Overview and Discovery
The Gospel of Philip is a non-canonical Gnostic text from approximately the third century. It was lost during the medieval period and rediscovered by accident in 1945 near Nag Hammadi, Egypt, where it was found buried in a jar with other documents. The single Coptic manuscript was bound in the same codex as the Gospel of Thomas. The Christian church does not recognize it as canonical. Although its title appears at the end of the manuscript, the text itself does not claim authorship by the Apostle Philip, who is mentioned only once. Scholars debate whether its original language was Greek or Syriac, with some suggesting a Syrian origin based on its vocabulary and ascetic perspective.
Content and Structure
The gospel is not a narrative but a collection of aphoristic sayings, or logia, that appear to be excerpts from lost writings. It is a mixture of parables, dialogues, biblical interpretations, and dogmatic statements. Scholars are divided on whether it constitutes a single, coherent discourse or is an anthology of unrelated Valentinian sayings. The text attributes about seventeen sayings to Jesus. Some are interpretations of sayings found in the canonical gospels, while others are new, enigmatic, and best understood from a Gnostic viewpoint.
Key Themes and Beliefs
A central focus of the gospel is the Gnostic view of humanity's origin and nature, along with the significance of sacraments. It presents five mysteries: baptism, chrism (anointing), the eucharist, redemption, and the bridal chamber. It is not clear whether these are literal rituals or symbolic heavenly realities. The sacrament of marriage, represented by the "nuptial chamber," is a major theme symbolizing spiritual unity. The meaning of the bridal chamber is debated, with one interpretation suggesting it represents the exclusive, trusting relationship between a believer and God.
The text also contains unique theological assertions. It claims one must receive resurrection while living to attain it after death and that Jesus rose before he died. It posits that Adam was born from two virgins, the Spirit and the virgin earth, and that Christ's virgin birth was meant to rectify this initial Fall. According to scholar Marvin Meyer, Jesus is the central figure who gives context to all the rituals and mysteries described. The gospel ends with a promise that initiates, called "sons of the bridechamber," will receive a divine Light, rendering them untroubled by the world.
The Role of Mary Magdalene
The Gospel of Philip assigns a special status to Mary Magdalene, highlighting her close relationship with Jesus and her unique insight into his teachings. One passage lists three women who always accompanied Jesus: his mother Mary, his mother's sister, and Mary Magdalene, who is called his "companion." The Coptic word used, derived from the Greek koinonos, can denote a spouse, a business associate, or a spiritual partner. Since the text uses a different, specific word for "wife" elsewhere, the use of koinonos for Mary Magdalene suggests a particular kind of relationship.
Another key passage, which is partially damaged, describes Jesus often kissing Mary Magdalene, causing the other disciples to ask why he loved her more than them. Jesus responds with a parable about the difference between a person who can see and a blind person when light appears. Due to a hole in the manuscript, the exact location of the kiss is unknown, with scholars speculating it could be the mouth, hand, cheek, or feet.
Scholarly Interpretations
The Gospel of Philip is widely associated with the Valentinian school of Gnosticism. Scholarly views on its purpose vary. Some see it as a sacramental catechism, while others view it as a Valentinian anthology or a work with a consistent Valentinian theology. The text has also been dismissed by some, like Catholic author Ian Wilson, as a later work of fantasy common to apocryphal literature. Conversely, some modern religious scholars find parallels in its themes, such as Latter-day Saint scholar Richard Cowan, who compares the "bridal chamber" concept to the Mormon doctrine of eternal marriage.
Summary of Gospel of Phillip.
Worldly existence is a realm of deceptive dualities and illusory names, a winter of sowing for a spiritual harvest in the eternal Aeon. Pairs like light/darkness and life/death are interdependent, meaning worldly "good" and "evil" are not absolute and will dissolve into their origins. Language itself is a primary tool of deception used by worldly authorities, or archons, who apply positive names to negative realities to enslave humanity. Words like 'God', 'Father', and 'Son' are misunderstood unless one grasps their true spiritual meaning. Truth introduced names into the world as a necessary means of learning, but there is one unspoken name the Father gave the Son, which is the key to true identity. Christ’s name is revealed, meaning 'the Anointed' or 'the Measured', while Yeshua's name is secret, meaning 'atonement' or 'redemption'.
