"And if you (Asclepius) wish to see the reality of this mystery, then you should see the
wonderful representation of the intercourse that takes place between the male and the
female. For when the semen reaches the climax, it leaps forth. In that moment, the female
receives the strength of the male; the male, for his part, receives the strength of the
female, while the semen does this.
"Therefore, the mystery of intercourse is performed in secret, in order that the two sexes
might not disgrace themselves in front of many who do not experience that reality. For
each of them (the sexes) contributes its (own part in) begetting. For if it happens in the
presence of those who do not understand the reality, (it is) laughable and unbelievable.
And, moreover, they are holy mysteries, of both words and deeds, because not only are
they not heard, but also they are not seen.
"Therefore, such people (the unbelievers) are blasphemers. They are atheistic and
impious. But the others are not many; rather, the pious who are counted are few.
Therefore, wickedness remains among (the) many, since learning concerning the things
which are ordained does not exist among them. For the knowledge of the things which are
ordained is truly the healing of the passions of the matter. Therefore, learning is
something derived from knowledge.
"But if there is ignorance, and learning does not exist in the soul of man, (then) the
incurable passions persist in it (the soul). And additional evil comes with them (the
passions), in the form of an incurable sore. And the sore constantly gnaws at the soul,
and through it the soul produces worms from the evil, and stinks. But God is not the
cause of these things, since he sent to men knowledge and learning.
"Trismegistus, did he send them to men alone?"
"Yes, Asclepius, he sent them to them alone. And it is fitting that we tell you why to men
alone he granted knowledge and learning, the allotment of his good.
"And now listen! God and the Father, even the Lord, created man subsequent to the gods,
and he took him from the region of matter. Since matter is involved in the creation of
man, of [...], the passions are in it. Therefore, they continually flow over his body, for
this living creature would not have existed in any other way except that he had taken this
food, since he is mortal. It is also inevitable that inopportune desires, which are harmful,
dwell in him. For the gods, since they came into being out of a pure matter, do not need
learning and knowledge. For the immortality of the gods is learning and knowledge, since
they came into being out of pure matter. It (immortality) assumed for them the position of
knowledge and learning. By necessity, he (God) set a boundary for man; he placed him
in learning and knowledge.
"Concerning these things (learning and knowledge) which we have mentioned from the
beginning, he (God) perfected them in order that by means of these things he might
restrain passions and evils, according to his will. He brought his (man's) mortal existence
into immortality; he (man) became good (and) immortal, just as I have said. For he (God)
created (a) two-fold nature for him: the immortal and the mortal.
"And it happened this way because of the will of God that men be better than the gods,
since, indeed, the gods are immortal, but men alone are both immortal and mortal.
Therefore, man has become akin to the gods, and they know the affairs of each other with
certainty. The gods know the things of men, and men know the things of the gods. And I
am speaking about men, Asclepius, who have attained learning and knowledge. But
(about) those who are more vain than these, it is not fitting that we say anything base, since we are divine and are introducing holy matters.
"Since we have entered the matter of the communion between the gods and men, know,
Asclepius, that in which man can be strong! For just as the Father, the Lord of the
universe, creates gods, in this very way man too, this mortal, earthly, living creature, the
one who is not like God, also himself creates gods. Not only does he strengthen, but he
is also strengthened. Not only is he god, but he also creates gods. Are you astonished,
Asclepius? Are you yourself another disbeliever like the many?"
"Trismegistus, I agree with the words (spoken) to me. And I believe you as you speak.
But I have also been astonished at the discourse about this. And I have decided that
man is blessed, since he has enjoyed this great power."
"And that which is greater than all these things, Asclepius, is worthy of admiration. Now it
is clear to us concerning the race of the gods, and we confess it along with everyone
else, that it (the race of the gods) has come into being out of a pure matter. And their
bodies are heads only. But that which men create is the likeness of the gods. They (the
gods) are from the farthest part of the matter, and it (the object created by men) is from
the outer (part) of the being of men. Not only are they (what men created) heads, but (they
are) also all the other members of the body, and according to their likeness. Just as God
has willed that the inner man be created according to his image, in the very same way,
man on earth creates gods according to his likeness."
"Trismegistus, you are not talking about idols, are you?"
