Laws in the Dialogue of the Savior

The Dialogue of the Savior is found in Nag Hammadi Codex III, 5. The Dialogue of the Savior is a badly damaged manuscript, preserved in a single Coptic copy found in Codex III, 5. The estimated date is 120-180 A.D. We have used the Harold W. Attridge translation. Koester and Pagels write that the dialog is based on a collection of sayings comparable to "Q" or the Gospel of Thomas (The Nag Hammadi Library, page 229).

The truth seeks out the wise and the righteous. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

The lamp of the body is the mind. As long as the things inside you are set in order, your body is luminous. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5:2

Law of an Oracle: The one who speaks also listens, and the one who can see also reveals. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5:3

If someone sets his soul up high, then he will be exalted. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Let him who [thinks he] possesses power renounce it and repent. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

No one is able to inquire about the mysteries except for someone who has somewhere to put them in his heart. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Whoever does not know the work of perfection, knows nothing. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

If one does not [first] stand in the darkness, he will not be able to see the Light. [The "darkness" is the material world.] – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

If one does not understand how fire came into existence, he will burn in it, because he does not know the root of it. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

If one does not first understand water, he knows nothing; otherwise baptism is of no use. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

If one does not understand how blowing wind came into existence, he will blow away with it. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

If one does not understand how the body, which he bears, came into existence, he will perish with it. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Someone who does not know the Son cannot know the Father. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

To someone who will not know the root of all things, they remain hidden. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Someone who will not know the root of wickedness is no stranger to it. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Whoever will not understand how he came will not understand how he will go. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Like a visible voice and flash of lightning will the good be taken up to the Light. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

When you rid yourself of jealousy, then you will clothe yourself in Light and enter the bridal chamber. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Whatever is born of truth does not die [immortal-eternal reality]. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Whatever is born of woman dies [mortal-temporal world]. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

When you abandon the works which will not be able to follow you, then you will ascend. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

The beginning of the path is love and goodness. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

You have understood all the things Christ has said to you, and you have accepted them on faith. If you have known them, then they are yours. If not, then they are not yours. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Stand in the place you can reach. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

It is the one who can see who reveals. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

To the cosmic, we are transparent. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

We will become blessed when we strip ourselves. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

Pray in the place where there is no woman [mortal-temporal distraction]. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

It behooves whoever understands the works [of the Christ] to do the will of the Father. – The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

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