Christ's mission was to ransom, save, and redeem humanity by repairing the primordial separation that introduced death. This separation began when Eve was separated from Adam, and their reunion will end death. This fall was precipitated by Adam eating from a tree of animals, becoming animal-like and producing a lineage of lesser nobility. The first sins were adultery—defined as a union between dissimilar beings, like the Serpent and Eve, which produced the murderer Cain—followed by murder. Christ’s sacrifice was not a single event but a continuous act since the world's beginning. He appeared in various forms to different beings, remaining concealed while revealing himself, and his purpose was to unite the lower and higher realms, bringing those trapped inside out and those outside in. He first achieved resurrection and then died, demonstrating that one must attain resurrection while living to overcome death.
Salvation is achieved through a series of sacramental mysteries and the attainment of self-knowledge. The five mysteries are Baptism, Chrism, Eucharist, Atonement/Redemption, and the Bridal-Chamber, which correspond to the sections of the Jerusalem temple. The Chrism, or anointing, is superior to Baptism, as it confers the name 'Christian' and bestows the resurrection, light, cross, and Holy Spirit. Baptism in both light (Chrism) and water purifies one from the spirit of the world. The ultimate mystery is the Bridal-Chamber, a pure spiritual mating of will, not desire, which creates an inseparable union. Those united in it receive the Perfect Light, becoming invisible and unassailable to worldly powers.
The path to perfection requires moving beyond ignorance, the root of all evil, to knowledge of the truth, which brings freedom. This inner root of evil must be recognized to be uprooted. Faith is needed to receive and love is needed to give; spiritual love, like a fragrance, benefits all nearby. A wise disciple tailors teaching to the spiritual level of the soul, giving elementary lessons to some and perfect knowledge to the Sons. True heirs inherit from the living and are alive, unlike those who inherit from the dead. One must become a perfected person, clothed in light, to transform the world into an eternal Aeon. To see the Spirit is to become spirit, and to see the Father is to become Father.
Key Ideas:
The physical world is an illusion governed by deceptive names and false dualities.
Spiritual reality (the Aeon) is the true state of being, attainable through self-knowledge and divine mysteries.
Christ's mission was to repair the primordial separation of Adam and Eve, which was the origin of death.
Salvation involves a sequence of sacraments, culminating in the Bridal-Chamber, a sacred spiritual union.
The Chrism (anointing) is superior to Baptism and is the source of the name 'Christian'.
Ignorance is the root of all evil; knowledge of the truth brings freedom and perfection.
One must attain the resurrection while still living in the flesh to overcome death.
Christ's nature was multifaceted; he appeared differently to different beings while his true Logos remained concealed.
Spiritual love is a powerful force that enables one to serve others who have not yet attained freedom.
The ultimate goal is to become a perfected person, clothed in light, and achieve unity with the divine.
Unique Events:
A Hebrew makes a convert (novice), but a novice cannot make another novice.
The Father creates a Son, but the Son begets brothers rather than creating sons of his own.
Cain was begotten in adultery as the son of the Serpent, making him a murderer like his father.
Christ appeared in glory on a mountain, becoming great and making the disciples great to see him.
On the cross, Christ cried out and divided the earthly place from the heavenly.
God is described as a dyer whose imperishable colors make those he dyes immortal.
Adam was created from two virgins: the Spirit and the virgin earth.
Adam ate from the tree of animals in Paradise, became an animal, and produced animal-like offspring.
The Lord loved Mary Magdalene more than other disciples and often kissed her on the mouth.
A wise disciple is compared to a householder who gives different food to children, slaves, and various animals.
The veil of the Jerusalem temple was torn, opening the way for those below to ascend.
Keywords & Definitions:
Aeon – The eternal, spiritual realm, contrasted with the physical world; described as a summer of reaping.
