Gospel of Truth

The gospel as the joy of those who have received from the Father the grace of knowing Him through the Word; the great forgetfulness, the fog of error, and the coming of the Word.

1The gospel of truth is joy unto them that have received from the Father of truth the grace of knowing Him by means of the Word, even Him that hath come forth from the fulness.

2He which is in the thought and the mind of the Father — that is, He whom they call the Saviour — for that is the name of the work which He must perform for the redemption of them that knew not the Father.

3Now the name of the gospel is the manifestation of hope, since it is a finding for them that seek Him.

4Inasmuch as the All sought after Him, even Him from whom it came forth — and the All was within Him, He whom no man can grasp, He whom no man can comprehend, who is greater than all thought.

5Such ignorance of the Father gave forth anguish and terror; and the anguish became dense like a fog, that no man could see.

6For this cause error grew strong; she wrought her matter in vainness, since she knew not the truth. She set herself to fashion creation, preparing in power and beauty a substitute for the truth.

7And this was no humbling for Him, the unsearchable, the incomprehensible — for the anguish, the forgetfulness, and the figure of falsehood were as nothing, while the truth which is steadfast is unchangeable, undisturbed, and not to be adorned.

8Therefore, despise error. Forasmuch as she had no root, she was within a fog with regard to the Father, while she made ready works and forgetfulnesses and terrors, that by these she might allure them of the middle and might capture them.

9Forgetfulness of error was not revealed. It is not a thing of the Father. Forgetfulness came not into being from the Father, even if it came into being on account of Him. But what cometh into being in Him is knowledge — that which appeared, that the forgetfulness might be undone, and that they might know the Father.

10Since forgetfulness came into being because the Father was not known — when, therefore, the Father is known, from that moment forward forgetfulness shall no more be.

11This is the gospel of Him whom they seek; that gospel which He hath revealed unto them that are perfect, by the mercies of the Father, the hidden mystery, even Jesus the Christ.

12Through Him He enlightened them that were in darkness on account of forgetfulness. He enlightened them, and gave them a way; and the way is the truth which He taught them.

13For this cause error was wroth against Him; she persecuted Him. She was distressed by Him; she was put to nought. He was nailed unto a tree. He became the fruit of the knowledge of the Father.

14And it brought not destruction because they did eat thereof. Rather, unto them that did eat of it, it gave to find themselves; and to Him it gave to find them in Himself.

15He, the incomprehensible, the inconceivable, even the Father, the perfect One who created the All — in Him is the All; the All hath need of Him, since He kept its perfection within Himself, the perfection which He had not given unto the All.

16The Father was not jealous; for what jealousy might there be between Him and His members? For if this aeon had received its perfection in such manner, they had not been able to come unto the Father — He that keepeth their perfection within Himself, giving it unto them as a return unto Him, and as knowledge perfectly unique.

17He it is that ordered the All; in Him is the All; the All hath need of Him.

18Even as it is with a man who is unknown, but men desire to know him and to love him; so it is — for what need had the All, save the knowledge of the Father?

19He hath become a guide, in repose and in leisure. In their midst He stepped forth; He spake the Word as a teacher, and they came unto Him, the wise according to their own thinking. They tested Him; but He confounded them, in that they were vain, and they hated Him because they were not truly wise.

20After all these came also the little children, even unto whom belongeth the knowledge of the Father. When they had been confirmed and had learned the aspects of the countenance of the Father, they have known, and they were known. They were glorified, and they have given glory.

21There came forth in their hearts the living book of the living, even that which was written in the thought and the mind of the Father, which from the foundation of the All abode in His incomprehensibleness — that book which none could take, since it remaineth for him to take it that shall be slain.

22None of them which believe in salvation could be revealed, so long as that book had not appeared. For this cause the merciful and faithful one, even Jesus, was patient: He suffered them to take this book, since He knew that His death is life for many.

The Living Book and the cross — Jesus, putting on the testament, takes the book to Himself; the awakening from the nightmare of forgetfulness; the Father's perfume.

