The Nature of Sin The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

The Nature of Sin  

or

The Nature of Adultery 

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

A Study on The Nature of Sin from The Gospel of Mary Magdalene :  

An opening reading from the Gospel of Mary Magdalene Chapter 4

(Pages 1 to 6 of the manuscript, containing chapters 1 - 3, are lost. The extant text starts on page 7...)

. . . Will matter then be destroyed or not?

22) The Savior said, All nature, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another, and they will be resolved again into their own roots.
23) For the nature of matter is resolved into the roots of its own nature alone.
24) He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
25) Peter said to him, Since you have explained everything to us, tell us this also: What is the sin of the world?
26) The Savior said There is no sin, but it is you who make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called sin.
27) That is why the Good came into your midst, to the essence of every nature in order to restore it to its root.
28) Then He continued and said, That is why you become sick and die, for you are deprived of the one who can heal you.
29) He who has a mind to understand, let him understand.
30) Matter gave birth to a passion that has no equal, which proceeded from something contrary to nature. Then there arises a disturbance in its whole body.
31) That is why I said to you, Be of good courage, and if you are discouraged be encouraged in the presence of the different forms of nature.
32) He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

expositor of The Gospel of Mary Magdalene 

22) The Savior said, All nature, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another, and they will be resolved again into their own roots.

Matter (hyle) and nature (physis) are two different Greek words

all natures all formations all creatures designates the totality of all that exists and has been created 

the message is that all this will pass away 

the word Root here denotes origin 

All nature will dissolve into its own Root that is a resolution into dust. 

The word root is used three times in the text. 3 times  in verses 22, 23 and 27 

Sin is described as the nature of adultery

25) Peter said to him, Since you have explained everything to us, tell us this also: What is the sin of the world?

the sin of the world about which Peter asks is defined by Jesus as the essence of fornication or the nature of adultery and death 

sin literally means to “miss the mark” (amatrion) like an archer shooting a bow and arrow missing the target. Sin, in it's most comprehensive definition is "to miss the mark" - whether morally (transgression) or physically. Mankind was initially created with the intention of sharing in God's glory, both physically and morally. Mankind has "missed the mark" both physically and morally. Due to the events in Eden, we are created (in the womb) in that fallen state, and thus born in sin.

.26) The Savior said There is no sin, but it is you who make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called sin.

"There is no sin" that is there is no such thing as the transgression of the law

While insisting that no sin exists as such, the Savior goes on to clarify that people do produce sin when they wrongly follow the desires of their natural sinful nature instead of nurturing their spiritual selves

For the Gospel of Mary, therefore, sin is not a matter of right and wrong acts; rather it has to do with the body, the body of sin or the flesh which produces sin which brings forth death

"but it is you who make sin" the disciples themselves produce or make sin by acting in accordance with the nature of adultery

The unilluminated thinking of the flesh gives birth to the "works of the flesh; which are, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,

The "the nature of adultery" is allegorical of those over whom sin reigns, thus shown in their obeying it in the lusts thereof. They are styled "the servants of sin" (Rom. 6:12,17,19); or, "the weeds" (Matt. 13:25,38).

Christ, in rebuking the Jews of his day, accused them of spiritual fornication: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do" (John 8:44). The Jews saw the point of the Lord's rebuke and denied that they were "born of fornication" (v. 41); but, in fact, their attitude demonstrated that they were.

Sin is that physical principle of the animal nature, which is the cause of all its diseases, death, and resolution into dust. Inasmuch as this physical principle pervades every part of the flesh, the animal nature is styled 'sinful flesh'. that is, 'flesh full of sin'... Sin, I say, is an equivalent expression for human nature'

The flesh produces sin which brings forth death

27) For this reason, the Good came among you, pursuing (the good) which belongs to every nature. It will set it within its root.

The Good is the name that the Gospel of Mary Magdalene uses for God. When we are cut off from the Good, death and disease and other material things arise due to the false beliefs caused by the “sin of adultery”.

