Chapter 29

§ 1.

And now let us return to what remains of their theory: how they, affirming that their own mother returns in the consummation within the Pleroma,¹ and receives the Saviour as her spouse; while themselves (because they say they are spiritual), stripped of their souls and made purely intellectual spirits, are to be brides of spiritual Angels; and the Creator (because they say he is merely animal), must retire into their Mother’s place: and the souls of the righteous repose in an intermediate place and state: maintaining (according to the natural understanding) that like things are gathered unto like, spiritual to spiritual, but that material things abide among material; in this they lay down what contradicts themselves, when they come to say that souls mount upwards to their like in the middle state, not because of their substance, but of their conduct; for those of the righteous, they affirm, find shelter there, while those of the wicked await the fire. For if because of their substance all souls ascend to refreshment, then all belong to the intermediate state, inasmuch as they are souls, being of the same substance; and it is superfluous to believe, superfluous also is the descent of the Saviour. But if because of their righteousness, it is no longer as they are souls, but as they are righteous. Now if the souls would perish if they were not righteous, righteousness is able to save bodies also. Why, I ask, should it not save them, participating, as they too have done, of righteousness? For if nature and substance save, all souls will be saved; but if righteousness and faith, why saveth it not those bodies which together with their souls are beginning to advance unto incorruption? since herein will righteousness appear either powerless or unjust, if, because they are partakers of her, she save some beings, and not others.

§ 2.

For that in bodies are wrought the works of righteousness, is evident.² Either then all souls will necessarily mount into the middle place and state, and judgement is nowhere, or the bodies too, which have partaken in righteousness, with the souls which have alike partaken of it, will obtain a place of refreshment; that is, if Righteousness hath power to guide thither those beings which have partaken with her. So will our discourse of the Resurrection prove true and firm. And this we indeed believe: namely, that such of our mortal bodies as keep righteousness, God will raise up, making them incorrupt and immortal. For God is mightier than Nature, and with Him is the Will, because He is good; and the power, because He is able; and the accomplishment, because He is rich and perfect.

§ 3.

But these altogether contradict themselves in laying down that not all souls pass into the Middle State,³ but only those of the righteous. For they say that from their Mother proceeded three kinds, naturally and in substance: first that which is of perplexity, and disgust, and fear, which thing is Matter; next that of impulse, which is merely animal: but what she brought forth at sight of those Angels who surround the Christ, that is spiritual.⁴ Now if the fruits of her travail do assuredly enter within the Pleroma, because that is spiritual; and if what is material sink downwards, because it is material, and be to be entirely consumed when the fire that is in it breaks out; why is not the whole animal part to retire into the intermediate place, whither also they send the Creator? Moreover, what is it of theirs which is to pass into the Pleroma? For souls they say continue in their middle state; but bodies, because they have a material substance, being resolved into matter, burn through the fire which is therein. Their body then being destroyed, and their soul remaining in the middle state, nothing further remains of the Man to pass within the Pleroma. For the apprehension of the man, his mind, and reflection, and the purpose of his heart⁵, and whatever is of that sort, are not some other being besides the soul, bat motions and operations of the soul itself, having no substance without the soul. What then shall it be of them, to pass into the Pleroma? For even themselves, so far as they are souls, abide in their middle state, but so far as they are body, they will burn with the rest of matter.