1Even as the wealth which is hidden in a testament, so long as it is unopened, the substance of the house remaineth hidden — so was it concerning the All, the All which was hidden, while the Father of the All was unseen, He that is from Himself, He from whom every space cometh forth.

2For this cause did Jesus appear; He put that book upon Himself; He was nailed upon a cross; He affixed the ordinance of the Father unto the cross.

3Oh, this great teaching! He bringeth Himself down even unto death, while life eternal clotheth Him. He stripped Himself of the perishable rags; He put on incorruption, which none can take from Him.

4He entered into the empty places of the terrors. He passed through them which were stripped by forgetfulness, even as One that hath knowledge and perfection. He proclaimed the things of the heart of the Father, that He might make wise them that should receive instruction.

5But they that should receive instruction are the living, that are written in the book of the living. They receive instruction concerning themselves; they receive it from the Father; they turn again unto Him.

6Forasmuch as the perfection of the All is in the Father, it is needful that the All come up unto Him. He that hath knowledge knoweth from whence he came, and whither he goeth. He knoweth as one who having become drunken hath turned from his drunkenness; being returned unto himself, he hath set his own things in order.

7He hath turned many from error. He hath gone before them unto their own places, even from which they had departed when they had received error, on account of the depth of Him that surroundeth every space, and beside whom there is none that can surround Him.

8It was a great wonder that they were in the Father, knowing Him not, and that they were able to come forth on their own — since indeed they were not able to comprehend Him in whom they were, neither was it possible that they should comprehend themselves.

9For this cause was His will an established thing among them. He hath taken thought of those whom He hath revealed; He hath given them the means to know Him; that is, the knowledge of the living book — even that book which He hath revealed unto the aeons in the last hour.

10And as the All looked upon the Word, even Jesus, who hath made known the Father, even Him that calleth Himself the way, the truth, and the life — and as they were instructed by Him concerning the Father, the All was glad, and there was great joy in the assemblies of the holy ones.

11It was as a man asleep, who, finding himself in dreams of terror — fleeing now, weak in pursuit, falling from a height, being struck down by stripes — when he awaketh, he beholdeth nothing of these things; for they were nothing, and he letteth them go like a dream of the night.

12He esteemeth the labour wherein he was entangled as nothing, since he hath cast it from him as a dream. So is the knowledge of the Father unto them that have received it: it is the dawn.

13And so each one acteth as one who hath been asleep at the time of his ignorance — and so doth he leave it, even as he putteth aside dreams of the night, and esteemeth the knowledge of the Father as the light. So hath each one done; so hath each one acted, when he knew not the Father.

14But when he hath received instruction, he can no longer fall asleep. He hath awaked; and he that hath awaked, blessed is he, for he hath turned away his blindness.

15The Spirit hath run after him, that He might raise him up; she hath given a hand unto him that lieth upon the ground; she hath set him upon his feet, for he hath not yet risen.

16He hath given them the means to know the knowledge of the Father, and the manifestation of His Son. For when they have seen Him, and when they have heard Him, He hath given them to taste Him, and to scent Him, and to handle the Beloved Son.

17When the Word that is hidden in the silence of the bosom of the Father came forth, and clothed Himself with the body — though many a stumbling-block He encountered — yet there came forth from Him a perfume.

18Even as cool oils that are sent forth, so the perfume of the Father went out unto them that knew Him not, and gave unto them an odour of life.

19He sent forth oil that they might be healed by His ointment. The ointment is the mercy of the Father; He shall have mercy upon them. But them whom He hath anointed are them that are perfect.

20Now full vessels are them that are sealed. When the seal of one of them is broken, the vessel emptieth, and the cause that it leaketh is the lack of its seal. For a breath bloweth thereon, and it leaveth, drawn off by power. But upon him that is whole, no seal is broken — neither emptieth he, nor doth aught issue from him; rather, what he lacketh, the perfect Father filleth again.

21He is good. He knoweth His seedlings; for He hath sown them in His paradise. Now His paradise is His place of rest.

22This is the perfection in the thought of the Father; and these are the words of His meditation. Each of His words is a work of His one will, in the manifestation of His Word.