Here the root of perishable mater is contrasted with the proper root of a person's true spiritual nature which the good will establish

The closing words of Jesus's reply show that the starting point of Peter's question are his preceding reflections on mater nature and origin these conceptions are picked up in the word root (The Apocryphal Gospels: An Introduction)

28) Then He continued and said, That is why you become sick and die, for you are deprived of the one who can heal you.
29) He who has a mind to understand, let him understand.

28) This is why you get sick and die: because [you love] what deceives [you]. [Anyone who] thinks should consider (these matters)!

 "This is why you get sick and die" those physical effects produced by sin which Paul calls ‘sin that dwelleth in me,’

People's own fleshly bodies deceive them and lead them to a fatal love of perishable material nature which is the source of the passions as well as physical suffering and death. True knowledge can never be based upon unreliable senses

Sickness and death indicate an attachment to what is perishable; such attachment disturbs the whole body. This attachment arises because matter brings forth wrong thinking and ignorance, which give rise to the passions of fear, grief, desire, and bodily pleasures that lead the soul to align itself toward fleeting material concerns. Because passions are rooted in ignorance, they are contrary to the true nature of things instituted by God. The Savior teaches the disciples instead to align themselves (“become rooted”) toward the true nature (image) of the Good, which is divine and eternal. True contentment of heart comes from transforming to the true Images of nature that come from God (Romans 12:2)

30) Matter gave birth to a passion which has no Image because it derives from what is contrary to nature.

For the Gospel of Mary, the sinfulness of the human condition, the estrangement from God  is caused by matter giving birth to passion

Next the psychic aeon. It is a small one, which is mixed with bodies, by begetting in the souls (and) defiling (them). For the first defilement of the creation found strength. And it begot every work: many works of wrath, anger, envy, malice, hatred, slander, contempt and war, lying and evil counsels, sorrows and pleasures, that they decree according to their desires. (The Concept of Our Great Power, The Nag Hammadi Library)

The Nature of Adultery or the begetting in the souls which defiles them should not be understood literally as natural human offspring's rather it is sin conceiving in the brain flesh  

Jas 3:15  This wisdom is not one, from above, coming down, but is earthly, born of the soul, demoniacal! (Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible)

Philo of Alexandria: Now the female offspring of the soul are wickedness and passion,

Psalm 7:14, ESV: Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. 

(40) Jesus said, "A grapevine has been planted outside of the father, but being unsound, it will be pulled up by its roots and destroyed."

To say that passion has no image means that it is not part of the Father' planting or not a true reflection of the good

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

Ps 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

Ps 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

Because the passions are tied to suffering and deception and because no evil or falsehood belongs to the Good no divine image of passion can really exist because it lacks a heavenly origin. Everything which is true and good is an image of the true

What is the Ego? Philippians 2:3

What is the Ego?

Philippians 2

2 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any sharing of spirit, if any tender affections and compassions, 2 make my joy full in that YOU are of the same mind and have the same love, being joined together in soul, holding the one thought in mind, 3 doing nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with lowliness of mind considering that the others are superior to YOU, 4 keeping an eye, not in personal interest upon just YOUR own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others

Galatians 5

25 If we are living by spirit, let us go on walking orderly also by spirit. 26 Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another.

ego--The I. The ego is man, and by reason of his self-will he makes and remakes as he wills. In this lie his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. The ego is of itself possessed of nothing. It is a mere ignorant child in the Mind of Being, but through the door of its consciousness must pass all the outward senses.

egotism--A state of consciousness built up by the will functioning in the outward senses. In this false expression it looks upon itself as great, honourable, mighty. Egotism stops the flow of spiritual life in the mind and heart of the believer.

We understand that the enemy is within us. Our natural impulse is to indulge and satisfy self. The flesh and the spirit battle for our mind constantly. This natural tendency to translate everything in our lives indulgently is reflected in the fact that the blood rushes through our body powered by the heart. We are told that the heart is the greatest deceiver in creation. “The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it? ” (Jer. 17:9).

