Chapter XIV.—Degrees of Glory in Heaven.

Such, according to David, “rest in the holy hill of God,”1565    Ps. xv. i. in the Church far on high, in which are gathered the philosophers of God, “who are Israelites indeed, who are pure in heart, in whom there is no guile;”1566    John i. 47; Matt v. 8. who do not remain in the seventh seat, the place of rest, but are promoted, through the active beneficence of the divine likeness, to the heritage of beneficence which is the eighth grade; devoting themselves to the pure vision1567    έποπτεία, the third and highest grade of initiation of the Eleusinian mysteries (Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon). of insatiable contemplation.

“And other sheep there are also,” saith the Lord, “which are not of this fold”1568    John x. 16.—deemed worthy of another fold and mansion, in proportion to their faith. “But My sheep hear My voice,”1569    John x. 27. understanding gnostically the commandments. And this is to be taken in a magnanimous and worthy acceptation, along with also the recompense and accompaniment of works. So that when we hear, “Thy faith hath saved thee,”1570    Mark v. 34, etc. we do not understand Him to say absolutely that those who have believed in any way whatever shall be saved, unless also works follow. But it was to the Jews alone that He spoke this utterance, who kept the law and lived blamelessly, who wanted only faith in the Lord. No one, then, can be a believer and at the same time be licentious; but though he quit the flesh, he must put off the passions, so as to be capable of reaching his own mansion.

Now to know is more than to believe, as to be dignified with the highest honour after being saved is a greater thing than being saved. Accordingly the believer, through great discipline, divesting himself of the passions, passes to the mansion which is better than the former one, viz., to the greatest torment, taking with him the characteristic of repentance from the sins he has committed after baptism. He is tortured then still more—not yet or not quite attaining what he sees others to have acquired. Besides, he is also ashamed of his transgressions. The greatest torments, indeed, are assigned to the believer. For God’s righteousness is good, and His goodness is righteous. And though the punishments cease in the course of the completion of the expiation and purification of each one, yet those have very great and permanent grief who1571    The text here has ὄτι, for which has been substituted (Potter and Sylb.) οί, as above; τήν after αὐλῆς (fold) requires to be omitted also in rendering the sentence as we have done. are found worthy of the other fold, on account of not being along with those that have been glorified through righteousness.

For instance, Solomon, calling the Gnostic, wise, speaks thus of those who admire the dignity of his mansion: “For they shall see the end of the wise, and to what a degree the Lord has established him.”1572    Wisd. iv. 17. And of his glory they will say, “This was he whom we once held up to derision, and made a byword of reproach; fools that we were! We thought his life madness, and his end dishonourable. How is he reckoned among the sons of God, and his inheritance among the saints?”1573    Wisd. v. 3–5.

Not only then the believer, but even the heathen, is judged most righteously. For since God knew in virtue of His prescience that he would not believe, He nevertheless, in order that he might receive his own perfection gave him philosophy, but gave it him previous to faith. And He gave the sun, and the moon, and the stars to be worshipped; “which God,” the Law says,1574    Deut. iv. 19. made for the nations, that they might not become altogether atheistical, and so utterly perish. But they, also in the instance of this commandment, having become devoid of sense, and addicting themselves to graven images, are judged unless they repent; some of them because, though able, they would not believe God; and others because, though willing, they did not take the necessary pains to become believers. There were also, however, those who, from the worship of the heavenly bodies, did not return to the Maker of them. For this was the sway given to the nations to rise up to God, by means of the worship of the heavenly bodies. But those who would not abide by those heavenly bodies assigned to them, but fell away from them to stocks and stones, “were counted,” it is said, “as chaff-dust and as a drop from a jar,”1575    Isa. xl. 15. beyond salvation, cast away from the body.

