Texts in Conversation
Epistle to the Romans and the Gospel of Philip identify Jesus' flesh and blood as food and drink that give life. Ignatius links this meal with his desire to die; Philip uses it to explain receiving life now, giving the shared image a different timing.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Ignatius, Epistle to the Romans 1:7
Early Christian
For though I am alive while I write to you, yet I am eager to die. My love has been crucified, and there is no fire in me desiring to be fed; but there is within me a water that liveth and speaketh, saying to me inwardly, Come to the Father. I have no delight in corruptible food, nor in the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became afterwards of the seed of David and Abraham; and I desire the drink of God, namely His blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life.
Date: 160-180 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Gospel of Philip 3:28
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.
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Notes and References
“... 23a. Some are afraid lest they rise naked.'' Because of this they wish to rise in the flesh. And they do not know that those who bear the fllesh) are [precisely) the naked. Those who are [able] to lay (it) aside [are precisely those who] arc not naked. New Testament Apocrypha 23b. 'Flesh [and blood cannot) inherit the kingdom [of G o d ] . ' " What is diis (flesh) which cannot (p. 57) inherit? This which we bear. But what is diis which can inherit? It is the (flesh) of Jesus and his blood! Because of this he said: 'He who shall not eat my flesh and drink my blood has no life in him.' '* Of what kind is this (flesh)? His flesh is the Word, and his blood is the Holy Spirit!" He who has received these has food and drink and cloUiing. 23c. I blame the others, who say that it (the flesh) will not rise. Then both are at fault. You say that the flesh will not rise. But tell me what will rise, that wc may honour you (as a teacher). You say: The spirit in the flesh, and it is also this (spark oO light in the flesh. But this too (which you have mentioned) is something which exists (only) in the flesh. For whatever you name, you (yet) name nothing that exists outside the flesh. It is (therefore) necessary to rise in this flesh, since everything is in it.'* [...] 15. Cf. Ignatius. Trail. 8; Rom. 7.3 16. Cf. Hermas. Sim. V 7. ...”
Schenke, Hans-Martin
"The Gospel of Philip" in Schneemelcher, Wilhelm; Wilson, R. McL. (ed.) New Testament Apocrypha, Volume 1: Gospels and Related Writings
(pp. 190-191, 207) James Clarke & Co., 1991
* 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.
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