Apostles – Followers of the Son, anointed by him, who in turn anoint others.
Archons – The rulers of the worldly system who sought to deceive humanity by misusing names.
Baptism – A sacrament involving water and light (Chrism); it cleanses from the spirit of the world but is inferior to the Chrism. It corresponds to "the Holy" building of the temple.
Bridal-Chamber – The highest sacrament; a pure, spiritual mating of will that grants inseparable union, perfect light, and makes one invulnerable to worldly powers. It corresponds to the "Holy of Holies."
Cain – The son of the Serpent, begotten in adultery, who became the first murderer.
Chrism – The sacred anointing with oil and fire; a sacrament superior to Baptism from which the name 'Christian' is derived. It bestows resurrection, light, and the Holy Spirit.
Christ/Christos/Messiah – A revealed name meaning 'the Anointed' and 'the Measured'.
Christian – A name derived from Chrism, not Baptism. It can be taken away if one does not acquire the reality of the divine names inwardly.
Church – One of the worldly names that is misunderstood without knowledge of its true, spiritual reality.
Eucharist – A sacrament established by the Lord; identified with Yeshua himself.
Eve – Adam's female counterpart; her separation from him was the origin of death.
God – A worldly name that causes confusion, turning the heart from the real to the unreal.
Hebrew – The state of humanity before becoming Messianic, when they were like orphans with only the Mother (Spirit).
Holy of Holies – The innermost part of the Jerusalem temple, which corresponds to the Bridal-Chamber mystery.
Holy of the Holy – The part of the Jerusalem temple between the Holy and Holy of Holies; corresponds to the mystery of Redemption.
Holy Spirit – Referred to as the Mother; with the Father, it forms a divine parentage for Messianics. It is also Christ's blood and is secretly energizing events in the world.
Jerusalem – The city whose temple and its three holy buildings serve as a symbol for the sacramental mysteries.
Logos – Christ's true, concealed essence or word; also identified with his flesh.
Mary Magdalene – Christ's companion, whom he loved more than all other disciples and often kissed.
Mother – A name for the Holy Spirit; humanity's sole parent before the coming of the Father through Christ.
Nazara/Nazarene – 'Nazara' means truth, so the 'Nazarene' is the true one.
Novice/Proselyte – A convert made by another who cannot, in turn, create other converts.
Perfect Person – Christ; also the state of being one must achieve to be clothed in light and overcome the world.
Perfect Light – A state of being and a spiritual garment received by a son of the bridal chamber, which makes one invisible and invulnerable to worldly powers.
Redemption – A sacrament, also called Atonement, that corresponds to the "Holy of the Holy" part of the temple.
Resurrection – A state that must be acquired while one is still alive in order to overcome death.
Serpent – The adulterous father of Cain.
Son – An heir to the living, contrasted with a slave; Christ is the Son, and he begets brothers.
Son of the bridal chamber – One who has undergone the highest mystery and received the perfect light.
Yeshua/Jesus – A secret or hidden name that means 'atonement' or 'redemption' in Hebrew.
Text Version 1.
Gospel of Philip
Inheritance and Sonship
A Hebrew can make a convert, who is called a novice, but a novice cannot make another novice. It is enough for them to simply be what they have become. In contrast, a true son is not merely a son but also claims the inheritance of his father. A slave may seek freedom, but he does not seek his master's estate. Those who inherit from the dead are themselves dead, but those who inherit from the living are alive and inherit both the living and the dead. The dead cannot inherit anything; for the dead to inherit the living, they must first come to life.
In the past, when we were Hebrews, we were like orphans with only our Mother, the Spirit. But when we became Messianics, the Father joined with the Mother. The Father creates a Son, but the Son does not create sons of his own; rather, he begets brothers. The sons of the Perfect Person are far more numerous than the sons of the earthly Adam. While Adam's children die, the sons of the Perfect Person do not die but are continually born. This is because Adam was formed, not begotten; if he had been begotten, his children would have been noble. Instead, he was formed and then begot, resulting in a lineage of lesser nobility. Adultery came first, then murder; Cain was begotten in adultery as the son of the serpent, which is why he became a murderer like his father. Any union between dissimilar beings is adultery.
