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Rev/Scout · Site Admin

Luke 10:38-42 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

At the Home of Martha and Mary
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

From: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A38-42

The Gnostic Society Library

Pistis Sophia
translated by G. S. R. Mead
Index Previous Next Buy this Book at Amazon.com

CHAPTER 80

Martha again came forward and said: "My Lord, |175. I am sober in my spirit and understand the words which thou sayest. Now, therefore, give me commandment to set forth their solution in openness."

And the First Mystery answered and said unto Martha: "I give thee commandment, Martha, to set forth the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered in her song."

And Martha answered and said: "My Lord, these are the words which thy light-power hath prophesied aforetime through David in the seventh Psalm, saying:

"'12. God is a righteous vindicator and strong and long-suffering, who bringeth not on his wrath every day.

p. 148

Martha interpreteth the words of Sophia from Psalm vii."'13. If ye turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow and made it ready.

"'14. And he hath made ready for him instruments of death; he hath made his arrows for those who will be burnt up.

"'15. Behold, injustice hath been in labour, hath conceived wrong and brought forth iniquity.

"'16. It hath digged a pit and hollowed it out. It will fall into the hole which it hath made.

"'17. Its wrong will return on its own head, and its injustice will come down on its pate.'"

When Martha had said this, the First Mystery which looketh without, said unto her: "Well said, finely, Martha, blessed [one]."

From: http://www.gnosis.org/library/pistis-sophia/ps085.htm

The Gnostic Society Library

Pistis Sophia
translated by G. S. R. Mead
Index Previous Next Buy this Book at Amazon.com

CHAPTER 38

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, saying: "This is the third repentance of Pistis Sophia," that he said unto them: "Let him in whom a sensitive spirit hath arisen, come forward and speak the thought of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

Martha asketh and receiveth permission to speak.It came to pass then, before Jesus had finished speaking, that Martha came forward, fell down at his feet, kissed them, cried aloud and wept with lamentation and in humbleness, saying: "My Lord, have mercy upon me and have compassion with me, and let me speak the solution of the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

p. 50

And Jesus gave his hand unto Martha and said unto her: "Blessed is every one who humbleth himself, for on him they shall have mercy. Now, therefore, Martha, art thou blessed. But proclaim then the solution of the thought of the repentance of Pistis Sophia."

Martha interpreteth the third repentance from Psalm lxix.And Martha answered and said unto Jesus in the midst of the disciples: "Concerning the repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, O |62. my Lord Jesus, of it thy light-power in David prophesied aforetime in the sixty-ninth Psalm, saying:

"'1. O Lord God, give heed to my help.

"'2. Let them be put to shame and con-founded who seek after my soul.

"'3. May they turn straightway and be put to shame, who say unto me: Ha, ha.

"'4. May all who seek thee, be joyful and exult because of thee, and they who love thy salvation, say ever: May God be exalted.

"'5. But I am wretched, I am poor; O Lord, help me. Thou art my helper and defence; O Lord, delay not.'

"This then is the solution of the third repentance which Pistis Sophia hath uttered, singing praises to the height."

From: http://www.gnosis.org/library/pistis-sophia/ps042.htm

"This then Pistis Sophia said. Now, therefore, let him whom his spirit urgeth to understand her words, come forward and proclaim her thought."

Martha came forward and said: "My Lord, my spirit urgeth me to proclaim the solution of that which Pistis Sophia hath spoken; thy power hath prophesied aforetime concerning it through David in the fiftieth Psalm, saying thus:

Martha interpreteth the thirteenth repentance from Psalm l."'1. Be gracious unto me, O God, according to thy |112. great grace; according to the fulness of thy mercy blot out my sin.

"'2. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.

"'3. And may my sin be ever present to thee,

"'4. That thou mayest be justified in thy words and prevail when thou judgest me.'

"This is then the solution of the words which Pistis Sophia hath uttered."

Jesus said unto her: "Well said, finely, Martha, blessed [one]."

From: http://www.gnosis.org/library/pistis-sophia/ps061.htm

Seek out more from Pistis Sophia at:

http://www.gnosis.org/library/pistis-sophia

GOSPEL OF BARTHOLOMEW
Early in the morning of the Lord's day the women went to the tomb. They were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James whom Jesus delivered out of the hand of Satan, Salome who tempted him, Mary who ministered to him and Martha her sister, Joanna (al. Susanna) the wife of Chuza who had renounced the marriage bed, Berenice who was healed of an issue of blood in Capernaum, Lia (Leah) the widow whose son he raised at Nain, and the woman to whom he said, 'Thy sins which are many are forgiven thee'.

