17. IT is necessary also to know the definitions of things, especially those of the virtues and vices: for these are the source [and the beginning] of knowledge and ignorance, of the kingdom of heaven and of torment.
 

< Frb 549 > ριθ.̈ αναγκαιον τους των πραγματων ορους γιγνωσκειν και περισσοτερον τους των αρετων και των κακιων· αυται γαρ πηγαι και αρχη της τε γνωσεως και της αγνωσιας και της βασιλειας του ουρανου και της κατακρισεως.

[Guil:] οἱ ὅροι

48

IV,48. Noetic TURBAN is faith which is inflexible and not susceptible to fear. (Lv 8.9; Ex 28:4)

4,48. Κιδαρις της ιερωσυνης εστι πιστις ουκ εκκλινουσα ητις υποψιαν του φοβου ου δεχεται.

4.49

IV,49. AMONG all pleasures, there is one coextensive with the constitution of the nous: namely, the [pleasure] accompanying knowledge, for all [others] will pass away in the world to come.

Σ1 4,49. Πασης της ωφελειας {χαρας} της τηι των αγαθων εργασιαι γενομενης εις τον μελλοντα αιωνα προαποκειμενης η τις ονευματικης γνωσεως μενει μετα του νοος εν τουτωι τωι κοσμωι και εν τωι μελλοντι.

4.50

IV,50. [S²] THERE is a good love that is eternal: namely, that which true knowledge chooses for itself, and which is said to be inseparable from the nous.

Σ1 4,50. Μια εστι η του αγαθου αγαπη η εις αιωνα διαμενουσα ητις εστιν η της αληθειας γνωσεως αγαπη.

Εἶς πόθος ἀγαθὸς καὶ αἰώνιος ὁ τῆς ἀληθοῦς γνώσεως ἐφιέμενος  PG 86a 1285

4.51

IV,51. IN second natural contemplation, it is said that some are leaders, and others are submissive to leaders, of necessity. But, in the Unity there will not be those who are leaders, neither those who are submitted to leaders; but all will be gods.

4,51. Εν τηι φυσικηι θεωριαι τηι δευτεραι οι μεν αρχουσιν -- εν δε αρχονται εν δε τηι μοναδι ουκ εισιν οι αρχουσιν ουδε οι υπ' αρχας αλλα παντες θεοι εισιν.

4.52

IV,52. Noetic PLATE (petalon/leaf-golden headband) is true knowledge of the Blessed Trinity. (Ex 28:36)

πέταλόν ἐστι νοητόν γνῶσις ἀληθὴς τῆς ἁγίας τριάδος [FP 31.3.0]

4.53

IV,53. KNOWLEDGE diminishes and decreases among those who build the tower with viciousness and with false doctrines; they run aground on ignorance and confusion [“Babel”]of ideas [“intellections”], in the same way as those also who were bulding the tower. (Gen 11:4-9; cf. Lk 14.28)

    3. Τοῖς ἀπὸ κακίας καὶ ψευδῶν δογμάτων πόλιν οἰκοδομοῦσιν ἀγνωσία ἐπισυμβαίνει καὶ σύγχυσις γλωσσῶν παύουσα αὐτοὺς τῆς κακῆς ἐνεργείας  καθάπερ καὶ τοῖς ἐν Χαλάμῃ τὸν πύργον κατασκευάσασιν. [PG 12.1468]

4.54

IV,54. IN all languages words make known names, and [so] objects are known. In this way the words of the Apostles offered in the Hebrew language were transformed into the names and the words of [other] languages; [and] because of this all peoples had knowledge of what was revealed. (Act 2: 5-13)

Σ1 4,54. Εν πασαις ταις γλωσσαις ονοματα και λογοι γιγνωσκονται γνωριζουσιν δε τα πραγματα· ουτως η του πνευματος γλωσσα την των διανοιων διαφοραν γνωριζει.

4.55

IV,55. THE logoi [?names] of the virtues are the virtues’ mirror; and he who hears the words but does not practice them. sees only a shadow of virtue [as] in a mirror (cf 1Cor 13.12), while true virtue is the precise face of the soul. (Jms 1:22-24).

Σ1 4,55. Οι των αρετων λογοι εσοπτρα των αρετων· ος αρα αν ακουηι τους λογους και μη ποιηι μονον την της αρετης σκιαν ως εν εσοπτρωι καθοραι η δε εληθινη αρετη το ακριβες της ψυχης προσωπον.

4.56

IV,56. Noetic EPHOD is the state of the reasoning soul, in which a man customarily practices his virtues. (Ex 18:4)

4,56. Επωμις πνευμματικη εστιν {εξις} καταστασις περισσευουσα της λογικης ψυχης ηι ειωθεν ο ανθρωπος εργαζειν τα αυτου κατορθωματα.

