Christ Hymn Taught to Disciples

“Now before He was taken by the lawless Jews–by them who are under the law of the lawless Serpent–He gathered us together and said:

“‘Before I am delivered over unto them we will hymn the Father, and so go forth to what lieth before [us].’

“Then bidding us make as it were a ring, by holding each others’ hands, with Him in the midst, He said:

“‘Answer “Amen” to Me.”

“Then He began to hymn a hymn and say:

 

THE HYMN

Glory to Thee, Father!

(And we going round in a ring answered to Him:)

Amen!

Glory to Thee, Word (Logos)!

Amen!

Glory to Thee, Grace (Charis)!

Amen!

Glory to Thee, Spirit!
Glory to Thee, Holy One!
Glory to Thy Glory!

Amen!

We praise Thee, O Father;
We give Thanks to Thee, O light;
In Whom Darkness dwells not!

Amen!

(For what we give thanks to the Logos).

[Or, if we adopt the “emended” text: For what we give thanks, I say:]

I would be saved; and I would save.

Amen!

I would be loosed; and I would loose.

Amen!

I would be wounded; and I would wound.

Or, I would be pierced; and I would pierce.

Amen!

I would be begotten; and I would beget.

Amen!

I would eat; and I would be eaten.

Amen!

I would hear; and I would be heard.

Amen!

I would understand; and] I would be understood; being all Understanding (Nous).

I would be washed; and I would wash.

Amen!

I would pipe; dance ye all.

Amen!

I would play a dirge; lament ye all.

Amen!

The one Eight (Ogdoad) sounds (or plays) with us.

Amen!

The Twelfth number above leadeth the dance.

Amen!

All whose nature is to dance [doth dance].

Amen!

Who danceth not, knows not what is being done.

Amen!

I would flee; and I would stay.

Amen!

I would be adorned; and I would adorn.

[The clauses are reversed in the text.]

Amen!

I would be at-oned; and I would at-one.

Amen!

I have no dwelling; and I have dwellings.

Amen!

I have no place; and I have places.

Amen!

I have no temple; and I have temples.

Amen!

I am a lamp to thee who seest Me.

Amen!

I am a mirror to thee who understandest Me.

Amen!

I am a door to thee who knockest at Me.

Amen!

I am a way to thee a wayfarer.

Amen!

Now answer to My dancing!

See thyself in Me who speak;
And seeing what I do,
Keep silence on My Mysteries.

Understand by dancing, what I do;
For thine is the Passion of Man
That I am to suffer.

Thou couldst not at all be conscious
Of what thou dost suffer,
Were I not sent as thy Word by the Father.
[The last clause may be emended: I am thy Word; I was sent by the Father.]

Seeing what I suffer,

Thou sawest Me as suffering;
And seeing, thou didst not stand,
But wast moved wholly,
Moved to be wise.

Thou hast Me for a couch; rest thou upon Me.

Who I am thou shalt know when I depart.
What now I am seen to be, that I am not.
[But what I am] thou shalt see when thou comest.

If thou hadst known how to suffer,
Thou wouldst have power not to suffer.
Know [then] how to suffer, and thou hast power not to suffer.

That which thou knowest not, I Myself will teach thee.

I am thy God, not the Betrayer’s

I would be kept in time with holy souls.

In Me know thou the Word of Wisdom.

 

Say thou to Me again:

Glory to Thee, Father!
Glory to Thee, Word!
Glory to TheSe, Holy Spirit!

But as for Me, if thou wouldst know what I was:
In a word I am the Word who did play [or dance] all things, and was not shamed at all.
‘Twas I who leaped [and danced].

But do thou understand all, and, understanding, say:

Glory to Thee, Father!

Amen!

(And having danced these things with us, Beloved, the Lord went forth. And we, as though beside ourselves, or wakened out of [deep} sleep, fled each our several ways.)