The Concept of Our Great Power

1THE CONCEPT OF OUR GREAT POWER (VI ,4) Introduced by F r a n c is E. W illiams Translated by F r e d e r ik W isse Edited by D ou g la s M . P a r r o t t The Concept o f Our Great Power is a Christian Gnostic “ salvation history.” Beginning with creation, it recounts the workings of God’s justice and mercy in the conflict between good and evil, ending with the final beatitude. Unusually for a gnostic work the tractate is “ apocalyptic,” that is, its climax is a dramatic de­ scription of the end of the world. Even here, however, it betrays its gnostic char­ acter; in gnostic fashion it expects no general resurrection, and contemplates the salvation of nothing material. “ Our great power” is the document’s supreme God. He is transcendent and “ above all powers” - including the Old Testament God, the “ Father of the flesh.” However, he intervenes in history; it is he who builds the ark and rescues Noah from the flood. The very first lines of the tractate make it clear that human salvation depends upon knowing our great power. As the title has probably been taken from the first line, it might well be rendered “ the perception of our great power,” or even “the knowledge of our great power.” In the manner typical of apocalyptic, the tractate divides all history into three “ aeons.” The first, the “ aeon of the flesh,” ends with the flood. In the second, or “ psychic” aeon, the revealer appears. He is clearly meant to be the New Testa­ ment Christ, though the author avoids that title and is careful not to say explicitly that the revealer is crucified. The second aeon ends with a war among wicked angelic rulers - the “ Ar­ chons” - the appearance of an antichristlike figure, and the destruction of the world by fire. Though the fire consumes matter, it purifies souls; together with “ the saints,” the purified souls then live forever in the great power’s “ indestruct­ ible aeon.” While the tractate’s message is clear in broad outline, its details are often puzzling. Some figures well known from other gnostic theology - “ the Mother,” for example - are mentioned but seem to play no part in the story. Incidents sometimes repeat themselves, or come at unexpected places in the nar­ rative - thus the fire can be understood to destroy the universe twice. The transi­ tions between episodes are often abrupt; so, likewise, are the changes in the person of pronouns and the person and tense of verbs. Of a few passages it is even difficult to make connected sense. Some of the problems can be solved simply by an attentive reading of the trac­ tate, and a recent interpretation has presented the work as a self-consistent whole. Ohther investigators, however, may still feel that the document has undergone more than one redaction, or at least been extensively glossed. In par­ ticular, the question whether an original Jewish apocalypse underlies certain por­ tions of the work seems worthy of investigation. Even the language of the tractate, a mixture of Sahidic and Subakhmimic dia­ lects of Coptic, calls for explanation. It may simply be that a Sahidic-speaking scribe attempted to translate a Subakhmimic writing into his own dialect. Some, however, explain the language as “ proto-Sahidic,” a stage of Coptic earlier than that of the Sahidic New Testament. Questions of the tractate’s date and provenance are bound up with those of its language and presumed literary history. If the language is felt to be protoSahidic, the document will be dated rather early. There is, however, an apparent reference to the Anhomoean heresy; one who sees this as stemming from the original author, rather than a glossator, will wish to place the document in the fourth century C.E. Similar uncertainties make it difficult to determine the document’s prove­ nance. If the statement that the Word “ appeared in the east at the first” is the author’s, the tractate might come from Asia Minor. If the words in question are a gloss, there is less reason to hold this view. THE CONCEPT OF OUR GREAT POWER VI 36, 1-48, 15 The Perception of Understanding 1 The Concept (or: Thought) of the Great Power 1 He who will know our great 1 Power will become invisible, 5 and fire 1 will not be able to consume him. But it (i.e. the fire) will 1 purge and destroy 1 all your (pi.) possessions. For 1 everyone in whom my form 10 will appear will be 1 saved, from (the age of) seven days 1 up to one hun­ dred and twenty years. 