The Saviour speaks to James
Wolf-Peter Funk / Marvin Meyer (composite) · Public domain / scholarly composite. Reproduced for educational and religious commentary.
1It is the Lord who spoke with me. See now the completion of my redemption. I have given you a sign of these things, James, my brother. For not without reason have I called you my brother, although you are not my brother materially.
2Behold, I shall reveal to you everything of this mystery. For they will seize me the day after tomorrow. But my redemption will be near.
3James said, Rabbi, you have said, "They will seize me." But what can I do?
4He said to me, Fear not, James. You too will they seize. But leave Jerusalem. For it is she who always gives the cup of bitterness to the sons of light. She is a dwelling place of a great number of archons. But your redemption will be saved from them.
5That you may understand who they are, and what kinds they are, and how you will go: listen. They are not, but they are styled with the names that exist. They were given a power; and they descended. From the immeasurable angels there came forth seventy-two heavens; that is their number. And from these seventy-two heavens, twelve emerge, and from these twelve, four — and these four make the chief over them.
6They are: a great fearful figure with a face like a lion's; a man with a sword in his right hand; a man whose right hand is over a wing — and these are the powers; the woman of beauty, with a multitude of forms, who is light at the front and darkness behind.
7James said, Rabbi, are there really then twelve hebdomads and not seven only as found in the scriptures?
8The Lord said, James, the one who has spoken in this scripture has expressed himself partially, but the truth is — there are twelve, and they are subordinated to four. Seventy-two emerge from these twelve.
9James said, Rabbi, when I have come, in what way will I escape them? Many are they who arm themselves against me.
10The Lord said, James, when you come, do not say to them, You are a chief, but say, You will not be able to grasp me. For thereby you will go past their custom, since they will demand the password from you. They will say, Where will you go? You will say, To the place from which I have come; back to that place will I return.