From: http://www.gnosis.org/library/gosbart.htm

The (First) Apocalypse of James
For cast away from you the cup which is bitterness. For some from [...] set themselves against you. For you have begun to understand their roots from beginning to end. Cast away from yourself all lawlessness. And beware lest they envy you. When you speak these words of this perception, encourage these four: Salome and Mariam and Martha and Arsinoe [...] since he takes some [...] to me he is [...] burnt offerings and [...]. But I [...] not in this way; but [...] first-fruits of the [...] upward [...] so that the power of God might appear. The perishable has gone up to the imperishable and the female element has attained to this male element."

From: http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/1ja.html

Note: We will add more as we find it and remember it. Some wonder why it takes us so long to post or give out information. Well it has to be researched, then compared to other texts, then, only if it passes these tests, (I am not sure how TG does it)...I channel my higher self and go back to that time and see if it rings true to me. Do I feel it? Is it truth?

[I encourage you all to do likewise. Discern what resonates with you.]

This is, to me, truth. Years ago, TG and I, and a bunch of other people were studying Pistis Sophia. I remembered these texts and many more. That is why Martha means so much to me...because I went back then too. Martha was a diligent student.

She researched and studied very hard. I remember admiring her diligence, commitment, and her knowledge and Gnosis. I remembering aspiring to be like her, even then in my male form. I remember the respect I gained for her the more I heard her speak. That all came back to me today when I accessed my higher self.

Martha may not have been mentioned much in the Bible, but to me that was mostly because of the patriarchal nature of society back then. The ones they left out of the mainstream tell more. I hope the one who is in need of this information has ears to hear, and I hope she realizes why I said what I said. I realized it today. It also explains sibling rivalry. Martha, you were her sister.

Rev/Scout

tarotgirl

Anne and I were workin and felt that there isnt enough information on the women who walked with the Rabbi in his ministry. we had place a few threads on the female side of divinity and they were well recieved. But one person repeatedly sought information about women who walkd with
Christ, so i searched my higher self and other things and we started with Martha.
Martha who was brilliant yet proud. she knew the meaning of hard work then. she did it well.
Sisters aways disagree and struggle for position, sometimes for eternity. It is difficult to keep perspective when our emotions are so closely tied to eachother. We all work toward the same goals, no matter how close your steps grow to another; this is a journey we make alone.....

TG

tarotgirl

I found this on pbs, it is a very well done overview on women in christian texts. I think you will find it a good stepping off point for further research....

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/fro...e/shows/religion/first/women.html

TG

Rev/Scout · Site Admin

Salome:

"7 Celsus (c. 150-175 A.D.) knows of groups of Harpocratians
that is, worshippers of Horus ; some of whom derived their
tradition from Salome, others from Mariamne, and others again
from Martha (Origen, C. Celsum, v. 62). This suggests an
Egyptian setting. (For Salome and Maria or Miriam (Mariamne),
the Sisters of Jesus, see D. J. L., 405 f . ; for Martha, Our Lady, see
ibid., 375 ff.) In the Gnostic Acts of Philip, Mariamne, or
Mariamme (both forms being found in the MSS., according to
R. A. Lipsius, Die apokr. Apostelgeschichten Brunswick, 1884
iii. 12), is the "virgin sister" of Philip, and plays an important
rule as prophetess. She is to Philip as Thekla to Paul, or Helen
to Simon. Compare with this the "sister wife" whom Paul
demands the right to take about like " the rest of the Apostles and
the Brethren of the Lord and Cephas " (1 Corinth, ix. 5 ; D. J. L.,
229). Salmon (art. " Mariamne " in Smith and Wace's D. of Christ.
Biog., iii. 830) refers to the Mary (Magdalene) of the Pistis Sophia,
the chief questioner of the Master and His favourite disciple..."

1 Compare the so-called Second Epistle of Clement (an early
homily incorporating extra-canonical Gospel-materials), xii. 2 :
" For the Lord Himself being asked by some one when his King-
dom should come, said : When the two shall be one, and the
outside as the inside, and the male with the female neither male
nor female " ; and also the well-known logoi, from The Gospel
according to the Egyptians, quoted several times by Clement of
Alexandria : " When Salome asked how long Death should
prevail, the Lord said : So long as ye women bear children ; for
I am come to destroy the work of the Female. And Salome said
to Him : Did I therefore well in bearing no children ? The Lord
answered and said : Eat every Herb, but eat not that which hath
bitterness. When Salome asked when these things about which
she questioned should be made known, the Lord said : When ye
trample upon the Garment of Shame ; when the Two become One,
and Hale with Female neither male nor female." And with the
last logos of the above compare the new-found fragment of a lost
Gospel : " His disciples say unto Him : When wilt thou be
manifest to us, and when shall we see Thee ? He saith : When ye
shall be stripped and not be ashamed." Grenfell and Hunt, New
Sayings of Jesus (London, 1904), p. 40. The environment is
Egyptian and ascetic ; it is a saying addressed to a community,
as may be seen from one of the previous logoi : " Having one
garment what do ye [lack] 1 "
2 See Rom. i. 20-23, 25-27.