The Nature of Truth and Deception
The world is full of dualities that are like inseparable brothers: light and darkness, life and death, right and left. Because of their interdependence, what we call "good" is not purely good, "evil" is not purely evil, "life" is not truly life, and "death" is not truly death. Each thing will ultimately resolve into its origin. However, those who are exalted above the world are eternal and indissoluble.
Worldly names cause great confusion because they turn the heart from the real to the unreal. When someone hears the word ‘God’, they think not of the reality but of an unreality. The same is true for terms like ‘the Father’, ‘the Son’, ‘the Holy Spirit’, ‘Life’, ‘Light’, and ‘Resurrection’. People learn the reality of death because they are trapped in a system of unreal words. There is one name, however, that is not spoken in the world: the name the Father gave himself in the Son. The Son could not become the Father without this name. Truth alone is what creates words in this world for our sake, for it would be impossible to learn without them.
The worldly authorities sought to deceive humanity. Seeing that humans had a kinship with the truly good, they took the word ‘good’ and applied it to what is not good, binding people to ungoodness through language. But when people receive grace, they recognize this deception and are drawn from the ungood into the good. These authorities wanted to enslave the free forever, for as long as mankind exists, so does slavery.
The Person and Mission of Christ
The Christ came to ransom, save, and atone. He ransomed those who were alienated and saved those who came to him, setting them as pledges of his desire. He laid down his soul not only when he appeared, but from the beginning of the world. It was placed among pledges, captured by bandits, but he saved it, atoning for both the good and evil in the world. Before Christ, there was no true bread in the world; humanity was nourished like animals. But Christ, the perfect person, brought bread from heaven so that humankind could be nourished with the food of humankind.
The name ‘Yeshúa’ is secret, while ‘Christ’ is revealed. In Aramaic, Christ is ‘Messiah’, and in Greek, it is ‘Christos’. All languages have a word for ‘the Anointed’. ‘Messiah’ refers to both the anointed and the measured. ‘Yeshúa’ in Hebrew means atonement. ‘Nazara’ is truth, so the Nazarene is the true one. While he revealed himself to all beings, his true Logos remained concealed. He appeared to the great as great, to the small as small, to angels as an angel, and to humans as a man. Some who saw him thought they were merely seeing themselves. When he revealed himself in glory on the mountain, he did not become small; he became great and made the disciples great so they could behold his greatness.
Those who say the Lord first died and then arose are confused. He first arose and then he died. If one acquires the resurrection first, they will not die. His body, after he arose, was entirely perfect—a true flesh. Our flesh, by contrast, is not true but a mirror-image of the true flesh. On the cross, he cried out, “My God, my God, why oh Lord did thou abandon me?” because at that moment he divided the earthly place from the heavenly place, having been begotten by God in the Holy Spirit.
The Sacraments of Rebirth
The Lord accomplished everything through sacraments: a Baptism, a Chrism (anointing), a Eucharist, an Atonement, and a Holy Bridal-Chamber. The Chrism is lord over the Baptism, for we are called ‘Christic’ from the Chrism, not the Baptism. The Father anointed the Son, the Son anointed the Apostles, and the Apostles anointed us. The one who is anointed possesses everything: the resurrection, the light, the cross, and the Holy Spirit.
The soul and spirit emerge from water, fire, and light. The fire is the Chrism, and the light is a special kind of fire, white and beautiful, that bestows splendor. It is appropriate to be baptized in both light and water, for one cannot see oneself in water or a mirror without light, nor in light without water or a mirror. The light is the Chrism. When Yeshúa perfected the water of Baptism, he poured death away. We go down into the water not to die, but to be cleansed from the spirit of the world.
