antilutron corresponding ransom

@everyone 

1timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all

what is the ransom of Jesus?

The term "ransom of Jesus" refers to the concept of redemption or atonement through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ 

what was the price paid for the ransom?

the price paid for the ransom of humanity is considered to be the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

who was paid?

How was the payment made to God? He created everything and needs nothing. The wage of Sin is death. Does not Sin need to be payed off?  

You raise an important point. In Christian theology, the concept of payment for sin is often understood in the context of God's justice and the consequences of sin. While God, as the creator of everything, is indeed self-sufficient and lacks nothing, the concept of payment serves as a way to address the issue of sin and its consequences.

According to Christian beliefs, sin has serious consequences, and the Bible teaches that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). This means that sin leads to physical death and separation from God. In order to address the problem of sin and provide a way for humanity to be reconciled with God, a payment or sacrifice was required.

The concept of payment is used metaphorically to convey the idea that Jesus' sacrifice satisfied the demands of justice and made reconciliation with God possible. It is not a literal transaction of paying off a debt to God, but rather a theological understanding of how Jesus' sacrifice provides redemption and salvation for humanity.

Jehovah's Witnesses and some Christadelphians claim Jesus had Adam's nature before the fall they interprte the word "corresponding" to mean Jesus had Adam's nature

According to the Bible Jesus's nature must correspond to fallen human nature after the fall see Hebrews 2:16,-18 Romans 6:9,10 Gal 4:4-6

16 For indeed He does not [a]give aid to angels, but He does [b]give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being [j]tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

 How could God condemn sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3) if Jesus was not sin’s flesh Himself by physical constitution? To deny that Christ, born of woman, was not as unclean as the bodies He died for is to propound the doctrinal heresy of Antichrist or clean-flesh rampant even in Apostolic Times and resisted by the Apostles (1 John 2).

When God Himself proclaims Himself to be the Redeemer, He announces that He will become "next of kin" to those whom He will save. How did the great Creator become near of kin to us? By manifesting Himself in the flesh (2Co 5:19-21; Rom 8:3), through the birth of a Son who will bear the image and stamp of His character, while at the same time being a man.

That being so begotten of God, and inhabited and used by God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was Emmanuel, God with us, God manifested in the flesh-yet was, during his natural life, of like nature with mortal man, being made of a woman of the house and lineage of David, and therefore a sufferer, in the days of his flesh, from all the effects that came by Adam's transgression including the death that passed upon all men, which he shared by partaking of their physical nature.

That for delivering this message, he was put to death by the Jews and Romans who were, however, but instruments in the hands of God, for the doing of that which He had determined before to be done-namely, the condemnation of sin in the flesh, through the offering of the body of Jesus once for all, as a propitiation to declare the righteousness of God, as a basis for the remission of sins. All who approach God through this crucified, but risen, representative of Adam's disobedient race, are forgiven. Therefore, by a figure, his blood cleanseth from sin.

 Jesus, as God manifest in the flesh, fully participated in the human experience and shared in the physical consequences of Adam's sin. By affirming Jesus' full humanity, Christadelphians emphasize his ability to identify with and redeem humanity, bearing our sins in his own body.

The terms "commercial transaction" and "substitution" are neither scriptural words nor scriptural ideas.

3. If by virtue of the ransom paid to justice a transfer of man's account has been made to the Lord Jesus, then by reason of the purchase, Jesus, not God is the owner of the race.

4. If, as you understand, the sacrifice of Christ was a substitute, a payment, then how can there be real forgiveness with God. A creditor who releases his debtor because someone not his debtor pays the latter's debt, surely cannot claim to have forgiven the debt! If the debt is paid, then there is no longer need for forgiveness.

5. Your substitutionary theory demands the presentation of evidence that Christ himself had a free or unforfeited life by nature of which he would not have died, had he not willingly given his life for others. Such evidence could never come from scripture, for there is "one flesh of man" (1 Cor. 15:39) and Christ was "a man" (1 Tim. 2:5). He was identical with "the flesh and blood nature of his brethren" (Heb. 2:14). Because the life is contained in the blood (Lev. 17:11- 19) the same process of "dying thou shalt die," would have produced death in Christ just the same as it does in his brethren.

6. If Christ. died as "a unforfeited life," a "substitute" or "instead" of us, paying the penalty naturally due to us - death, then he ought not to have risen, (which he did) for his life was what he gave as the redemption price. (John 10:15-18). On a "commercial basis" how can one pay a debt and then get his money back? For Jesus paid his with life, and then received it back (John 10:18).

7. And further, if his death was a part of a commercial transaction, then the redeeming power lay in the death and not in the resurrection, but Paul declares "If Christ has not been raised up, your faith is useless; you are yet in your sins," (1 Cor.15:28).

8. If Jesus died as a substitute for me, paying my penalty, then why should I die? Why is it that for all visible appearances mankind seem to die the same today as they did before this supposed substitute took place? If I am sentenced to jail and a substitute takes my place instead of me, I do not then go to jail with,him!

9. On the basis of the sacrifice of Christ, God forgives sins; (Eph. 4:32). The scriptural language is that Christ died "for us", "tasted death for every man" (Heb. 2:9) and that "if we died together (with him, K.J.), we shall also live together" . (2 Tim. 2:11). This is the language of representation exhibited throughout the types of the Law of Moses; it is not the language of substitution understood as a "commercial transaction". God does not present himself in scripture as One who punishes the innocent instead of the guilty, but rather the wickedness of man will rest "upon his own self" (Ez. 18:20)..

6 who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all Verse 6: "Who gave himself a ransom for all": another "oncer", antilutron, implies the paying of a price for something to be released. It is true that the anti- gives an added meaning to lutron, the word for "ransom" in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45, where the Lord Jesus describes himself as the Son of man who came "to give his life a ransom for many". But the prefix does not imply a substitutionary payment but an adequate one, an equivalent in value: all that Christ resigned in a life of obedience and a death as though he were a sinner since be bore the sins of many, is that which was given back to him, even honour, glory and life everlasting, and it is given also to all those who "die in him". It was his life he gave as a ransom for many: he made "his soul an offering for sin" (Isaiah 53:10). There is no contradiction between the Lord's "for many" and Paul's "for all"; the ransom has infinite value, but the benefits require appropriation (Guthrie, Tyndale Commentary), and not all are prepared to receive what God has offered.

In the phrase a ransom for all 'ransom' is from the Greek anti-lutron where anti means 'equivalent to... ', and lutron is 'the price paid to set a person free' (as in Leviticus 25:48). Christ bought us out of our bondage to "Sin";

However, Paul is referring to a ransom from the bondage of sin which results in eternal death -- "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, who is our Lord". Adam, the man, is the federal head of all natural mankind, including Jesus -- "in Adam all die". Jesus, the Christ, is the federal head, the first born, of mankind after the spirit "in Christ will all be made alive". If Jesus is our Lord, and not human nature, and if the law of Christ overcomes the law of sin in each of us, we shall be ransomed from the wages of sin which is not simply death, the death due to all of Adam's heritage -- but death in the final sense -- and we shall receive eternal life, the gift given to those who are truly, federally in Christ. The ransom paid was 'death' to sin -- to sin's flesh -- to human nature. This is accomplished in us through the forgiveness of our sins through the sacrifice of Christ. Just as by one man's sin, we all became sinners, by one man's righteousness can we all be made righteous. Our minds, hearts and lives must revolve around Christ, His Word, and His Father. Originally we have little choice in the inclination of our natures -- we inherit the tendencies of sin and human nature's consequence. Now, as men and women, we have a choice and we have a way of escape from the finality of death, through the 'ransom' of Christ. A ransom, something of equally-appraised value, was given -- Adam lived, failed and died; Christ died, succeeded and lived -- lives. Truly we may say we have been purchased by precious blood. Truly we can appreciate more than any others the sacrifice of Christ since we know him to have been one of us, yet without sin.

