The law of the rulers and the law of the truth
Birger A. Pearson / Søren Giversen (composite) · Public domain / scholarly composite. Reproduced for educational and religious commentary.
1I shall speak to those who know how to hear, not with the ears of the body, but with the ears of the mind.
2Many have sought after the truth and have not been able to find it; for the old leaven of the Pharisees and of the scribes of the law overcame them. And the leaven is the errant desire of the angels and of the demons and of the stars.
3As for the Pharisees and the scribes, they belong to the rulers, who hold authority. None who has been under the law will be able to look up to the truth, for it shall not be possible to serve two masters.
4The defilement of the law is manifest. Defilement does not pertain to the truth, but it pertains to the law. And those who are sons of the truth are not sons of the law.
5The Son of Man came forth from imperishability, since he is alien from defilement. He came to the world by the Jordan River, and the Jordan turned back. And John was witness of this descent of Yeshua. For he is the one who saw the dove, the holy Spirit, descending. And the Father in heaven was well-pleased with the Son.
6That is the true testimony. He himself is the law. The law of the truth is to take up the cross and follow him. He came to renounce the world. He came that he might bring darkness to nothing.
7Those who think they have entered the kingdom by means of baptism in water — yet by water they have not been saved. The true baptism is something else; it is repentance from the world, and renunciation of fleshly desire, and turning away from the rulers, and going forth to take up the cross.