Dialogue of the Savior

Secret Sayings   Jackson Snyder

As part of the Nag Hammadi Library, this dialogue is similar in composition to parts of the Gospel of John, yet somewhat less complex. It may be dated to the late first century.

Matthew said, "Lord, I long to see the place of eternal life; the place where there is no wickedness, but pure Light."  The Lord replied, "Brother, you will never be able to see it in this life, not as long as you carry flesh around with you." 

Matthew said, "Lord, even if I cannot now see this place, let me know more about it." The Lord said, "Anyone who knows his true self has seen this place in every good work he has been given to do, and has come to experience a part of it through these good deeds."

Judas asked, "Tell me, Lord. What causes the earth to shake?" The Lord picked up a stone in his hand and asked, "What am I holding in my hand?" Judas said, "A stone." The Savior said to them, "That which supports this stone supports the earth and heavens. When the Word comes forth from the Greatness, it will come by the same force that supports the heavens and the earth. The earth does not move. If it were to move, it would surely fall. But it neither moves nor falls, in order that the First Word might not fail. After all, it was the First Word that established the world, caused it to be populated and inhaled fragrance from it. Likewise, sons of men who are established in the First Word do not move or fall. You are from the Greatness also. You exist for those whom in their hearts cry out for joy and truth. Even if the Greatness comes forth through you for these and is not received, the effort is not wasted, for the Word returns to its place. Whoever does not know this Word and its work knows nothing. If one does not stand in darkness, he will not be able to perceive light!"

"If someone doesn't know the meaning of fire, that person will burn in it, because he doesn't know how hot it is or where it came from. If someone doesn't know the origin of water, he knows nothing. What is the use of baptism if you doesn't understand the origin or meaning of the water? If someone doesn't understand how tornadoes came into existence and what their power is, he will blow away in one. If someone does not understand the origin or nature of the body that he carries with him, he will surely perish when the body does. Therefore, how will someone know the Father if he does not know the Son? If  someone refuses to learn about the natures and origins of things, they remain unknowable secrets, although a person who doesn't know the origin of wickedness will practice it anyway! Whoever doesn't understand how he came will not know how to go. He will seem to know his way in this world, but will be utterly lost and humiliated."

Suddenly, Judas, Matthew, and Mary were transported in a vision to a place between heaven and earth. These disciple were perplexed by what they were experiencing. Despite their fears, they hoped that they might understand the mysteries before them as they felt Jesus' hands upon them. Judas raised his eyes and saw a very high plateau above them and a deep abyss below. He said to Matthew, "Brother, we will never be able to escape this place by climbing up, for the way is much too steep. We can't go down into the abyss, for there is a tremendous fire there and other dreadful things!" At that moment a living Word in the form of a man came to them from above. Judas, amazed, asked the Living Word why it had come down.

The Son of Man greeted the disciples and said, "A seed of power in heaven was imperfect, and was cast down to the abyss of the earth. The Greatness remembered it in love and sent the Word to it. The Word brought the imperfect seed up before the Greatness so that the First Word might not fail in his mission."

The disciples were amazed at what they saw and heard. Although they could not understand what the Son was saying to them, they took all these things on faith. The one thing they concluded was that they could no longer entertain wicked ways.

Then the Savior said to his disciples, "Haven't I told you that with an audible cry and a flash of lightning the just will be taken up to the light?" Then all the disciples praised him and said, "Lord, before you made yourself known to us, who offered you praise? For all praise exists on your account. Or who is it that is able to bless you, since all blessings emanate from you?" 

Then, as they stood there, they saw two angels bringing a person with them in a great flash of lightning. A word came forth from the Son of Man, saying, "Give them the garment that belongs to them." And the small one became like the big one....

Judas said, "Behold, those in power live above us and rule us." The Lord said, "It is you who will rule over them when you rid yourself of your jealousy. Only then will you be clothed in light and be worthy to enter the bridal suite." 

Judas asked, "How will our garments be brought to us?" Jesus answered, "There are some appointed to provide them for you, and others to receive you. How else will one be able to enter the bridal chamber unless some provide appropriate garments and others receive? Remember that the bridal suite is a reward. The ones who know the path to their reward receive bridal garments, by which they leave this existence. It has been difficult even for me to endure it all."

Mary said, "You speak these word in context with what you have told us about 'the wickedness of each day,' 'the laborer is worthy of his food,' and 'the disciple resembles his teacher.'"  She spoke as a woman of complete understanding.