As, then, to be simply saved is the result of medium1576    The author reckons three kinds of actions, the first of which is κατόρθωμα, right or perfect action, which is characteristic of the perfect man and Gnostic alone, and raises him (εἰς τὴν ἀνωτάτω δόξαν) to the height of glory. The second is the class of τῶν μέσων, medium, or intermediate actions, which are done by less perfect believers, and procure a lower grade of glory. In the third place he reckons sinful actions (ἀμαρτητικάς), which are done by those who fall away from salvation (Potter). actions, but to be saved rightly and becomingly1577    [2 Pet. i. 11.] is right action, so also all action of the Gnostic may be called right action; that of the simple believer, intermediate action, not yet perfected according to reason, not yet made right according to knowledge; but that of every heathen again is sinful. For it is not simply doing well, but doing actions with a certain aim, and acting according to reason, that the Scriptures exhibit as requisite.1578    To produce this sense, καθῆκεν of the text is by Potter changed into καθῆκειν.

As, then, lyres ought not to be touched by those who are destitute of skill in playing the lyre, nor flutes by those who are unskilled in flute-playing, neither are those to put their hand to affairs who have not knowledge, and know not how to use them in the whole1579    On the authority of one of the ms., Sylburgius reads ὄλον instead of λόγον in the text. of life.

The struggle for freedom, then, is waged not alone by the athletes of battles in wars, but also in banquets, and in bed, and in the tribunals, by those who are anointed by the word, who are ashamed to become the captives of pleasures.

“I would never part with virtue for unrighteous gain.” But plainly, unrighteous gain is pleasure and pain, toil and fear; and, to speak comprehensively, the passions of the soul, the present of which is delightful, the future vexatious. “For what is the profit,” it is said, “if you gain the world and lose the soul?”1580    Matt. viii. 26; Mark viii. 36; Luke ix. 25. It is clear, then, that those who do not perform good actions, do not know what is for their own advantage. And if so, neither are they capable of praying aright, so as to receive from God good things; nor, should they receive them, will they be sensible of the boon; nor, should they enjoy them, will they enjoy worthily what they know not; both from their want of knowledge how to use the good things given them, and from their excessive stupidity, being ignorant of the way to avail themselves of the divine gifts.

Now stupidity is the cause of ignorance. And it appears to me that it is the vaunt of a boastful soul, though of one with a good conscience, to exclaim against what happens through circumstances:—

But such a good conscience preserves sanctity towards God and justice towards men; keeping the soul pure with grave thoughts, and pure words, and just deeds. By thus receiving the Lord’s power, the soul studies to be God; regarding nothing bad but ignorance, and action contrary to right reason. And giving thanks always for all things to God, by righteous hearing and divine reading, by true investigation, by holy oblation, by blessed prayer; lauding, hymning, blessing, praising, such a soul is never at any time separated from God.1582    [Bunsen, Hippol., iii. p. 141.] Rightly then is it said, “And they who trust in Him shall understand the truth, and those faithful in love shall abide by Him.”1583    Wisd. iii. 9. You see what statements Wisdom makes about the Gnostics.

Conformably, therefore, there are various abodes, according to the worth of those who have believed.1584    [1 Cor. xv. 41.] To the point Solomon says, “For there shall be given to him the choice grace of faith, and a more pleasant lot in the temple of the Lord.”1585    Wisd. iii. 14. For the comparative shows that there are lower parts in the temple of God, which is the whole Church. And the superlative remains to be conceived, where the Lord is. These chosen abodes, which are three, are indicated by the numbers in the Gospel—the thirty, the sixty, the hundred.1586    Matt. xiii. 8. And the perfect inheritance belongs to those who attain to “a perfect man,” according to the image of the Lord. And the likeness is not, as some imagine, that of the human form; for this consideration is impious. Nor is the likeness to the first cause that which consists in virtue. For this utterance is also impious, being that of those who have imagined that virtue in man and in the sovereign God is the same. “Thou hast supposed iniquity,” He says, “[in imagining] that I will be like to thee.”1587    Ps. l. 21. But “it is enough for the disciple to become as the Master,”1588    Matt. xxv. 10. saith the Master. To the likeness of God, then, he that is introduced into adoption and the friendship of God, to the just inheritance of the lords and gods is brought; if he be perfected, according to the Gospel, as the Lord Himself taught.