Our ego catapults self-interest to the forefront of our attention. Daily readings, Bible study and prayer subdues the power of the ego. Over a period of time the reflective mind, remembering the pain of past ego-driven mistakes, will grow in wisdom. But ego never disappears. It can only be suppressed and its power limited by the constant reintroduction of spiritual thinking.

there are 2 egos the carnal and the spiritual

ego, carnal--When the self-will attaches itself toward the outward senses of consciousness, it builds the ego, which has no basis in new life of the believer. This is known as the old man of the flesh or the carnal mind. It is the thinking of the flesh that causes all the trouble in the world.

ego, spiritual--The true self; an individualized center of the Christ Consciousness; as Paul says in
Galatians 2:20
20 I am impaled along with Christ. It is no longer I that live, but it is Christ that is living in me. Indeed, the life that I now live in flesh I live by the faith that is toward the Son of God, who loved me and handed himself over for me.
21 I do not shove aside the undeserved kindness of God; for if righteousness is through law, Christ actually died for nothing;

 It is no longer I that live, but it is Christ that is living in me this is conscious identity. with Christ our real self

What is the Serpent

What is the Serpent?

 the word “serpent” immediately suggests an animal, so it Is NATURALLY taken LITERALLY. Understood SPIRITUALLY it is a FIGURE OF SPEECH.

XV. (53) "And they were both naked, both Adam and his wife, and they were not ashamed; but the serpent was the most subtle of all the beasts that were upon the earth, which the Lord God had Made:"{11}{#ge 2:25; 3:1.}--the mind is naked, which is clothed neither with vice nor with virtue, but which is really stripped of both: just as the soul of an infant child, which has no share in either virtue or vice, is stripped of all coverings, and is completely naked: for these things are the coverings of the soul, by which it is enveloped and concealed, good being the garment of the virtuous soul, and evil the robe of the wicked soul. (54) And the soul is made naked in these ways. Once, when it is in an unchangeable state, and is entirely free from all vices, and has discarded and laid aside the covering of all the passions. Philo of Alexandria

XVIII. (71) "Now the serpent was the most subtle of all the beasts which are upon the earth, which the Lord God Made."{21}{#ge 3:1.} Two things having been previously created, that is, mind and outward sense, and these also having been stripped naked in the manner which has already been shown, it follows of necessity that pleasure, which brings these two together, must be the third, for the purpose of facilitating the comprehension of the objects of intellect and of outward sense: for neither could the mind, without the outward sense, be able to comprehend the nature of any animal or of any plant, or of a stone or of a piece of wood, or, in short, of any substance whatever; nor could the outward sense exercise its proper faculties without the mind. Philo of Alexandria

the aforesaid serpent is the symbol of pleasure, because in the first place he is destitute of feet, and crawls on his belly with his face downwards. In the second place, because he uses lumps of clay for food. Thirdly, because he bears poison in his teeth, by which it is his nature to kill those who are bitten by him.

The serpent In whose mouth Is the poison of death, signifies a sinful person according to God's definition (given in Psalm 140:1-3; Romans 3:12-13; Matthew 12:34).

 The name “serpent” was attributed to those MEN who Jesus and John the Baptist had encountered (Matthew 3:7; 12:34; Luke 3:7).  Hence when the word serpent is used to indicate an intelligent  reasoning creature having guile (deceit) in his mouth, It SIGNIFIES a man exhibiting such characteristics.

The serpent a symbol of the Sense consciousness or the desire of unspiritualized man for sensation. He seeks satisfaction through the appetite. By listening to the serpent of sense, man falls to his lowest estate.

The "serpent" of the garden of Eden is the outward senses of consciousness or the carnal mind. The serpent is the symbol of pleasure. It may also be called desire, and sensation, or the activity of life in an external expression, apart from the Source of life.

The meaning of senses Proverbs 20:12

The meaning of senses

Proverbs 20:12 - The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made even both of them.

The sense consciousness--A mental state formed from believing in and acting through the outward senses. It is the consciousness of sin, linked with emotions (body) and feelings (mind).

