Paraphrase of Shem

Shem son of Noah is taken in vision by Derdekeas and shown the three primeval roots — Light, Spirit, and Darkness — and the long struggle for the redemption of the spark of light from the dark womb.

1The paraphrase which is concerning the unbegotten Spirit. The things which Derdekeas revealed unto me, even Shem son of Noah, in keeping with my will. My thought, which was in my body, snatched me away from my generation. It carried me up unto the height of the world, which is close unto the Light that shone over the All.

2I saw no earthly likeness; rather, only the Light. And my mind was set apart from the body of darkness, as one in sleep is set apart from the body. Then I heard the voice of Derdekeas, my Lord, my friend.

3He said unto me: Shem, since thou art from an unmixed power — and since thou art the first being upon the earth — hearken and understand. The mystery which I shall reveal unto thee, none hath revealed unto thee before.

4There were three roots in the beginning. There was the root of the Light; there was the root of the Spirit; there was the root of the Darkness. The Light was above; the Darkness was below; the Spirit was between them as a veil.

5Now the Light was without bound — peaceful, perfect, full of every glory. And the Light wished to bring forth a likeness of itself. So there came forth from the Light the Mind, even Derdekeas — that is, the firstborn of the Light.

6And the Spirit was the second root — pure, of one substance, midway between the Light and the Darkness. The Spirit beheld the Light, and reached up unto it; and the Spirit beheld the Darkness, and was troubled by it.

7And the Darkness was the third root — disordered, ugly, full of motion without aim, as a sea without shore. The Darkness perceived the Light by means of the Spirit; and it desired the Light. It rose up; it strove to lay hold upon the Light. It troubled the Spirit.

8And the Spirit, in her trouble, was caught between the two. The Light called her up; the Darkness pulled her down. And from the strife of these came forth the world, and all that is in it.

9Now Derdekeas, the firstborn of the Light, beheld the trouble of the Spirit. He had compassion upon her; for she was His sister. He said unto the Father: Send Me down. I shall go down into the Darkness. I shall take upon Myself a form. I shall deceive the powers of darkness, and shall set the Spirit free.

10And the Father consented. So Derdekeas put on a garment of Darkness — that is, a likeness of mortal flesh. He went down into the lower regions. The powers of darkness saw Him; they thought He was one of their own. They drew near unto Him, that they might consume Him. But He withdrew Himself; and at the same time, He put forth His hand, and He took the trapped portion of the Spirit.

11And He brought her up. He cleansed her with the living waters. He robed her with the garment of glory. He set her in the place from which she had been taken. The Father received her; and there was great joy in the courts of the Light.

12But not all the spirit had been delivered. There was yet a remnant of the spark of light in the womb of darkness — even the seed which had been begotten in the long struggle. Derdekeas said: I shall yet descend, even unto the consummation of the age, that I may gather the last spark, and that no portion of the Light may remain in the Darkness for ever.

13And in the latter days, He shall come forth in the form of a man, even Jesus the Christ. He shall be born of a virgin; He shall be lifted up upon a tree; He shall die; He shall rise; He shall ascend. And by His sacrifice, the last spark shall be loosed; the long struggle shall be ended; the Light shall be all in all.

14Then said Shem: Lord, who shall write these things? Who shall keep them? Who shall pass them down unto the generations of men?

15Derdekeas said: Thou shalt write them, O Shem. Thou shalt keep them. Thou shalt pass them on unto thy seed. They shall be a holy people; they shall preserve the words; they shall be a witness unto the truth in the day of the consummation.

16And Shem returned unto his body. And he wrote these words. And he sealed them with the seal of the Spirit. And he hid them in a sure place. They have been preserved unto our day; and they have come forth in the latter time, that the children of light might read them and rejoice.

17Glory be unto the unbegotten Spirit. Glory be unto the firstborn of the Light, even Derdekeas. Glory be unto the Spirit who hath been set free. Glory be unto the seed of Shem, the unshakable race. Forever and ever. Amen.