This is the Gnostic understanding of God, and it is the correct understanding. But I wonder how many Christians, or Jews, or Muslims, have this understanding in mind when they speak about God? Only a tiny fraction of one percent would be my assumption. This is why, if you hold this understanding of God, as I do, it is almost impossible to talk to the average Christian about the nature of God, or about the purposes of God. Their understanding of God is quite different, and so you find yourself talking at cross purposes about two different things.
The Inexpressible One
The One rules all. Nothing has authority over it. It is the God. It is Father of everything, Holy One The invisible one over everything. It is uncontaminated Pure light no eye can bear to look within.
The One is the Invisible Spirit. It is not right to think of it as a God or as like God. It is more than just God.
Nothing is above it. Nothing rules it. Since everything exists within it It does not exist within anything. Since it is not dependent on anything It is eternal.
It is absolutely complete and so needs nothing. It is utterly perfect Light.
The One is without boundaries Nothing exists outside of it to border it The One cannot be investigated Nothing exists apart from it to investigate it The One cannot be measured Nothing exists external to it to measure it
The One cannot be seen For no one can envision it The One is eternal For it exists forever The One is inconceivable For no one can comprehend it The One is indescribable For no one can put any words to it.
The One is infinite light Purity Holiness Stainless,
The One is incomprehensible Perfectly free from corruption. Not “perfect” Not “blessed” Not “divine” But superior to such concepts. Neither physical nor unphysical Neither immense nor infinitesimal It is impossible to specify in quantity or quality For it is beyond knowledge.
The One is not a being among other beings It is vastly superior But it is not “superior.”
It is outside of realms of being and time For whatever is within realms of being was created And whatever is within time had time allotted to it The One receives nothing from anything. It simply apprehends itself in its own perfect light
The One is majestic. The One is measureless majesty
Chief of all Realms Producing all realms
Light Producing light
Life Producing life
Blessedness Producing blessedness
Knowledge Producing knowledge
Good Producing goodness
Mercy Producing mercy
Generous Producing generosity
[It does not “possess” these things.]
It gives forth light beyond measure, beyond comprehension. Inexpressible One
The One rules all. Nothing has authority over it. It is the God. It is Father of everything, Holy One The invisible one over everything. It is uncontaminated Pure light no eye can bear to look within.
The One is the Invisible Spirit. It is not right to think of it as a God or as like God. It is more than just God.
Nothing is above it. Nothing rules it. Since everything exists within it It does not exist within anything. Since it is not dependent on anything It is eternal.
It is absolutely complete and so needs nothing. It is utterly perfect Light.
The One is without boundaries Nothing exists outside of it to border it The One cannot be investigated Nothing exists apart from it to investigate it The One cannot be measured Nothing exists external to it to measure it
The One cannot be seen For no one can envision it The One is eternal For it exists forever The One is inconceivable For no one can comprehend it The One is indescribable For no one can put any words to it.
The One is infinite light Purity Holiness Stainless,
The One is incomprehensible Perfectly free from corruption. Not “perfect” Not “blessed” Not “divine” But superior to such concepts. Neither physical nor unphysical Neither immense nor infinitesimal It is impossible to specify in quantity or quality For it is beyond knowledge.
The One is not a being among other beings It is vastly superior But it is not “superior.”
It is outside of realms of being and time For whatever is within realms of being was created And whatever is within time had time allotted to it The One receives nothing from anything. It simply apprehends itself in its own perfect light
The One is majestic. The One is measureless majesty
Chief of all Realms Producing all realms
Light Producing light
Life Producing life
Blessedness Producing blessedness
Knowledge Producing knowledge
Good Producing goodness
Mercy Producing mercy
Generous Producing generosity
[It does not “possess” these things.]
It gives forth light beyond measure, beyond comprehension.
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