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

the meaning of this is clear the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

"Operating upon the brain [physical], it [indwelling sin] excites the 'propensities', and these set the 'intellect' [mental], and 'sentiments' [moral] to work. The propensities are blind, and so are the intellect and sentiments in a purely natural state; when therefore, the latter operate under the sole impulse of the propensities, 'the understanding is darkened through ignorance, because of the blindness of the heart'". (Elpis Israel, p . 127)

Decisions based on outward appearances--the senses--produce conflicting thoughts

Romans 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

And again, when the spiritual mind is awake the outward sense or carnal mind is extinguished; when we discard the exercise of our senses; and so, when the mind rises up again and awakens, the outward sense is put an end to.

Therefore, the awakening of the outward senses or the carnal mind is the sleep of the spiritual mind or the Christ consciousness; and the awakening of the spiritual mind is the discharge of the outward senses from all occupation. Just as when the sun arises the brightness of all the rest of the stars becomes invisible; but when the sun sets, they are seen. And so, like the sun, the spiritual mind or the Christ consciousness, when it is awakened, overshadows the outward senses, but when it goes to sleep it permits them to shine.



Reuben Chapter 1
2:1 And now hear me, my children, what things I saw concerning the seven spirits of error, when I repented.
2:2 For seven spirits are established against man, and they are the sources of the deeds of youth.
2:3 And seven other spirits are given to man at creation, so that by them every human deed is done.
2:4 The first is the spirit of life, The first spirit is of life, with which man's whole being is created.. The second is the spirit of sight, with which comes desire.
2:5 The third is the spirit of hearing, with which comes instruction. The fourth is the spirit of smell, with which is given tastes for drawing air and breath.
2:6 The fifth is the spirit of speech, with which comes knowledge.
2:7 The sixth is the spirit of taste, for consuming food and drink; by it comes strength, because in food is the substance of strength.
2:8 The seventh is the spirit of procreation and intercourse, with which comes sin through fondness for pleasure.
2:9 For this reason, it is the last in order of creation, and the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leads the youth as a blind man into a ditch, and like an animal over a cliff.

Reuben Chapter 2
3:1 In addition to all these there is an eighth spirit of sleep, with which is brought about the trance of nature and the image of death.
3:2 With these spirits are mingled the spirits of error.
3:3 First, the spirit of fornication resides in the nature and in the senses; the second, the spirit of insatiableness, in the stomach; the third, the spirit of fighting, in the liver.
3:4 The fourth is the spirit of flattery and trickery, in order that through excessive effort one might appear to be at the height of his power.
3:5 The fifth is the spirit of pride, that one may be boastful and arrogant. The sixth is the spirit of lying, which through destructiveness and rivalry, handles his affairs smoothly and secretively even with his relatives and his household.
3:6 The seventh is the spirit of injustice, with which are thefts and acts of rapacity, that a man may fulfil the desire of his heart; for injustice works together with the other spirits by the taking of gifts.
3:7 And with all these the spirit of sleep is joined which is that of error and fantasy.
3:8 And so every young man is destroyed, darkening his mind from the truth, and not understanding the Law of God, nor obeying the admonitions of his fathers as befell me also in my youth.
3:9 And now, my children, love the truth, and it will preserve you: hear you the words of Reuben your father.

Treatise on the Five Senses From a Spiritual View

Treatise on the Five Senses From a Spiritual View

It would seem to the astute believer, coupled with an inherent faith that the scriptures are actually true; that what is heavenly (spiritual) is couched or contained in that which is earthly (fleshly - in types and images).  With this in mind we must venture into the visible (physical) bodies five senses in order to understand what the hidden "spiritual" five senses might be.  Since the physical senses are used as a catalyst for sin to gain entrance and mastery over the flesh and effectively steal our souls (hearts) from us (which is best termed "spiritual thievery"), it would be prudent and wise to understand this.

In the beginning before we can create any real awareness of our own, there is a spiritual awareness that gets its strength from the spirit of Elohim who forms us in the womb.  This hidden awareness remains with us until the day our physical bodies die. We are able to perceive this by the involuntary processes that makes our heart beat, our lungs breathe, our system to digest and eliminate what we eat, our eyes to blink, our body to heal its wounds, etc..  However, along with these "involuntary" movements the other form of awareness begins to develop in our soul as soon as we are able to "reason" or collaborate data gained from our senses which makes us distinct from all other souls.

