Invocation, by Lord Frederick Leighton [1889] (Public Domain Image)

PISTIS SOPHIA

tr. by G.R.S. Mead

[1921]

from SacredTexts Website

This is G.R.S. Mead's translation of the Pistis Sophia, the most extensive Gnostic scripture available until the discovery of Nag Hammadi texts in 1945.

The Pistis Sophia is a startling blend of primitive Christianity and Hellenic Paganism, with other elements such as reincarnation, Astrology, Mystery religion and Hermetic magic. The Goddess makes an appearance in the guise of Sophia, a fallen angel.

The text is notable because the female disciples of Jesus are treated as active participants in the discourse, in a way that would be unimaginable in later Christianity. Tensions between the men and women disciples are not glossed over. On p. 47, Peter complains that Mary and the other women disciples are monopolizing the discussion with Jesus:

"My Lord, we will not endure this woman, for she taketh the opportunity from us and hath let none of us speak, but she discourseth many times."

Later, Mary (p. 135) expresses her misgivings about Peter:

"I am afraid of Peter, because he threatened me and hateth our sex."

John Bruno Hare

July 3, 2005

Contents

Title Page
 Contents
 Preface
 Introduction
 Annotated Bibliography

The First Book

of Pistis Sophia

Chapter 1
 Chapter 2
 Chapter 3
 Chapter 4
 Chapter 5
 Chapter 6
 Chapter 7
 Chapter 8
 Chapter 9
 Chapter 10
 Chapter 11
 Chapter 12
 Chapter 13
 Chapter 14
 Chapter 15
 Chapter 16
 Chapter 17
 Chapter 18
 Chapter 19
 Chapter 20
 Chapter 21
 Chapter 22
 Chapter 23
 Chapter 24
 Chapter 25
 Chapter 26
 Chapter 27
 Chapter 28
 Chapter 29
 Chapter 30
 Chapter 31
 Chapter 32
 Chapter 33
 Chapter 34
 Chapter 35
 Chapter 36
 Chapter 37
 Chapter 38
 Chapter 39
 Chapter 40
 Chapter 41
 Chapter 42
 Chapter 43
 Chapter 44
 Chapter 45
 Chapter 46
 Chapter 47
 Chapter 48
 Chapter 49
 Chapter 50
 Chapter 51
 Chapter 52
 Chapter 53
 Chapter 54
 Chapter 55
 Chapter 56
 Chapter 57
 Chapter 58
 Chapter 59
 Chapter 60
 Chapter 61
 Chapter 62
 [The Note of a Scribe]

 

 

The Second Book

of Pistis Sophia

Chapter 63
 Chapter 64
 Chapter 65
 Chapter 66
 Chapter 67
 Chapter 68
 Chapter 69
 Chapter 70
 Chapter 71
 Chapter 72
 Chapter 73
 Chapter 74
 Chapter 75
 Chapter 76
 Chapter 77
 Chapter 78
 Chapter 79
 Chapter 80
 Chapter 81
 Chapter 82
 Chapter 83
 Chapter 84
 Chapter 85
 Chapter 86
 Chapter 87
 Chapter 88
 Chapter 89
 Chapter 90
 Chapter 91
 Chapter 92
 Chapter 93
 Chapter 94
 Chapter 95
 Chapter 96
 Chapter 97
 Chapter 98
 Chapter 99
 Chapter 100
 Chapter 101

A Third Book

Chapter 102
 Chapter 103
 Chapter 104
 Chapter 105
 Chapter 106
 Chapter 107
 Chapter 108
 Chapter 109
 Chapter 110
 Chapter 111
 Chapter 112
 Chapter 113
 Chapter 114
 Chapter 115
 Chapter 116
 Chapter 117
 Chapter 118
 Chapter 119
 Chapter 120
 Chapter 121
 Chapter 122
 Chapter 123
 Chapter 124
 Chapter 125

 

A Fourth Book

Chapter 126
 Chapter 127
 Chapter 128
 Chapter 129
 Chapter 130
 Chapter 131
 Chapter 132
 Chapter 133
 Chapter 134
 Chapter 135

A Fifth Book

Chapter 136
 Chapter 137
 Chapter 138
 Chapter 139
 Chapter 140
 Chapter 141
 Chapter 142
 Chapter 143

A Sixth Book

Chapter 144
 Chapter 145
 Chapter 146
 Chapter 147
 Chapter 148
 A Later Postscript