Pistis Sophia

by G.R.S. Mead (Translator), Anonymous

Although it was only discovered the 18th century, the Pistis Sophia was written by early Gnostic Christians, perhaps as early as the 2nd century. The title means both Faith in Wisdom and Wisdom in Faith.

Notable for integrating feminine divinity with Christian faith, unlike conventional Christianity, in the Person of Sophia, she of the Left Hand (as opposed to Christ, identified with the Right Hand).

Genres: Gnosticism, Religion, Spirituality, Theology, Christianity, Philosophy, Mysticism

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1921

About the author

George Robert Stowe Mead, who always published under the initialism G.R.S. Mead, was a historian, writer, editor, translator, and an influential member of the Theosophical Society, as well as founder of the Quest Society. His scholarly works dealt mainly with the Hermetic and Gnostic religions of Late Antiquity, and were exhaustive for the time period.

Reviews

[Jenny Moench · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember the first time I read it, but I recently reread it from beginnning to end and realize that every time I do I notice somthing more than before. Profound things that make you talk out loud to yourself.I'm impressed with all ancient books, I feel like they are windows into life in those times.

[Alexandru · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most interesting read...

There is a strange beauty in this work, and an even greater strangeness in its message. I have read many religious texts, but this one seems very fascinating and original. It is a form of Christianity, maybe more true to the original, yet vastly different from the canonical texts.

Unfortunately, most of the language of the book is cryptic and covered with metaphors. As much information on Gnosticism had been lost, offering a correct interpretation is probably impossible.

Beyond the text and the action, interesting and logical answers come to serious questions that all Christians had pondered at least once in a while: Why is the Universe so full of imperfections? Why there is so much evil in this world ?

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here you will find what might be called the classical "gnostic" text Representative of the Valentinian school, the Pistis Sophia (Faith and Wisdom personified in some sense) gives what often passes for the central myth of gnosticism. Readers of the recently disclosed (by National Geographic most popularly) Gospel of Judas will immediately note the similarity between their cosmological portions--not the point usually emphasized by commentators. I personally wonder at the mindset of the third-fourth century Mediterranean world which invested the heavens with so much meaning. How much is symbolical? How much is meant literally? How much is lost if the astronomical associations are beliefs are removed?

What is left is the kernal of feeling which many moderns share, namely, that this, the quotidian world, our existence in it, is not quite right, not really real. Some of this is simply ethical repulsion at the order of things, political and natural. Some of this is despair at our own personal failings, a sense that the world, other people, our parents, our jobs, our kids bring us down to being less than we could be or really are. There is certainly some truth to this, a truth we conceptualize very differently, we in our representative "democracies", than the ancients, in their autarchies and shameless oligarchies, did. But there is at least this kernal of meaning that connects our decadences. (See my little essay entitled "Millenial Gnosis in the Matrix" for more on this theme).

G.R.S. Mead is to be credited for this early, and influenial, translation. Perhaps he deserves five stars, but I find most such literature tedious to the extreme--thus a compromising three.

[Jon Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter hates women lol. Very eye opening book, and teachings similar to escaping Buddhist samsara cycle.

[Aaron Schiffer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started with an excitement to explore what gnostic literature might have to offer, in terms of rich, arcane world building. Busy, richly populated heavens and other inhuman domains, multiplicities of heretofore unexplored factions, involvements and motivations scarcely intelligible to man.

Then my experience kind of changed. I couldn't help but feel anything but majorly disturbed and depressed that *earnest belief* in this kind of pungent nonsense pervades human heritage. I couldn't finish it.

[Umar Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really gives more context to the teachings of this great being. descriptions of the journeys that are taken to each planet to attain great mysteries and seals. Different orders of the celestials are mentioned with a understanding of there purposes. yashua relationships with his various disciples is shown and his deep teachings that he gave to not only his mother but Mary Magdeline is seen. The chaos wished to consume the light of the beautiful pistis sophia so she cried to the universal divine creator with conviction and trust and eventually she was brought back to her higher station. her words sound very similiar to the verses found in the psalms and proverbs of the hebrews. her creation yalboath is given a format of introduction and alot of questions are answered such as why "god" was amazed at the light and diferent structures within the celestial realms.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I put off reading this book for years because someone described it as long and tedious. But some references to it I read recently convinced me I ought to give it a go. I got Mead's translation as a kindle version because it is cheap and I can easily highlight and make notes in a kindle book. The book did have tedious parts but in the main I thought it moved on well enough. I liked it well enough that I reserved a more up to date translation with notes from the library (over 900 pages!) One feature I thought was interesting was the many references to the canonical N.T., which indicates to me that the canon was pretty well settled by the time Pistis Sophia was written. Another feature which surprised me in this work was the evil nature of Adamas, because othe Gnostic works present him as a good figure.