Now the fruit that our individual soul produces is derived from the culmination of all the "experiences" we have processed and witnessed through these senses in our life. It is important at this juncture to point out that none of these senses have the power to conceive an experiential "awareness" upon its lone input but must be accompanied by another witness of the same experience.  For instance a child can infer nothing of value or gain any experience from "hearing" the word "hot" without anoOver time, the physical senses create what we call "awareness" which "moves us" or influences us to act in certain ways which often manifests who and what we are while "in the world" as creatures of flesh; just as the spiritual senses move us and compel us in a way that re-defines who and what we are as creatures of the spirit (so whether it be the spirit of the world or the spirit of God we are moved by the foundations of our faith).

It is written that Jesus "grew in stature and in wisdom" while he was growing up in a "slaves form".  This is an important thing to bear in mind for we must all grow the same way so it is how we are "brought up" that influences our soul (individual spirit consciousness) or heart, hence it is written in Proverbs; "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.".  So our upbringing is critical to our spiritual health. Since Mary, the mother of Jesus was "blessed among women" and had "found favor with God" and Joseph was described as "being just" not to mention that all three of them were often visited by angels of God, it is beyond presumption to believe that Jesus was brought up "in the way he should go" by righteous men and women from His youth up.  For the rest of us, this type of growth in the spirit was not possible until Jesus poured out that spirit during the Pentecostal period (which is continuing to this day) declared in the book of Acts for we are reminded in John that He is "the true light that enlightens every man coming into the world".

So let us examine the senses and how they shape our "awareness" and what that means. First, the senses whether physical or spiritual are really a window or doorway to our "soul" where all that we see, hear, smell, taste or feel is captured, processed and stored in our subconscious mind (heart/soul) for the duration of its life. The physical/fleshly senses do all of this in the depravity of our lower/outward (carnal) image which is not capable of discerning the spiritual; while the spiritual senses discover and process the light in the higher/inward substance while remaining "aware" of the lower forms that it might get mastery over them.

So again, the awareness that is created by our physical senses is exclusive to our own particular growth and no one can know it but by our words and our acts.  This is the opposite of spiritual awareness which is of the One spirit and shared by all who own it (being aware that you are aware have you) and others with this spirit will know it in you.

ther sensory input witnessing to and allowing one to process the word accurately.  Now if you were to place the child's hand upon a cup with hot (but not too hot!) coffee in it while saying "hot", that child's senses (hearing and feeling) have now formed an experience that is true awareness which will warn the child (via the subconscious mind/soul) anytime either of these two witnesses (senses) might encounter a similar event requiring caution whether it is merely seeing a cup or hearing/seeing the word hot!  Now both of these witnesses and the awareness they create will give birth to increased awareness as other inputs fortify, increase or change in any way in our daily walk.

Bear all of this in mind as you begin to grow in stature and wisdom from a spiritual standpoint for those senses are also creating new experiences from the witnesses they receive.  This process is not a stranger to "worldly" religious leaders and kings who in their carnal lusts have used it to commit spiritual thievery upon those they wish to "lord it over".  This includes all religions (atheists, statists, evolutionists, capitalists, communists are also forms of religions for these all bind people to a "way" other than the Way of Truth) These religions use speech, radio, television, movies, newspaper, news channels, schools, etc.. in repetitive mantras using both your "sight" and your "hearing" to form an experience in you, but these are "false witnesses".  No matter how you examine it the experience is false because you do not own it of yourself but have fallen prey to deceptive practices.  Unlike actually "seeing" the cup and "feeling" the hot (whereby your senses were able to create a true experience) the media events were not true experiences because all that was purported is "hearsay" and all that was seen was an image/video that can be altered or modified or associated with a monologue that has nothing to do with it...well you get the idea.  Yet both of these can create an awareness, one true and useful to the body and soul while the other false and detrimental to the body and soul.  Nonetheless, these seem just as real as a real experience and people who gain them will fight to preserve them.