Some fear they will rise naked, so they desire to rise in the flesh, not knowing that those who wear the flesh are the truly denuded. Those who divest themselves of flesh become clothed in light and are not naked. Although it is said that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Sovereignty of God, what will inherit is that which belongs to Yeshúa with his blood. His flesh is the Logos, and his blood is the Holy Spirit. He who receives these has food, drink, and clothing. It is necessary to rise in this flesh, for everything exists within it. A sainted person is holy in their entirety, including their body. If they take the bread, they sanctify it; whatever they receive, they purify—and so they purify the body as well.
Duality, Creation, and the World
A nationalist does not die, for he has never truly lived. But whoever trusts the truth becomes alive, and this person is in danger of dying as a martyr because he is alive. In the days when Eve was within Adam, there was no death. When she was separated from him, death came into being. If she enters him again and he receives her, death will cease to be.
The world’s system is contrived, its cities constructed, and its dead carried out. In this world, good and evil exist, but its goods are not truly good and its evils are not truly evil. The real evil comes after this world in a transitional place, which is death. While in this world, we must attain the resurrection so that when we are divested of the flesh, we may find repose and not wander in this transition.
God is like a dyer. His colors are imperishable, and those he dyes become immortal. He immerses those he baptizes in a flood of waters. The authorities believed they acted by their own power, but the Holy Spirit was secretly energizing everything through them according to her will. God created mankind, and men created gods. It would be more appropriate for the gods to worship mankind. A god is a cannibal; this is why mankind is sacrificed to it. Before humans were sacrificed, animals were offered, but those to whom they were sacrificed were not divinities.
The Bridal-Chamber and Sacred Union
The Sacrament of Marriage is grand, for the world is based on humanity, and humanity is based on matrimony. However, the true Pure Mating holds even greater power, though its worldly image consists of defiled bodies. This sacred union is not for animals, slaves, or impure women, but for free men and virgins. Those who mate in the Bridal-Chamber will never again be separated. Eve separated from Adam because they did not mate in the Bridal-Chamber.
The perfect are conceived and born through a kiss. This is why we kiss one another, to receive conception from our mutual grace. The Lord loved Mary Magdalene more than all the other disciples and often kissed her on the mouth. When the others asked why he loved her more than them, the Savior replied, "Why do I not love you as I do her?"
Unclean spirits, male and female, try to unite with souls of the opposite form. One cannot escape them without receiving both male and female power—the Bridegroom with the Bride. This is received in the mirrored Bridal-Chamber. When a man and woman sit together, foolish spirits cannot intrude upon them. Likewise, when the soul's image and its angel are mated, no one can dare to intrude. Once this union occurs, one cannot be detained by the world, for they are master over desire and beyond envy.
The Path to Liberation and Perfection
Faith receives, and love gives. No one can receive without faith or give without love. Therefore, we believe that we may receive, and we give that we may love. Spiritual love is like wine and fragrance; all who are anointed with it enjoy it, and even those standing nearby benefit from its presence.
It is not enough to simply wish for righteousness; one must also practice it. Many people take long journeys but make no progress, finding themselves in the same place at the end of the day. A wise disciple of God perceives the disposition of each soul. There are many animals in human form. To the swine, he throws acorns; to the cattle, barley and straw; to the dogs, bones; to the slaves, elementary teachings; but to the Sons, he presents the perfect.
As long as the root of evil is hidden, it is strong. But if it is recognized, it is destroyed. The Logos says the axe is already at the root of the trees. We must each delve down to the root of evil within us and tear it out of our hearts. It will be uprooted if we recognize it. Ignorance is the mother of all evil, but recognition of the truth is freedom. When we mate with the truth, we receive our fulfillment. Whoever has understood themselves will enjoy all that they possess.
Before leaving the world, we must become perfected persons. Clothed in the Perfect Light, one cannot be seen or seized by the powers of this world. The world becomes eternity for such a person, for fullness is their eternal state. This is revealed not in darkness, but in a Perfect Day and a Holy Light.
Text Version 2.