1 (Those) whom I constrained to 1 gather all that is fallen, - and 15 the writings of our great Power, in order that 1 he (i.e. the Power) may inscribe your (sg.) name 1 in our great light - and 1 their thoughts 1 and their works may be ended, 20 that they may be purged, 1 and be scattered, and be 1 destroyed, and be gathered in 1 the place which no one 1 in it sees. But 25 you (pi.) will see me and 1 you will prepare your dwelling places 1 in our great Power. Know 1 how what has departed 1 came to be, in order that you 30 may

2THE CONCEPT OF OUR GREAT POWER (V I,4 ) know how to discern 1 what lives to become: 1 of what appearance 1 that aeon is, or 37 what kind it is, or 1 how it [will] come to be. [Why] 1 do you not ask what [kind] 1 you will become, 5 (or) rather how you came to be? 1 Discern what size 1 the water is, that it is immeasurable 1 (and) incom­ prehensible, both its beginning 1 and its end. It supports the earth; it 10 blows in the air where 1 the gods and the angels are. 1 But in him who is exalted 1 above all these there is the fear 1 and the light, and 15 in him are my writings revealed. 1 I have given them as a service 1 to the crea­ tion of the physical things, for 1 it is not possible for anyone to stand 1 without that One, nor 20 is it possible for the aeon to live 1 without him. It is he who possesses 1 what is in him by discerning 1 (it) in purity. Then 1 behold the Spirit and know 25 where he is. He gave himself to 1 men that they may receive life 1 from him every day, 1 since he has his life within 1 him; he gives to them all. Then 30 the darkness together with Hades 1 took the fire. And 1 he (i.e. the darkness) will release from himself what is mine. 1 His eyes were not able 1 to endure my light. 35 After the spirits and the waters moved, 38 the remainder came into being: 1 the whole aeon of the crea­ tion 1 and their (powers). 1 [The] fire came forth from 5 them and the Power came in 1 the midst of the powers. And the 1 powers desired to see my 1 image. And the soul became 1 its (i.e. my image’s) replica. This i s 10 the work that came into being. See 1 what it is like, that 1 be­ fore it comes into being it does not see, 1 because the aeon 1 of the flesh came to be in the great bodies. 15 And there were apportioned to them 1 long days in the creation. 1 For when they had polluted themselves 1 and had entered into the flesh, 1 the father of the flesh, 20 the water, avenged 1 himself. For when 1 he had found that Noah was pious 1 (and) worthy 1 - and it is the father of the flesh who holds 25 the angels in subjection. 1 And he (i.e. Noah) preached piety 1 for one hundred and twenty 1 years. And no one 1 listened to him. And he 30 made a wooden ark, 1 and whom he had found entered 1 it. And the flood 1 took place. 39 And thus Noah was saved 1 with his sons. For if [indeed] 1 (the) ark had not been meant for man 1 to enter, then the water 5 of the flood would 1 not have come. In this way he intended 1 (and) planned to save (the) gods 1 and the angels, and the powers, 1 the greatness of all of these, 10 and the (nourishm ent) and the way of life. 1 And he moves them from 1 the aeon (and) nourishes them 1 in the perm anent places. And the judgment 1 of the flesh was unleashed. 15 Only the work of the Power stood up. 1

3Next the psychic 1 aeon. It is a small one, 1 which is mixed with bodies, 1 by begetting in the souls (and) defiling (them). 20 For the first defilement of the creation 1 found strength. And it begot 1 every work: many works 1 of wrath, anger, 1 envy, malice, hatred, 25 slander, con­ tempt 1 and war, lying and 1 evil counsels, sorrows 1 and pleasures, 1 basenesses and defilements, 30 falsehoods and diseases, 1 evil judgments 1 that they decree according to their 1 desires. Yet you are sleeping, 40 dreaming dreams. Wake up 1 and return, 1 taste and eat 1 the true food! Hand out the word 5 and the water of life! Cease 1 from the evil lusts and 1 desires and (the teachings of) the Anomoeans, 1 evil heresies 1 that have no basis. And 10 the mother of the fire was impotent. 