IV,57. THE Christ has appeared as creator by the multiplication of loaves, by the wine of the [marital] union, and by eyes of the man born blind. (Mt.14:15-21; 15:32-38 & Jn 2:1-10; 9:1-7)

4,57. Εν ταις αρεταις ας εποιει ο Χ. και εν τοις σημειοις και τερασι και ιαμασιν ας εποιησε οτι κτιστης εστιν απηγγελθη.

4.58

IV,58. GOD, when he created the logikoi, was not in anything; but, when he creates the corporal nature and worlds which arise from it, he is in his Christ.

4,58. Ο θεος προ του λογικην φυσιν κτιζειν εν τηι αυτου ουσιαι ενωικησε μετα δε το κτιζειν αυτην κατοικητηριον αυτου εποιησεν.

4.59

IV,59. IF an essence is not said to be superior or inferior to an[other] essence, and that a demon has been designated by our Savior as worse that an[other] demon, it is evident that it is not by their essence that demons are bad. (Lk 11:26)

4,59. Ει ουσια εκτισμενη παρα τν ετεραν οτι περισσευει η υστερει τηι κτισει ουκ ενδεχεται λεγειν, ο δε κυριος εν τωι ευαγγελιωι αυτου εγνωρισεν οτι εστι δαιμων κακιων του ετερου δηλον οτι δαιμονες ου κτισει αλλα θεληματι αυτων κακοι εισιν.

4.60

IV,60. TO those who blaspheme against the Creator and speak ill of this body of our soul: who will demonstrate the grace that they have received, [namely] while they are passible, to have been joined such an organon? They testify in favor of my words, who in hallucinations of dreams are terrified by demons and escape into wakefulness as [if] beside angels, when the body awakens abruptly.

4,60. ^[299] Τοις τον κτιστην βλασφημουσι τε και τουτο το της ψυχης σωμα κακως λεγουσι τις την του κυριου αγαθοτητα ρις αυτους γενονενην και διαπαντος απο των δαιμονων αυτους σκεπαζουσαν γνωρισει· μαρτυρες δε μοι τουτου οι εν τοις ενυπνιοις υπο των δαιμονων φοβηθεντες προς τυς αγγελους προσφευγουσι και ουτως αισθανομενοι εξυπνοι γινονται.

4.61

IV,61. “UNCOVERING” (Ex 20:26?) is explanation of the commandments for the consolation of the simple.

4,61. Αποκαλυψις διδακτικη εστιν η των του θεου εντολων ερμηνεια ητις αποκαλυπτεται εις την των απλων παρακλησιν.

4.62

IV,62. IT is necessary for the nous to be instructed concerning incorporeal [beings], concerning bodies, or even simply to see objects: for there, indeed, is its life. But it will not see incorporeal [beings] if it is impure in its will, nor bodies, if it is deprived of the organon that shows it sensible things. What, then, will they give to the dead soul for contemplation, those who despise the Creator and also malign our body here?

4,62. ^[301] Καθηκει τωι νοι σχολαζειν η τηι των ασωματων θεωριαι· η τηι των σωματικων θεωριαι η τηι των πραγματων οπτασιαι οτι εν τουτοις η ζωη αυτου· αλλα γαρ τα μεν ασωματα οραν ου δυναται μεμολυσμενος τωι θεληματι αυτου ουδε τα σωματα απεστερημενος του οργανου του δια των αισθητηριων αυτου αυτωι -- αποδειπνυντος· τουτων δε ουτως εχοντων τι περισσον τηι της ψυχης της νεκρας ορασει -- ιδωσουσιν οι αδικουντες τον κτιστην και το σωμα τουτο συκοφαντουντες.

IV,63. Noetic PROPITIATORY [mercy seat/breastplate? ephod?] is spiritual knowledge, which conducts the soul of the praktikoi. (Ex 25:17)

4,63. Εφωδ πνευματικον εστι γνωσις πνευματικη ητις παρακαλει τους εργατας.

4.64

IV.64. IF ancient Israel, of whom many were not [part] of Israel, accompanied him, is it also thus with the new Israel – that many among the Egyptians did not go out? (Ex 12:38)

4,64. ^[303] Ει τωι πρωτωι Ισραηλ πολλοι οι ουκ εξ Ισραηλ ησαν προσεκολληθησαν, αρα και συν τωι καινωι Ισραηλ ουκ αν πολλοι οι ουκ εξ Ισραηλ εξηλθον.

4.65

IV,65. ALL reasoning nature is divided into three parts: over one reigns life, over the second (reign) death and life, and over the third (reigns) only death .