"Asclepius, you yourself are talking about idols. You see that again, you yourself,
Asclepius, are also a disbeliever of the discourse. You say about those who have soul
and breadth, that they are idols - these who bring about these great events. You are
saying about these who give prophecies that they are idols - these who give men
sickness and healing that [...] them.
"Or are you ignorant, Asclepius, that Egypt is (the) image of heaven? Moreover, it is the
dwelling place of heaven and all the forces that are in heaven. If it is proper for us to
speak the truth, our land is (the) temple of the world. And it is proper for you not to be
ignorant that a time will come in it (our land, when) Egyptians will seem to have served
the divinity in vain, and all their activity in their religion will be despised. For all divinity
will leave Egypt, and will flee upward to heaven. And Egypt will be widowed; it will be
abandoned by the gods. For foreigners will come into Egypt, and they will rule it. Egypt!
Moreover, Egyptians will be prohibited from worshipping God. Furthermore, they will
come into the ultimate punishment, especially whoever among them is found worshipping
(and) honoring God.
"And in that day, the country that was more pious than all countries will become impious.
No longer will it be full of temples, but it will be full of tombs. Neither will it be full of gods,
but (it will be full of) corpses. Egypt! Egypt will become like the fables. And your religious
objects will be [...] the marvelous things, and [...], and if your words are stones and are
wonderful. And the barbarian will be better than you, Egyptian, in his religion, whether
(he is) a Scythian, or the Hindus, or some other of this sort.
"And what is this that I say about the Egyptian? For they (the Egyptians) will not abandon
Egypt. For (in) the time (when) the gods have abandoned the land of Egypt, and have fled
upward to heaven, then all Egyptians will die. And Egypt will be made a desert by the
gods and the Egyptians. And as for you, River, there will be a day when you will flow with
blood more than water. And dead bodies will be (stacked) higher than the dams. And he
who is dead will not be mourned as much as he who is alive. Indeed, the latter will be
known as an Egyptian on account of his language in the second period (of time). -
Asclepius, why are you weeping? - He will seem like (a) foreigner in regard to his
customs. Divine Egypt will suffer evils greater than these. Egypt - lover of God, and the
dwelling place of the gods, school of religion - will become an example of impiousness.
"And in that day, the world will not be marveled at, [...] and immortality, nor will it be
worshiped [...], since we say that it is not good [...]. It has become neither a single thing
nor a vision. But it is in danger of becoming a burden to all men. Therefore, it will be
despised - the beautiful world of God, the incomparable work, the energy that possesses
goodness, the man-formed vision. Darkness will be preferred to light, and death will be
preferred to life. No one will gaze into heaven. And the pious man will be counted as
insane, and the impious man will be honored as wise. The man who is afraid will be
considered as strong. And the good man will be punished like a criminal.
"And concerning the soul, and the things of the soul, and the things of immortality, along
with the rest of what I have said to you, Tat, Asclepius, and Ammon - not only will they be
considered ridiculous, but they will also be thought of as vanity. But believe me (when I
say) that people of this kind will be endangered by the ultimate danger to their soul. And
a new law will be established ... (2 lines missing) ... they will ... (line missing) ... good.
The wicked angels will remain among men, (and) be with them, (and) lead them into
wicked things recklessly, as well as into atheism, wars, and plunderings, by teaching
them things contrary to nature.
"In those days, the earth will not be stable, and men will not sail the sea, nor will they
know the stars in heaven. Every sacred voice of the word of God will be silenced, and
the air will be diseased. Such is the senility of the world: atheism, dishonor, and the
disregard of noble words.
"And when these things had happened, Asclepius, then the Lord, the Father and god
from the only first god, the creator, when he looked upon the things that happened,
established his design, which is good, against the disorder. He took away error, and cut
off evil. Sometimes, he submerged it in a great flood; at other times, he burned it in a
searing fire; and at still other times, he crushed it in wars and plagues, until he brought ...
(4 lines missing) ... of the work. And this is the birth of the world.
"The restoration of the nature of the pious ones who are good will take place in a period
of time that never had a beginning. For the will of God has no beginning, even as his
nature, which is his will (has no beginning). For the nature of God is will. And his will is
the good."
"Trismegistus, is purpose, then, (the same as) will?"
"Yes, Asclepius, since will is (included) in counsel. For <he> (God) does not will
what he has from deficiency. Since he is complete in every part, he wills what he
(already) fully has. And he has every good. And what he wills, he wills. And he has the
good that he wills. Therefore, he has everything. And God wills what he wills. And the
good world is an image of the Good One."