23While they were yet in the depth of His mind, the Word that came forth first revealed them, together with a mind that uttereth, the One Word in the silent grace, was called Thought, since they were in it before being made manifest.

24It came to pass, then, that He came forth first, at the season when it was pleasing unto the will of Him that willed it.

The Father, the Son, and the children — the names written in the heart, the shepherd seeking the sheep, the good Father, and the day of the Sabbath.

1Now the will is that wherein the Father resteth, and which hath pleasure in Him. Without it nothing happeneth, neither doth aught happen without the will of the Father. Yet His will is unsearchable.

2His will is His track, and none shall apprehend it; nor doth it stand still, that any might lay hold of it. But, on the contrary, what He willeth — that is what cometh to be — even if the sight of it pleaseth them not in any wise before God: namely, the will of the Father.

3For He knoweth the beginning of all, and their end. For unto their end shall He greet them; the end is the receiving of the knowledge of Him that is hidden — that is, the Father, He from whom proceeded the beginning, and unto whom shall return all that have come forth from Him. They have appeared unto the glory and the joy of His name.

4Now the name of the Father is the Son. He it is who, in the beginning, gave a name unto Him that hath come forth from Him, even the Son. He hath imparted unto Him His name, even Him that belonged unto Him. He, even the Father — the things that are, His are. He hath the Name; He hath the Son. The Son hath been allowed by Him to see, that the Name is the great thing.

5Therefore the name of the Father is the Son. It is unto Him that He hath given His name, when He hath come forth from Him, the Father. He spake His secrets, knowing that the Father is without evil.

6For this very cause did He bring Him forth, that He might speak concerning the place, and concerning His place of rest, from whence He hath come forth, that He might glorify the fulness, even the greatness of His name, and the sweetness of the Father.

7Each of the places shall speak concerning the place from which it hath come; and unto the lot which it hath received from His being in a certain place, it shall return again.

8He shall be ravished from his place — even the place wherein he hath stood — by tasting Him, and by being nourished, and by growing. And his own place of rest is his fulness.

9Therefore all the emanations of the Father are fulnesses; and the root of all His emanations is in Him from whom they all sprang up — and they have appointed places for them.

10Now they all have made manifest, that they may bring forth from themselves; for they bring forth that which knoweth them. He hath taken pleasure in the manifestation of Himself, and they have known the Father.

11He told them concerning Him that the All cannot search out, even Him whose name no man can pronounce, even the Father.

12Their joy was the knowledge of Him; and they all came forth on this account, that they might know Him. And as for them that have a name and the Holy One — at the time when He shall pronounce them — Him whose name He hath spoken, that one is in being, but only at the time when He hath spoken his name.

13He whose name He hath not spoken is not. For how shall any man hearken, except his name be called? For he that abideth in ignorance unto the end is the creation of forgetfulness, and shall be undone with it. Else why should these wretched ones have no name? Why is there for them no calling?

14Therefore, he that hath knowledge is from the high. If he be called, he heareth, and he answereth. He turneth himself unto Him that calleth, and goeth up unto Him. He knoweth in what manner he is called. Possessing knowledge, he doeth the will of Him that hath called him. He desireth to please Him, and he obtaineth rest.

15His own name is given unto him. He that obtaineth knowledge in this manner, knoweth from whence he came, and whither he goeth. He knoweth as one that hath been drunken, and that hath returned to soberness, and is risen up: he hath set his own things in order.

16He hath turned many from error; he hath gone before them unto their places, from whence they had departed when they had received error. He shall not be jealous of them; he shall be diligent in their stead. He shall correct them in love.

17Speak ye of the truth with them which seek it; speak ye of knowledge with them which have wrought sin in their error. Make ye sure the foot of them that have stumbled, and stretch ye out your hand unto them that are sick. Feed ye the hungry, and give rest unto the weary, and raise up them that have a will to rise. Awake ye them that sleep — for ye are the understanding which is being drawn forth.

18If strength is wrought thus, it becometh stronger. Look ye unto your own selves; concern ye yourselves not with other things, even with these which ye have cast off from yourselves. Return ye not unto them, that ye may eat them up. Be not moths, neither be ye worms; for ye have already shaken these off.