Let us now endeavor to address each of the physical/fleshly senses and see if we can come to understand their spiritual counterparts bearing in mind that all of the physical senses have in common that they do not perceive the spiritual and can only provide physical experiences to create carnal awareness which is the fallen state of man in the first birth.  Yet the spiritual can not only perceive the things of the spirit but also the things of the flesh for what they truly are.

Seeing (physically/carnally) can be the actual viewing of an earthen thing (image) or it could be the dreamlike viewing of one's creative imagination which is influenced by the awareness that already exists.  This is why those of the world put so much effort into beguiling you with visual media so as to form your awareness into thinking and doing according to their will.  Once one is "raised up" the way they (rulers of the world) wish you to speak and act it is extremely difficult to change.  Thus one must be willing "to leave all that he has behind" and  "start with a new lump" i.e. come to regard all experiential awareness received in the world that was not personally obtained while in the flesh as "dung".  It is the doffing of the old moth eaten garment for a new everlasting garment.

Seeing with the eyes of the spirit gives depth to your vision as never before as it sees both the lower/outward (fleshly) forms and the higher/inward (spiritual) substance of things.  Even imaginations and dreams are carefully scrutinized by spiritual eyes as to source.  This vision is very difficult to accept initially because it discovers all of the "earthly treasures" (sins) stored up in ones soul.  But if one puts faith in the Truth and conforms to it, he will come to know the Father and the Son who is in all things.

Hearing, much like seeing has to the same two variables.  If one hears only physically/carnally, he is limited to the same conditions as "seeing" above.  If one hears spiritually he can also discern the errant ways of what is physically heard.  Where the Word is concerned, the physical sense can only hear the lower/outward (fleshly) forms of sound. All of the scriptures are seen as substance when in fact they are only types and images (forms) of substance.  For example, to the carnal mind the animals in the "bible" are actual animals and not representative of types (character traits) of people.  This is demonstrated for us in detail in the epistle of Barnabas.  It is also revealed to us by Paul when he speaks of the Abraham's two wives as being "allegories" in that they mean two covenants.  Although people have heard this (declared), they still cannot perceive that all of the accounts in scriptures have similar hidden meanings in them which is why Jesus said; "those who have ears to hear, listen to what the spirit is saying."

Smell is a bit more difficult to address for this particular sense is deeply associated with taste so these usually bear witness together in order to create an awareness.  When we first smell an odor, it is a new experience for us and has no real meaning unless one of the other senses give witness to what it is.  We only know that it is either pleasant, or unpleasant to take in.  Some pleasant odors can be deadly while some foul odors are quite good for you so it is critical to have that second witness to help us know which is which.

From a spiritual perspective, odors are often synonymous with sacrifice or prayers and how they are presented determines whether or not they are of benefit or detriment.  One who prays or sacrifices in a lower/outward (fleshly) heart (disobedient and sinful nature) is considered a foul odor to the Father but, where when one prays in spirit and in truth or ones sacrifice is a lowly spirit and a contrite heart it is considered a joyful or sweet aroma.  Either way we need two witnesses in order to create a real experience whether it be spiritual or carnal.

Taste is not much different in that eating physical food can give us a witness to something that we find either pleasant or unpleasant it cannot without a second witness provide a true awareness.  Just as physical food has a direct bearing on our physical health, spiritual food has a direct bearing on our spiritual health. For instance from a spiritual perspective; if we eat what the world feeds us in its lower/outward (fleshly) forms (customs, traditions, ordinances, festivals etc..) we will find ourselves in a depraved spiritual condition. This food although sweet enough in our mouths (we do love a good lie especially when it hides or covers our sins) it  becomes bitter in our bellies (when we discover the Truth).  If we eat what the Word (Messiah) feeds us in its higher/inward (spiritual) substance, we will find ourselves in a robust spiritual condition.  This food (the Truth) is also sweet in our mouths but found to be bitter in our bellies (for it discovers our sins to us).  Now there is no condemnation for those who accept the Truth and act upon it!!

