Part II — the human being
Harold W. Attridge / Elaine H. Pagels (composite, abridged) · Public domain / scholarly composite. Reproduced for educational and religious commentary.
1The first human is a tripartite being. He has a material part, from the rulers; a soulish part, from the demiurge; a spiritual part, from the higher Logos.
2The material humans are those whose dominant nature is matter; they perish with the body. The soulish humans are those whose dominant nature is soul; they are educable — they can rise or fall, depending on the choice they make. The spiritual humans are those whose dominant nature is spirit; they belong to the Pleroma, and they cannot be lost.
3The Saviour came for all three. To the material, he came to demonstrate the limit of matter. To the soulish, he came to teach. To the spiritual, he came to remind them of who they are.
4The soulish receive faith and works. The spiritual receive knowledge — gnosis — and the immediate communion with the Father. By gnosis they are awakened. By gnosis they ascend.
5The Christ took on a body that was no real flesh; he came into the world to save those whom the Father had given him. He suffered in appearance, that he might call out to those who suffered in truth.