οἱ τοιοῦτοι κατὰ τὸν ∆αβὶδ καταπαύσουσιν ἐν ὄρει ἁγίῳ θεοῦ, τῇ ἀνωτάτω ἐκκλησίᾳ, καθ' ἣν οἱ φιλόσοφοι συνάγονται τοῦ θεοῦ, οἱ τῷ ὄντι Ἰσραηλῖται οἱ καθαροὶ τὴν καρδίαν, ἐν οἷς δόλος οὐδείς, οἱ μὴ καταμείναντες ἐν ἑβδομάδι ἀναπαύσεως, ἀγαθοεργίᾳ δὲ θείας ἐξομοιώσεως εἰς ὀγδοαδικῆς εὐεργεσίας κληρονομίαν ὑπερκύψαντες, ἀκορέστου θεωρίας εἰλικρινεῖ ἐποπτείᾳ προσανέχοντες. ἔστιν δὲ καὶ ἄλλα, φησὶν ὁ κύριος, πρόβατα, ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τῆς αὐλῆς ταύτης, ἄλλης αὐλῆς καὶ μονῆς ἀναλόγως τῆς πίστεως κατηξιωμένα. τὰ δὲ ἐμὰ πρόβατα τῆς ἐμῆς ἀκούει φωνῆς, συνιέντα γνωστικῶς τὰς ἐντολάς· τὸ δ' ἔστιν μεγαλοφρόνως καὶ ἀξιολόγως ἐκδέχεσθαι σὺν καὶ τῇ τῶν ἔργων ἀνταποδόσει τε καὶ ἀντακολουθίᾳ. ὥστε ὅταν ἀκούσωμεν ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε, οὐχ ἁπλῶς τοὺς ὁπωσοῦν πιστεύσαντας σωθήσεσθαι λέγειν αὐτὸν ἐκδεχόμεθα, ἐὰν μὴ καὶ τὰ ἔργα ἐπακολουθήσῃ. αὐτίκα Ἰουδαίοις μόνοις ταύτην ἔλεγε τὴν φωνὴν τοῖς νομικῶς καὶ ἀνεπιλήπτως βεβιωκόσιν, οἷς μόνον ἡ εἰς τὸν κύριον ὑπελείπετο πίστις. οὐκ ἂν οὖν μετὰ ἀκρασίας πιστός τις εἴη, ἀλλὰ κἂν [μὴ] ἐξέλθῃ τὴν σάρκα, ἀποθέσθαι τὰ πάθη ἀνάγκη τοῦτον, ὡς εἰς τὴν μονὴν τὴν οἰκείαν χωρῆσαι δυνηθῆναι. πλέον δέ ἐστι τοῦ πιστεῦσαι τὸ γνῶναι, καθάπερ ἀμέλει τοῦ σωθῆναι τὸ καὶ μετὰ τὸ σωθῆναι τιμῆς τῆς ἀνωτάτω ἀξιωθῆναι. διὰ πολλῆς τοίνυν τῆς παιδείας ἀπεκδυσάμενος τὰ πάθη ὁ πιστὸς ἡμῖν μέτεισιν ἐπὶ τὴν βελτίονα τῆς προτέρας μονῆς, μεγίστην κόλασιν ἐπιφερόμενος τὸ ἰδίωμα τῆς μετανοίας ὧν ἐξήμαρτεν μετὰ τὸ βάπτισμα. ἀνιᾶται γοῦν ἔτι μᾶλλον ἤτοι μηδέπω ἢ καὶ μηδ' ὅλως τυγχάνων ὧν ἄλλους ὁρᾷ μετειληφότας. πρὸς δὲ καὶ ἐπαισχύνεται τοῖς πλημμεληθεῖσιν αὐτῷ, αἳ δὴ μέγισται κολάσεις εἰσὶ τῷ πιστῷ. ἀγαθὴ γὰρ ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ δικαιοσύνη καὶ δικαία ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγαθότης αὐτοῦ. κἂν παύσωνται ἄρα που αἱ τιμωρίαι κατὰ τὴν ἀποπλήρωσιν τῆς ἐκτίσεως καὶ τῆς ἑκάστου ἀποκαθάρσεως, μεγίστην ἔχουσι παραμένουσαν λύπην οἱ τῆς ἄλλης ἄξιοι