Feeling is much more complex than the word "touch" but captures the depths of this particular sense as touching is purely an outward expression in a physical sense where feeling is both inward and outward.  For instance one can feel pain from touching something hot, yet one can also feel pain when their heart is contrite.  This form of pain born of tribulation is of the heart and soul but can be felt physically by those who experience it.  This is also one of the few senses that are able to influence the soul that it knock on the door to spiritual awakening.  Feeling in both realms can also give pleasure.  Physical feeling once witnessed by another input give awareness to whatever it is that caused it.  If it is carnal in nature it will bear fruit to pride, covetness, fornication etc.., if it is spiritual in nature it will bear fruit to love, joy, peace, charity etc..

Now the Key to all of this is that there are two realms of understanding; the lower/outward (fleshly) forms of the five senses and the higher/inward (spiritual) substance of the five senses.  Now bear in mind that the image can either be that of God (in the spirit of Truth), or that of the beast (in the spirit of the world).  Not so as to confuse the matter but to give us clarity as to why it is so difficult to discern for most people.  The spirit of the beast truly believes that it is the substance of things when in fact it is not while the spirit of God bears witness to both conditions. Knowing the difference should help those who are toiling and laboring in the Word that it guides them into all Truth (higher/inward spiritual meanings) in the scriptures.

The Ascent of the Soul The Gospel of Mary

The Ascent of the Soul The Gospel of Mary

The Ascent of the Soul in The Gospel of Mary


"And Desire said, 'I did not see you go down, yet now I see you go up. So why do you lie since you belong to me?'
"The soul answered, 'I saw you. You did not see me nor did you know me. You took the garment (I wore) for my (true) self. And you did not recognise me.'
"After it had said these things, it left rejoicing greatly.
"Again, it came to the third Power, which is called 'Ignorance.' [It] examined the soul closely, saying, 'Where are you going? You are bound by wickedness. Indeed you are bound! Do not judge!'
"And the soul said, 'Why do you judge me, since I have not passed judgement? I have been bound, but I have not bound (anything). They did not recognise me, but I have recognised that the universe is to be dissolved, both the things of earth and those of heaven.'
"When the soul had brought the third Power to naught, it went upward and saw the fourth Power. It had seven forms. The first form is darkness; the second is desire; the third is ignorance; the fourth is zeal for death; the fifth is the realm of the flesh; the sixth is the foolish wisdom of the flesh; the seventh is the wisdom of the wrathful person. These are the seven Powers of Wrath.
"They interrogated the soul, 'Where are you coming from, human-killer, and where are you going, space-conqueror?'
"The soul replied, saying, 'What binds me has been slain, and what surrounds me has been destroyed, and my desire has been brought to an end, and ignorance has died. In a world, I was set loose from a world [an]d in a type, from a type which is above, and (from) the chain of forgetfulness which exists in time. From this hour on, for the time of the due season of the aeon, I will receive rest in silence.' "

The beginning of the vision is missing the revelation starts with the second power Desire. I would suppose that the vision is a revelation to Mary Magdalene about herself about her own enlightenment

"And Desire said, 'I did not see you go down, yet now I see you go up. So why do you lie since you belong to me?'

"The soul answered, 'I saw you. You did not see me nor did you know me. You mistook the garment (I wore) for my (true) self. And you did not recognise me.'

"After it had said these things, it left rejoicing greatly.

The Garment here is the ego or personality which the soul clothes itself with it is not the true real self which is the Christ consciousness

Again, it came to the third Power, which is called 'Ignorance.' [It] examined the soul closely, saying, 'Where are you going? You are bound by wickedness. Indeed you are bound! Do not judge!'




Ignorance judges the soul to be bound by the wickedness of the passions and lacking in discernment do not judge it commands. The soul is bound to the lower world by its physical nature which produces sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery


Mary Magdalene represents the psyche of the carnal consciousness. This psyche is demoniacal, and from it Jesus cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). It is there that the emotions have their centres of action. It is the seat of desire.

Now the female offspring of the soul are wickedness and passion, but a healthy state of the passions and virtue is male,

The feelings and affections, which are the seat of the emotions in our unenlightened heart, belong to the soul.