The Gospel of Philip
Spiritual Inheritance and the Nature of Life
A person who converts, known as a proselyte, is made by another, but a proselyte cannot create another in the same way. Similarly, there are those who exist simply as they are, and there are others who create more like themselves. The slave desires only freedom, not his master’s inheritance, but a son is an heir by right. Those who inherit from the dead are themselves dead, inheriting only death. However, those who inherit from the living are alive and are heirs to both the living and the dead. The deceased cannot inherit; if one who is dead were to inherit what is living, they would cease to be dead and live more fully.
A person who has never lived in a spiritual sense cannot die. Conversely, one who has believed in the truth has found true life and is therefore in danger of dying, for they are truly alive. Before Christ, humanity lived as orphans with only a mother, but in becoming Christians, we gained both a father and a mother. This worldly existence is like winter, a time for sowing, while the eternal realm, the Aeon, is the summer of reaping. We must therefore sow in this world to harvest in the next. To pray in the winter is unfitting, for any who try to reap then will not gain a true harvest but only pluck what is not yet ready.
Christ’s Mission and the Nature of Truth
Christ’s purpose was multifaceted: to ransom some, save others, and redeem the rest. He ransomed strangers and made them his own, setting apart those he chose according to his plan. He did not just lay down his life when he appeared physically; he has been doing so since the world began. He came to reclaim what had been given as a pledge but had fallen into the hands of robbers. Through his sacrifice, he redeemed not only the good people in the world but also the evil.
Truth itself did not enter the world naked but came in types and images, as the world cannot receive it in any other form. There is a rebirth and an image of that rebirth. One must be born again through the image to attain the true resurrection. This restoration is achieved through the bridal chamber and the image, which lead to the ultimate truth. The names of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not merely to be spoken but must be acquired inwardly. If one fails to do so, even the name "Christian" will be taken away.
The Deception of Worldly Names and Dualities
The names given to things in the world are deeply deceptive, diverting our thoughts from what is correct to what is incorrect. One who hears the word "God," "Father," "Son," or "Holy Spirit" does not perceive the true meaning but a worldly, flawed concept. The same is true for "life," "light," "resurrection," and "Church." Unless one comes to know the correct, spiritual reality behind these names, they remain deceived. If these names existed in the eternal Aeon, they would not be used in the world, for they have their end in the Aeon.
Light and Darkness, life and death, and right and left are inseparable pairs, like brothers. Because of this interconnectedness, what we call good is not purely good, nor is evil purely evil. Life is not truly life, nor is death truly death. For this reason, each of these will eventually dissolve back into its origin. However, those who are exalted above the world become indissoluble and eternal. The rulers of this world, the archons, sought to deceive humanity by taking the names of good things and applying them to what is not good, thereby binding people to falsehood.
The Mysteries of Rebirth: Baptism, Chrism, and Resurrection
The entire world is purified through water and fire—the visible by visible elements, the hidden by hidden ones. There is water within water and fire within the chrism (sacred anointing oil). The Lord established everything through a series of mysteries: baptism, chrism, eucharist, redemption, and the bridal chamber. He came to make the things below like the things above and the things outside like those inside, uniting them all.
The anointing of the chrism is superior to baptism. We are called "Christians" from the word "Chrism," not "baptism." The Father anointed the Son, the Son anointed the apostles, and the apostles anoint us. He who is anointed possesses everything: the resurrection, the light, the cross, and the Holy Spirit, which the Father bestows in the bridal chamber.
Those who believe that the Lord died first and then rose are mistaken; he rose up first and then died. One cannot die spiritually without first attaining the resurrection. Many are afraid to rise naked, wishing to rise in the flesh, but they fail to understand that those who wear the flesh are the ones who are truly naked. It is not our physical flesh and blood that will inherit the kingdom of God, but that which belongs to Jesus and his blood. His flesh is the Word, and his blood is the Holy Spirit. Whoever receives these has true food, drink, and clothing.
The Bridal Chamber and the Sacred Union
The mystery of marriage is great, for the world would not exist without it. The relationships of this world, however, are an image of a true spiritual union. The forms of evil spirits include male and female aspects that attempt to unite with and defile human souls. The only escape is to receive the bridegroom and the bride—the male and female powers—from the mirrored bridal chamber. When a man and his wife are spiritually united, no evil power can enter either of them.
