On the Origin of the World 6

1When Sabaoth, the son of Yaldabaoth, heard the voice of Pistis, he sang praises to her. At Pistis’s command, he denounced his father [and mother] [], and he praised her because she had taught them about the deathless man and his light. Then Pistis Sophia pointed her finger and poured some of the light from her own light onto him, as a denunciation of his father. When Sabaoth was illuminated, he received great authority over all the hosts of Chaos. From that day on, he has been called “Lord of Hosts.”

2He despised his father, the Darkness, and his mother, the Abyss. He hated his sister, the thought of the Primal Parent, who had moved back and forth over the waters. Because of his light, all the authorities of Chaos became jealous of him. When they grew troubled, they waged a great war in the seven heavens.

3When Pistis Sophia witnessed the war, she sent seven archangels from her light to Sabaoth. They carried him up to the seventh heaven and stood before him as attendants. She also sent him three additional archangels and established for him the kingdom that is over everyone, so that he could dwell above the twelve gods of Chaos.

4Now, when Sabaoth had received the dwelling place of rest as a reward for his repentance, Pistis also gave him her daughter Zoe, together with great authority, so that she could teach him about everything that exists in the eighth heaven. Because he possessed authority, before anything else he built a palace for himself. It is immense and magnificent, seven times larger than all those that exist in the seven heavens. In front of [] his palace, he created an immense throne that stood on a four-faced chariot called “Cherubin.”

5The Cherubin have eight shapes on each of the four corners: forms of lions, calves, humans, and eagles, so that all the forms total sixty-four. Seven archangels stand in front of it. He is the eighth, and he possesses authority. All the forms total seventy-two. In addition, the seventy-two gods derived their shape from this chariot so that they could rule over the seventy-two languages of the nations. At that throne he also created serpent-like angels called “Seraphin,” who always glorify him.