The soul is ascending through different levels of the carnal consciousness or the senses until it raises to the higher self the Christ consciousness which releases the soul from the emotional errors (the demons) that have their existence in the unenlightened heart and establishes peace and repose in the consciousness

The purification of the soul is a change of mind and purpose (Acts 5:31; 11:18). Belief in the gospel of the kingdom is to have this state of mind and character according to “the law of faith.” The Gospel is intended to enlighten and purify the mind while enriching the emotions, attitudes and decisions with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Gal 5:22-23) . Where the truth prevails there is 'righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit' (Romans 14:17) which will result in edification of one another (v 19).

The 7 forms of the fourth power represent the 7 demons cast out of Mary Magdalene. The powers are the Archons or the rulers of power of the senses

The 2nd Power is Desire the carnal mind craving, the 3rd Power is Ignorance it believes it has power to judge others, but the soul knows that all power belongs to God alone, the fourth Power is Wrath which has 7 forms the seven Powers of Wrath

the 7 forms of the fourth power are (spiritual) darkness, the second desire (craving), the third ignorance (of the Truth), the fourth is the zeal for death (a lack of consciousness), the fifth is the kingdom of the flesh (which enslaves the emotions), the sixth is the foolish wisdom of flesh (materialistic worship, born of the carnal mind), the seventh is the wrathful wisdom (false doctrines and theories born of the carnal mind, which is a counterfeit of true Wisdom). These are the seven powers of wrath (the limited and inferior thoughts and attitudes ).

Their collective character and name is wrath

The idea of seven steps of ascent to divinity (which correspond to the seven heavens) is widely known.

The Ascent of the Soul in The Gospel of Mary is not about the soul ascending to the literal heavens but the heavens which is a state of consciousness in harmony with the thoughts of God.

The Ascent of the Soul is to it free from the powers of human nature not matter

The 4 Powers are within ourselves

The 4 Powers are the 7 forms which are established as parts of our Being

They represent the senses

the powers are a personification of human nature or human qualities this is seen from the Testament of Reuben chapter 2 the concerning the seven spirits of error

Testament of Reuben

2:1 And now hear me, my children, what things I saw concerning the seven spirits of error, when I repented.
2:2 For seven spirits are established against man, and they are the sources of the deeds of youth.
2:3 And seven other spirits are given to man at creation, so that by them every human deed is done.
2:4 The first is the spirit of life, with which man's whole being is created. The second is the spirit of sight, with which comes desire.
2:5 The third is the spirit of hearing, with which comes instruction. The fourth is the spirit of smell, with which is given tastes for drawing air and breath.
2:6 The fifth is the spirit of speech, with which comes knowledge.
2:7 The sixth is the spirit of taste, for consuming food and drink; by it comes strength, because in food is the substance of strength.
2:8 The seventh is the spirit of procreation and intercourse, with which comes sin through fondness for pleasure.
2:9 For this reason, it is the last in order of creation, and the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leads the youth as a blind man into a ditch, and like an animal over a cliff.

3:1 In addition to all these there is an eighth spirit of sleep, with which is brought about the trance of nature and the image of death.
3:2 With these spirits are mingled the spirits of error.
3:3 First, the spirit of fornication resides in the nature and in the senses; the second, the spirit of insatiableness, in the stomach; the third, the spirit of fighting, in the liver and gall.
3:4 The fourth is the spirit of flattery and trickery, in order that through excessive effort one might appear to be at the height of his power.
3:5 The fifth is the spirit of pride, that one may be boastful and arrogant. The sixth is the spirit of lying, which through destructiveness and rivalry, handles his affairs smoothly and secretively even with his relatives and his household.
3:6 The seventh is the spirit of injustice, with which are thefts and acts of rapacity, that a man may fulfil the desire of his heart; for injustice works together with the other spirits by the taking of gifts.
3:7 And with all these the spirit of sleep is joined which is that of error and fantasy.
3:8 And so every young man is destroyed, darkening his mind from the truth, and not understanding the Law of God, nor obeying the admonitions of his fathers as befell me also in my youth.
3:9 And now, my children, love the truth, and it will preserve you: hear you the words of Reuben your father.