Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PISTIS SOPHIA

A gnostic document whose title means “faith-wisdom,” perhaps originally titled the Book of the Savior. It was discovered in 1772 by A. Askew and bought by the British Museum in 1785 but not made public until 1905. Perhaps written in Egypt during the 3rd or 4th century and belonging to the genre of discussions between the resurrected Christ and his followers, it contains four sections treating two distinct subjects. Sections 1-3 contain 46 questions asked mostly by Mary Magdalene about the origin of sin and evil, heaven, the fall, and redemption of Pistis Sophia (representing humanity) to Jesus in his 12th year of teaching after the Resurrection. Personified Faith-Wisdom gives thanks to the “First Mystery” in a series of hymns of praise, after each of which a disciple interprets the hymn. A promise of equality with God for those who discover the unknowable truth of the mysteries concludes this part. Section 4 does not mention Pistis Sophia, but contains Jesus’ answers given on the day of Resurrection about heavenly powers, visions, a description of punishments for sins, magical words and rites (such as offering wine, bread, and water along with sacred words), and a prayer for compassion.

Richard A. Spencer

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PISTIS SOPHIA

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)