"Trismegistus, is the world good?"
"Asclepius, it is good, as I shall teach you. For just as ... (2 lines missing) ... of soul and
life [...] of the world [...] come forth in matter, those that are good, the change of the
climate, and beauty, and the ripening of the fruits, and the things similar to all these.
Because of this, God has control over the heights of heaven. He is in every place, and he
looks out over every place. And (in) his place there is neither heaven nor star. And he is
free from (the) body.
"Now the creator has control in the place that is between the earth and heaven. He is
called 'Zeus', that is, 'Life'. Plutonius Zeus is lord over the earth and sea. And he does not
possess the nourishment for all mortal living creatures, for (it is) Kore who bears the fruit.
These forces always are powerful in the circle of the earth, but those of others are always
from Him-who-is.
"And the lords of the earth will withdraw themselves. And they will establish themselves
in a city that is in a corner of Egypt and that will be built toward the setting of the sun.
Every man will go into it, whether they come on the sea or on the shore."
"Trismegistus, where will these be settled now?"
"Asclepius, in the great city that is on the Libyan mountain ... (2 lines missing) ... it
frightens [...] as a great evil, in ignorance of the matter. For death occurs, which is the
dissolution of the labors of the body, and the number (of the body), when it (death)
completes the number of the body. For the number is the union of the body. Now the body
dies when it is not able to support the man. And this is death: the dissolution of the body
and the destruction of the sensation of the body. And it is not necessary to be afraid of
this, nor because of this, but because of what is not known, and is disbelieved (is one
afraid)."
"But what is not known, or is disbelieved?"
"Listen, Asclepius! There is a great demon. The great God has appointed him to be
overseer or judge over the souls of men. And God has placed him in the middle of the air,
between earth and heaven. Now when the soul comes forth from (the) body, it is
necessary that it meet this daimon. Immediately, he (the daimon) will surround this one
(masc.), and he will examine him in regard to the character that he has developed in his
life. And if he finds that he piously performed all of his actions for which he came into the
world, this (daimon) will allow him ... (1 line missing) ... turn him [...]. But if he sees [...] in
this one [...] he brought his life into evil deeds, he grasps him, as he flees upward, and
throws him down, so that he is suspended between heaven and earth, and is punished
with a great punishment. And he will be deprived of his hope, and will be in great pain.
"And that soul has been put neither on the earth nor in heaven, but it has come into the
open sea of the air of the world, the place where there is a great fire, and crystal water,
and furrows of fire, and a great upheaval. The bodies are tormented (in) various (ways).
Sometimes they are cast down into the fire, in order that it may destroy them. Now, I will
not say that this is the death of the soul, for it has been delivered from evil, but it is a
death sentence.
"Asclepius, it is necessary to believe these things and to fear them, in order that we
might not encounter them. For unbelievers are impious, and commit sin. Afterwards, they
will be compelled to believe, and they will not hear by word of mouth only, but will
experience the reality itself. For they kept believing that they would not endure these
things. Nor only ... (1 line missing). First, Asclepius, all those of the earth die, and those
who are of the body cease [...] of evil [...] with these of this sort. For those who are here
are not like those who are there. So with the daimons who [...] men, they despite [...]
there. Thus, it is not the same. But truly, the gods who are here will punish more whoever
has hidden it here every day."
"Trismegistus, what is the character of the iniquity that is there?"
"Now you think, Asclepius, that when one takes something in a temple, he is impious. For
that kind of a person is a thief and a bandit. And this matter concerns gods and men. But
do not compare those here with those of the other place. Now I want to speak this
discourse to you confidentially; no part of it will be believed. For the souls that are filled
with much evil will not come and go in the air, but they will be put in the places of the
daimons, which are filled with pain, (and) which are always filled with blood and slaughter,
and their food, which is weeping, mourning, and groaning."
"Trismegistus, who are these (daimons)?"
"Asclepius, they are the ones who are called 'stranglers', and those who roll souls down
on the dirt, and those who scourge them, and those who cast into the water, and those who
cast into the fire, and those who bring about the pains and calamities of men. For such as
these are not from a divine soul, nor from a rational soul of man. Rather, they are from the
terrible evil."
