Texts in Conversation
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.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Shepherd of Hermas 60:2
Early Christian
1 “I was very glad, Sir,” I say, “to hear this interpretation.” “Listen now,” he says, “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 say, “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 says, “God alone has the power to give healing, for all authority is His.
Date: 90-140 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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.
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Notes and 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 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.'* [...] 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
(p. 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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