1 She brought the fire upon the soul and 1 the earth, and she burned all <the> dwellings 1 that are in it (fern.). 1 And its (fem.) shepherd perished. 15 Moreover, when she does not find (anything else) to burn, 1 she will destroy herself. And 1 it (the fire?) will become incorporeal, 1 without body, and it will burn matter, 1 until it has cleansed 20 everything, - and all wickedness. 1 For when it does not find 1 anything else to burn, it will turn 1 against itself until it has destroyed itself. 1 Then, in this aeon, which 25 is the psychic one, 1 the man will come into being 1 who knows the great Power. 1 He will receive (me) and he will know me. 1 He will drink from the milk of 30 the mother, in fact. He will speak 1 in parables; he will proclaim 1 the aeon that is to come, 41 just as he spoke in 1 the first aeon of the flesh 1 as Noah. Now con­ cerning 1 his words, which he uttered, 5 he spoke in all of them, 1 in seventy-two tongues. 1 And he opened the gates 1 of the heavens with his words. 1 And he put to shame the 10 ruler of Hades; he raised 1 the dead, and 1 he destroyed his dominion. 1 Then a great disturbance 1 took place. 15 The archons raised up their wrath against him. 1 They wanted to hand him over 1 to the ruler of Ha­ des. 1 Then they recognized one of 1 his followers. 20 A fire took hold of his (i.e. Judas’) 1 soul. He handed 1 him over, since no one knew 1 him. They acted and seized 1 him. They brought 25 judgment upon themselves. 1 And they delivered him up 1 to the ruler 1 of Hades. And they handed 1 him over to Sasabek 30 for nine bronze coins. He pre­ pared 1 himself to go down and 1 put them to shame. Then 1 the ruler of Hades took him. 42 And he found that the nature of his flesh 1 could not be seized, 1 in order to show it to the archons. 1 But he was saying: “ Who is 5 this? What is it? His word has 1 abolished the law of the aeon. 1 He is from the Logos of the power 1 of life.” And he was vieTHE CONCEPT OF OUR GREAT POWER (V I,4 ) 31 5 torious over the command 1 of the archons, and 10 they were not able by their work 1 to rule over him. The archons 1 searched after that which had come to pass. 1 They did not know that this is the sign 1 of their dissolution, and (that) 15 it is the change of the aeon. The sun 1 set during the day; that day 1 became dark. The evil spirits were 1 troubled. And after these things he will ap­ pear 1 ascending. 20 And 1 the sign of the aeon that is to come will ap­ pear. 1 And the aeons will dissolve, 1 And those who would 1 know these things 25 that were discussed with them, will become 1 blessed. And they 1 will reveal them, and 1 they will become blessed, since 1 they will come to know the truth. 30 For you (pi.) have found rest in 1 the heavens. Then many 1 will follow him, and they will 1 labor in their birth places. 43 They will go about; they will write down 1 his words accord­ ing to <their) desire. 1 Behold, these aeons have passed. 1 What size 5 is the water of 1 the aeon that has 1 dissolved? 1 What dimensions do aeons have? How 1 will men prepare themselves, 10 and how will they be established, and how will they become 1 indestructible aeons? But at first, 1 after his preaching 1 - it is he who proclaims the sec­ ond aeon, 1 and the first. 15 And the first aeon 1 perished in the course of time. 1 He made the first aeon, going about 1 in it until it perished 1 while preaching one hundred and twenty 20 years in number. 1 This is the perfect number 1 that is highly exalted. 1 He made the border of the West 1 desolate, and he 25 destroyed the East. Then 1 your (sg.) seed and those who wish 1 to follow our 1 great Lo­ gos and his proclamation - . 1 Then the wrath of the archons 30 burned. They were ashamed 1 of their dissolution. 1 And they fumed and were angry 1 at the life. The cities were (overturned); 1 the mountains dis­ solve. 35 The archon came, with the 44 archons of the western regions, to 1 the East, i.e., that place 1 where the Logos appeared 1 at first. Then 5 the earth trembled, and the cities 1 were troubled. Moreover, the birds 1 ate and were filled 1 with their dead. The earth 1 mourned together with the inhabited world; 10 they became desolate. Then when the 1 times were completed, then wickedness 1 arose mightily even until the final 1 end of the Logos. Then 1 the archon of the western regions arose, 15 and from the East 1 he will perform a work, and he will instruct 1 men in his wickedness. 1 And he wants to nullify 1 all teaching, the words of true wisdom, 20 while loving the lying wis­ dom. For 1 he attacked the old, wishing 1 to introduce wickedness 1 and

