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Gospel of Philip

About this book

The Jerusalem Temple and the Bridal Chamber as Restoration of Primordial Androgyny

Chapter 9

There existed three houses of sacrifice in Jerusalem. One, facing west, is called the Holy. The other one, facing south, is called the Holy of the Holy. The third, facing east, is called the Holy of the Holies, the place where the high priest alone enters.⁠ Baptism is the Holy house. [Redemption] is the Holy of the Holy. The Holy of the Holies is the bridal chamber.⁠ [Baptism] includes the resurrection [together with] the redemption, the redemption being with the bridal chamber. However, [the] bridal chamber is with what surpasses even [...] [...] you will not find its [...] the place [...] who pray [...] Jerusalem [... Jeru]salem [... Jerusa]lem, awaiting [...] [...] these ones called [the Holies] of the Holies [... whose] veil was torn [...] bridal chamber, excepting the image [... which] [is above]. This is why its veil was torn from top to bottom, because some from below had to ascend above.⁠ The powers are unable to see those who have donned the perfect light, and they are unable to hold them back, and a person dons that light in the symbolic image, in the union. If the female had not separated from the male, she would not have died together with the male. His separation was the beginning of death. Consequently, Christ came, in order that the separation that took place in the beginning could be cured.⁠ He will join them both together again, and those who died in the separation, he will grant them life, and he will unite them, and the woman will unite with her husband in the bridal chamber, and those who have united in the bridal chamber will be separated no longer.⁠ Eve separated from Adam because it was not in the bridal chamber that she united with him. It was from a breath that Adam’s life began.⁠ Its companion was the Spirit. What was granted to him was his Mother. His soul was [removed], and he was granted [life] to replace it. When he united [...] words that surpassed the powers, and they were jealous of him, [...] spirit[ual] companion [...] concealed [...] [...] that is, the [...] they themselves [...] bridal chamber, in order that [...]. Jesus manifested [... the Jo]rdan, the [fullness of the kingdom] of Heaven. He who [had been begotten] before everything, he was again begotten. He [who had been anointed] at the first, he was again anointed. He who had been redeemed, he was again redeemed. It is truly appropriate to speak concerning a symbolic image. The All-Father united with the virgin who descended, and a fire illumined him.⁠ It was on that day that he revealed the great bridal chamber. This was the reason that his body came into existence. It was on that day that he emerged from the bridal chamber like one who had come into existence from the bridegroom and the bride. This is how Jesus founded all things inside himself, by means of these, and each disciple must enter, entering into his rest. Adam came into existence from two virgins, from the Spirit, and from the virgin Earth. This is why Christ was born from a virgin, in order that he could cure the fall that had occurred in the beginning. Two trees are growing in paradise. One produces [animals], while the other produces men. Adam [ate] from the tree that produced animals, [and he turned into] an animal, and he begot [animals].⁠ This is why the offspring of Adam worship [animals]. The tree [whose] fruit [he ate], this has multiplied [transgressions]. [If he had] eaten the [...] fruit of the [tree of life that] begets men, [...] from the man from [...]. God produces men [..., men] produce [God]. In this way, in the world men produce gods, and they worship what they have created. It would be more fitting if gods were to worship men. Like the case of the truth, so it is concerning the works of man, which are the outcome of his power. Consequently, they are called the works of power, being his deeds. From rest his children come into existence. This is why his power dwells in his works. It is, however, in the children that rest is made manifest. Also you will recognize that this pertains to the image as well, and this is the man who pertains to the image. From his power he performs his deeds. From rest, however, he begets his offspring. In this world it is the slaves who serve those who are free. In the kingdom of Heaven, those who were free will serve the slaves. The sons of the bridal chamber will serve the sons of the [marriage]. [The] sons of the bridal chamber are in [one and the same] condition: Rest. [Existing] together with each other, they have no need to take on (another) form, [given that they possess] contemplation [...] perception. They surpass [...] among those who dwell in the [...] the glories of the [...] not [...] them.

Texts in conversation

Compare 1 Corinthians 7:2 and Gospel of Philip 9:18

New Testament · Nag Hammadi

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Summary

The Gospel of Philip appears to extend 1 Corinthians' marriage language into an account of overcoming separation. Husband and wife become a picture of restoring the unity lost by Adam and Eve, connecting the bond of marriage with recovery from death.

Passages

1 Corinthians 7:2

New Testament
1 Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband. 3 A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. 4 It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife. 5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
55–57 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Corinthians

Gospel of Philip 9:18

Nag Hammadi
If the female had not separated from the male, she would not have died together with the male. His separation was the beginning of death. Consequently, Christ came, in order that the separation that took place in the beginning could be cured. He will join them both together again, and those who died in the separation, he will grant them life, and he will unite them, and the woman will unite with her husband in the bridal chamber, and those who have united in the bridal chamber will be separated no longer. Eve separated from Adam because it was not in the bridal chamber that she united with him. It was from a breath that Adam’s life began. Its companion was the Spirit. What was granted to him was his Mother.
180–250 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Gospel of Philip

References

“... Yet the context and parallels suggest that the statement is a symbolic one: it refers to the pneumatics, who are to join themselves with the psychics as husbands to their wives. The author of Philip contrasts the ‘marriage of uncleanness” (which involves sarkic desire) with the “true mystery” of marriage, which involves the pure will. '° Since the sexual terms, taken allegorically, may denote modes of relationship. the Valentinians, like Philo, can describe the same person as either male or female in the context of different relationships. In relation to the divine, the pneumatic is receptive, and therefore female; the bride, the woman receiving her divine husband “trom above."’ Yet in relation to the psychic, apparently, the pneumatic takes the active role: in terms of this relationship, the pneumatic is male (the man, the husband) and the receptive psychic, in turn, is female.'®? Theodotus describes how the pneumatic “males” and the psychic “females,” originally part of the same being, have become separated from one another, as Eve separated from Adam.'* So, according to the Gospel of Philip, If the woman had not separated from the man, she would not die with the man. His separation became the beginning of death. Because of this Christ came, in order that he might remove the separation, and again unite the two. . . . But the soman is united to her husband in the bridal chamber. Those who have been united in the bridal chamber will no longer be separated!”’ The marriage symbolism of 1 Cor 7:2-3, then, could be interpreted pneumatically on two different levels. First, the elect are delivered from spiritual “fornication” by joining with their divine syzygies; second, the psychics, in turn, are delivered from actual fornication by joining with the elect. The Valentinians teach that the pneumatic, therefore, must join with his psychic partner in order to protect and to strengthen the psychic against bodily temptations (7:4-5). ...”
Elaine Hiesey Pagels, The Gnostic Paul: Gnostic Exegesis of the Pauline Letters (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1975), 69.

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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