The separation of Eve from Adam was the beginning of death. Christ came to repair this separation and unite the two once more, giving life to those who died because of it. Those who unite in the true bridal chamber will never be separated. This sacred union is not fleshly or born of desire, but is pure, belonging to the will, the day, and the light. It is a true mystery, unlike worldly marriage which, if made public, becomes prostitution. Only the bridegroom, bride, and their closest companions may enter the bridal chamber.
The symbolism of the temple in Jerusalem reflects these mysteries. The "Holy" building represents baptism, the "Holy of the Holy" represents redemption, and the "Holy of the Holies" is the bridal chamber, which only the high priest could enter. When the temple veil was torn from top to bottom, it opened the way for those below to ascend to the hidden truth above.
Attaining Self-Knowledge and Perfection
It is necessary for all who possess everything to know themselves; without self-knowledge, they cannot enjoy their possessions. A person who has put on the perfect light cannot be seen or detained by the powers of this world. To acquire this state, one must become perfect light.
The source of all evil is ignorance. As long as the root of wickedness remains hidden within us, it is strong and produces fruit in our hearts, enslaving us. But if we recognize it, it can be plucked out. The Word says, "Already the axe is laid at the root of the trees." Jesus pulled out the root of evil for the whole world. Truth, when revealed and recognized, is stronger than ignorance and gives freedom. If you know the truth, it will make you free.
A true disciple of God is like a sensible householder who knows the proper food for each member of his household. He gives bread to the children, leftovers to the slaves, grass to the cattle, and acorns to the pigs. In the same way, a wise disciple understands the spiritual condition of each person and offers them the appropriate teaching—the elementary lessons for some and the complete instruction for the children of God. Spiritual love is like wine and fragrance; those who are anointed with it heal others and cover a multitude of sins. He who has knowledge of the truth is a free man, but he becomes a slave through love for those who have not yet attained that freedom.
Text Version 3.
The Two Realms and Deceptive Names
The physical world is a place of duality and illusion, contrasted with the eternal realm, or Aeon. This world is likened to winter, a time for sowing, while the Aeon is the summer for reaping. In this realm, pairs like light and darkness, life and death, and right and left are inseparable brothers. Because of this, good is not purely good, evil is not purely evil, life is not truly life, and death is not truly death; each will eventually dissolve into its origin. Those exalted above the world, however, are eternal and indissoluble.
Names used in the world are deeply deceptive, diverting thought from what is correct to what is incorrect. Words like "God," "Father," "Son," and "Church" are misunderstood unless one has come to know their true meaning. The rulers, or archons, exploited this by taking the names of good things and applying them to their opposites to deceive and enslave humanity. Truth itself brought names into the world because truth cannot be learned without them. There is a single, unspoken name that the Father gave to the Son, which is the Father's own name; only those who possess this name know it. In contrast, "Jesus" is a hidden name, while "Christ" is a revealed one. "Jesus" means redemption, "Nazarene" signifies truth, and "Christ" means the measured one.
Creation, Humanity, and the Fall
The world was created through a mistake by a creator who wished to make it imperishable but failed. Consequently, neither the world nor its creator is immortal. Things are not imperishable, but sons are. Before Christ's arrival, humanity was like orphans with only a mother; becoming Christian gave them a father and mother. Man once ate like animals, but Christ, the perfect man, brought bread from heaven to provide true human nourishment.
The origin of humanity's current state is rooted in a spiritual fall. Adam was created from two virgins: the Spirit and the virgin earth. In Paradise, one tree bore animals and another bore men. Adam ate from the tree of animals, became an animal himself, and brought forth animal-like offspring. This is why his descendants worship animals. It would be more fitting for gods to worship men than for men to create and worship gods. The separation of Eve from Adam was the beginning of death; if they are reunited, death will cease. The first sins were adultery, defined as intercourse between unlike beings, followed by murder. Humanity's ancestor was the child of the Serpent, begotten in this adultery.