εὑρεθέντες αὐλῆς τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ μὴ συνεῖναι τοῖς διὰ δικαιοσύνην δοξασθεῖσιν. Αὐτίκα ὁ Σολομὼν σοφὸν καλῶν τὸν γνωστικὸν περὶ τῶν θαυμαζόντων αὐτοῦ τὸ ἀξίωμα τῆς μονῆς τάδε φησίν· ὄψονται γὰρ τελευτὴν σοφοῦ καὶ οὐ νοήσουσι, τί ἐβουλεύσατο περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς τί ἠσφαλίσατο αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος· ἐπί τε τῆς δόξης ἐροῦσιν αὐτοῦ· οὗτος ἦν ὃν ἔσχομέν ποτε εἰς γέλωτα καὶ εἰς παραβολὴν ὀνειδισμοῦ, οἱ ἄφρονες· τὸν βίον αὐτοῦ ἐλογισάμεθα μανίαν καὶ τὴν τελευτὴν αὐτοῦ ἄτιμον· πῶς κατελογίσθη ἐν υἱοῖς θεοῦ καὶ ἐν ἁγίοις ὁ κλῆρος αὐτοῦ ἐστιν; οὐ μόνον τοίνυν ὁ πιστός, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁ ἐθνικὸς δικαιότατα κρίνεται. ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ᾔδει ὁ θεός, ἅτε προγνώστης ὤν, μὴ πιστεύσοντα τοῦτον, οὐδὲν ἧττον, ὅπως τήν γε καθ' ἑαυτὸν ἀναδέξηται τελείωσιν, ἔδωκεν μὲν φιλοσοφίαν αὐτῷ, ἀλλὰ πρὸ τῆς πίστεως, ἔδωκεν δὲ τὸν ἥλιον καὶ τὴν σελήνην καὶ τὰ ἄστρα εἰς θρῃσκείαν, ἃ ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, φησὶν ὁ νόμος, ἵνα μὴ τέλεον ἄθεοι γενόμενοι τελέως καὶ διαφθαρῶσιν. οἱ δὲ κἀν ταύτῃ γενόμενοι τῇ ἐντολῇ ἀγνώμονες, γλυπτοῖς προσεσχηκότες ἀγάλμασι, ἂν μὴ μετανοήσωσι, κρίνονται, οἳ μέν, ὅτι δυνηθέντες οὐκ ἠθέλησαν πιστεῦσαι τῷ θεῷ, οἳ δέ, ὅτι καὶ θελήσαντες οὐκ ἐξεπόνησαν περιγενέσθαι πιστοί· ναὶ μὴν κἀκεῖνοι οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν ἄστρων σεβήσεως μὴ ἐπαναδραμόντες ἐπὶ τὸν τούτων ποιητήν. ὁδὸς γὰρ ἦν αὕτη δοθεῖσα τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἀνακῦψαι πρὸς θεὸν διὰ τῆς τῶν ἄστρων θρῃσκείας. οἱ δὲ μὴ ἐπὶ τούτοις θελήσαντες ἐπιμεῖναι τοῖς δοθεῖσιν αὐτοῖς ἀστράσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τούτων ἀποπεσόντες εἰς λίθους καὶ ξύλα, ὡς χνοῦς, φησίν, ἐλογίσθησαν καὶ ὡς σταγὼν ἀπὸ κάδου, περισσοὶ εἰς σωτηρίαν, οἱ ἀπορριπτόμενοι τοῦ σώματος. ὥσπερ οὖν τὸ μὲν ἁπλῶς σῴζειν τῶν μέσων ἐστίν, τὸ δ' ὀρθῶς καὶ δεόντως