Papyrus Berolinensis (BG) 8502 87

[7]
will [ma]tter (oº!) then
be [destroyed] or not? The Saviour ("ø#$æ) said:
‘All natures (%&"Ø'), all forms ((º)"*Æ), all creatures (Œ#+"Ø')
exist in and with each other
5 and they will be dissolved again into
their own roots. For the
nature (%&"Ø') of matter (oº!) is dissolved into the (?roots) of
its nature (%&"Ø') alone. He who has
ears to hear, let him hear.’
10 Peter said to him: ‘Since (‰') you have
explained everything to us, tell us this too:
What is the sin of the world?’
The Saviour ("ø#$æ) said: ‘There is no sin,
but (ƺº)) it is you who perform sin when
15 you do what is like the nature (%&"Ø') of
adultery which is called sin.
Because of this, the Good (IªÆŁ-.) came
among you to the (things?) of every nature (%ı"+'),
in order to restore (ŒÆŁØ"#).ÆØ) it to
its root.’ Then (/#Ø) he continued and
20 said: ‘That is why you are
si[c]k and die, for . . .
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[8]
of the one who [ . . . he who under-]
stands, let him understand. Matter (oº!) [gave birth to] a
passion (()Ł0') which has no image,
which proceeded from (something) contrary to nature ((Ææ)%ı"Ø').
5 Then (#-#1) there arises a disturbance (#ÆæÆ2$) in
the whole body ("H*Æ). That is why I said to
you, be obedient
and if you are not obedient
still (*3.) be obedient in the presence of the diVerent forms
10 of nature (%ı"+'). He who has ears
to hear, let him hear.’
When the blessed one (*ÆŒ)æØ0') had said these things, he
greeted (I"()41"ŁÆØ) them all, saying
‘Peace (1Næ$.!) be with you. My peace
15 receive for yourselves. Beware that no one
leads you astray ((ºÆ.A.) saying,
‘‘See here!’’, or (X) ‘‘See
there!’’, for (ª)æ) the Son of Man
is within you. Follow
20 him. Those who seek him will
Wnd him. Go then and preach
the gospel (1Pƪª3ºØ0.) of the kingdom. Do not
 Papyrus Berolinensis (BG) 8502 91
9
lay down any rules (‹æ0') beyond ((Ææ)) what
I have appointed for you, and (0P53) do not give a
law (.-*0') like the law-giver (.0*0Ł3#!') lest (*$(0#1)
you be constrained by it.’
5 When he had said this, he departed. But (53) they
were grieved (ºı(1E"ŁÆØ), and they wept greatly
saying, ‘How shall we go
to the Gentiles (/Ł.0') and preach
the gospel (1Pƪª3ºØ0.) of the kingdom of the Son
10 of Man? If they did not
spare him, how will
they spare us?’ Then (#-#1) Mary
arose, greeted (I"()41"ŁÆØ) them all,
and said to her brothers: ‘Do not weep
15 and do not grieve (ºı(1+"ŁÆØ) nor (0P53)
be irresolute, for (ª)æ) his grace (2)æØ') will be
wholly with you and will protect ("Œ1()41Ø.)
you. But (53) rather (*)ºº0.) let us
praise his greatness, for he has pre-
20 pared us and made us into human beings.’ When
Mary said these things, she turned their hearts
to the Good (IªÆŁ-.), and they began (¼æ21"ŁÆØ)
to discuss (ªı*.)41"ŁÆØ) the words
of the [Saviour]
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10
Peter said to Mary: ‘Sister,
we know that the Saviour ("ø#$æ) loved you
more than ((Ææ)) the rest of women.
Tell us the words of the Saviour ("ø#$æ) which you
5 remember, which you know
but we do not, and which we have not (0P53) heard.’
Mary answered and said:
‘What is hidden from you, I will proclaim to you.’
And she began (¼æ21"ŁÆØ) to speak to them
10 these words: ‘I’, she said, ‘I saw
the Lord in a vision (‹æÆ*Æ) and I
said to him, ‘‘Lord, I saw you
today in a vision (‹æÆ*Æ).’’ He answered and
said to me: ‘‘Blessed are you, for you did not waver
15 when you saw me. For (ª)æ) where the mind (.0F') is,
there is the treasure.’’ I said
to him: ‘‘Lord, now does he who sees the
vision (‹æÆ*Æ) see it <through> the soul (łı2$) <or> (through)
the spirit ((.1F*Æ)?’’ The Saviour ("ø#$æ) answered and
20 said: ‘He does not see through the soul (łı2$)
nor (0P53) through the spirit ((.1F*Æ), but the mind (.0F')
which is between the two is what
sees the vision (‹æÆ*Æ) and it is . . . .

(pp. 11–14 are missing)