19Be ye not a place for the devil, since ye have already brought him to nought. Strengthen not your last stumblings, for they have come to nothing. For the unrighteous one is what he is, namely, nothing.

20But the righteous one — judge ye him not, for he hath been steadfast in his uprightness.

21Forsooth, do ye therefore the will of the Father, since ye are of Him.

22For the Father is sweet; and in His will is goodness. He hath taken cognizance of the things that are yours, that ye should rest in them. By their fruits men know the things that are yours; for the children of the Father are His sweetness, and they are of His countenance.

23For this cause the Father hath loved His sweetness, and is pleased with it everywhere; for in the aeons that are above, having no birthmarks, neither beings of flesh, His children are perfect and worthy of His name; for it is such children whom the Father loveth.

24But what is it which He hath compelled to find Him? He desireth that they shall know Him by means of His sweetness. So is the place. So is His happiness, that He shall come forth at the time of finding the lost sheep.

25He rejoiceth that he hath found him, for ninety-nine is a number which is in the left hand, which holdeth it. But when the one is found, the whole sum is transferred unto the right hand. Even thus is that which lacketh the One — that is, the entire right hand — which draweth that wherein it hath need, taketh it from the side of the left, and bringeth it unto the right. So the number becometh a hundred. Now this is the symbol of the sound of the numbers; this is the Father.

26Even on a sabbath did He labour for the sheep which He had found fallen into the pit. He saved the life of the sheep; and He led it forth from the pit, that ye might know with the heart, ye who are children of the heart, what manner of thing the sabbath is, wherein the salvation should not be unfruitful.

The place of rest — the children abide in the Father; they speak from the day that is above; they are the perfume, the truth, and the love of the Father, even unto the Beloved Son.

1Speak ye from the heart, for ye are the day which is perfect, and within you abideth the light which faileth not.

2Speak ye of the truth with them which seek it, and of knowledge with them which have committed sin in error. Make sure the foot of them that have stumbled. Stretch your hands forth unto them that are sick. Nourish the hungry. Give rest unto them that are weary. Raise up them that have a will to rise. Wake them that sleep — for ye are the wisdom that is drawn forth.

3If thus strength acteth, it becometh stronger.

4Such is the manner of them that have brought aught from above. They that the Father hath caused to come into being are perfect men, that they may give utterance unto the Father, and find rest in Him; that they may speak of His perfection, and that they should be in Him.

5Each one of them shall manifest his own image. They are sons of the knowledge of the Father, even sons of His knowledge. Of His countenance are they; and as cherubim do they ever bow before the truth of His name.

6Now they that have come from the depth shall not be hindered, neither shall they that lacked the Father go astray. They shall ever in His name find their abode and abound. They shall be filled in unspeakable joy.

7And in His unmovable repose they shall be exalted. They are the truth of the Father; and they are in Him: this perfect — this perfection of being indissoluble in Him — even He which is Himself good.

8There is no needing of soul amongst them. Hearing alone is theirs; and they need not aught else, for the One that is in the Father is theirs. They had begun to know the truth before strangers had begun to come; their root is in the depth, and they are uplifted unto the height of the perfection of the Father — even Him that is filled with goodness toward them.

9He, even He which is Himself the good. They lack nothing, but they have rest, fresh in the Spirit. They shall hearken unto their root. They have leisure for themselves; they that shall find their root; and they shall be no more diminished in their soul.

10Such is the place of the blessed: this is their place.

11Now the others, in their places — let them say of me that what is becoming for me, after the place of rest, is to speak nothing more. But it is in it that I shall be, and to be cleaving in all to the Father of the All, and the true brethren — them upon whom the love of the Father is poured out, and in whose midst there is no lack of Him.

12It is they who are in truth made manifest in the true and eternal life, and who speak of the Light which is perfect, and which is filled with the seed of the Father, and which is in His heart and in His pleroma.

13And His Spirit doth rejoice in it, and doth glorify Him in whom it was: for He is good. And His children are perfect, and worthy of His name.

14For such children doth the Father love.