Apocryphon of John

NHC II 4–6 — Barbelo

This is because [we do] not [understand unspeakable things, and we] do not understand what [cannot be measured], apart from him who originated [from] him, that is, [the] Father, because he [alone] is the one who [explained] it to us, given that he is the one who studies him[self] inside his light that surrounds [him], that is, the spring [of] living water, and he is the one who supplies [every aeon], and in every direction (at once) he [observes] his image by gazing in the spring of the [Spirit]. He is the one who places his desire inside his [water]- light, [which dwells in the] spring of the [pure light]-water [that] surrounds him, and [his (potential) thought became] actual, and she approached, [that is], she who had [appeared] in front of him inside [the glow of] his light. This is the first [power, which existed] before the All, and [which issued] forth from his mind. She [is the Providence of the All] – her light [glows like his] light – the [perfect] power who is [the] image of the perfect unseen, virginal Spirit. [The first power] (is) the glory of Barbelo, the perfect glory inside the aeons, the glory of the revelation. She extolled the virginal Spirit, and she is the one who praised him, because on account of him she had come forth. This is the first thought, his image. She became the universal womb because she is the one who exists before all of them, the Mother-Father, the Primal Man, the holy Spirit, the triple-male, the triple-powerful, the triple-named androgynous one, and the eternal aeon among the unseen ones, even the first one to issue forth. <She> entreated the unseen, virginal Spirit – that is, Barbelo – to grant her Precognition, and the Spirit agreed, and when he had [agreed], Precognition approached, and attended Providence, she who originates from the Idea of the unseen, virginal Spirit. She extolled him [and] his perfect power, Barbelo, because they had come into being on account of her. She also entreated once more to grant her [Indestructibility], and he agreed. When he had [agreed], Indestructibility [approached], and attended Idea and Precognition. She extolled the unseen one and Barbelo, the one on whose account they had come into being. Barbelo also entreated to grant her eternal life, and the unseen Spirit agreed, and when he had agreed, Eternal Life approached, and they [attended] and extolled the unseen [Spirit] and Barbelo, on whose account they had come into being. She also entreated once more to grant her truth, and the unseen Spirit agreed. (var. ⟦CodexIV: and [he agreed], and [when he had] agreed,⟧ ) Truth approached, and they attended and extolled the unseen, admirable Spirit and his Barbelo on whose account they had come into being. This is the aeonic pentad of the Father, which is the Primal Man, the image of the unseen Spirit. This is Providence – that is, Barbelo – and Precognition, and Idea, and Precognition, and Indestructibility, and Eternal Life and Truth. This is the androgynous aeonic pentad, being the aeonic decad, which is the Father.