κατόρθωμα, οὕτως καὶ πᾶσα πρᾶξις γνωστικοῦ μὲν κατόρθωμα, τοῦ δὲ ἁπλῶς πιστοῦ μέση πρᾶξις λέγοιτ' ἄν, μηδέπω κατὰ λόγον ἐπιτελουμένη μηδὲ μὴν κατ' ἐπίστασιν κατορθουμένη. πᾶσα δὲ ἔμπαλιν τοῦ ἐθνικοῦ ἁμαρτητική· οὐ γὰρ τὸ ἁπλῶς εὖ πράττειν, ἀλλὰ τὸ πρός τινα σκοπὸν τὰς πράξεις ποιεῖσθαι καὶ [κατὰ] λόγον ἐνεργεῖν καθῆκον αἱ γραφαὶ παριστᾶσιν. καθάπερ οὖν τοῖς ἀπείροις τοῦ λυρίζειν λύρας οὐχ ἁπτέον οὐδὲ μὴν τοῖς ἀπείροις τοῦ αὐλεῖν αὐλῶν, οὕτως οὐδὲ πραγμάτων ἁπτέον τοῖς μὴ τὴν γνῶσιν εἰληφόσι καὶ εἰδόσιν ὅπως αὐτοῖς παρ' ὅλον τὸν βίον χρηστέον. τὸν γοῦν τῆς ἐλευθερίας ἀγῶνα οὐ μόνον ἐν πολέμοις ἀγωνίζονται οἱ πολέμων ἀθληταί, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν συμποσίοις καὶ ἐπὶ κοίτης κἀν τοῖς δικαστηρίοις οἱ ἀλειψάμενοι τῷ λόγῳ, αἰχμάλωτοι γενέσθαι ἡδονῆς αἰσχυνόμενοι· οὐ μήποτε τὰν ἀρετὰν ἀλλάξομαι ἀντ' ἀδίκου κέρδους. ἄδικον δὲ ἄντικρυς κέρδος ἡδονὴ καὶ λύπη πόθος τε καὶ φόβος καὶ συνελόντι εἰπεῖν τὰ πάθη τῆς ψυχῆς, ὧν τὸ παραυτίκα τερπνὸν ἀνιαρὸν εἰς τοὐπιόν. τί γὰρ ὄφελος, ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον κερδήσῃς, φησί, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν ἀπολέσῃς; δῆλον οὖν τοὺς μὴ ἐπιτελοῦντας τὰς καλὰς πράξεις οὐδὲ γιγνώσκειν τὰ ὠφέλιμα ἑαυτοῖς. εἰ δὲ τοῦτο, οὐδὲ εὔξασθαι ὀρθῶς οἷοί τε οὗτοι παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ λαβεῖν τὰ ἀγαθά, ἀγνοοῦντες τὰ ὄντως ἀγαθά, οὐδ' ἂν λαβόντες αἴσθοιντο τῆς δωρεᾶς οὐδ' ἄν τι ἀπολαύσειαν κατ' ἀξίαν οὗ μὴ ἔγνωσαν, ὑπό τε τῆς ἀπειρίας τοῦ χρήσασθαι τοῖς δοθεῖσι καλῶς ὑπό τε τῆς ἄγαν ἀμαθίας, μηδέπω [πῶς] χρηστέον ταῖς θείαις δωρεαῖς ἐγνωκότες. ἀμαθία δὲ ἀγνοίας αἰτία. Καί μοι δοκεῖ κομπώδους μὲν εἶναι ψυχῆς καύχημα, πλὴν εὐσυνειδήτου, ἐπιφθέγγεσθαι τοῖς κατὰ περίστασιν συμβαίνουσι· πρὸς ταῦθ' ὅ τι χρὴ καὶ παλαμάσθων· τὸ γὰρ εὖ μετ' ἐμοῦ καὶ τὸ δίκαιον σύμμαχον ἔσται, καὶ οὐ μή ποτε ἁλῶ, καλὰ πράσσων. αὕτη δὲ ἡ εὐσυνειδησία τὸ ὅσιον τὸ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ τὸ πρὸς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους δίκαιον διασῴζει, καθαρὰν τὴν ψυχὴν φυλάττουσα διανοήμασι σεμνοῖς καὶ λόγοις ἁγνοῖς καὶ τοῖς δικαίοις ἔργοις. οὕτως δύναμιν λαβοῦσα κυριακὴν ἡ ψυχὴ μελετᾷ εἶναι θεός, κακὸν μὲν οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν ἀγνοίας εἶναι νομίζουσα καὶ τῆς μὴ κατὰ τὸν ὀρθὸν λόγον ἐνεργείας, ἀεὶ δὲ εὐχαριστοῦσα ἐπὶ πᾶσι τῷ θεῷ δι' ἀκοῆς δικαίας καὶ ἀναγνώσεως θείας, διὰ ζητήσεως ἀληθοῦς, διὰ προσφορᾶς ἁγίας, δι' εὐχῆς μακαρίας, αἰνοῦσα, ὑμνοῦσα, εὐλογοῦσα, ψάλλουσα· οὐ διορίζεταί ποτε τοῦ θεοῦ κατ' οὐδένα καιρὸν ἡ τοιάδε ψυχή. εἰκότως οὖν εἴρηται· καὶ οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπ' αὐτῷ συνήσουσιν ἀλήθειαν, καὶ οἱ πιστοὶ ἐν ἀγάπῃ προσμενοῦσιν αὐτῷ. ὁρᾷς οἷα περὶ τῶν γνωστικῶν διαλέγεται ἡ σοφία. ἀναλόγως ἄρα καὶ [αἱ] μοναὶ ποικίλαι κατ' ἀξίαν τῶν πιστευσάντων. αὐτίκα ὁ Σολομών· δοθήσεται γὰρ αὐτῷ τῆς πίστεως ἡ χάρις ἐκλεκτὴ καὶ κλῆρος ἐν ναῷ κυρίου θυμηρέστερος. τὸ συγκριτικὸν γὰρ δείκνυσι μὲν τὰ ὑποβεβηκότα ἐν τῷ ναῷ τοῦ θεοῦ, ὅς ἐστιν ἡ πᾶσα ἐκκλησία, ἀπολείπει δὲ ἐννοεῖν καὶ τὸ ὑπερθετικόν, ἔνθα ὁ κύριός ἐστιν. ταύτας ἐκλεκτὰς οὔσας τὰς τρεῖς μονὰς οἱ ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ ἀριθμοὶ αἰνίσσονται, ὁ τριάκοντα καὶ [ὁ] ἑξήκοντα καὶ ὁ ἑκατόν. καὶ ἡ μὲν τελεία κληρονομία τῶν εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον ἀφικνουμένων κατ' εἰκόνα τοῦ κυρίου, ἡ δὲ ὁμοίωσις οὐχ, ὥς τινες, ἡ κατὰ τὸ σχῆμα τὸ ἀνθρώπειον (ἄθεος γὰρ ἥδε ἡ ἐπιφορά) οὐδὲ μὴν ἡ κατ' ἀρετήν, ἡ πρὸς τὸ πρῶτον αἴτιον· ἀσεβὴς γὰρ καὶ ἥδε ἡ ἔκδοσις, τὴν αὐτὴν ἀρετὴν εἶναι ἀνθρώπου καὶ τοῦ παντοκράτορος θεοῦ προσδοκησάντων· ὑπέλαβες, φησίν ἀνομίαν, ὅτι ἔσομαί σοι ὅμοιος· ἀλλ' ἀρκετὸν γὰρ τῷ μαθητῇ γενέσθαι ὡς ὁ διδάσκαλος, λέγει ὁ διδάσκαλος. καθ' ὁμοίωσιν οὖν τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ εἰς υἱοθεσίαν καὶ φιλίαν τοῦ θεοῦ καταταγεὶς κατὰ τὴν συγκληρονομίαν τῶν κυρίων καὶ θεῶν γίνεται, ἐάν, καθὼς αὐτὸς ἐδίδαξεν ὁ κύριος, κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τελειωθῇ.