4to put on 1 dignity. He was incapable, 25 because the defilement 1 <of> his garments is great. Then he 1 became angry. He appeared and desired 1 to go up and to pass up 1 to that place. Then 30 the appointed time came and drew near. And 1 he changed the commands. Then 1 the time came until 1 the child had grown up. 1 When he had come to his maturity, 45 then the archons sent 1 the imita­ tor to 1 that man in order that they might know 1 our great Power. And 5 they were expecting from 1 him that he would perform for them a 1 sign. And he bore 1 great signs. And he 1 reigned over the whole earth and 10 <over> all those who are under heaven. 1 He placed his throne upon the end 1 of the earth, for “ I shall 1 <make> you (sg.) god of the world.” 1 He will perform signs 15 and wonders. Then they 1 will turn from me, and they will go astray. 1 Then those men 1 who will follow after him (i.e. the imitator) 1 will introduce circumcision. 20 And he will pronounce judgment upon those who are from the 1 uncircumcision, who are 1 the (true) people. For in fact he sent many 1 preachers beforehand, who preached 1 on his behalf. When 25 he has completed the established 1 time of the kingdom 1 of the earth, then 1 the cleansing of the souls 1 will come, since 30 wicked­ ness is stronger than you (pi.). 1 All the powers of the sea will tremble 1 and dry up. And the firmament 1 will not pour down dew. 1 The springs will 35 cease. The rivers will not flow 46 down to their springs. And 1 the waters of the springs of 1 the earth will cease. Then the depths 1 will be laid bare and they will open. The stars 5 will grow in size, and the sun will cease. 1 And I shall withdraw with 1 everyone who will know me. 1 And they will enter into the 1 immeasurable light, (where) there is 10 no one of the flesh nor 1 the wantonness of the first 1 to seize them. They will be un­ hampered 1 (and) holy, since nothing 1 drags them down. I 15 myself protect them, 1 since they have 1 holy garments, which 1 the fire cannot touch, 1 nor darkness nor 20 wind nor a moment, so as 1 to cause one to shut the eyes. Then 1 he will come to destroy all of them. 1 And they will be chas­ tised 1 until they become pure. 25 Moreover their period, which was 1 given to them to have power, which 1 was apportioned to them, (is) fourteen 1 hundred and sixty years. 1 When the fire has 30 consumed them all, and when 1 it does not find anything else to burn, 1 then it will perish by its own hand. 1 Then the [...] will be completed 47 [...] 1 the [second] power [... ] 1 the mercy will come [... ] 1 through wisdom [. ..] 5 Then the firmaments [will fall] 1 down into the depth. Then [the] 1 sons of matter will perish; they 1 will not be, henceforth. 1

5THE CONCEPT OF OUR GREAT POWER (V I,4 ) Then the souls will appear, 10 who are holy through the 1 light of the Power, who is exalted 1 above all powers, the immeasurable, 1 the universal one, I and 1 all those who will know me. 15 And they will be in the aeon 1 of beauty of 1 the aeon of judgment, since they are ready 1 in wisdom, having given glory 1 to him who is in the 20 incomprehen­ sible unity; and they 1 see him because of his will, 1 which is in them. And 1 they all have become as reflections 1 in his light. They 25 all have shone, and they have found rest 1 in his rest. 1 And he will release the souls that 1 are being punished, 1 and they will come to be 30 in purity. And they will 1 see the saints and 1 cry out to them, 1 “ Have mercy on us, O Power who art above 1 all powers.” For 48 [... ] and in the tree 1 [of] iniquity that exists 1 [... ] to him their eyes. 1 [And they] do not seek him 5 because they do not seek us 1 nor do they believe us, 1 but they acted according to the creation of 1 the ar­ chons and its other rulers. 1 But we have acted according to our 10 birth of the flesh, in the creation 1 of the archons, which gives law. 1 We also have come to be 1 in the unchangeable aeon. 1 The Concept of Our Great 15 Power