Gospel of TruthGnostic / Alternative Early ChristianAlternative Early ChristianCoptic translation of Greek traditionsShareGospel of Truth 11Mark M. Mattison - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableMark M. MattisonLanguageEnglishEspañol‹Gospel of Truth 1Gospel of Truth 2Gospel of Truth 3Gospel of Truth 4Gospel of Truth 5Gospel of Truth 6Gospel of Truth 7Gospel of Truth 8Gospel of Truth 9Gospel of Truth 10Gospel of Truth 11Gospel of Truth 12Gospel of Truth 13›Gospel of Truth: Restoring what was NeededGospel of Truth 11ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1This is the Word of the Gospel of the discovery of the fullness, which comes for those who are awaiting the salvation which is coming from above. The hope for which they’re waiting is waiting for those whose image is light with no shadow in it. If at that time the fullness comes, the need of matter doesn’t come through the infinity of the Father, who comes to give time to the need – although no one can say that the incorruptible one will come like this. But the depth of the Father multiplied, and the thought of Error didn’t exist with him. It’s something that’s fallen, which is easily set upright in the discovery of the one who’s to come to what he’ll return, because the return is called “repentance.” 2Because of this, incorruptibility breathed out. It followed after the one who sinned, so that they might rest, because forgiveness is what remains for the light in need, the Word of fullness. For the doctor hurries to the place where there’s sickness, because that’s what he (or she) wants to do. The one in need, then, doesn’t hide it, because one (the doctor) has what they need. In this way the fullness, which has no need but fills the need, is what he provided from himself to fill up what’s needed, so that they might receive grace; because when they were in need, they didn’t have grace. Because of this, a diminishing took place where there is no grace. When what was diminished was restored, what they needed was revealed as fullness. This is the discovery of the light of Truth which enlightened them, because it doesn’t change. 3Because of this, they spoke of Christ in their midst: “Seek, and those who were disturbed will receive a return – and he’ll anoint them with ointment.” The ointment is the mercy of the Father, who will have mercy on them. But those whom he anointed are those who have been completed, because full jars are the ones that are anointed. But when the anointing of one dissolves, it empties, and the cause of the need is the place where the ointment leaks, because a breath and its power draws it. But from the one who has no need, no seal is removed, nor is anything emptied, but what it needs is filled again by the Father, who’s complete. 4The Father’s Paradise 5He’s good. He knows his plants, because he planted them in his paradise. Now his paradise is a place of rest. This is the completion in the Father’s thought, and these are the words of his meditation. Each of his words is the work of his one will in the revelation of his Word. When they were still in the depths of his thought, the Word – which was the first to come out – revealed them along with a mind that speaks the one Word in a silent grace. He was called “the Thought,” since they were in it before being revealed. It happened, then, that he was the first to come out at the time when it pleased the one who wanted it. Now the Father rests in his will, and is pleased with it. 6Nothing happens without him, nor does anything happen without the will of the Father, but his will is incomprehensible. His trace is the will, and no one can know him, nor does he exist for people to scrutinize so that they might grasp him, but when he wills, what he wills is this – even if the sight doesn’t please them in any way before God – the will of the Father, because he knows the beginning of all of them, and their end, for in the end he’ll greet them directly. Now the end is receiving knowledge of the one who’s hidden; this is the Father, from whom the beginning has come, and to whom all who’ve come out from him will return. They were revealed for the glory and the joy of his name. 7The Father’s Name 8Now the name of the Father is the Son. He’s the one who first gave a name to the one who comes out from him, who was himself, and he gave birth to him as a Son. He gave him his name which belonged to him. He’s the one to whom everything around the Father belongs. The name and the Son are his. It’s possible for him to be seen; the name, however, is invisible, because it alone is the mystery of the invisible which comes to ears that are filled completely with it by him. For indeed, the Father’s name isn’t spoken, but it’s revealed through a Son. 9In this way, then, the name is great. Who, then, will be able to utter a name for him, the great name, except him alone to whom the name belongs, and the children of the name, those in whom the Father’s name rests, and who themselves, in turn, rest in his name? Since the Father is unbegotten, it’s he alone who gave birth to him for himself as a name, before he had made the generations, so that the Father’s name might be over their head as Lord, which is the true name, confirmed in his command in complete power. For the name isn’t from words and naming; the name, rather, is invisible. 10He gave a name to him alone. He alone sees him, he alone having the power to give him a name, because whoever doesn’t exist has no name. For what name will they give one who doesn’t exist? But the one who exists, exists also with his name, and he alone knows it, and he’s given a name to him alone. This is the Father; his name is the Son. He didn’t hide it within, then, but it existed. The Son alone gave a name. The name, then, belongs to the Father, as the name of the Father is the beloved Son. Where, indeed, would he find a name, except from the Father? 11But doubtless one will ask their neighbor, “Who is it who’ll give a name to the one who existed before them, as if offspring didn’t receive a name from those who gave them birth?” First, then, it’s right for us to consider what the name is. It’s the true name, the name from the Father, because it’s the proper name. So he didn’t receive the name on loan, the way others do, according to the form in which each one will be produced. This, then, is the proper name. There’s no one else who gave it to him. But he’s unnameable, indescribable, until the time when he who’s complete spoke of him alone. And it’s he who has the power to speak his name and to see him. 12So when it pleased him that his beloved name should be his Son, and he gave the name to him who came out from the depth, he disclosed his secrets, knowing that the Father is without evil. Because of this, he brought him out so that he might speak about the place, and his resting place from which he had come, and to glorify the fullness, the greatness of his name, and the Father’s sweetness. ‹Previous chapterGospel of Truth 10Next chapterGospel of Truth 12›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Translation committed to the public domain by Mark M. Mattison