[Matthew]

Well that was a trip. Supports my thesis of heterodox appropriation of the apostles (the apostles were such a force and well known for receiving Jesus' teaching that heterodox writers had to put their own teachings in Jesus mouth as delivered to the disciples). This whole thing is from a completely different world; if you wonder why books like this aren't in the canon, just read it and ask whether something of this sort has any relation to the background of Jewisj monotheism that Christianity grew out of.

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting read...I think that it was inspired, but not by God, and I don't believe it was written by Mary. Sounds like the viewpoint of Lucifer the angel who was cast out of heaven and resentful and whiny about it.

[Petre · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is written in this book is very confronting when compared to main stream Christianity.

How ever in this book Jesus expounds on some parables found in the common bible revealing it's real meaning and not the meaning pastors tell you.

A lot of this is questions from Jesus disciples and answers from Jesus.

A lot of expose on the light realms and there inhabitants, there is also rather in depth details on what happens in the after life, if you can call it an after life.

Absorbing all the information in this book is rather difficult. The terminologies are difficult to comprehend, one has to try to imagine what a thing Is that Jesus speaks of.

Whether it be Sophia Pistis, Kronos, Adamas, Yaldobaoth or barbello. Trying to perceive this in the mind's eye is hard.
Understanding the consequences of one's sins and it's punishments is daunting.

The doctrines about the rulers really makes sense as to why the earth and the human race is the way it is.

This book really challenges and deconstructs modern Christianity. It also presents itself as a challenge to life itself.

The gnosis is confessed in this unlike in the nag Hammadi but both books share the same themes which is not ironic as these books were found centuries apart.

A great book for self reformation.

[Matthew Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

While often times tedious, this gem is very interesting for those who will take their time. I spent many of a time, stopping and looking up various names I've never seen before. Or having seen names that, at least for a quick search, were unknown to a surface level. Not recommended for anyone that thinks this will be like talking to friend who is high or tripping drugs. While it does get into areas of wonder and celestial bureaucracy, it comes off much more as a Monday office meeting where people are asking seemingly the same question over and over again, until they are allowed to go home.

[Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intricate and bewildering, I don't know if anyone alive today can even fully understand what's going on in this text. I think too much of the necessary context has simply been lost to time. There are so many strange concepts, celestial realms and beings with symbolic names, complex and contradictory cosmologies, it'll make your head spin trying to decipher it. But when you step back and look at the big picture, it does kind of come together - it's the story of spiritual consciousness trapped in a dark illusion, clawing its way back to the light it came from.

[Francis]

i really liked the bit where there was a whole chapter setting up the revelation of a single word and than it was just [ . . .?]

The cosmology was interesting.
Peter's animosity towards Mary shows up again. hmm..

[Gizemnur · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Jesus student's, forgot his name, deadas told him to shut the women up so they can talk? And Mary said she's afraid of him few more chapters before that? What? Hit that man with holy light already.

[AttackGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reincarnation, Egyptian mythology- Mait as well as Greek Gods, with dungeons and dragons, what more could you ask for in a book. Have you read the Book of Enoch or do you know about Amenta?

If the Christians only knew what torture awaits their souls…

[Onur · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars even though i got stuck at the 5th chapter.

[Bee Man · Rating 5 out of 5]

the mystery of the universe.

[Alice Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very complex book, sometimes difficult to grasp and cofusing. A must read though for those who are interested in understanding esoteric Christianity.

[Achamoth]

DNF - incomprehensible

[Santiago González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bastante raro pero es curioso y entretenido, aunque si no vas a hacer un estudio ni lo lees por esoterismo tiene mucha paja.

[Andre Slade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly the most insightful and informative document on Earth. Our current human condition is reflected so well in this ancient text.

[John Mace · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can see why this is considered “hidden knowledge.” Anyone who believes this absolute garbage should be laughed in their faces. I have never read 400 pages of not only nothing but repeated nothing!

[Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

That's like christian cosmology on steroids. A very interesting read for those who are into early Christian sects and gnostic traditions. This edition helps the reader a lot since it organizes the text into chapters and sub-chapters, which is not available in many cases for these early gnostic texts.

[Pablo Cerini · Rating 5 out of 5]

La cura dell' edizione , affidata a Luigi Moraldi , è , come sempre sotto il sigillo di questa firma , ottima .

Pistis Sophia è un crogiuolo di tradizioni religiose e paralleli letterari , una tappa intrigante per chi dopo la lettura dei Vangeli è rimasto con domande irrisolte e non è soddisfatto dalle risposte del Catechismo "ufficiale".

Avvertenza : lo stile di scrittura non è amichevole - è un libro che richiede una certa dose di motivazione da parte di chi lo legge.

[Abrandon]

This was an obscure text... unfamilier to say the least... comprised the words of the messiah whilst remaining on the Earth for a full eleven years after being crucified, killed, and resurrected and before ascending to heaven. These words along with the interpretations of the disciples comprise the discourse inscribed in this text. I did not read on Kindle but rather on a loan copy from the Chicago Public Library system.

[Michael Dobbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love the use of language and it's historical value

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great explanation, deep dive into Gnosticism and the significance of Sophia.