We must recognize the necessity on our part of a holy life and of an admittance and disavowal of our sins. And we must understand that God, by the death of His son, has shown His personal displeasure with sin, and the punishment due for it -- which should rightly fall without mercy upon each of us. We must see that we are saved, not by a bargain between Jesus and God, but only by God's mercy and forgiveness. All this, and more, is encompassed in the concept of Christ as a "ransom for all".

If Christ. died as "a unforfeited life," a "substitute" or "instead" of us, paying the penalty naturally due to us - death, then he ought not to have risen, (which he did) for his life was what he gave as the redemption price. (John 10:15-18). On a "commercial basis" how can one pay a debt and then get his money back? For Jesus paid his with life, and then received it back (John 10:18)

Sin, I say, is a synonym for human nature. Hence, the flesh is invariably regarded as unclean. It is therefore written, "How can he be clean who is born of a woman?" (Job 25:4) "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one." (Job 14:4) "What is man that he should be clean? And he which is born of a woman that he should be righteous? Behold, God putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, who drinketh iniquity like water?" (Job 15:14-16) This view of sin in the flesh is enlightening in the things concerning Jesus. The apostle says, "God made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21); and this he explains in another place by saying, that "He sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Rom. 8:3) in the offering of his body once (Heb. 10:10,12,14). Sin could not have been condemned in the body of Jesus, if it had not existed there. His body was as unclean as the bodies of those for whom he died; for he was born of a woman, and "not one" can bring a clean body out of a defiled body; for "that", says Jesus himself, "which is born of the flesh is flesh" (John 3:6).

We reject that Christ was born with a “unforfeited life”. [A “unforfeited life” signifies that Christ’s nature was not under Adamic condemnation as is that of all other members of the human race, and that therefore his sacrifice was a substitute for the “lives” of others. However, he needed to obtain redemption himself in order to redeem his “brethren” — Gal 4:4; 1Tim. 2:6; Heb. 9:12.]

5. We reject that Christ’s nature was immaculate, or that he was of a different nature from other men. [Through his birth he inherited a nature sin-affected, and destined to death, being mortal, as all others — Heb. 2:14.]

The Figure of Error in the Odes of Solomon

The Figure of Error in Odes of Solomon







First a reading from Ode 38
1 I went up to the light of truth as if into a chariot:
2 And the Truth took me and led me: and carried me across pits and gulleys; and from the rocks and the waves it preserved me:
3 And it became to me a haven of Salvation: and set me on the arms of immortal life:
4 And it went with me and made me rest, and suffered me not to wander, because it was the Truth;
5 And I ran no risk, because I walked with Him;
6 And I did not make an error in anything because I obeyed the Truth.
7 For Error flees away from it, and meets it not: but the Truth proceeds in the right path, and
8 Whatever I did not know, it made clear to me, all the poisons of error, and the plagues of death which they think to be sweetness:
9 And I saw the destroyer of destruction, when the bride who is corrupted is adorned: and the bridegroom who corrupts and is corrupted;
10 And I asked the Truth 'Who are these?'; and He said to me, 'This is the deceiver and the error:
11 And they are alike in the beloved and in his bride: and they lead astray and corrupt the whole world:
12 And they invite many to the banquet, p. 138
13 And give them to drink of the wine of their intoxication, and remove their wisdom and knowledge, and so they make them without intelligence;
14 And then they leave them; and then these go about like madmen corrupting: seeing that-they are without heart, nor do they seek for it!
15 And I was made wise so as not to fall into the hands of the deceiver; and I congratulated myself because the Truth went with me,
16 And I was established and lived and was redeemed,
17 And my foundations were laid on the hand of the Lord: because He established me.
18 For He set the root and watered it and fixed it and blessed it; and its fruits are for ever.
19 It struck deep and sprung up and spread out, and was full and enlarged;
20 And the Lord alone was glorified in His planting and in His husbandry: by His care and by the blessing of His lips,
21 By the beautiful planting of His right hand: and by the discovery of His planting, and by the thought of His mind. Hallelujah.

Now we have read Ode 38 of the Odes of Solomon let us look at the word Error in the Bible


Error in the Bible
05771 עון ‘avon aw-vone’ or עוון ‘avown (#2Ki 7:9; Ps 51:5) aw-vone’ this Hebrew word is normally translated 1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity 1a) iniquity 1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition) 1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
However the new world translation (1983 edition) translates this Hebrew word 05771 עון ‘avon as Error the Watchtower writes this about the word 05771 עון ‘avon:

,`a·won´ is the Hebrew term most frequently linked with or used in parallel with chat·ta´th´ (sin, missing the mark)

Thus, `a·won´ basically relates to erring, acting crookedly or wrongly. The Hebrew term refers to a moral error or wrong, a distortion of what is right. (Job 10:6, 14, 15

The “error” (`awon´) may be intentional or unintentional, either a conscious deviation from what is right or an unknowing act, a “mistake” (shegha·ghah´), which, nevertheless, brings the person into error and guilt before God. (Le 4:13-35; 5:1-6, 14-19; Nu 15:22-29; Ps 19:12, 13) If intentional, then, of course, the error is of far graver consequence than if by mistake. (Nu 15:30, 31; compare La 4:6, 13, 22.)

Error is contrary to truth, and those willfully sinning pervert the truth, a course which only brings forth grosser sin. (Compare Isa 5:18-23.) The apostle Paul speaks of “the deceptive power of sin,” which has a hardening effect on human hearts. (Heb 3:13-15; compare Ex 9:27, 34, 35.)

In the Septuagint the Hebrew word 05771 עון ‘avon is translated by the word G4108 πλάνη plánē


Prov 14:8 ¶ The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray. LXX

LXX Deut 29:19 Job 19:4 Job 35:13 Ec 5:6 Ec 10:5 Isa 19:14 Isa 30:28 Isa 32:6 Jer 4:11 Jer 23:17 Eze 44:13 Eze 48:11 Dan 6:4

G4108 πλάνη plánē, plan'-ay; feminine of G4108 (as abstractly); objectively, fraudulence; subjectively, a straying from orthodoxy or piety:—deceit, to deceive, delusion, error.

Thayer:
1) a wandering, a straying about
1a) one led astray from the right way, roams hither and thither
2) metaph.
2a) mental straying
2a1) error, wrong opinion relative to morals or religion
2b) error which shows itself in action, a wrong mode of acting
2c) error, that which leads into error, deceit or fraud




In the N. T. metaphorically, mental straying, i. e. error, wrong opinion relative to morals or religion Ephesians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:11; 2 Peter 2:18; 2 Peter 3:17; 1 John 4:6; Jude 1:11

Error has a mental condition That which is untrue. Error thoughts represent belief in thoughts and beliefs not of God. Error thoughts have no foundation in Truth. They originate in the intellect. They are eliminated by one's denying their reality and power, and affirming the Truth of Being.

