The passwords through the rulers
Wolf-Peter Funk / Marvin Meyer (composite) · Public domain / scholarly composite. Reproduced for educational and religious commentary.
1James said to him, Rabbi, what are the things that are good and the things that are bad? Are not all things alike for those of the great and undivided light?
2The Lord said, James, when they look at you and they say, Where will you go?, say, I am from the Father, the Father who pre-existed. I am the son in the Father. I have come to him who is, that I may know him from whom I have come. The female generation has not begotten me, and I am from the place that is alien to them.
3When they say to you, Where will you go?, you will say, To the place from which I have come, the same place from which all things come. And on hearing this they will be undone, and you will go to the one who is.
4James said to him, Rabbi, those who are not of these powers — what passwords will they give? The Lord said, You will go up by the path of him who is. James, when they ask you, say, "I am the son of the pre-existent. I am one of the elect from the indissoluble race of the Father. I have come from him who is. I shall go to the place from which I came."
5This James you must hand on to them this teaching. Conceal it in yourself, and reveal it to no one but Addai. When you reach the seventh year, then this teaching shall be brought to light. And if Addai is alive, he shall hand it on; or if not, hand on through Addai's son to whomever he wills.
6When you have gone, you will pass through the powers, who are: Adonaios, who is over rebellion; Bezalia, the one with two faces; the multiform female, the woman of beauty. To each of these, you will give your sign and your password, and they will let you through.
7And when you arrive at the seventh, fear not, for it is your kinsman who lives there. He will salute you, saying, Brother of those above, you have known what is yours, and now you have come. Then he will say to you, Open the door for me; and you will not refuse. Then he will pass before you, and you will follow.
8You will go up to the place of life, my brother. And there you will rest with the rest. And the woman who appeared before you, she will dance for you, for she is the one who has guided you, and you will know that you have arrived.