Hymn of the Pearl

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The Hymn of the Pearl (also Hymn of the Soul, Hymn of the Robe of Glory or Hymn of Judas Thomas the Apostle) is a passage of the apocryphal Acts of Thomas. In that work, originally written in Syriac, the Apostle Thomas sings the hymn while praying for himself and fellow prisoners. Some scholars believe the hymn antedates the Acts, as it only appears in one Syriac manuscript and one Greek manuscript of the Acts of Thomas. The author of the Hymn is unknown, though there is a belief that it was composed by the Syriac gnostic Bardaisan due to some parallels between his life and that of the hymn.^[1]

The hymn tells the story of a boy, "the son of the king of kings", who is sent to Egypt to retrieve a pearl from a serpent. During the quest, he is seduced by Egyptians and forgets his origin and his family. However, a letter is sent from the king of kings to remind him of his past. When the boy receives the letter, he remembers his mission, snatches the pearl, and returns. That the boy is implicitly Thomas rather than Jesus is indicated by the eventual assertion that he is next in line to his elder brother, this unnamed brother not otherwise mentioned in the text.

The hymn is commonly interpreted as a Gnostic view of the human condition, that we are spirits lost in a world of matter and do not remember our true origin, but then a divine being sends a message, by way of a revealer, a task generally ascribed to Jesus, to make us remember through gnosis.

The hymn has been preserved and especially treasured in Manicheanism, a gnostic religion. The Hymn of the Pearl has also been admired by Orthodox Christian thinkers.

HYMN OF THE PEARL

When I was a little child, and dwelling in my kingdom of my father's house, and in the riches and luxuries of my teachers, I was living at ease.

[Then] from our home in the East, after they had made preparations, my parents sent me forth. And from the riches of our treasury they had already (abundantly) tied for me a load. It was large, yet light, so that I might carry it alone.

It had gold from the house of Elaye, and silver from Gazzak the Great, and chalcedony from India, and agates from the house of Kushan. And they equipped [me] with adamant, which can shatter iron.

Then they made me strip off the glorious garment, which in their love they had made for me, and my purple toga which was measured [and] woven according to my stature.

Then they made with me an agreement, and they inscribed it in my heart so that it would not be forgotten: "If [you would go] down into Egypt and bring [back] the one pearl, which is in the middle of the sea surrounded by the hissing serpent, then you will put on your glorious garment and your toga which rests (is laid) over it. And with your brother, our second in command, you will be heir in our kingdom."

I left the East [and] I went down (descended), at the same time there were with me two guardians, because the road was formidable and hard, and I was little and I had to go on a journey. I passed the borders of Maishan, the meeting-place (resort) of the merchants of the East. Then I arrived at the land of Babel, and I entered the walls of Sarbug. [Finally] I went down into the middle of Egypt, and my companions departed from me.

I went straight to the serpent, around its lodging I settled until it was going to slumber and sleep, that I might snatch my pearl from it. Then I became single and alone, to my fellow-lodgers I became a stranger.

[But] a son of my race, a son of freedom, [one] from the East, I recognised there, a youth handsome [and] lovely, a son of the anointed ones. And to me he came and followed. And I made him my intimate friend, a companion with whom I shared my merchandise. I warned him against the Egyptians, and against the company of the impure. And I put on clothing like theirs, lest they should insult me because I came from afar, in order to take the pearl, and [lest] they should arouse the serpent against me.

But in some way or another, they perceived that I was not of their country. So they mingled their deceit with me, and they made me eat their food. I forgot that I was a son of kings, and I served their king. And I forgot the pearl, on account of which my parents had sent me. Because of the burden of their exhortations, I fell into a deep sleep.

But [because of] all these things which happened to me, my parents perceived [my oppression], and were grieved for me. And it was proclaimed in our kingdom that every man should hurry to our gate, the kings and the princes of Parthia, and all the nobles of the East. And they framed a plan on my behalf, that I might not be left in Egypt. And they wrote a letter to me, and every noble signed his name on it.

