Tripartite Tractate 18

1It is fitting, [] in view of the prayer he offered and the conversion that resulted from it, that some would perish, others would profit, and others besides would be set apart. First, he readied the punishment of the disobedient, using a power from the one who had appeared, from whom he received authority over all things, in order that he would be separate from him. He is the one who is below, and he remains set apart from the Exalted One until he readies the plan of salvation outwardly for all things and gives each one the place assigned to it.

2The Word first established himself when he adorned the Totalities, as a foundational rule and cause and ruler of the things that came into being, like the Father, the cause of the establishment, was first to exist after him. He created the pre-existent images, which he produced with thanks and glorification.

3Then he adorned the place for those he had produced in glory, which is called “Paradise,” “Delight,” “Joy Full of Nourishment,” and “Joy <of> the Pre-existent Ones.” And it preserves the image of all good things that dwell in the Fullness.

4Then he adorned the kingdom as a city filled with every pleasant thing, namely, brotherly love and abundant generosity replete [] with holy spirits and the strong powers that rule over them, which the Word produced and established with strength.

5Next (for adornment was) the place of the Church that gathers together in this place, possessing the form of the Church that dwells in the aeons, for the glorification of the Father.

6After these (he adorned) the place for faith and obedience (that comes) from hope. [The Word] received these when the light appeared.

7Next he (adorned the place of) the inclination toward prayer and supplication. This was followed by forgiveness and the word about the one who was to appear.

8Every spiritual place subsists in a spiritual power. They are different from the beings of the memory, because their power is founded in an image, being what separates the Fullness from the Word. By contrast, the power – which operates in prophecy concerning the future – guides the beings of the memory <who came into being for the sake of> what is pre-existent. This prevents them from comingling with the things that attain being through a vision of things that abide with him.