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Gospel of Philip · 3 of 13 · tr. Thomas O. Lambdin

Section 1c

And Jesus said, “Whoever will not eat my flesh and drink my blood has no life within him.” What does he mean? His flesh is the word and blood the holy spirit. Who has received these has food and drink and clothing. I condemn those who say the flesh won’t rise. Then both are wrong. You say the flesh won’t ascend. Tell me, what will rise so I can honor you? You say spirit in the flesh and light in the flesh. What is the flesh? You say there is nothing outside the flesh. Then rise in the flesh, since everything exists in it. In this world those wearing garments are better than garments. In heaven the garments are better than the wearers. THROUGH WATER AND FIRE Through water and fire this wide realm is purified, and the visible cleaned by the visible, and the hidden by the hidden, but there are elements concealed in the visible. There is water within water and fire in the oil of chrism. JESUS TRICKED EVERYONE Jesus tricked everyone. He did not appear as he was but in a way not to be seen. Yet he appeared to all of them. To the great he appeared as great, to the small as small. To angels he appeared as an angel, and to humans as a human. And he hid his word from everyone. Some looked at him and thought they saw themselves. When before his students he appeared gloriously on the mountain, he was not small. No, he became great, and he made his students grow so they would know his immensity. UNION WITH ANGELS On the day of thanksgiving prayer he said, “You who have joined perfect light with holy spirit, join the angels with us as a single image.” THE LAMB Don’t hate the lamb. Without the lamb you can’t see the king. MEETING THE KING You don’t meet the king if you are naked. CONCEIVING WITH A KISS The heavenly man has more children than a man on earth. If the offspring of Adam are many and die, how many more are the offspring of perfect beings who do not die and are born each second? The father makes a child. The child cannot make a son. He has not the power to make children. One recently born is not a parent. The son has brothers and sisters, not children. In this world there is a natural order to birth, and one is nourished by ordinary means. We are nourished by the promise of heaven, from the mouth of the word. If the word emanated from the mouth, it is perfect. By a kiss the perfect conceive and give birth. That is why we kiss. From the grace in others we conceive. THREE MARYS Three Marys walked with the lord: His mother, his sister, and Mary of Magdala, his companion. His sister and mother and companion were Mary. THE HOLY SPIRIT Father and son are single names. Holy spirit is a double name and everywhere: above and below, hidden and revealed. The holy spirit lives in the revealed. It is concealed below. It is above. BLINDERS Even evil powers serve the saints. The holy spirit blinds the powers who suppose they are treating a simple man when they are treating saints. ASK YOUR MOTHER A student once asked the lord for something from the world, and he said, “Ask your mother, and she will give you something from another realm.” SOPHIA AND SALT The messengers said to the students, “Let our offering all be for obtaining salt.” Salt is what they called Sophia. Without salt no offering is acceptable. But Sophia is barren. She has no child, and so she is called a trace of salt. Yet wherever others are will be the holy spirit. Her children are many. FATHER AND CHILD What a father has belongs to his child, but not while the child is still little.
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Themes
Alchemical Workpraxis

The transformation of base substance — outer matter or the inner soul — into a purified, perfected, or 'gold' state; the magnum opus as both laboratory practice and spiritual allegory.

Purification through water and fire mirrors alchemical transformation processes.

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Apophatic Theologytheology

Describing the divine only by negation—God transcends all positive categories and concepts; the via negativa.

Jesus appeared in a way not to be seen and hid his word, suggesting transcendence of appearance.

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Archonscosmology

Malevolent planetary rulers or demiurgic powers that govern the material world and obstruct the soul's ascent.

Evil powers are mentioned as serving saints and being blinded by the holy spirit, functioning as obstructive rulers.

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Birth Of Word In Soulanthropology

Eckhart's signature doctrine that the Father eternally begets the Son in the ground of the soul; the human interior as the actual site of the divine generative act, distinct from inner_light's static indwelling.

Nourishment comes from the mouth of the word and conception occurs by a kiss of the perfect.

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Correspondencecosmology

The Hermetic axiom that the structure of the cosmos is reflected at every scale — 'as above, so below; as within, so without' — making each level a legible map of the others.

