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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 Genesis 2:7 and Gospel of Philip 9:20

Hebrew Bible · Nag Hammadi

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Summary

The Gospel of Philip echoes Genesis' breath of life but gives Adam the Spirit as a companion and mother. Life received from God becomes a family relationship, connecting the creation of Adam with Philip's concern for reunion and birth through the Spirit.

Passages

Genesis 2:7

Hebrew Bible
6 Springs would well up from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. 7 The Lord God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.)
750–400 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Genesis

Gospel of Philip 9:20

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. His soul was [removed], and he was granted [life] to replace it.
180–250 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Gospel of Philip

References

“... 80. The soul of Adam came into being from a breath. Its consort is the [spirit. The spirit] which was given to him is his mother. The soul was [taken] from him and replaced by [spirit]. Since when he had united (with the spirit) he [spo]ke words which are too high for the powers, they were envious of him. They [separated] the spiri[tual un]ion themselves [ ], which is hidden [ oc]casion [ ] themselves alone [ b]ridal chamber, in order that [ ]. [...] 50. Cf. Gen. 2:7. ...”
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), 198, 208.

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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