Corpus Hermeticum: Platonistic Mystic Asceticism?!


~*~


A PASSAGE
from the Corpus Hermeticum
provides an extra-ordinary
parallel:


SEEING
in myself an immaterial vision,
produced by the mercy
of "G*D",
I have left myself
in order to enter into
an immortal body,
and I am NOW no longer
what I WAS,
but I have been begotten in
the INTELLECT.
THIS cannot be taught,
and IT cannot be SEEN by means of
the material elements
through which we
see below.
THIS is WHY I am no longer concerned
with this initial created form which
was my OWN.
I have no more color,
cannot be touched,
and do not extend in space:
ALL THAT is foreign to me.
NOW, my child,
you see me with your eyes,
but WHAT I AM you cannot understand
when you LOOK at me with your body's eyes
and with the PHYSICAL sight.
IT is not with THOSE eyes
anyone can see me NOW,
my child.


NOTE
the extra-ordinarily clear
platonistic influence on THIS passage as well!
Although Paul has not physically died, IT IS CHRIST
who lives in him ...
He was crucified WITH CHRIST, and he has been transformed
into the sort of being that Christ WAS,
only APPARENTLY fleshly
but THROUGH FAITH
entirely SPIRITUAL!
Observances in the flesh would seem, then,
totally irrelevant.



The PRACTICAL
consequence of THIS can be either libertinism OR
asceticism?


IT IS EASY TO SEE
how the Corinthians "misunderstood"
such preaching?

"Having begun in the spirit, are you now finishing up in the flesh"

'YOU FOOLISH GALATIANS!
WHO has bewitched you, before WHOSE eyes
Yeshua haMashiach crucified
was SO vividly portrayed ...
THIS only do I want to learn from you:
DID you receive the Spirit by works of the Law OR
by hearing of FAITH?
ARE YOU SO FOOLISH?
Having BEGUN in the Spirit, are you NOW FINISHING UP
in the flesh?
Have you experienced SUCH THINGS IN VAIN?
IF SO, it really was in vain!
Does HE, therefore, WHO supplies the Spirit to you and WHO WORKS MIRACLES in you [do so] by works of the Law OR
by the hearing of faith?'

{GAL 3:1-5}.


PAUL
is arguing here
that the Galatians have partaken of exactly the same sort of
transformative EXPERIENCE that Paul himself underwent, and NOW,
in contrast to him, they wish to nullify IT?!
He 'does not deny the grace of "G*D".
For if justification came through Law
then CHRIST has died in vain' {2:21}, but they,
by their desire to accept the Law,
DO DENY THE GRACE of "G*D"
and SHOW that Christ has died
in vain.

~verliefd~
engel

15 jun 2005 - bewerkt op 04 mrt 2008 - meld ongepast verhaal
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