is a thing without discernment. He, then, that is able to free himself from these three opinions which I have mentioned, and to come unto another opinion through another God — let him confess concerning God of the truth, and agree concerning everything pertaining unto Him: he is an immortal man dwelling among mortal men.

5He that is, before all the things which truly are, is the Unbegotten — the Self-Begotten Father — and is full of light shining unutterable. From the beginning, He decided to have His likeness come into being as a great power. Immediately the source of that light appeared as an immortal androgynous man, that through that immortal androgynous one, they might attain their salvation, and awaken from forgetfulness, through the interpreter that hath been sent — even He that is with you unto the consummation of the poverty of the robbers.

6And His consort is the great Sophia, who from the first was destined in Him for union by the Self-Begotten Father, from the immortal man, who appeared as the first and the divinity and kingdom; for the Father, who is called Man, Self-Father, revealed this.

7And He created a great aeon for His own majesty. He gave Him great authority. And He ruled over all the creations. He created gods and archangels and angels — myriads without number for retinue, from that Light, and the tri-male Spirit, which is that of Sophia, His consort. From this God originated divinity, and kingdom.

8Therefore He was called God of gods, King of kings. The first man hath His unique mind within, and Thought, even as He is. He plotted with His own thought; with His own counsel He fashioned all that came forth — even the things which appeared as His own face. He fashioned them as great gods. He arranged them as among the powers.

9Then the immortal man, after these things, opened His mouth, and said: I see thee, O great power; thy name is mighty in every place. Hear me; I praise thee. The whole earth, the rivers, and the trees, and the fishes of the sea, the birds of the heaven, the stars of the firmament — let them praise thee.

10Now from the union of these came forth twelve aeons. And to each aeon were appointed angels and powers, in numbers without measure. And the aeons stood about the throne of the immortal Man, and gave Him praise; and they ministered before Him, and rejoiced in His glory.

11And after these things came forth the seventy-two heavens, and three hundred and sixty firmaments, even according to the count of the days of the year. And in each firmament were powers, that the cosmos might be set in order beneath them.

12All these things were not because of any need on the part of the Father; for He hath need of nothing. Rather, all these things came forth, that the glory of the Father might be made manifest, that the praise of His name might be sounded forth in every place, and that He might be known of those who seek Him.

13He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Whosoever findeth these things, let him be ready unto the coming of the Saviour. He shall come; He shall reveal everything; He shall expound the mysteries; He shall bring the kingdom unto the children of light. Glory be unto Him for ever and ever. Amen.