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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 Hebrews 9:7 and Gospel of Philip 9:4

New Testament · Nag Hammadi

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Summary

The Gospel of Philip gives Hebrews' inner sanctuary a new role as the bridal chamber. The high priest's restricted access becomes a model for its stages of worship, so entering the temple's most sacred room becomes a picture of reaching God.

Passages

Hebrews 9:7

New Testament
6 So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties. 7 But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the Holy Place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing. 9 This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They served only for matters of food and drink and various ritual washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.
80–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Hebrews

Gospel of Philip 9:4

Nag Hammadi
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.
180–250 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Gospel of Philip

References

“... Certainly exegesis of Hebrews 9:1-10 also seems to have contributed to the development of these ideas, but an exegesis informed by Jewish traditions about the heavenly Temple: Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and a earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, an outer one ... it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second veil stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant ... above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat ... The priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second tent only the high priest goes, and he but once a year ... The holy spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary is not yet opened as long as the outer tent is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age) ... until the time of reformation. This is most vivid in the Gospel of Philip. On the great day of complete “restoration”, the spirit of the person finally will enter the bridal chamber and marry his angel (67:16-20). Until that time, the Bridal Chamber, the Holy of Holies, remains hidden behind the veil (84:20-26). At the eschaton, however, the veil will be rent “from top to bottom” (85:10) and the interior of the Holy of Holies will be revealed (84:25-26). The world will be left desolate and the Demiurge will flee the cosmos. He, however, will not be able to flee into the heavenly Temple shrines because he “will not be able to mix with the unmixed [light] and the [flawless] pleroma” (84:27-34). ...”
April D. DeConick, “Heavenly Temple Traditions and Valentinian Worship: A Case for First-Century Christology in the Second Century,” in The Jewish Roots of Christological Monotheism: Papers from the St. Andrews Conference on the Historical Origins of the Worship of Jesus, ed. Carey C. Newman et al. (Leiden: Brill, 1999), 340–341.

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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Hebrews 9:7 and Gospel of Philip 9:4

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