The Odes of Solomon
In the Odes of Solomon Error means to go astray, mislead, deceive, to be deluded, to forget in the Odes Error parallel to nothingness Ode 18:9,10 and linked to knowing Leading astray is characteristic of Error as her own going astray Ode 31:2 Death is parallel to error Ode 15:6-9 Ode 42:11



Ode 15:6 I repudiated the way of error, and went towards Him and received salvation from Him abundantly.

ode 18

10 And You know not error; because neither does it know You.
11 And ignorance appeared like dust, and like the foam of the sea.
12 And vain people thought that it was great, and they became like its type and were impoverished.
13 But those who knew understood and contemplated, and were not polluted by their thoughts;
14 Because they were in the mind of the Most High, and mocked those who were walking in error.
15 Then they spoke the truth, from the breath which the Most High breathed into them.
Praise and great honor to His name.
Hallelujah.

Now with Ode 18 I have noticed a similarity with the Gospel of Truth in Ode 18 ignorance (which is linked to error in verse 10 and 14) appears "like dust and like the foam of the sea", and in the Gospel of Truth ignorance became dense like a fog. I think "dust like the foam of the sea" is a good description of fog

Acquaintance and ignorance The gospel of truth is joy for those who have received from the Father of truth the grace of knowing him, through the power of the Word that came forth from the pleroma, the one who is in the thought and the mind of the Father, that is, the one who is addressed as 'the Savior', (that) being the name of the work he is to perform for the redemption of those who were ignorant of the Father, while in the name of the gospel is the proclamation of hope, being discovery for those who search for him.

When the totality went about searching for the one from whom they had come forth - and the totality was inside of him, the incomprehensible, inconceivable one who is superior to every thought - ignorance of the Father brought about anguish and terror; and the anguish grew solid like a fog, so that no one was able to see. For this reason, error became powerful; it worked on its own matter foolishly, not having known the truth. It set about with a creation, preparing with power and beauty the substitute for the truth.

Acquaintance is gnosis Un-acquaintance is a lack of gnosis or "deficiency" lack is destroyed by the advent of gnosis.

the terms "error" and "lack" are used interchangeably in the Gospel of Truth

ignorance (Un-acquaintance) of the Father brought about Error through anxiety and fear






Ode 18
1 My heart was lifted up and enriched in the love of the Most High, so that I might praise Him with my name.
2 My members were strengthened, that they may not fall from His power.
3 Infirmities fled from my body, and it stood firm for the Lord by His will; because His kingdom is firm.
4 O Lord, for the sake of those who are in need, do not dismiss Your Word from me.
5 Nor, for the sake of their works, withhold Your perfection from me.
6 Let not light be conquered by darkness, nor let truth flee from falsehood.
7 Let Your right hand set our salvation to victory, and let it receive from every region, and preserve it on the side of everyone who is besieged by misfortunes.
8 You are my God, falsehood and death are not in Your mouth; only perfection is Your will.
9 And vanity You know not, because neither does it know You.





Fog is a visible aerosol consisting of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface.


And ignorance appeared like dust, and like the foam of the sea.
And vain people thought that it was great, and they became like its type and were impoverished.


This ignorance of the father brought about terror and fear. And terror became dense like a fog, so no one was able to see. Because of this, error became strong. But she worked on her material substance vainly, because she did not know the truth. She assumed a fashioned figure while she was preparing, in power and in beauty, the substitute for truth.

Error in the Gospel of Truth is not set in the primordial past, as for instance in the Apocryphon of John, but in the time of Jesus’ earthly mission and in the present time of the community

The personification of error represents the "state of consciousness of the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Roman authorities " For this reason error was angry with him, so she persecuted him. She was distressed by him, and she was made powerless. He was nailed to a tree."(Gospel of Truth 18:16-18).

Error is simultaneously a symbolic designation for the group of people that persecuted Jesus and a description of their mental state.

I have found a paraphrase translation of the Gospel of Truth which best explains this:

Ignorance of the Source of Life generates anguish and fear, which are like a fog clouding mortal vision so that mankind cannot perceive the realities of their existence. This is the reason Error is powerful. It has generated its own world, a world of illusions and falsehoods, in which mortal mind is trapped, unable to see the Divine Reality which is beyond those illusions. Error's illusions are often beautiful and desirable to mortal mind, but in the end they melt like the mists they are, and those who embrace them as their reality are left with only darkness in their place. The evils of mortal existence do not reflect the nature of the Parents. They take nothing from Divine perfection, for it has no part in them. The Parents are the Source of all Good, all Light, all Life. That which is not of these flows from Error's illusions. (A paraphrase of the Gospel of Truth: Truths Good News Church of the Pearl)

In the Odes of Solomon and the Gospel of Truth, Error is a personified power opposed to God. Error has characteristics of the human condition 31:25; 32:35


Ode 31:1 Chasms vanished before the Lord, and darkness dissipated before His appearance.
2 Error erred (Error went astray) and perished on account of Him; and contempt received no path, for it was submerged by the truth of the Lord.

Since error is frequently linked with or used in parallel with sin in the Bible it would be logical to conclude in the Odes of Solomon that error is equivalent to sin

Ode 31 a song of triumph sung by the church this Ode represents the victory of christ over sin and death :

Ode 31:1 The abysses [world's religious systems] were dissolved [the Old Covenant and its institutionalized way of things passed away] before the Lord [with the New Covenant]: and darkness [ignorance] was destroyed by His appearance [leaving no excuse]:
2 Error went astray [and tried to kill Him] and perished at His hand [by His power to overcome death]: and folly found no path to walk in [when the physical temple fell these were in great confusion], and was submerged [brought low] by the truth of the Lord [the hidden higher/inward (spiritual) meaning of the Word].

Again this Ode can be linked to the Error of the Gospel of Truth

Jesus the anointed. Through him he enlightened those who were in darkness because of forgetfulness. He enlightened them and gave them a path. And that path is the truth that he taught them. For this reason error was angry with him, so she persecuted him. She was distressed by him, and she was made powerless. He was nailed to a tree. (the Gospel of Truth)

(the Gospel of Truth) Error was upset, not knowing what to do; it was grieved, in mourning, afflicting itself because it knew nothing. When knowledge drew near it - this is the downfall of (error) and all its emanations - error is empty, having nothing inside. Truth appeared; all its emanations knew it. (Ode 18: Because they were in the mind of the Most High, and mocked those who were walking in error.)

Error hates him because he redeems those who are enmeshed in its chains. Error persecuted him but could not overcome him. It tried to destroy him, but its own state of nothingness was manifested in the attempt. He was nailed to a tree; he became a fruit of divine gnosis, (A paraphrase of the Gospel of Truth: Truths Good News Church of the Pearl)
Ode 38



And He went with me and caused me to rest and did not allow me to err; because He was and is the Truth.
And there was no danger for me because I constantly walked with Him; and I did not err in anything because I obeyed Him.
For Error fled from Him, and never met Him.
But Truth was proceeding on the upright way, and whatever I did not understand He exhibited to me:
All the poisons of error, and pains of death which are considered sweetness.
And the corrupting of the Corruptor, I saw when the bride who was corrupting was adorned, and the bridegroom who corrupts and is corrupted.
And I asked the Truth, Who are these? And He said to me: This is the Deceiver and the Error.
And they imitate the Beloved and His Bride, and they cause the world to err and corrupt it.
And they invite many to the wedding feast, and allow them to drink the wine of their intoxication;
So they cause them to vomit up their wisdom and their knowledge, and prepare for them mindlessness.
Then they abandon them; and so they stumble about like mad and corrupted men.
Since there is no understanding in them, neither do they seek it.
But I have been made wise so as not to fall into the hands of the Deceivers, and I myself rejoiced because the Truth had gone with me.
Ode 38 can be compared with Revelation 17 the Beast and the Harlot of Revelation 17 is the Deceiver and Error who resemble the Beloved and his bride. The beloved is Christ and his bride is the church. The counterfeits are the Antichrist (The Pope or papacy) and the harlot woman (the roman catholic church) Rev 17:4
The deceiver and Error are both personifications in Ode 38 of the Antichrist the Pope and the Roman Catholic system

