Gospel of Mary

The Saviour's final discourse — concerning matter, sin, the law of nature, the Son of Man within, and the commission unto the disciples to preach the gospel of the kingdom.

1Then Peter said unto Him: Since Thou hast become unto us the interpreter of all things, tell us this — what is the sin of the world?

2And the Saviour answered: There is no sin. Rather, ye yourselves are they that produce sin, when ye do the things which are after the manner of adultery, which is called sin.

3Therefore came the Good among you, even unto every nature, that He might restore it again unto its root.

4Then He continued, and said: Therefore are ye sick and die, because ye love that which deceiveth you. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

5Matter brought forth a passion which hath no equal, and which proceeded from a thing contrary to nature. Then there ariseth a disturbance in the whole body.

6Therefore I said unto you: Be ye of one heart. And if any be unsteady, be ye steadfast in the presence of the various forms of nature.

7He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

8And when the Blessed One had said this, He saluted them all, saying: Peace be with you. Receive my peace within you.

9Take heed lest any deceive you, saying: Lo here, or, Lo there. For the Son of Man is within you. Follow Him.

10They that seek Him shall find Him. Go, therefore, and preach the gospel of the kingdom.

11Lay down no rule beyond what I have appointed unto you, neither give a law like the lawgiver, lest ye be bound thereby.

12And when He had said this, He departed.

13But the disciples were grieved. They wept much, saying: How shall we go forth unto the Gentiles, and preach the gospel of the kingdom of the Son of Man? If they spared not Him, how shall they spare us?

14Then Mary stood up; and she saluted them all. And she said unto her brethren: Weep not, neither sorrow, nor be in doubt. For His grace shall be with you, and shall shelter you.

15Rather, let us praise His greatness; for He hath prepared us, and made us into men.

16When Mary had said these things, she turned their hearts unto the Good, and they began to discuss the words of the Saviour.

17Peter said unto Mary: Sister, we know that the Saviour loved thee more than the rest of women.

18Tell us the words of the Saviour which thou rememberest — the things which thou knowest, but we know not, neither have we heard them.

19Mary answered, and said: That which is hidden from you, that will I declare unto you.

20And she began to speak unto them these words: I, said she, beheld the Lord in a vision; and I said unto Him: Lord, I have seen Thee today in a vision. He answered, and said unto me: Blessed art thou, that thou wast not moved at the sight of me. For where the mind is, there is the treasure.

Mary's vision continued — the Lord teaches her concerning the soul, the seer, and the inward perception.

1Then I said unto Him: Lord, when one beholdeth a vision, doth he behold it through the soul, or through the spirit?

2The Saviour answered, and said: He beholdeth not through the soul, nor through the spirit; but through the mind which is between the two — that is what beholdeth the vision.

3And I said unto Him: Lord, the soul that ascendeth — when she goeth up — by what way shall she pass?

4The Saviour said unto her: Hear, and understand. The soul cometh up; and she meeteth four powers; and she must answer them in order, that she may pass through.

5And I said: Lord, who are these powers?

6He said: The first power is Darkness; the second is Desire; the third is Ignorance; the fourth is the wrathful Wisdom of Death. These four are the powers of wrath.

7But the soul that hath received the seal of the Light shall not be detained by them; for she hath the password, even the name of the Saviour. They shall question her; but she shall answer rightly, and shall pass through.

8And I said: Lord, when she cometh unto the first power, what shall she say?

9He said: She shall say: I have seen thee. Thou hast not seen me; thou hast not known me. I was a garment unto thee, and thou knewest me not.

10Then the first power shall be silenced; and she shall pass through.

11And so likewise unto the second power, and the third, and the fourth. The soul that hath the knowledge shall answer them all; and she shall pass through them all.

12When the Lord had said these things unto me, He withdrew Himself from before me. And I awoke; and I remembered His words. And these are the things which He spake.

Mary recounts the soul's ascent through the four powers — Darkness, Desire, Ignorance, and Wrath in its seven forms.

1And after the soul hath answered the first power, said Mary, she ascendeth and cometh unto the second power. And the second power is Desire.

2And Desire saith unto her: I beheld thee not descending; but now I behold thee ascending. Wherefore liest thou, since thou belongest unto me?

3And the soul answereth, and saith: I beheld thee. Thou hast not beheld me; thou hast not known me. Thou tookest me for a garment; thou hast not recognized me.

4And when she had said these things, she went forth, rejoicing greatly.

5And she came unto the third power, even Ignorance. And Ignorance questioned the soul, saying: Whither goest thou? In wickedness wast thou bound. Indeed, thou wast bound. Judge not, therefore.

6And the soul said: Wherefore dost thou judge me, when I have not judged? I was bound, but I myself bound nothing. I was not recognized; but I myself have known that the All is being dissolved — both the things which are earthly and those which are heavenly.

7And when the soul had brought the third power to nought, she went upward. And she beheld the fourth power, which had seven forms.

8The first form is Darkness. The second is Desire. The third is Ignorance. The fourth is the Excitement of Death. The fifth is the Kingdom of the Flesh. The sixth is the Foolish Wisdom of the Flesh. The seventh is the Wrathful Wisdom.

9These are the seven powers of Wrath. They question the soul: Whence comest thou, slayer of men? Whither goest thou, conqueror of space?

10The soul answereth, and saith: That which bound me hath been slain; and that which surrounded me hath been overcome; and my desire is finished; and Ignorance hath died.

11In an aeon was I loosed from a world, and in a type from a type that is above. From this hour shall I attain the rest of the time, of the season, of the aeon, in silence.

12When Mary had said these things, she was silent — for it was even so far as the Saviour had spoken with her.

13But Andrew answered, and said unto the brethren: Speak, what ye have to say in regard to that which she hath said. For I, for my part, do not believe that the Saviour said this. Surely these doctrines are of strange opinions.

14And Peter answered, and spake concerning these same things. And he asked them concerning the Saviour: Did He, then, speak privately with a woman, in preference to us, and not openly? Are we to turn about, and all hearken unto her? Hath He preferred her over us?

15Then Mary wept, and said unto Peter: My brother Peter, what dost thou suppose? Dost thou suppose that I have devised this in mine heart, of myself, or that I am uttering a falsehood concerning the Saviour?

Levi defends Mary, rebuking Peter; the disciples receive her testimony, and they go forth to proclaim the gospel.

1Levi answered, and said unto Peter: Peter, thou hast ever been hot-tempered. Now I behold thee contending against this woman, even as her adversary.

2Yet, if the Saviour hath made her worthy, who, then, art thou to reject her? Surely the Saviour knoweth her exceeding well. For this cause He loved her more than us.

3Rather, let us be ashamed; and let us put on the perfect Man — let us bring Him forth among us, even as He commanded us. And let us proclaim the gospel, and lay no rule, neither any law, beyond what the Saviour spake unto us.

4And when Levi had said these things, they began to go forth that they might proclaim and preach.

5And the gospel, even the Gospel according to Mary, was sealed up; and it was kept among the holy ones.

6Blessed are they that have received the words of Mary; for they have received the words of the Saviour.

7Blessed are they that have not despised the testimony of a woman; for the woman was the first witness of the resurrection.

8Blessed are they that put on the perfect Man, and walk in His way; for they shall not be detained by the powers, neither shall they be bound by the kingdom of the flesh.

9Glory be unto the Saviour, who hath taught us; and unto Mary, who hath remembered His words; and unto Levi, who hath defended her; and unto all the holy apostles, who have proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom.

10Forever and ever. Amen.