1 [I] then asked: “Lord, will the [souls] of everyone escape to [the pure] light?”
2 He said [to me]: “You have opened up a contemplation of [great] things that are difficult to explain to others, with the exception of those who originate from the unmoving race.
3 Those whom the Spirit of life enters and joins itself with the power will be saved, perfect, and they will deserve these great lights, because there they will be purified of all evil, and of the chains of evil,
4 because they [devote themselves] to nothing else but the indestructible assembly, and fix their attention on it from this time forward, without wrath or envy, without jealousy, or lust, or pleasure. [By] none of these are they troubled, [except] the condition of existing [in the flesh] while they put it to use, looking forward with expectation to [the hour] when they will be brought forth and received [by] those who receive
5 [into] the excellence of eternal life [and the] election, withstanding all, and [enduring] all, so that they will [finish] the contest and inherit eternal life.”
6 I, however, [asked] him: “Lord, those who will not have [performed] these things, where will their souls be, or where will those go whom the Spirit of life and the power had entered? Will they be saved, or not?”
7 He said to me: “Those into whom the Spirit of life enters will in any scenario be saved. These run away from evil, because the power enters into everyone, because apart from it [they] would be unable to stand.
8 After the person is born, then the [Spirit] of life is brought before the false spirits. When the Spirit of life comes, then, because it is strong, it makes strong [the soul], which is the power, and [it] strays [not] into evil.
9 [The one] into whom [the] false spirit [enters] is compelled [by it], and goes astray.”
10 I, however, asked: “Lord, when [these] souls have departed from their flesh, where [will they go]?”
11 He, however, grinned and said: “If the soul, which is the power, [grows stronger] than the false spirit — [because] what runs away [from] evil is strong — it will be saved by means of the indestructible providential care, and will be brought to the repose of the aeons.”
12 I, however, asked: “Lord, those who did not know at all, what are their souls, or where will they go?”
13 He said to me: “These are the ones the false spirit has weighed down when they faltered, and in this way their soul was weighed down, compelled to evil deeds and reduced to oblivion, and in this way, after being [stripped] of the body, they are delivered over to the authorities who came into existence [through] the archon. [They] once again [throw] them into limbs and accompany them until they are [saved from] evil and [oblivion and obtain] knowledge. In this way [they are perfected and saved].”
14 I, however, [asked him]: “Lord, and how [does] the soul [grow small] again [so that it may be granted entrance] into the nature of the mother or [into] the man?”
15 He, however, rejoiced [when I] had asked him, and he said to me: “Blessed are you for attending closely. It is given to another, in which the Spirit of life dwells.
16 It follows him, obeys through him, and is saved.
17 They will not enter flesh from that time on.”
18 I, however, asked: “Lord, those who did know, and who have turned back, where will their souls be, or to where will they retreat?”
19 He said to me: “The place to which the angels of destitution will retreat, to whom repentance does not come, and [they] will be detained for that day when all those who have blasphemed the holy Spirit with an age-long [blasphemy] will be punished by being tormented [with an] age-long punishment.
Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Other Gospels public-domain Nag Hammadi Initiative translation; separate Davies harmonized translation not included.