[the word of error found in religious systems];


The feminine error is paired with the masculine deceiver this is the architect of all deception and his companion is Illusion (the illusory self)


and the false " Bride." These appear to mean the parody, or false image, or evil antitype, of the union that should join the true "Bridegroom" with the true "Bride" (Ode 38:69)





The passage in Ode 38:9 14 repeatedly mentions "corrupt" in various forms the Bride that is "corrupted" the Bridegroom that "corrupts and is corrupted" and then others who go about "corrupting."

we are told that the teachers of error operate upon their victims with intoxicating wine (Revelation 17:2) ; and the suggestion arises that the deadly poison has been introduced into the wine (false doctrine), and that the wine thus drugged has been sweetened with honey


The Antichrist is the bridegroom who corrupts and is corrupted ode 38:9 the Deceiver ode:38:10; 2 john 7 and his ally is error typified by the harlot gaily adorned. Christ with his church which is truth and Anitchrist with his companion error


They invite many to the wedding feast, and allow them to drink the wine of their intoxication rev 17:3 17:2 Gospel of Thomas saying 28


Who is the Deceiver? The Deceiver is a personification of sin. Sin is a deceiver (Rom. 7:11).

Human nature is the devil of the Bible, and is a great deceiver (see Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Rom. 7:11; Mark 7:20-23). Moreover, it is manifested in many forms. It can relate to the lust of the flesh, denote a person who incites to evil, describe a government, or an organisation, opposed to the truth, and so forth.
Sin, as the great deceiver of mankind, is there well spoken of as the Liar, the Accuser, the
Slanderer of God—alias the Devil. In its literal aspect, it is, of course, an impersonal thing,
tempting without being a conscious tempter, as expressed by James. "Every man is tempted
when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed; then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth

forth sin: and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death" (James 1:14).

1 I went up to [believed in and accepted] the light of truth [Christ] as if into a chariot [a vessel of (spiritual) war]:
2 And the Truth took me and led me [into more Truth]: and carried me across pits [falsehoods of religion] and gulleys [persecutions - "the shadow of death"]; and from the rocks [governments] and the waves [agitated or raging thoughts of political winds] it [Truth] preserved me:
3 And it [Truth] became to me a haven of Salvation [it set me free]: and set me [established me that I put my trust in] on the arms of immortal life [as opposed to "the arm of flesh"]:
4 And it went with me and made me rest [from my own works], and suffered me not to wander [out of the Way] because it was the Truth [and once you have it, you cannot away with it only throw it to the ground].
5 And I ran no risk [of failure], because I walked with Him [obeyed His Commandments];
5 And I did not make an error for anything [did not allow any errant thoughts to take hold of me] because I obeyed the Truth [which discovers our sins for us and helps us destroy them].
7 For Error [errant thoughts and intents] flees away from it [Truth] and meets it not: but the Truth proceeds in the right path [regardless of being surrounded by Error], and
8 What ever I did not know [in my ignorance in the flesh], it made clear to me [in the spirit of Truth], all the poisons [bitter waters] of error [the lower/outward (fleshly) forms (traditions, ordinances etc.) of religion, government], and the plagues of death [caused by the errant word ("the letter which kills") and has been the basis for unjust wars and killing for almost six thousand years] which they [the religious leaders and their adherents] think to be sweetness [sweet waters - they believe that they are doing a service to God and country]:
9 And I saw the destroyer of destruction [the Messiah], when the [Errant] bride [religion] who is corrupted is adorned [by the world as though she is in incorruption]: and the bridgegroom [the Antichrist, the Pope] who corrupts and is corrupted [from the beginning of her ways (as are all religions)];
10 And I asked the Truth, 'Who are these?'; and He said to me, 'This is the deceiver [the Antichrist, the Pope] and the error ["the mother of harlots" (Rev 17:5) and her daughters - the apostate churches of Christendom from Rome downwards]:
11 And they [the religious leaders] are alike in the beloved and in his bride [his ministers also "transform themselves into angels of light"]: and they lead astray [captive] and corrupt the whole world [under Roman Catholic Cult Laws even unto this day]:
12 And they invite many to the banquet [to eat of their poisoned food],
13 And give them to drink of the [worldly] wine of their intoxication [ignorant stupor], and remove their [ability to acquire] wisdom and knowledge, and so they make them without [spiritual] intelligence [these are clearly spoken of in Isaiah];
14 And then they leave them [to their own devices]; and then these go about like madmen corrupting [this is quite evident in how the rulers of the world are acting today]: seeing that they are with out heart [they have no love in them], nor do they seek for it [they only seek power and glory in the world].'
15 And I was made wise so as not to fall into the hands [under the power] of the deceiver; and I congratulated myself because the Truth went with me,
16 And I was established [in faith] and lived and was redeemed,
17 And my foundations [my conscious/subconscious mind and heart (soul)] were laid on [handed over to] the hand [power of] of the Lord: because He established me [by Grace].
18 For He set the root [the foundation of faith of the True Vine] and watered it [with the Words of Life] and fixed it [removed any spots from the world] and blessed it; and its fruits [of Righteousness] are for ever.
19 It [the root] struck deep [into the hearts of man] and sprung up [within them] and spread out [through their testimony] and was full and enlarged [filled the whole earth];
20 And the Lord alone was glorified in His planting [the Vine] and in His husbandry [the branches]: by His care and by the blessing of His lips,
21 By the beautiful planting of His right hand [the Power in Messiah]: and by the discovery of His planting [by those who found Him (or the lost sheep that He found!)], and by the thought of His mind [which they are being conformed to]. Hallelujah.


The Ode 38 above discussed describes the soul as going up to the region of Truth. Its meaning may be illustrated from another Ode which regards the soul not as going up above, but as being above: (34:4 5) "Whosoever is surrounded on every side by beauty in him there is nothing that is divided [against itself]. The pattern of that which is below is that which is above. For everything soever is above. Below is nothing soever. But it merely seems to be [seems] to those who have no knowledge."

reality of the authorities

 On account of the reality of the authorities, (inspired) by the spirit of the father of truth, the great apostle - referring to the "authorities of the darkness" [The blinding power of sin] - told us that "our contest is not against flesh and blood; rather, the authorities of the universe [the order of things] and the spirits of wickedness." [“the rulers of this dark world”, who at the time were the Romans “Principalities” is translated “magistrate” in Luke 12:11; human “rule”, in the sense of human government, in 1 Corinthians 15:24, and the “power” of the Roman governor in Luke 20:20. So it does not necessarily have reference to any power or prince in heaven. Note that the wrestling is spiritual wrestling to keep the faith (2 Cor. 10: 3-5). This time of evil had already begun as Paul was writing (Eph. 5:16)- “the days are evil’. ] I have sent this (to you) because you inquire about the reality of the authorities. 

This passage from the Hypostasis of the Archons is referencing the "authorities of the darkness," which is interpreted by some to mean the blinding power of sin. The "authorities of the universe" mentioned here are not necessarily referring to any power or prince in heaven, but rather to human government and those who hold power and rule over others. The wrestling mentioned is spiritual wrestling to keep the faith, not a physical struggle against other people. Overall, this passage is emphasizing the importance of recognizing the reality of the forces that can work against us in our spiritual journey and the need to remain steadfast in our faith.