"From your father, the king of kings, and your mother, the governor of the East, and from your brother, our second in command, to you, our son, who is in Egypt, peace. Awake and arise from your sleep, and hear the words of our letter. Remember that you are a son of kings, consider the slavery you are serving. Remember the pearl, on account of which you were sent to Egypt. Think of your glorious garment, remember your splendid toga, which you will put on and wear when your name is called out from the book of the combatants (athletes). And with your brother, our viceroy, With him, you will be in our kingdom."

And my letter [was] a letter, which the king sealed with his right hand , [to guard it]from the wicked, the children of Babel, and [from] the savage demons of Sarbuk. It flew in the likeness of an eagle, the king of the birds. It flew and alighted beside me, and all of it became speech (words) to me. At its voice and the sound of its rustling, I awoke and arose from my sleep. I took it and I kissed it, and I untied it [and] read. And according to what was inscribed in my heart were the words of my letter written.

I remembered that I was a son of kings, and my free soul longed for its natural state. I remembered the pearl, on account of which I was sent to Egypt. Then I began charming it, the formidable and hissing serpent. I caused it to slumber and to fall asleep, for my father's name I named over it, and the name of our second in command (our double), and of my mother, the queen of the East. Then I snatched away the pearl, and I turned to go back to my father's house. And their filthy and unclean clothing, I stripped off and left it in their country.

And I directed my journey to come to the light of our native country, the East. And my letter, my awakener, I found before me on the road. And as with its voice it had awakened us, so also with its light it was leading me. Because of the royal silk, it was shining before me with its appearance (form). And with its voice and with its guidance, it was also encouraging me to hurry.

And by its love it drew me on. I proceeded to pass by Sarbuk, [and] I left Babel on my left hand. Then I arrived at Maishan the Great, the haven of the merchants, which sits on the shore of the sea.

and my glorious garment which I had stripped off, and my toga which was wrapped with it, (from Ramatha and Reken), from the heights of Hyrcania, my parents sent it there, with the hand of their stewards, who, on account of their faithfulness, could be trusted with it.

And I was not remembering its fashion, for in my childhood I had left my father's house. Then suddenly, as I received it, the clothing seemed to me like a mirror of myself. I saw all of it in myself, and also I received all in it, because we were two in distinction, but we were also one in form. And also the stewards, who brought it to me, I saw them, to be two, [and yet] one in form, for one sign of the king was inscribed on them. For his hands restored to me my endowment and my wealth through their hand, my embroidered glorious garment, which was embroidered with splendid colours, with gold and beryls, and chalcedony and agates, and sardonyxes, varied in colour. Also it had a foundation from on high. And with stones of adamant, all its seams were fastened. And the image of the king of kings, was brought up and depicted in full all over it. And also like the surface of the sapphire, so too were its differing appearances. I also saw that all over it, the motions of knowledge were stirring. And as if to speak, I saw it also making itself ready. I heard the sound of its tones, which it whispered to those who brought it down: "I am he who is swift (active) in deeds, they reared me for him before my father".

And I was also perceiving in myself that my stature was growing according to his labours. And with its kingly motions, all of it was moved (spread) towards me. And upon the hands of its givers, it hastened that I might receive it. And also my love urged me that I should run to meet it that I might receive it. Then I stretched out and received it, with the beauty of its colours I adorned myself. And [with] my toga of bright colours, I covered myself completely with it.

I clothed [myself] with it and ascended, to the palace of peace and worship. I bowed my head and worshipped him, the brightness of my father who sent it to me. Because I had done his commandments, so also he did what he had promised. And in the palace of his scribes I mingled with his teachers, because he rejoiced in me and received me, and I was with him and in his kingdom. And with the voice of praise, all his servants were praising him. And he also promised that to the palace of the king of kings I will hasten with him. And with my offering and with my pearl, I should appear with him before our king.