The disciples spoke, "How are we to know abundance from deprivation?" The Lord said, "You are from abundance and live in depravity. Behold! His light has poured down upon me!"

Matthew asked, "Lord, how will the dead die and the living live?" The Lord answered, "Brother, you have asked me about things that no one has before witnessed, nor has anyone asked but you. But I say to you, when the thing that keeps man alive is removed, he will be called 'dead.' When what is alive leaves what is dead, what is alive will be called upon."

Judas asked, "What else, but for the sake of truth, do people live and die?" The Lord answered, "Whatever is born of Truth doesn't die. Whatever is born of a woman will."

Mary said, "Tell me, Lord, if I have come to this place to gain or lose." The Lord said, "You make it clear that you profit from the abundance of the Revealer." 

Mary then said, "Is there a place, Lord, where there is no truth?" The Lord said, "The place where I am not." Mary finished by saying, "You are fearful and wonderful. Those who do not know you are losers indeed."

Matthew asked, "When can we rest?" The Lord answered, "When you lay your burdens down." 

Matthew asked another question, "When does the insignificant join itself to the great?" Jesus replied, "When you abandon unprofitable works, then you have laid down the burdens that keep you from unity and have found rest."

Mary said, "I want to know all facts just as they are!" The Lord said, "Those that seek for eternal life will know all things. This knowledge is universal currency - far superior to gold and silver - those perishables that have mislead so many."

The disciples asked, "How shall we do our tasks perfectly?" The Lord said, "Be prepared for anything. Blessed is the one who has won the contest before it has even begun; who has seen sure victory before his eyes! When the fray is over, he emerges from the dust victorious neither by killing nor by being killed!"

Judas asked, "Where does the path begin?" Jesus answered, "It begins with love - love and goodness. If these were practices of your rulers in the beginning, wickedness would never have come into existence."

Matthew said, "Lord, you have spoken about the end of all things as though you were unconcerned!" The Lord said, "Matthew, you have understood most of what I have said to you and believed the rest by faith. Then if you know these things, they are yours to rest on; if not, then be concerned."

They said to him, "Where are we going?" He replied, "Where you can reach." 

Mary said, "Everything in place can thus be seen." The Lord said, "As I have told you, the one who sees, reveals!"

Mary said, "I will say one thing to the Lord concerning the mystery of truth; that is, in truth we have taken our stand - we are transparent to the world."

Judas said to Matthew, "Don't we want to know what sort of garment we will put on when we leave this decaying flesh?" The Lord heard them and said, "Those in temporal power wear garments of a temporary nature; such garments do not last forever. For children of truth like yourselves, your blessings of power remain when the flesh is stripped away!"

Judas asked, "How is the spirit perceived?" Jesus answered, "How do you perceive the sword?"

The Odes of Shalomé (The Odes of Solomon)

Shalomé of the Cross was the daughter of Mary and sister of Yahshua of Nazareth. She is mentioned several times in the New Testament Scriptures as a witness to the crucifixion. The Egyptian Scriptures portray her as a person much more important than a mere onlooker. In them, she is a fervent disciple who harbors and nurtures her brother as she learns the Way of the True Worshipper. To this same Shalomé tradition has attributed forty-one songs composed in the Aramaic language of the holy family. Her spiritual insight has much in common with that of the Beloved Disciple and the Teacher of Righteousness. Yet Shalomé has more to offer than a religious comparison of darkness and light. Her songs comprise a young woman’s unique and often mystical vision of the ‘divine feminine,’ love both mundane and ethereal, and hope that reaches far beyond the boundaries of earth and sky.

The Authentic Peter: The Preaching of Simeon Kefa from the Journal of T. Flavius Clemens (Clement)

THE AUTHENTIC PETER: Ever wonder why Simon Peter only got a couple short letters in our Scriptures? Wouldn’t someone have recorded Peter’s AUTHENTIC acts and preaching? Of course his preaching was recorded! By Clement, an affluent Gentile convert, at the command of James the Just. So why would the Church Fathers bury the preaching of their first pope since Clement was their second pope? Because Peter's teachings are HEBRAIC. This volume is one-of-a-kind, containing teachings on many subjects, including deliverance, healing, true worship, and lost doctrines. We dispensed with churchy language in restored the original Hebraic names and titles of people, places and concepts - and a full GLOSSARY.