Their chief [the roman empire, and the pontiff maxamus] is blind [SPIRITUAL ) The apostle Paul spoke to the Ephesian congregation about having the eyes of their heart enlightened. (Eph 1:16, 18) Jesus points out that those who profess to be Christians but who are not conscious of their spiritual need are blind and naked, not discerning their pitiful, groping condition. (Re 3:17) Just as being in darkness for a long period of time will cause blindness to the natural eyes, the apostle John points out that a Christian who hates his brother is walking aimlessly in a blinding darkness (1Jo 2:11); and Peter warns that one not developing Christian fruitage, the greatest of which is love, is “blind, shutting his eyes to the light.” (2Pe 1:5-9)]; because of his power and his ignorance [not knowing,] and his arrogance he said, with his power, "It is I who am God; there is none apart from me." When he said this, he sinned against the entirety. [No one you should delude by any turn; because, if not may come the falling away first, and may be revealed the man of the sin, the son of the destruction, 4  he opposing and lifting up himself above all being called a god or an august object, so that him into the temple of the God to be seated, openly showing himself, that he is a god.] And this speech got up to incorruptibility; then there was a voice that came forth from incorruptibility, saying, "You are mistaken, Samael" [It is said that he was the guardian angel of Esau and a patron of the Roman empire. Here he is the pontiff maxamus] - which is, "god of the blind." [the soul-merchants of the earth have been able to establish themselves as the spiritual guides of the people. Blind, intensely blind and intoxicated, they are leading the blind and reeling multitudes into an unfathomable abyss;]

This passage appears to be discussing the spiritual blindness of the chief of the Roman Empire and the pontiff Maxamus. The writer draws upon biblical references to highlight the importance of having spiritual insight and avoiding arrogance and ignorance, which can lead to blindness. The writer also warns against false teachings and false prophets who lead people astray.

The reference to the chief of the Roman Empire and the pontiff Maxamus being blind is likely symbolic of their spiritual blindness, rather than a physical ailment. The writer suggests that their blindness is due to their power, ignorance, and arrogance, which has led them to proclaim themselves as gods. This kind of hubris is seen as a sin against the entirety, suggesting that it goes against the natural order of things.

The passage also references Samael, who is identified as the guardian angel of Esau and a patron of the Roman Empire, and who is addressed as "god of the blind." This could be interpreted as a rebuke of Samael's role in supporting the blindness and arrogance of the Roman Empire and the pontiff Maxamus.

His thoughts became blind. [a blind leader of the blind into the ditch of perdition? The spiritual guides accepted of the people, are the "blind Pharisees" of our day, whose "light within" is the darkness of a "Christendom," apocalyptically designated, "the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt" (Apoc. 11:8)] And, having expelled his power - that is, the blasphemy he had spoken - he pursued it down to chaos and the abyss, his mother [MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."--Revelation 17:5 ], at the instigation of Pistis Sophia. [Sophia is Isis ] And she established each of his offspring in conformity with its power - after the pattern of the realms that are above, for by starting from the invisible world the visible world was invented. 

As incorruptibility looked down into the region of the waters, her image appeared in the waters; and the authorities of the darkness became enamoured of her. But they could not lay hold of that image, which had appeared to them in the waters, because of their weakness - since beings that merely possess a soul cannot lay hold of those that possess a spirit - for they were from below, while it was from above. This is the reason why "incorruptibility looked down into the region (etc.)": so that, by the father's will, she might bring the entirety into union with the light. 

The rulers laid plans and said, "Come, let us create a man that will be soil from the earth." They modeled their creature as one wholly of the earth. Now the rulers [...] body [...] they have [...] female [...] is [...] with the face of a beast. They had taken some soil from the earth and modeled their man after their body and after the image of God that had appeared to them in the waters. They said, "Come, let us lay hold of it by means of the form that we have modeled, so that it may see its male counterpart [...], and we may seize it with the form that we have modeled" - not understanding the force of God, because of their powerlessness. And he breathed into his face; and the man came to have a soul (and remained) upon the ground many days. But they could not make him arise because of their powerlessness. Like storm winds they persisted (in blowing), that they might try to capture that image, which had appeared to them in the waters. And they did not know the identity of its power. 

Now all these things came to pass by the will of the father of the entirety. Afterwards, the spirit saw the soul-endowed man upon the ground. And the spirit came forth from the Adamantine Land; it descended and came to dwell within him, and that man became a living soul. It called his name Adam, since he was found moving upon the ground. A voice came forth from incorruptibility for the assistance of Adam; and the rulers gathered together all the animals of the earth and all the birds of heaven and brought them in to Adam to see what Adam would call them, that he might give a name to each of the birds and all the beasts. 

They took Adam and put him the garden, that he might cultivate it and keep watch over it. And the rulers issued a command to him, saying, "From every tree in the garden shall you eat; yet from the tree of recognizing good and evil do not eat, nor touch it; for the day you eat from it, with death you are going to die." 

They [...] this. They do not understand what they have said to him; rather, by the father's will, they said this in such a way that he might (in fact) eat, and that Adam might <not> regard them as would a man of an exclusively material nature. 

The rulers took counsel with one another and said, "Come, let us cause a deep sleep to fall upon Adam." And he slept. - Now the deep sleep that they "caused to fall upon him, and he slept" is Ignorance. - They opened his side like a living woman. And they built up his side with some flesh in place of her, and Adam came to be endowed only with soul. 

And the spirit-endowed woman came to him and spoke with him, saying, "Arise, Adam." And when he saw her, he said, "It is you who have given me life; you will be called 'mother of the living'. - For it is she who is my mother. It is she who is the physician, and the woman, and she who has given birth." 

Then the authorities came up to their Adam. And when they saw his female counterpart speaking with him, they became agitated with great agitation; and they became enamored of her. They said to one another, "Come, let us sow our seed in her," and they pursued her. And she laughed at them for their witlessness and their blindness; and in their clutches she became a tree, and left before them her shadowy reflection resembling herself; and they defiled it foully. - And they defiled the stamp of her voice, so that by the form they had modeled, together with their (own) image, they made themselves liable to condemnation. 

Then the female spiritual principle came in the snake, the instructor; and it taught them, saying, "What did he say to you? Was it, 'From every tree in the garden shall you eat; yet - from the tree of recognizing good and evil do not eat'?" 

The carnal woman said, "Not only did he say 'Do not eat', but even 'Do not touch it; for the day you eat from it, with death you are going to die.'" 

And the snake, the instructor, said, "With death you shall not die; for it was out of jealousy that he said this to you. Rather your eyes shall open and you shall come to be like gods, recognizing evil and good." And the female instructing principle was taken away from the snake, and she left it behind, merely a thing of the earth. 

And the carnal woman took from the tree and ate; and she gave to her husband as well as herself; and these beings that possessed only a soul, ate. And their imperfection became apparent in their lack of knowledge; and they recognized that they were naked of the spiritual element, and took fig leaves and bound them upon their loins. 

Then the chief ruler came; and he said, "Adam! Where are you?" - for he did not understand what had happened. And Adam said, "I heard your voice and was afraid because I was naked; and I hid." 

The ruler said, "Why did you hide, unless it is because you have eaten from the tree from which alone I commanded you not to eat? And you have eaten!" 

Adam said, "The woman that you gave me, she gave to me and I ate." And the arrogant ruler cursed the woman. 