The text states the visible is cleaned by the visible and the hidden by the hidden, implying structural reflection.

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Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

The text contrasts visible/hidden, water/fire, and flesh/spirit as opposing or complementary ontological categories.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

Jesus is described as tricking everyone and appearing differently to different beings, concealing his true nature.

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Divine Lighttheology

The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.

Perfect light is mentioned as something to be joined with and existing within the flesh.

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Divine Marriagesoteriology

The reunification of complementary divine principles (male-female, spirit-matter) as a symbol of wholeness and salvation.

[auto] The passage describes spiritual conception and birth occurring through a kiss between perfect beings.

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Divine Sparkscosmology

Fragments of divine light or spirit trapped inside material bodies, awaiting liberation and return to their source.

The mention of 'light in the flesh' implies fragments of divinity trapped within material existence.

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Emanation Hierarchycosmology

A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.

A hierarchy is implied with the Father making a child who cannot make a son, and angels above humans.

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Eschatological Judgmentsoteriology

Final, collective cosmic judgment as an event in which the wicked are sentenced and the cosmos restored; distinct from psychopomp_journey (individual passage at death) and emphasising verdict where Zoroastrian frashokereti emphasises restoration.

The speaker condemns those who deny the resurrection of the flesh.

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Fall Of Sophiacosmology

The Gnostic myth of Wisdom's prolapse from the Pleroma — her unilateral desire or error producing the Demiurge and the entrapment of divine sparks in matter.

Sophia is mentioned as barren and a trace of salt, alluding to her mythological status.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

Understanding the true meaning of the flesh and blood requires insight beyond literal interpretation.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.

The passage questions the meaning of Jesus's words and states he 'hid his word', indicating esoteric teachings with inner truth.

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Inner Lightanthropology

The divine spark or luminous quality residing within the human person, potentially recognisable through introspection.

The text mentions 'light in the flesh' and having life within, suggesting a divine luminous quality inside the person.

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Logoscosmology

The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world.

[auto] The text explicitly identifies Jesus's flesh as 'the word', aligning with the concept of the divine ordering principle or reason.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

The instruction to 'eat my flesh and drink my blood' symbolizes a merging or union with the divine.

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Opposites Transcendedanthropology

The dissolution of binary oppositions (male/female, inner/outer, above/below) as a mark of spiritual completion.

The text speaks of joining as a single image and Father/Son being single names.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

Using apparent contradiction, reversal, or riddle to destabilise ordinary understanding and induce insight.

The statement that 'in heaven the garments are better than the wearers' reverses worldly logic to induce insight.

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Pneumatic Electsoteriology

A spiritual elite who possess the divine spark and are predestined for salvation, contrasted with psychic (faithful) and hylic (material) persons.

Jesus appeared differently 'to the great' and 'to the small', implying a hierarchy of spiritual capacity.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

The goal is described as joining angels and perfect light to become a single image.

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Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

Fire is mentioned specifically as being 'in the oil of chrism', linking it to sacred anointing.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine.

Purification through water and fire is explicitly described as cleansing the realm.

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Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

The text analyzes the names of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as single or double names.

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Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

[auto] The passage discusses rising and ascending, specifically debating whether the flesh will rise or ascend.

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Theosis Deificationsoteriology

The doctrine — central to Eastern Orthodox and Maximian theology — that the human person is progressively transformed into a partaker of the divine nature by grace, not merely justified or united in passing ecstasy.

Believers are encouraged to join with angels and perfect beings, implying transformation into divine likeness.

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Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

Offerings of salt/Sophia and chrism suggest ritual engagement with divine forces.

