Texts in Conversation
The Gospel of Philip quotes 1 Corinthians to deny that ordinary flesh and blood inherit God's kingdom. It then treats Jesus' flesh as something people can receive, using Paul's exclusion to distinguish their own bodies from the life Jesus gives.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Corinthians 15:50
New Testament
48 Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust, and like the one from heaven, so too those who are heavenly. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven. 50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Gospel of Philip 3:26
Nag Hammadi
Some are afraid that they might be resurrected naked. They consequently wish to rise in the flesh, and [they] do not understand that those who wear the [flesh] are the ones who are naked. These [able] to unclothe themselves [are] not naked. Flesh [and blood shall] not inherit the kingdom [of God]. What shall not inherit? What we wear on us. What, however, shall also inherit? What belongs to Jesus and his blood. He consequently said: “He who will not eat my flesh and drink my blood, life is not in him.” What is this? His flesh is the Logos, and his blood is the holy Spirit. He who has obtained these possesses food, and he possesses drink and garments.
Search:
Notes and References
“... The parallel with John 6:53–54 is within a larger argument related to resurrection in the ‘flesh’ (56.26–57.22). The author disagrees with those who claim that human flesh and blood will be resurrected, as well as those who contend that only the indwelling spirit/light will ascend. The former position is rejected with a reference to 1 Cor 15:50, and the latter because the spirit/light is still in the flesh. The author states his own position—it is necessary to be resurrected in the flesh of Jesus which is appropriated through the sacraments—with an appeal to John 6:53–54. ...”
Zelyck, Lorne R.
John among the Other Gospels: The Reception of the Fourth Gospel in the Extra-Canonical Gospels
(p. 106) Mohr Siebeck, 2013
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.
User Comments
,