The woman said, "It was the snake that led me astray and I ate." They turned to the snake and cursed its shadowy reflection, [...] powerless, not comprehending that it was a form they themselves had modeled. From that day, the snake came to be under the curse of the authorities; until the all-powerful man was to come, that curse fell upon the snake. 

They turned to their Adam and took him and expelled him from the garden along with his wife; for they have no blessing, since they too are beneath the curse. Moreover, they threw mankind into great distraction and into a life of toil, so that their mankind might be occupied by worldly affairs, and might not have the opportunity of being devoted to the holy spirit. 

Now afterwards, she bore Cain, their son; and Cain cultivated the land. Thereupon he knew his wife; again becoming pregnant, she bore Abel; and Abel was a herdsman of sheep. Now Cain brought in from the crops of his field, but Abel brought in an offering (from) among his lambs. God looked upon the votive offerings of Abel; but he did not accept the votive offerings of Cain. And carnal Cain pursued Abel, his brother. 

And God said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" 

He answered saying, "Am I, then, my brother's keeper?" 

God said to Cain, "Listen! The voice of your brother's blood is crying up to me! You have sinned with your mouth. It will return to you: anyone who kills Cain will let loose seven vengeances, and you will exist groaning and trembling upon the earth." 

And Adam knew his female counterpart Eve, and she became pregnant, and bore Seth to Adam. And she said, "I have borne another man through God, in place of Abel." Again Eve became pregnant, and she bore Norea. And she said, "He has begotten on me a virgin as an assistance for many generations of mankind." She is the virgin whom the forces did not defile. 

Then mankind began to multiply and improve. The rulers took counsel with one another and said, "Come, let us cause a deluge with our hands and obliterate all flesh, from man to beast." But when the ruler of the forces came to know of their decision, he said to Noah, "Make yourself an ark from some wood that does not rot and hide in it - you and your children and the beasts and the birds of heaven from small to large - and set it upon Mount Sir." 

Then Orea came to him, wanting to board the ark. And when he would not let her, she blew upon the ark and caused it to be consumed by fire. Again he made the ark, for a second time. 

The rulers went to meet her, intending to lead her astray. Their supreme chief said to her, "Your mother Eve came to us." But Norea turned to them and said to them, "It is you who are the rulers of the darkness; you are accursed. And you did not know my mother; instead it was your female counterpart that you knew. For I am not your descendant; rather it is from the world above that I am come." 

The arrogant ruler turned, with all his might, and his countenance came to be like (a) black [...]; he said to her presumptuously, "You must render service to us, as did also your mother Eve; for I have been given [...]." But Norea turned, with the might of [...]; and in a loud voice, she cried out up to the holy one, the God of the entirety, "Rescue me from the rulers of unrighteousness and save me from their clutches - forthwith!" 

The <great> angel came down from the heavens and said to her, "Why are you crying up to God? Why do you act so boldly towards the holy spirit?" 

Norea said, "Who are you?" The rulers of unrighteousness had withdrawn from her. 

He said, "It is I who am Eleleth, sagacity, the great angel who stands in the presence of the holy spirit. I have been sent to speak with you and save you from the grasp of the lawless. And I shall teach you about your root." 

(Norea apparently now speaking) Now as for that angel, I cannot speak of his power: his appearance is like fine gold and his raiment is like snow. No, truly, my mouth cannot bear to speak of his power and the appearance of his face! 

Eleleth, the great angel, spoke to me. "It is I," he said, "who am understanding. I am one of the four light-givers, who stand in the presence of the great invisible spirit. Do you think these rulers have any power over you? None of them can prevail against the root of truth; for on its account he appeared in the final ages; and these authorities will be restrained. And these authorities cannot defile you and that generation; for your abode is in incorruptibility, where the virgin spirit dwells, who is superior to the authorities of chaos and to their universe." 

But I said, "Sir, teach me about the faculty of these authorities - how did they come into being, and by what kind of genesis, and of what material, and who created them and their force?" 

And the great angel Eleleth, understanding, spoke to me: "Within limitless realms dwells incorruptibility. Sophia, who is called Pistis, wanted to create something, alone without her consort; and her product was a celestial thing. A veil exists between the world above and the realms that are below; and shadow came into being beneath the veil; and that shadow became matter; and that shadow was projected apart. And what she had created became a product in the matter, like an aborted fetus. And it assumed a plastic form molded out of shadow, and became an arrogant beast resembling a lion. It was androgynous, as I have already said, because it was from matter that it derived. 

Opening his eyes, he saw a vast quantity of matter without limit; and he became arrogant, saying, "It is I who am God, and there is none other apart from me". When he said this, he sinned against the entirety. And a voice came forth from above the realm of absolute power, saying, "You are mistaken, Samael" - which is, 'god of the blind'. 

And he said, "If any other thing exists before me, let it become visible to me!" And immediately Sophia stretched forth her finger and introduced light into matter; and she pursued it down to the region of chaos. And she returned up to her light; once again darkness [...] matter. 

This ruler, by being androgynous, made himself a vast realm, an extent without limit. And he contemplated creating offspring for himself, and created for himself seven offspring, androgynous just like their parent. And he said to his offspring, "It is I who am god of the entirety." 

And Zoe (Life), the daughter of Pistis Sophia, cried out and said to him, "You are mistaken, Sakla!" - for which the alternative name is Yaltabaoth. She breathed into his face, and her breath became a fiery angel for her; and that angel bound Yaldabaoth and cast him down into Tartaros below the abyss. 

Now when his offspring Sabaoth saw the force of that angel, he repented and condemned his father and his mother, matter. He loathed her, but he sang songs of praise up to Sophia and her daughter Zoe. And Sophia and Zoe caught him up and gave him charge of the seventh heaven, below the veil between above and below. And he is called 'God of the forces, Sabaoth', since he is up above the forces of chaos, for Sophia established him. 

Now when these (events) had come to pass, he made himself a huge four-faced chariot of cherubim, and infinitely many angels to act as ministers, and also harps and lyres. And Sophia took her daughter Zoe and had her sit upon his right to teach him about the things that exist in the eighth (heaven); and the angel of wrath she placed upon his left. Since that day, his right has been called 'life'; and the left has come to represent the unrighteousness of the realm of absolute power above. It was before your time that they came into being. 

Now when Yaldabaoth saw him (Sabaoth) in this great splendor and at this height, he envied him; and the envy became an androgynous product, and this was the origin of envy. And envy engendered death; and death engendered his offspring and gave each of them charge of its heaven; and all the heavens of chaos became full of their multitudes. But it was by the will of the father of the entirety that they all came into being - after the pattern of all the things above - so that the sum of chaos might be attained. 

"There, I have taught you about the pattern of the rulers; and the matter in which it was expressed; and their parent; and their universe." 

But I said, "Sir, am I also from their matter?" 

"You, together with your offspring, are from the primeval father; from above, out of the imperishable light, their souls are come. Thus the authorities cannot approach them, because of the spirit of truth present within them; and all who have become acquainted with this way exist deathless in the midst of dying mankind. Still, that sown element will not become known now. Instead, after three generations it will come to be known, and it has freed them from the bondage of the authorities' error." 

Then I said, "Sir, how much longer?" 

He said to me, "Until the moment when the true man, within a modeled form, reveals the existence of the spirit of truth, which the father has sent. 

Then he will teach them about everything, and he will anoint them with the unction of life eternal, given him from the undominated generation. 

