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Gospel of Philip

About this book

Divine Names; Resurrection

Chapter 3

Some say that Mary conceived by means of the holy Spirit.⁠ They are wrong, not understanding what they say. Has a female ever conceived by means of a female? Mary is the virgin whom no power has defiled. It is a great anathema for the Hebrews, who are the apostles and [the] apostolic ones. This virgin, whom no power has defiled, [...] the powers have defile[d] themselves. The Lord also [would] not [have] said, “my [Father, who is in] heaven,” if he did not have another father. He instead would only have said, [“my Father.”] The Lord said to the [disciples:] “[Take] [from] every [house], and bring (it) into the house of the Father. Do not, however, steal from the house of the Father, and do not take away.” “Jesus” is a concealed name; “Christ” is a revealed name. “Jesus,” consequently, does not exist in any language. Rather, “Jesus” is his name by which he is called. However, regarding “Christ,” its name in Syriac is “Messiah,” but in Greek it is “Christ.” Everyone else has it in accord with each one of their respective languages. “The Nazarene” is the revealed (form) of the concealed. Christ possesses all things inside himself, regardless of whether that be a man, or an angel, or a symbolic image, as well as the Father. Those who say the Lord died first and then rose, they are wrong, because he rose first, and then he died. If someone does not gain the resurrection first, he will not (be able to) die. As God lives, that person would ‹not› d‹ie›. No one would conceal an important and valuable item in a container that looks valuable. Often, however, countless sums have been placed inside a container of little worth. This is the way it is regarding the soul: It is something valuable, and it has come to dwell inside a lowly body.⁠ 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. Regarding myself, I find in error others who say that it will not rise, or both of them are in error. You say the flesh will not rise. Tell me, though, what shall rise, so we can congratulate you. You say “the spirit inside the flesh.” It is also this other light inside the flesh, it being a logos, because regardless of what you say, you say nothing except in the flesh. It is necessary to rise in this flesh, because all things dwell inside it.⁠ In this world, those who wear garments surpass the garments. In the kingdom of Heaven, the garments surpass those who have donned them.

Texts in conversation

Compare Shepherd of Hermas 60:2 and Gospel of Philip 3:37

Early Christian · Nag Hammadi

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Summary

The Shepherd of Hermas and the Gospel of Philip resist treating flesh as something that can be discarded without consequence. The Spirit's presence makes the body matter, connecting hope for life with what happens in the flesh rather than escape from it.

Passages

Shepherd of Hermas 60:2

Early Christian
1 “I was very glad, Sir,” I said, “to hear this interpretation.” “Listen now,” he said, “Keep this flesh of yours pure and undefiled, so that the Spirit living in it may bear witness to it, and your flesh may be justified. 2 See that you never think in your heart that this flesh of yours is mortal, and so misuse it in some defilement. For if you defile your flesh, you will also defile the Holy Spirit; and if you defile your flesh, you will not live.” 3 “But if, Sir,” I said, “there was any ignorance in the past, before these words were heard, how can someone who has defiled his flesh be saved?” “For former deeds of ignorance,” he said, “God alone has the power to give healing, for all authority is His.
90–140 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Shepherd of Hermas

Gospel of Philip 3:37

Nag Hammadi
Regarding myself, I find in error others who say that it will not rise, or both of them are in error. You say the flesh will not rise. Tell me, though, what shall rise, so we can congratulate you. You say “the spirit inside the flesh.” It is also this other light inside the flesh, it being a logos, because regardless of what you say, you say nothing except in the flesh. It is necessary to rise in this flesh, because all things dwell inside it. In this world, those who wear garments surpass the garments. In the kingdom of Heaven, the garments surpass those who have donned them.
180–250 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Gospel of Philip

References

“... 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 we may honour you (as a teacher). You say: The spirit in the flesh, and it is also this (spark of) 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. [...] 16. Cf. Hermas, Sim. V 7. ...”
Hans-Martin Schenke, “The Gospel of Philip,” in New Testament Apocrypha, Volume 1: Gospels and Related Writings, ed. Wilhelm Schneemelcher and R. McL. Wilson (Cambridge: James Clarke, 1991), 191, 207.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Shepherd of Hermas 60:2 and Gospel of Philip 3:37

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