Post by Dave on Feb 8, 2013 15:07:47 GMT -5
The Hypostasis of the Archons
(AKA – Reality of the Rulers)
Dave’s comment – I was excited to discover this text as it speak specifically about the Archons. The text sounds confusing at first until the reader comes to terms with the true meaning of the Greek / Coptic word Archon. Archon is translated as: a ruler, commander, chief, leader, authority, governor, power; and it is used to translate Enoch’s terminology “Watcher” from the Hebrew. In this particular text the term Archon is use both to describe “the rulers”(best interpreted as the Trinity), the “Chief Archon” and “The Ruler” (God). This text also refers to the Holy Spirit as Sophia, the mother of all. This is not new terminology, many ancient text refer to the Holy Spirit as feminine. Perhaps ancient man’s struggle to understand the relationship of the Trinity as God-Father, Holy Spirit-Mother, and Christ-The Son.
From the introduction by: Roger A. Bullard:
“An esoteric interpretation of genesis 1-6. … The document is tentatively dated in the third century C. E. It is obviously no later than the fourth century, to which the Nag Hammadi collection is dated. …”
Author unknown, however, it is “… certainly the work of a Gnostic teacher instructing an audience. … The audience is a Christian Gnostic community, aware of material of both testaments and accepting the authority of Paul. They are familiar with Jewish literary traditions, including apocalyptic. A traditional function of apocalyptic – providing reassurance for an insecure community – is operative here. The Hypostasis of the Archons is thus an esoteric work, written for a self-conscious community which probably felt pressure from a Christian community that defined itself as orthodox and others heretical.”
The text begins “After a brief introduction quoting “the great apostle” Paul, …”
On account of the reality (hypostasis) of the authorities (eksousiai), (inspired) by the spirit of the father of truth, the great apostle – referring to the “authorities of darkness” (Col 1:13) – told us that “our contest is not against flesh and blood; rather, the authorities of the universe and the spirits of wickedness” (Ep 6:12). I have sent you this because you inguire about the reality of the authorities.
Their chief is blind; because of his power and his ignorance and his arrogance he said, with his power, “It is I who am God; there is none apart from me.”
When he said this he sinned against the entireity. And his speech got up to incorruptibility; then there was a voice that came forth from incorruptibility, saying, “You are mistaken, Samael” – which is, “god of the blind.”
(Adam and Eve eat of the forbidden fruit and God questions them about it:)
The woman said, “It was the snake that led me astray and I ate.” They (the Trinity) turned to the snake and cursed its shadowy reflection, (XXX) powerless, not comprehending that it was a form they themselves had modeled. From that day the snake came to be under the curse of the authorities (Trinity); until the all-powerful man was to come, that curse fell upon the snake.
They turned to their Adam and took him and expelled him from the garden along with his wife; for they have no blessing, since they too are beneath the curse.
Moreover they threw mankind into a great distraction and into a life of toil, so that their mankind might be occupied by worldly affairs, and might not have the opportunity of being devoted to the Holy Spirit.
Over and over we are told of this agenda of the Archon – “…so that their mankind might be occupied by worldly affairs, and might not have the opportunity of being devoted to the Holy Spirit.” – need I say more?
(AKA – Reality of the Rulers)
Dave’s comment – I was excited to discover this text as it speak specifically about the Archons. The text sounds confusing at first until the reader comes to terms with the true meaning of the Greek / Coptic word Archon. Archon is translated as: a ruler, commander, chief, leader, authority, governor, power; and it is used to translate Enoch’s terminology “Watcher” from the Hebrew. In this particular text the term Archon is use both to describe “the rulers”(best interpreted as the Trinity), the “Chief Archon” and “The Ruler” (God). This text also refers to the Holy Spirit as Sophia, the mother of all. This is not new terminology, many ancient text refer to the Holy Spirit as feminine. Perhaps ancient man’s struggle to understand the relationship of the Trinity as God-Father, Holy Spirit-Mother, and Christ-The Son.
From the introduction by: Roger A. Bullard:
“An esoteric interpretation of genesis 1-6. … The document is tentatively dated in the third century C. E. It is obviously no later than the fourth century, to which the Nag Hammadi collection is dated. …”
Author unknown, however, it is “… certainly the work of a Gnostic teacher instructing an audience. … The audience is a Christian Gnostic community, aware of material of both testaments and accepting the authority of Paul. They are familiar with Jewish literary traditions, including apocalyptic. A traditional function of apocalyptic – providing reassurance for an insecure community – is operative here. The Hypostasis of the Archons is thus an esoteric work, written for a self-conscious community which probably felt pressure from a Christian community that defined itself as orthodox and others heretical.”
The text begins “After a brief introduction quoting “the great apostle” Paul, …”
On account of the reality (hypostasis) of the authorities (eksousiai), (inspired) by the spirit of the father of truth, the great apostle – referring to the “authorities of darkness” (Col 1:13) – told us that “our contest is not against flesh and blood; rather, the authorities of the universe and the spirits of wickedness” (Ep 6:12). I have sent you this because you inguire about the reality of the authorities.
Their chief is blind; because of his power and his ignorance and his arrogance he said, with his power, “It is I who am God; there is none apart from me.”
When he said this he sinned against the entireity. And his speech got up to incorruptibility; then there was a voice that came forth from incorruptibility, saying, “You are mistaken, Samael” – which is, “god of the blind.”
(Adam and Eve eat of the forbidden fruit and God questions them about it:)
The woman said, “It was the snake that led me astray and I ate.” They (the Trinity) turned to the snake and cursed its shadowy reflection, (XXX) powerless, not comprehending that it was a form they themselves had modeled. From that day the snake came to be under the curse of the authorities (Trinity); until the all-powerful man was to come, that curse fell upon the snake.
They turned to their Adam and took him and expelled him from the garden along with his wife; for they have no blessing, since they too are beneath the curse.
Moreover they threw mankind into a great distraction and into a life of toil, so that their mankind might be occupied by worldly affairs, and might not have the opportunity of being devoted to the Holy Spirit.
Over and over we are told of this agenda of the Archon – “…so that their mankind might be occupied by worldly affairs, and might not have the opportunity of being devoted to the Holy Spirit.” – need I say more?