Then they will be freed of blind thought, and they will trample underfoot death, which is of the authorities, and they will ascend into the limitless light where this sown element belongs. 

Then the authorities will relinquish their ages, and their angels will weep over their destruction, and their demons will lament their death. 

Then all the children of the light will be truly acquainted with the truth and their root, and the father of the entirety and the holy spirit. They will all say with a single voice, 'The father's truth is just, and the son presides over the entirety", and from everyone unto the ages of ages, "Holy - holy - holy! Amen!'" 

The Reality 

of the Rulers 

Gnostics and Magic On the Origin of the World The Nag Hammadi Library

Gnostics and Magic On the Origin of the World

an opening from the lyrics of john Lennon song God:  

I don't believe in magic

I don't believe in I-Ching

I don't believe in tarot

I don't believe in Buddha

I don't believe in mantra

I don't believe in Gita

I don't believe in yoga 

Let us return to the aforementioned rulers, so that we may offer some explanation of them. Now, when the seven rulers were cast down from their heavens onto the earth, they made for themselves angels, numerous, demonic, to serve them. And the latter instructed mankind in many kinds of error and magic and potions and worship of idols and spilling of blood and altars and temples and sacrifices and libations to all the spirits of the earth, having their coworker fate, who came into existence by the concord between the gods of injustice and justice. (On the Origin of the World)

Let us return to the aforementioned rulers, so that we may offer some explanation of them. Now, when the seven rulers (bishops) were cast down from their heavens onto the earth (the fall of Jerusalem 70C.E.), they made for themselves angels (other churches which had gone astray), numerous, demonic (see James 3:15 rotherhams bible) , to serve them. And the latter instructed mankind in many kinds of error and magic (witchcraft) and potions (sorcery) and worship of idols (false gods) and spilling of blood and altars and temples and sacrifices and libations to all the spirits of the earth, having their coworker fate, who came into existence by the concord between the gods of injustice and justice. (On the Origin of the World)

, the "rulers" in the text of On the Origin of the World is understood to refer to the bishops or other church leaders who were in power during the time of the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE. The text suggests that these rulers were cast down from their position of authority and influence and became corrupted, leading them to turn away from God and lead their followers astray.

The angels made by these rulers are interpreted as other churches or religious groups that also went astray and followed their false teachings. The various kinds of error, magic, and worship of false gods mentioned in the text are seen as the sins and false teachings of these corrupt church leaders and their followers.

The coworker fate mentioned in the text is understood to be the result of the injustice and corruption of these rulers and their followers. The concord between the gods of injustice and justice implies that there is a balance between good and evil in the world, and that this balance is affected by the actions of individuals and groups, such as the corrupt rulers and their followers. In the text, the rulers (interpreted as bishops or church leaders) instructed mankind in many kinds of error, magic, and potions. This could be interpreted as the corrupt religious leaders promoting false teachings and practices, such as magic and potions, which were seen as forms of witchcraft and sorcery. This would have been viewed as particularly dangerous and misleading to the early Christian community, as they believed in a strict adherence to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. The reference to magic and potions could also be a metaphor for the use of deceitful tactics and manipulation by the corrupt leaders in order to maintain their power and influence over the people.

Witchcraft was direct opposition to God.

Secret arts and uncanny powers presumably used to accomplish things beyond what is natural—associated with spiritistic, occult powers.

All such notions naturally gave rise to a crafty class of magic-practicing priests, who exercised great power over the lives of the people, extorting large payments from those under their influence on the pretense of possessing supernatural powers over and beyond those of the demons. The people believed that these professional sorcerers could invoke the demons to obey but that the demons had no power over the sorcerers.
These spiritistic practices, so-called sciences, were developed and used by the ancient Chaldeans of Babylonia. Isaiah, in the eighth century B.C.E., tells us that Babylon of his day was rife with sorceries of all sorts. (Isa 47:12-15) More than a century later, in the days of Daniel, the magic-practicing priests were still a part of the Babylonian court. (Da 1:20; 2:2, 10, 27; 4:7; 5:11) This expression “magic-practicing priests” is a literal and explicit translation of the Hebrew.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew language describes witches as practitioners of magic and jugglers who pretend through skill in occult science to reveal the future and manipulate life events. God condemns Manasseh, the eldest son of King Hezekiah, for promoting and participating in a variety of related practices, such as observing times, using enchantments and witchcraft, dealing with familiar spirits and wizards, and worshiping the power of images and idols (2 Chr 33:6-7). God abhorred these “abominations of the heathen” (v2) and repeatedly declares their power to be nothing.

In the New Testament Paul identifies several “works of the flesh” including “idolatry and witchcraft.” (Gal 5:19). The Greek word for witchcraft is pharmakeia, Strong’s 5331, which is the origin of the English word for pharmacist. In other words, witchcraft was akin to someone who provided first-century drugs, spells or potions and attributed unexplained happenings to something other than God. Metaphorically, it refers to the deception and seduction of idolatry and witchcraft. Paul even equates this practice with other obvious immoral behavior and reveals that “Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:21 NIV).

In the Revelation, this same Greek word is used to describe the practices of heathen systems that God will destroy in preparation for his Kingdom on earth (Rev 9:21; 18:23; 21:8). Instead of wasting time and money on practices to objects that have no power and are godless, He wants us to follow Him so that He can say, “I will be his God.” (Rev 21:7).

The Law and Witchcraft

God provides several commands about witchcraft shortly after Israel left Egypt. Egypt had been a nation steeped in a culture of mysticism. Moses and Aaron had personally confronted Pharoah’s magicians to contrast their powerlessness with the majesty of God during a protracted appeal to “Let my people go.” (Exod 5:1-3). Through these demonstrations, both Israel and Egypt were to recognize that only God was all-powerful. They could trust in Him to take care of them, control weather and events, and did not need to fear other supposed powers.

Furthermore, the Canaanites were also steeped in the worship of pagan gods and behavior associated with witchcraft. As they prepared to enter and cleanse this land, God issues explicit instructions: “Thou shall not suffer [permit] a witch to live.” (Exod 22:18). This is a strong expression which God repeats in Lev 20:27 and is used to prevent any false sympathy or misplaced tenderness towards a person of such character.

Instead, these individuals were to be rooted out from among the Israelites because witchcraft was considered a capital offence, and an act of rebellion against God and His authority. It was direct opposition to God. Any form of witchcraft practice was strongly opposed in Israel because it implied a use of the supernatural outside of, and hostile to, the power of God.

Shortly after, God reiterates the same explicit instruction: “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them.” (Lev 19:31 ESV). And later, He commands “Let no one be found among you… who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” (Deut 18:10-11 NIV). These practices and people were “detestable to the LORD.” (v. 12). Instead, He emphasizes in the context of both verses that He wanted Israel (and us) to appreciate His sovereignty and unrivalled powers: “I am the LORD your God.” (Lev 19:31; 20:24).

What are the principles we can take from the Law of Moses regarding witchcraft? There are four. 

• The LORD demands absolute loyalty and does not tolerate any involvement with other gods or spirits.
• Israel’s God was the only all-powerful God.
• Those who use witchcraft, sorcery, familiar spirits, or associated practices are opposing God.
• Practitioners of witchcraft were to be exterminated.

Saul and Jacob–Tempted by Witchcraft

God also demonstrates His abhorrence for witchcraft in the life of King Saul. In 1 Samuel 28, the Philistine army confronts Saul, and his heart is filled with fear. Israel was in grave danger and Saul was in desperate need of military advice. He turns first to the LORD, however, because of his earlier disobedience to God, he did not receive an answer (v. 6).