From: http://www.archive.org/stream/thr...ricegreatesthe01hermuoft_djvu.txt

102 PISTIS SOPHIA.

It came to pass, when Jesus had heard the
mendeth m 8 P eec ^ which Salome had uttered, that
Salome. he said i "Well said, Salome. Amen,
amen, I say unto you, I will perfect you
in all the mysteries of the kingdom of
light."

From: http://www.archive.org/stream/pis...bp/pistissophia003016mbp_djvu.txt

" Now, therefore, let him whose power is
exalted, utter the interpretation of the words
which Pistis Sophia spake."

It came to pass, when Jesus had finished
speaking those words unto his disciples, that
Salome came forward, and said : " Master, my
power constraineth me to utter the interpreta-
tion of the words which Pistis Sophia spake.
Thy power hath prophesied of old through
Solomon, saying :

"'I will confess myself unto thee, lord,

112 PISTIS SOPHIA.

for thou art my God. Leave me not, lord, for

. thou art my hope. Thou hast given

terpreteth m e justice for naught ; and I have been

the song of J G

Sophia saved by thy hand, Jjet them that

from the /.

Odes of persecute me fall, and let them not see

Solomon.

me. Let a cloud of darkness cover
their eyes, and a tempest of wind blind them.
Let them not see the day lest they should seize
upon me. Let their counsel be impotent, and
let their own conspiracy fall upon themselves.
They have designed a plot, and it hath failed
for them. The mighty have vanquished them,
and the evils which they have prepared are
fallen upon them. My hope is in the lord, and
I will not fear, for thou art my God and my
saviour/"

It came to pass when Salome had finished
speaking these words, that Jesus said unto her :
(115) "Well said, Salome; it is well. This is
the interpretation of the words which Pistis
Sophia spake."

From: http://www.archive.org/stream/pis...bp/pistissophia003016mbp_djvu.txt

tarotgirl

What?!!? I know first I throw a female pope out there and now I am trying to say there were female apostles? That’s right there were, many as a matter of fact, but few names have survived till today.
I first came across the two words woman and disciple used together in the Sophia, as Anne mentioned we have works many hours on it together. This is the Passage below:

Pistis Sophia Book 5 Ch. 136 :

“The disciples gather round Jesus. IT came to pass then, when Jesus our Lord ... and the rest of the disciples and the women-disciples stood back of Jesus. ..”

“After he rose from the dead, his twelve disciples and seven women continued to be his followers, and went to Galilee onto the mountain called "Divination ..”
www.gnosis.org/library/pistis-sophia/ps141.htm

“In Div v. i.-iii Jesus has already, for eleven years after the crucifixion, been instructing his disciples, men and women, in the Gnosis. ...”
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/sjc.html

After I read those two words together I knew I had to find more. Here are some of the results.

Fragments of a Faith Forgotten:
“Chapter 42 Teaching by Jesus to his disciples and women disciples on the mysteries of the Treasury of the Light, which after death erase the sins of the ..”.
“The disciples are grouped round Him, the women disciples stand behind, all clad in white linen robes; Jesus stands at an altar and with His disciples turns ..“
“The disciples are grouped round Him, the women disciples stand behind, all clad in white linen robes; Jesus stands at an altar and with His disciples turns.”

"And women also share in the banquet, most of whom have grown old in virginity, preserving their The Women Disciples. purity not from necessity (as some of .’
www.gnosis.org/library/grs-mead/fragments_faith_forgotten/fff71.htm

The (First) Apocalypse of James
“Yet another thing I ask of you: who are the seven women who have been your disciples? And behold all women bless you. I also am amazed how powerless vessels “
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/1ja.html

There is more than enough mention in scripture that substantiates the theory that women also followed Christ and aided him in his ministry. And I am going to take it one step further; where ever men and women come together in love children soon follow. They lived and thrived as a community and that is why they were such a big threat to the powers of the day. They had justification, they were of royal Jewish blood, from the finest houses and they combined with men and women from other cultures. They were making people in power nervous. In a time of no phones and computers Nations knew of the rabbi from Galilee and his followers. They were hearing his message globally (or as near as it could be at time). My point being that the people who spread the gospel on Christ moved mountains and did it ON FOOT. Think on the magnitude of that for a second.

TG

tarotgirl

Excellent work anne. You backed up you theory with facts and scripture, wonderful job hun.

TG