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Related passages · 11 parallels
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 426
“Section 10 10. We have shown the inevitability of certain convictions as to the scheme of things: There exists a Principle which transcends Being; this is The One, whose nature we have sought to establish in so far as such matters lend them…”
Shared concept: Logos — The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world. (derived)
neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter V
“But why am I prolix about these particulars? For I have abundantly shown, in what has been before said, the transcendency of divine above human divination. It is better, therefore, in compliance with your request, “ to point out to you the…”
Shared concept: Emanation Hierarchy — A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above. (derived)
neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter XXI
“I think, therefore, that all who are lovers of the contemplation of theurgic truth will acknowledge this, that the piety which pertains to divine natures ought not to be exercised towards them partially or imperfectly. Hence, since prior to…”
Shared concept: Theurgy — Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone. (derived)
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 2, Section 1n
“200 Redemption is a work performed by the whole Trinity through the Second Person. (So, too, is Creation. Cf. p. 65, n. 2). 201 i. e. We strive to distinguish the two planes of Being in God. Cf. Athan. Creed: “Neither confounding…”
Shared concept: Theosis Deification — The doctrine — central to Eastern Orthodox and Maximian theology — that the human person is progressively transformed into a partaker of the divine nature by grace, not merely justified or united in passing ecstasy. (derived)
western_esoteric|The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall)|Qabbalistic Keys to the Creation of Man-i
“One school of thought affirms that the human soul was actually divided into two parts (male and female) and that man remains an unperfected creature until these parts are reunited through the emotion which man calls love . From this concep…”
Shared concept: Divine Marriage — The reunification of complementary divine principles (male-female, spirit-matter) as a symbol of wholeness and salvation. (derived)
christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 7 (part 5)
“13.) Man can attain real similarity to God and perfect beatitude only by decisively willing to put his will into the Son, as the Heart or Light of the Father. "God has the eternal and unchangeable will to generate His Heart and his Son, an…”
Shared concept: Birth Of Word In Soul — Eckhart's signature doctrine that the Father eternally begets the Son in the ground of the soul; the human interior as the actual site of the divine generative act, distinct from inner_light's static indwelling. (derived)
western_esoteric|Transcendental Magic I: The Doctrine (Éliphas Lévi)|3. The Triangle Of Solomon-c
“These shells, envelopes petrified or carnified, were such an expression possible, are the source of errors or of evil, which connects with the heaviness and hardness of animal envelopes. In the book Zohar , and in that of the Revolution of…”
Shared concept: Divine Sparks — Fragments of divine light or spirit trapped inside material bodies, awaiting liberation and return to their source. (derived)
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Page 3 (part 11)
“1-10, 18, 19 as a natural sequel, where p. xxvi [paragraph continues] Enoch summons his children to receive his parting words. Then comes the Apocalypse of weeks, xciii. 1-10, xci. 12-17. The original order of the text, therefore, was:…”
Shared concept: Eschatological Judgment — Final, collective cosmic judgment as an event in which the wicked are sentenced and the cosmos restored; distinct from psychopomp_journey (individual passage at death) and emphasising verdict where Zoroastrian frashokereti emphasises restoration. (derived)
theosophy|The Secret Doctrine|Page 42 (part 6)
“should have selected a god against whose commandments Jesus was the first one to rise in rebellion. The Planetary origin of the Monad (Soul) and of its faculties was taught by the Gnostics. On its way to the Earth, as on its way back from…”
Shared concept: Archons — Malevolent planetary rulers or demiurgic powers that govern the material world and obstruct the soul's ascent. (derived)
theosophy|The Secret Doctrine|Page 63 (part 5)
“" Compare the last sentence with what the Rabbi, who explains the Kabala to Prince Al-Chazari in the Book of that name, says; and it will be found that the Weight and Measure and Number are, in Sepher Jezirah, the attributes of the Sephirot…”
Shared concept: Fall Of Sophia — The Gnostic myth of Wisdom's prolapse from the Pleroma — her unilateral desire or error producing the Demiurge and the entrapment of divine sparks in matter. (derived)
hermeticism|Corpus Hermeticum 10: The Sermon on the Mount|Section 1a
“The Key <This longer tractate presents itself explicitly as a summary or abridgement of the General Sermons (CH II-IX), and discusses the Hermetic view of knowledge and its role in the lives and afterlives of human beings. The attentive re…”
Shared concept: Pneumatic Elect — A spiritual elite who possess the divine spark and are predestined for salvation, contrasted with psychic (faithful) and hylic (material) persons. (derived)