Ignorance is the mother of all evil and results in death. The root of wickedness is powerful as long as it is hidden within a person. When it is recognized, it is dissolved and perishes. Each person must dig down and pluck out this root of evil from their heart by gaining knowledge of it. Truth, like ignorance, is hidden, but when it is revealed and known, it brings freedom.
Christ's Mission and Nature
Christ came to ransom the strangers, save his own, and redeem both the good and the evil. His sacrifice was not a single event but a voluntary act that began from the very day the world came into being. He appeared in the world in a hidden manner, taking different forms for different beings so they could perceive him: great to the great, small to the small, an angel to angels, and a man to men. He came as a dyer, taking seventy-two different colors and making them all white, symbolizing unification.
He performed all his works as mysteries to unite the realms: the things below with the things above, and the things outside with those inside. His mission was to repair the separation that began with Adam and Eve. He reversed the cosmic entrapment, bringing out those who had gone into a place they could not exit and bringing in those who were outside. The Lord rose from the dead first and then died; one must attain the resurrection while living to overcome death. A central part of his mystery is his special love for Mary Magdalene, whom he considered his companion and loved more than all other disciples, often kissing her on the mouth. When questioned, he compared the other disciples to a blind man in darkness and her to one who can see when the light comes.
The Path to Salvation
The path to salvation involves a transition from a worldly state to a spiritual one. A slave seeks freedom, but a son inherits his father's estate. Similarly, heirs of the dead are dead, while heirs of the living are alive. The soul is a precious thing housed in a contemptible body, like a treasure hidden in a cheap object. To be saved, one must achieve the resurrection while still alive; those who believe they will die first and then rise are in error and will receive nothing.
This spiritual journey is governed by four elements: faith is the earth in which we take root, hope is the water that nourishes us, love is the wind through which we grow, and knowledge is the light through which we ripen. Faith is necessary to receive, and love is necessary to give. True freedom comes from knowledge of the truth. However, this knowledge can make one arrogant; it is love that builds up. A truly free person becomes a slave out of love for those who have not yet attained this freedom. Spiritual love is like a fragrance that benefits all who are near.
Spiritual beings associate with their own kind. If you become spirit, spirit will join you; if you become light, light will be shared with you. A wise disciple understands the spiritual state of each person and provides them with the appropriate level of teaching, just as a householder gives different food to children, slaves, and animals. The ultimate goal is to see and become one with the divine reality. In this world, one can see the sun without being the sun, but in the spiritual realm, to see the Spirit is to become spirit, to see Christ is to become Christ, and to see the Father is to become Father.
The Sacramental Mysteries
The Lord instituted five mysteries for salvation: baptism, chrism, eucharist, redemption, and the bridal chamber. These correspond to the three holy buildings in Jerusalem. Baptism is "the Holy" building. Redemption is "the Holy of the Holy." The bridal chamber is "the Holy of the Holies." The chrism, or anointing, is superior to baptism; we are called "Christians" from "chrism," not "baptism." The Father anointed the Son, the Son anointed the apostles, and the apostles anoint us. One who is anointed possesses everything: the resurrection, the light, the cross, and the Holy Spirit.
Baptism must be in both water and light, and the light is the chrism. A person who is baptized without receiving the Holy Spirit has merely borrowed the name "Christian" at interest. By perfecting the water of baptism, Jesus emptied it of death. We go down into the water but not into death. The Eucharist is Jesus himself.
The greatest mystery is the bridal chamber, which is for free men and virgins. The world's existence depends on marriage, but earthly marriage is a defiled image of the true, undefiled marriage. The true marriage is not of desire but of will, belonging to the day and the light. Those who unite in the spiritual bridal chamber will never again be separated. A person who becomes a son of the bridal chamber receives the perfect light. Once clothed in this light, they cannot be seen or detained by the hostile powers of the world. They have already received the truth in images, and for them, the world has become the eternal Aeon, a perfect day and a holy light.