Desperate for direction, Saul then turns to witchcraft: “Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.” (v. 7). Saul’s actions cannot be condoned, and they demonstrate how desperation and impatience can lead to similar sins in our own lives. Earlier, Saul had “put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land” (v. 3), upholding God’s laws that stringently opposed their existence. Ironically, he now returns to these very practices, though Samuel had warned Saul that “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” (1 Sam 15:23). By disobeying God, and consulting a witch, Saul had now sinned in both arenas. Chronicles confirms that he died on both accounts (1 Chr 10:13). If we disobey God and uphold powers other than God’s, we will also distance ourselves from the all-powerful God of this world.

Jacob is another example of someone tempted with the option of witchcraft. But he responded differently than Saul. Genesis suggests that Laban and his daughters were influenced by magic and divination. Leah, his mother, and Rachel both believed that the mandrake plant held special powers of fertility (vv. 14-15), and Leah even imagines they will help her bear children to Jacob (v. 16). Later, Laban confesses his belief in witchcraft when he says, “I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you [Jacob].” (v. 27 ESV). Finally, as Jacob prepares to leave Laban for Canaan, Rachel steals the household idols of her father, which were believed to hold special powers, and presumably would benefit their travels (Gen 31:19 ESV).

However, in stark contrast, Jacob instead attributes the powers working in his life to be from God. He states, “The God of my father has been with me” (v. 5), “God has not allowed him [Laban] to harm me” (v. 7), “God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me” (v. 9), “God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands.” (v42). Jacob never attributes any of his children, prosperity, or difficulties to the powers of divination, images, witches, or mysticism which influenced Laban and his daughters. He always attributes them to the true God of Israel, as it should also be with us as fellow believers.

Summary

If we really believe the records of Israel, Saul, Jacob, and Paul mentioned above, then we will not be able to accept that witches or witchcraft will have any effect upon us or others. Like Jacob, we must have faith that God is with us and will help us with our lives in good times and bad. The examples considered show that witches do not have power over God’s people–which we know we are, by reason of our calling and baptism.

In summary God’s Word teaches us that:

• God’s people must seek counsel from God through prayers and believing.
• Believers need to retain their faith in God, even in the most adverse of circumstances and not only despise witchcraft, but also root it out.
• God deems witchcraft as a human fabrication, employed to cheat others. Witchcraft is powerless.
• Those who believe or practice witchcraft must be rebuked through God’s word, so that they may have hope of the coming Kingdom of God.
• Brethren should not associate themselves with witchcraft of believe in other supernatural powers. 

Valentinian Interpretation of Genesis 1

Valentinian Interpretation of Genesis 1

By the late second century, the Gnostic movement had developed a rather involved cosmology. Although it varied widely and should not be oversimplified, a basic outline can be useful for our understanding

The "classical" Gnostic mythology posits a sort of prologue to the Judeo-Christian version of creation as described in the Book of Genesis.

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. [b]So the evening and the morning were the first day.
6 Then God said, “Let there be a [c]firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great [d]lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living [e]creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the [f]firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [h]moves on the earth.”
29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is [i]life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Against Heresies (Book I, Chapter 18):

Moses, then, they declare, by his mode of beginning the account of the creation, has at the commencement pointed out the mother of all things when he says, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth; Genesis 1:1 for, as they maintain, by naming these four —God, beginning, heaven, and earth — he set forth their Tetrad. Indicating also its invisible and hidden nature, he said, Now the earth was invisible and unformed. Genesis 1:2 They will have it, moreover, that he spoke of the second Tetrad, the offspring of the first, in this way — by naming an abyss and darkness, in which were also water, and the Spirit moving upon the water. Then, proceeding to mention the Decad, he names light, day, night, the firmament, the evening, the morning, dry land, sea, plants, and, in the tenth place, trees. Thus, by means of these ten names, he indicated the ten Æons. The power of the Duodecad, again, was shadowed forth by him thus:— He names the sun, moon, stars, seasons, years, whales, fishes, reptiles, birds, quadrupeds, wild beasts, and after all these, in the twelfth place, man. Thus they teach that the Triacontad was spoken of through Moses by the Spirit. Moreover, man also, being formed after the image of the power above, had in himself that ability which flows from the one source. This ability was seated in the region of the brain, from which four faculties proceed, after the image of the Tetrad above, and these are called: the first, sight, the second, hearing, the third, smell, and the fourth, taste. And they say that the Ogdoad is indicated by man in this way: that he possesses two ears, the like number of eyes, also two nostrils, and a twofold taste, namely, of bitter and sweet. Moreover, they teach that the whole man contains the entire image of the Triacontad as follows: In his hands, by means of his fingers, he bears the Decad; and in his whole body the Duodecad, inasmuch as his body is divided into twelve members; for they portion that out, as the body of Truth is divided by them — a point of which we have already spoken. But the Ogdoad, as being unspeakable and invisible, is understood as hidden in the viscera.

According to this passage, the Gnostic believers saw the creation account in Genesis as a representation of the emanation of the aeons, which are divine beings or spiritual powers. The first Tetrad is represented by God, beginning, heaven, and earth, while the second Tetrad is represented by an abyss, darkness, water, and the Spirit. The Ten Æons are represented by light, day, night, the firmament, the evening, the morning, dry land, sea, plants, and trees. The Duodecad is represented by the sun, moon, stars, seasons, years, whales, fishes, reptiles, birds, quadrupeds, wild beasts, and man.

The believers also believed that man was formed after the image of the power above, and that man had in himself the ability that flows from the one source. This ability was seated in the region of the brain, from which four faculties proceed after the image of the Tetrad above, namely, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. The Ogdoad, as being unspeakable and invisible, is understood as hidden in the viscera.

Therefore, according to this passage, the Gnostic believers saw the creation account in Genesis as a representation of the emanation of the aeons, and they interpreted the different elements of the creation account as symbols of the different aeons or spiritual powers.

The Gnostics believed that Genesis 1 contains hidden symbolic meanings that reveal the emanation of the 30 Aeons, or divine attributes, from the one ultimate source. They interpreted the text as follows:

• The first Tetrad (God, beginning, heaven, and earth) represents the ultimate source from which the Aeons emanate. This source is invisible and hidden, like the earth before it was formed.
• The second Tetrad (abyss, darkness, water, and Spirit) represents the four Aeons that emanate from the first Tetrad. These Aeons are also invisible and hidden.
• The Decad (light, day, night, firmament, evening, morning, dry land, sea, plants, trees) represents the next 10 Aeons that emanate from the second Tetrad. These Aeons are more visible and manifest than the first four.
• The Duodecad (sun, moon, stars, seasons, years, whales, fishes, reptiles, birds, quadrupeds, wild beasts, and man) represents the final 12 Aeons that emanate from the Decad. These Aeons are the most visible and manifest of all.
• The Ogdoad (eight Aeons) is unspeakable and invisible, but is hidden within man's body. Man is created in the image of the ultimate source and contains within himself the same abilities as the Aeons.

The Gnostics also believed that man's physical form reflected the divine order of the Aeons. Man's four senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste) correspond to the first Tetrad, and his eight bodily orifices (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and a twofold taste) correspond to the Ogdoad. Man's 12 body parts correspond to the Duodecad, and his 10 fingers correspond to the Decad.

In summary, the Gnostics believed that Genesis 1 contains a hidden message about the emanation of the 30 Aeons from the ultimate source. They saw this message reflected in the physical form of man, who is created in the image of the divine.