4,65. Η λογικη φυσις εις τρια μερη διακρινεται του μεν ενος βασιλευει η ζωη, του δε αλλου η τε ζωη και ο θανατος, του δε τριτου ο θανατος.

4.66

IV,66. Noetic PECTORAL [tunic?/ephod?] is the unspeakable knowledge of the mysteries of God. (Ex 28:34, ff.)

ὑποδύτης ἐστὶ νοητὸς γνῶσις άπόρρητος τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ μυστηρίων [FP 37.1.0]

IV,67. OBJECTS which fall beneath the soul through the senses move it in order to make it receive their forms within it: for this is the “work” of the nous - to know, like the animals that breathe externally: and [the nous] falls into danger if it does not work, if, in the words of wise Solomon, the light of the Lord is the breath of men. (Prv 20:27).

4,67. Τα αισθητα πραγματα κινει την ψυχην ενδυεσθαι την εικονα αυτων ουτως και αι διανοιαι νοηται τον· νουν κινουσιν την αυτων θεωριαν ενδυεσθαι. [S1 The sensible things move the soul to make it take on their shapes: just as the noetic intellections move the nous to make it take on their contemplation]

4.68

IV,68. THIS body of the soul is the image of the house, and sense carries the sign of the windows, by which the nous regards and sees sensible things.

4.68 Οἴκου μὲν εἰκόνα σώζει τὸ σῶμα τὸ τῆς ψυχῆς, αἱ δὲ αἰσθήσεις θυρίδων ἐπέχουσι λόγον, δι᾿ ὧν παρακύπτων ὁ νοῦς βλέπει τὰ αἰσθητά. [Hr-nfg 231=E13]

4.69

IV,69. Noetic CLOAK [coat] is the spiritual teaching that gathers wanderers. (Ex 28:4)

4,69. Περιβολαιον πνευματικον εστι διδασκαλια πνευματικη συναγειρουσα τους πλανωντας.

4.70

IV,70. IT is not said to all: Flee from prison, my soul: (Ps 141:8, cf. Acts 16:37) but to those empowered by purity of soul, to give themselves over, apart from this body, to the contemplation of what has come to be.

4.70 Οὐ πάντων οὖν ἐστι τὸ λέγειν· ἔκβαλλε ἐκ φυλακῆς τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀλλὰ τῶν δυναμένων διὰ καθαρότητα ψυχῆς καὶ χωρὶς τοῦ σώματος τούτου τῇ θεωρίᾳ τῶν γεγονότων ἐπιβάλλειν. [Hr-nfg 231=E13; = (also) ]

IV,71. IF one of the senses is missing, it deeply saddens those deprived of it: who [then] will be able to endure the deprivation of all, which will occur all at once and deprive him of the admiration for bodies?

4,71. Ει μια των δια σωματος αισθησεων υστερει δεινως λυπει τον αυτης απεστερημενον· τις δε την πασων εξαπινα γενομενην αποστερησιν την το εν τοις σωμασι θαυμαστον αυτον αφαιρουσαν υπομενειν δυνατος;

4.72

IV,72. Noetic LOINCLOTH [tunic?/trousers?] is the mortification of the concupiscible part, which is done on account the knowledge of God. (Ex 28:42).

περισκέλιον ἐστι νοητὸν νέκρωσις τοῦ ἐπιθυμητικοῦ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ γνώσεως ἕνεκεν [FP 31.4.0]

4.73

IV,73. ONE in whom the nous always attends to the Lord, in whom the thumikon is full of humility following the memory of God, and in whom epithumia is completely oriented toward the Lord - he does not fear our adversaries who circle outside our bodies.

4,73. Ουτινος ο νους διαπαντος προς τον κυριον εστι και ο ζηλος αυτου της μνημης πληρης και η επιθυμια αυτου ολη προς αυτον εκτεινεται τουτωι το τους --δια των σωματων ημων περιφερομενους πολεμιους ανυποτακτους οντας ου φοβεισθαι -- εγγυς εστι.

4.74

IV,74. THESE among saints who have now been delivered of bodies and have mingled with the choir of angels, it is evident that the latter have come also to our world because of the [divine?] economy.

4,74. ^[307] Οσοι εν τηι των του θεου εντολων πληρωσει τετελειωνται και τουτου του κοσμου απολελυνται δηλον οτι ου χωριζονται της αγιων αγγελωυ ομιλιας.