 Papyrus Berolinensis (BG) 8502 95
15
it. And Desire (K(ØŁı*+Æ) said:
‘I did not see you descending.
but (53) now I see you ascending.
Why then ((H' 53) do you lie, since you
5 belong to me?’ The soul (łı2$) answered and
said: ‘I saw you (but) you did not see me
nor (0P53) recognize me. I was
to you (simply) a garment and you did not know me.’
When it had said this, it departed rejoicing
10 greatly. Again (()ºØ.) it came to the third
power (K80ı"+Æ), which is
called Ignorance. [It]
asked (K81#)41Ø.) the soul (łı2$), saying:
‘Where are you going? In
15 wickedness ((0.!æ+Æ) are you bound. Indeed (53) you are
bound. Do not judge (Œæ+.1Ø.).’ And
the soul (łı2$) said: ‘Why do you judge (Œæ+.1Ø.)
me when I have not judged? I was bound
though I have not bound. I was not
20 recognized, though (53) I have recognized that
the All is being dissolved, both (1Y#1) the
earthly (things)
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16
and also the heavenly things.’ When the soul (łı2$)
had overcome the third power (K80ı"+Æ),
it went upwards and saw
the fourth power (K80ı"+Æ): it had
5 seven forms (*0æ%$). The Wrst form (*0æ%$)
is darkness, the second
desire (K(ØŁı*+Æ), the third
ignorance, the fourth is the jealousy of
death, the Wfth is the kingdom of the Xesh (")æ8),
10 the sixth is the foolish understanding
of the Xesh, the seventh is the
wrathful wisdom ("0%+Æ). These are the seven
[pow]ers (K80ı"+Æ) of Wrath (Oæª$). They ask
the soul (łı2$): ‘Where do you come from,
15 killer of men, or (X) where are you going,
conqueror of space?’ The soul (łı2$) answered
and said: ‘What binds
me has been killed, and what surrounds
me has been overcome, and my desire (K(ØŁı*+Æ)
20 has been ended, and ignorance
has died. In a world (Œ-"*0') I have been released
 Papyrus Berolinensis (BG) 8502 99
17
from a world (Œ-"*0'), [an]d in a
type (#&(0') from a heavenly type (#&(0'),
and (from?) the fetter of oblivion which
is (only) for a time. From this time on,
5 I will attain to the rest (I.)(Æı"Ø') of the
time (2æ-.0') of the season (ŒÆØæ-') of the aeon (ÆN9.) in
silence.’ When Mary had said
this, she fell silent, since (u"#1) the Saviour ("ø#$æ)
had spoken with her up to now.
10 But (53) Andrew answered and said
to the brethren: ‘Say what you (wish to?) say
about what she has said.
I myself (*3.) do not believe ((Ø"#1&1Ø.) that
the Saviour ("ø#$æ) said this. For (ª)æ) these teachings seem to be
15 (giving) diVerent ideas.’
Peter answered and spoke about
these same things. He
asked them about the Saviour ("ø#$æ): ‘He did not (*$#Ø)
speak with a woman without our
20 knowing, and not openly, did he? Shall we
turn around and all listen
to her? Did he prefer her to us?’
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18
Then Mary wept. She said to
Peter: ‘My brother Peter, what do you
think? Do you think that I
thought this up in my
5 heart, or (X) that I am lying about the Saviour ("ø#$æ)?’
Levi answered and said to Peter:
‘Peter, you have always been hot-
tempered. Now I see you are
arguing (ªı*.)41"ŁÆØ) against the woman like
10 the adversaries (I.#،1+*1.0'). But (53) if
the Saviour ("ø#$æ) made her worthy (¼8Ø0'), who are you
then (53) to reject her? Certainly (().#ø')
the Saviour ("ø#$æ) knows her
very well (I"%ƺH'). That is why he loved her more
15 than us. Rather (*)ºº0.) let us be ashamed and
put on the perfect (#3º1Ø0') man
and acquire him for ourselves as (ή#)) he
commanded us, and let us preach
the gospel (1Pƪª3ºØ0.), not laying down
20 any other rule (‹æ0') or (0P53) other law (.-*0')
beyond ((Ææ)) what the Saviour ("ø#$æ) said.’ [When
Papyrus Berolinensis (BG) 8502 103
19
and they began (¼æ21"ŁÆØ) to
go out [to pr]oclaim and to preach.
[The] gospel (1Pƪª3ºØ0.)
according to (ή#))
Mary
 Oxyrhynchus Papyrus (POxy) 3525 109

no l[aw
............
5 when he has said this he de[parted. But they were grieved,
wept greatly and] said, ‘How shall we g[o to the Gentiles
and preach the go]spel of the k[ingdom of the Son of Man. If
they did not spare him] how will they s[pare us?’ Then Mary arose,
greeted t]hem and kissed [them all, saying to the brothers,
10 ‘Do not weep or be grie]ved and do not doubt [for his grace will be
w]ith you to protect you. Rather let us give than[ks for his great-
ness] for he has united us and [made us into] human beings. [In saying this,
Mar]y turned their mind to [the Good. And they began to dis-
cus]s about the sayings of the Saviou[r. Peter said
15 to] Mary, ‘Sister, we know that you are greatly [loved by the
Savi]our like no other woman. Tell us [those words which you know]
of the Saviour and which we have not heard.’ [Mary replied, saying,
‘What is to y]ou unknown and I remember, I will t[ell you’, and she
began in th]ese words, ‘When once in a vision I s[aw the Lord, and
20 said,] ‘Lord, today . . . ’
 Rylands Papyrus (PRyl) 463 113

21
‘ . . . for the rest of the course of season, of time,
of aeon, [I will Wnd] rest in silence.’
When she had said this, Mary was silent
since the Saviour up to now
5 had spoken. Andrew said, ‘Brothers,
what do you think about what
has been said? For I
do not believe that the Saviour
said such things. For it seems
10 to be diVerent from his thought.’
<Peter said>, having asked about these
matters, ‘Did the Saviour
speak secretly with a woman and [not]
openly so that we all might hear?
15 Is she more worthy than us . . .
 Rylands Papyrus (PRyl) 463 115

22
. . . the Saviour. Levi said to Peter,
‘Peter, your hot temper is always with you
and now you are questioning the
woman like adversaries do to her.
5 If the Saviour deemed her worthy,
who are you to set her at nought?
Certainly, knowing her, he
loved her very well. Rather, let us be
ashamed and, having put on
10 the perfect man, let us
do what was commanded us—to
preach the gospel, not laying down any
rules nor making laws, as
the Saviour said.’ When he had said this,
15 Levi departed and began to pr[each]
[the Gospel of Mary]