The explanation to this formula is to be found in the other text which supposes the Word to be the principle of the divine persons:
Giving utterance to the Word, exist the gods.
Hermes Trismegistes, commenting upon the above, says: “He who made the world made it not with his hands, but with his word.” And again:
“The luminous Word (Verbum), which emanates from the Intelligence, is the Son of God.... The Intelligence of life and light engendered, by the Word, another creative Intelligence, the god of fire and fluids, who in turn formed seven ministers, enveloping in their circles the sensible world, and governing it by what is called destiny. This spirit is necessary to all; he gives life to all, sustains all. He flows from the holy source, and unceasingly comes to the aid of the spirits and of all things living.”[[147]]
This spirit, Tum, or Tum Cheper (creator), is described in the texts as “Master of understanding, ... giving to all things their motion: when he wrought in the abyss of the waters,[[148]] then was produced the gladsomeness of the light. The gods rejoiced at its beauty.”
The Author of the universe is also worshipped as the principle of Goodness under the name of Oun Nofrè—the Good Being; and the inscriptions reiterate the appellation:
The good God; greatly beloved ... greatness of loves.
“His love is in the south: his graces in the north: all hearts are transported with his beauty.... When he traverses the heavens in his bark, and travels in peace through celestial space, his rowers are in gladness.”[[149]]