4.75

IV.75. Noetic ROBE is the soul’s justice, according to which a man is accustomed to offer a response blamelessly in actions and teaching. (Ex 28:4)

ποδήρης ἐστὶ νοητὸς δικαιοσύνη ψυχῆς καθ' ἣν εἴωθεν ἄμεμπτος ἐν πράξει καὶ δόγμασι χρηματίζειν ἄνθρωπος [FP 31.5.0]

IV,76. [Evagrius also said:] ONE who is passionate and who prays that departure from the body come quickly resembles a man who summons the carpenter to quickly break up the bed of a sick person. [for it is by means of that body that the soul is removed from the the passions and encouraged] ][Greek.Fragment: Dorotheus, Didascalia 12 (Regnault, 1963, p. 126)

4,76. [Ἔλεγε καὶ Εὐάγριος ὅτι ] ἐμπαθής τις ὢν καὶ προσευχόμενος ταχυτέραν αὐτῷ γενέσθαι τὴν ἔξοδον, ἔοικεν ἀνθρώπῳ παρακαλοῦντι τὸν τέκτονα ταχέως συντρίψαι τὴν κλίνην τοῦ ἀσθενοῦντος. [Διὰ γὰρ τοῦ σώματος τούτου περισπᾶται ἡ ψυχὴ ἀπὸ τῶν παθῶν αὐτῆς καὶ παρακαλεῖται.]

4.77

IV,77. OBJECTS are outside of the nous, and the contemplation concerning them is constituted within it. But it is not thus with the holy Trinity, for it is solely essential knowledge.

4,77. ^[309] Τα αισθητα εξω του νοος εστιν η δε ορασις αυτων εντος αυτου, αλλ' ουχ ουτως εν τηι αγιαι τριαδι, γνωσις γαρ ουσιωδης εστιν. [S1The sensible things are outside of the nous, and their view is inside it. But it is not therefore that way in regard to the holy Trinity, because that is essential knowledge.]

4.78

IV,78. THE Christ is inherited and he inherits;

       but the Father is only inherited.

4,78. Ο μεν Χ. κληρονομειται τε και αληρονομει, ο δε πατηρ μονον κληρονομειται.

4.79

IV,79. THE cincture of the high priest (Ex 28:4) is gentleness of the thumos, which sustains the hegemonikon [ruling part].

ζώνη ἐστιν ἀρχιερατική πραΰτης τοῦ θυμικοῦ τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν περισφίγγουσα [FP 12.1.0]

Praktikos, Prol.8

Kephalaia Gnostica 4.48-79

[1] FAITH

[1] 4,48.  The intelligible TURBAN  is Faith which is inflexible and not susceptible to fear.  (Ex 28:4)

[2] Fear of God

[2] 4,52. Noetic PLATE (petalon/leaf-golden headband) is true knowledge of the Blessed Trinity. (Ex 28:36) (πέταλόν ἐστι νοητόν γνῶσις ἀληθὴς τῆς ἁγίας τριάδος [FP 31.3.0]

[3] Continence
     [epithumetikon]

[3] 4,56. Noetic EPHOD is the state of the reasoning soul, in which a man customarily practices his virtues. (Ex 18:4)

[4] Patience
     [thumikon]

[4] 4,63. Noetic PROPITIATORY [mercy seat/breastplate? ephod?] is spiritual knowledge, which conducts the soul of the praktikoi. (Ex 25:17)

[5] Hope

[5] 4,66. Noetic TUNIC [pectoral?/ephod?] is the unspeakable knowledge of the mysteries of God. (Ex 28:34, ff.)

[6] Apatheia,

[6] 4,69. Noetic COAT [cloak] is the spiritual teaching that gathers wanderers. (Ex 28:4)

[7] Love.

[7] 4,72. Noetic LOINCLOTH [tunic?/trousers?] is the mortification of the concupiscible part, which is done on account the knowledge of God. (Ex 28:42).

[8] Knowledge of Nature

[8] 4.75. Noetic ROBE is the soul’s justice, according to which a man is accustomed to offer a response blamelessly in actions and teaching. (Ex 28:4) [ποδήρης ἐστὶ νοητὸς δικαιοσύνη ψυχῆς καθ' ἣν εἴωθεν ἄμεμπτος ἐν πράξει καὶ δόγμασι χρηματίζειν ἄνθρωπος [FP 31.5.0]]

[9] Theologia

[9] 4,79. The CINCTURE of the high priest (Ex 28:4) is gentleness of the thumos, which sustains the hegemonikon [ruling part].[ ζώνη ἐστιν ἀρχιερατική πραΰτης τοῦ θυμικοῦ τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν περισφίγγουσα [FP 12.1.0]]

IV,79. THE cincture of the high priest (Ex 28:4) is gentleness of the thumos, which sustains the hegemonikon [ruling part].

ζώνη ἐστιν ἀρχιερατική πραΰτης τοῦ θυμικοῦ τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν περισφίγγουσα [FP 12.1.0]