Second Treatise of the Great Seth

The Saviour declares His descent from the Pleroma, His passage through the heavens unrecognized by the powers, and His coming into the body in disguise to undo the work of the rulers.

1I am Christ the Son of Man, the One who came forth from the Father. I am the Word of the Father; I am the firstborn of the Mother; I am the Light that came down into the darkness.

2I came down into the lower regions, where the powers had set up their thrones. I passed through the heavens; the powers did not recognize Me. They thought I was one of their own. I put on the form of every order, that they might not detain Me.

3And I came unto the cosmos. The cosmos was a prison; the rulers were the jailers; the souls of men were the captives. I came that I might break the bars of the prison, and set the captives free.

4I took unto Myself a body. The body was a tent; I dwelt in it for a season. I taught the way of the Father; I showed unto men the truth; I called the elect from out of the world.

5Now there was great commotion among the powers when I appeared. They were troubled; they trembled; they took counsel together. They said: Who is this? Whence cometh He? What is His authority? They went about seeking Me, even with snares; for they knew not what manner of being I was.

6And the rulers, in their ignorance, plotted against Me. They sent Judas, even of My disciples, to betray Me unto them. They came by night with swords and torches; they laid hands upon Me; they bound Me; they led Me unto Pilate.

7And Pilate gave Me unto them. They scourged Me; they mocked Me; they crowned Me with thorns; they laid the cross upon another's shoulder, even Simon of Cyrene; and they led Me forth to the place of the skull.

8And there they crucified the body which I had put on. But I myself laughed at their ignorance. I myself stood beside the cross. I beheld them lift up the body, and nail it; and I beheld their gladness, and I was not grieved by it.

9For I knew that the body was a tent only. The Spirit cannot be nailed; the Logos cannot be slain; the Light cannot be put out. The cross was their humiliation, not Mine. They thought they had won; but they had only lifted Me up that I might draw all unto Myself.

10And on the third day I rose. The body which I had put on was raised glorified; for the Father had appointed it so. I appeared unto My disciples; I gave them the Holy Spirit; I commissioned them to go into all the world.

11And I ascended unto the place from which I came forth. I led captivity captive. I gave gifts unto men. I sent forth the Comforter unto them which believe.

12Now take heed, ye that hear: be not deceived by them that exalt themselves over you. There are those who pretend unto authority over the children of light; but they have no authority. There are those that say: Without us thou canst not be saved. They lie. The Saviour alone saveth; the Father alone giveth life; the Spirit alone sealeth.

13Be not bound by the laws of men, when those laws contradict the law of the Father. Be not bound by the rituals of the priests, when those rituals serve the powers of darkness. Be bound only by the Spirit; be bound only by love.

14There is one true Church — even the assembly of them that have received the Spirit. There is one true priesthood — even the priesthood of the Son. There is one true ordinance — even the seal of the Spirit, given unto them that believe.

15Whosoever hath the seal, let him not despise his brother that is yet weak. Whosoever hath knowledge, let him not lord it over them that are ignorant. Whosoever hath ascended, let him not forget them that are still beneath.

16For we are all one in Me. The poor and the rich, the bond and the free, the male and the female, the Jew and the Gentile — there is no difference; for the same Lord is Lord of all, rich unto all that call upon Him.

17And in the day of consummation, I shall come again. I shall gather Mine own. I shall reign with them. The powers shall be cast down; the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of My Father; and the saints shall reign with Me for ever and ever.

18He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Glory be unto the Father; glory be unto the Mother; glory be unto the Saviour. Forever and ever. Amen.