The Gospel

1This is the Gospel of the one they search for, revealed to those who are complete through the mercies of the Father, the hidden mystery. Through it (the Gospel), Jesus Christ enlightened those who were in darkness through forgetfulness. He enlightened them; he showed them a Way, and the Way is the Truth that he taught them.

2As a result, Error was angry. It pursued him. It was threatened by him and brought to nothing. They nailed him (Jesus) to a tree, and he became the fruit of the Father’s knowledge. However, it (the fruit) did not cause destruction when it was eaten. Instead, those who ate it were given joy in the discovery. He discovered them in himself, and they discovered him in themselves.

3As for the uncontainable, inconceivable one—the Father, the complete one who made all—all are within him, and all need him. Although he kept their completion within himself, which he did not give to all, the Father was not jealous. Indeed, what jealousy is there between him and his members? For if, like this, the generation received the completion, they could not have come … the Father. He keeps their completion within himself, giving it to them so that they may return to him with a unitary knowledge in completion. He is the one who made all, and all are within him, and all need him.

4Like someone who is unknown, he wants to be known and loved—because what did all need, if not the knowledge of the Father?

5He became a guide, peaceful and leisurely. He came and spoke the Word as a teacher in places of learning. Those who were wise in their own estimation came up to him to test him, but he confounded them because they were vain. They hated him because they were not wise in Truth. After them all, all the little children came too; theirs is the knowledge of the Father. When they were strengthened, they received teaching about the Father’s expressions. They knew and were known; they received glory and gave glory. In their hearts, the living Book of the Living was revealed, which was written in the thought and mind of the Father, and before the foundation of all within his incomprehensibility. This (book) is impossible to take, since it permits the one who takes it to be killed. No one could have been revealed among those who had been entrusted with salvation unless the book had appeared. Because of this, the merciful and faithful Jesus patiently suffered until he took that book, since he knows that his death is life for many.

6When a will has not yet been opened, the wealth of the deceased master of the house is hidden. In the same way, all were hidden while the Father of all was invisible. They were from him, from whom every realm comes. Because of this:

7Jesus was revealed, put on that book, was nailed to a tree, and published the Father’s edict on the cross.

8Oh, what a great teaching!

9Drawing himself down to death, he clothed himself in eternal life, stripped himself of the perishable rags, and clothed himself in incorruptibility, which no one can take from him.

10When he entered the empty realms of terror, he passed through those who were stripped by forgetfulness, being knowledge and completion, proclaiming the things that are in the heart … teach those who will receive teaching.