Sunday, October 2, 2022

Eternal Marriage in The Gospel of Philip (3rd century)

  

There were three buildings specifically for sacrifice in Jerusalem. The one facing west was called “ the holy.” Another facing south was called “ the holy of 1 the holy.” The third facing east was called “ the holy of the holies,” the place where only the high priest enters. Baptism is “ the holy” building. Redemption is “ the holy of the holy.” “The holy of the holies” is the bridal chamber. Baptism includes the resurrection [and the] redemption; the redemption (takes place) in the bridal chamber. But the bridal chamber 1 is in that which is superior to [. . .] you (sg.) will not find [ . . .] are those who pray [. . .] Jerusalem. [. . .] Jerusalem who [. . .] Jerusalem, [. . .] those called “ the holy of the holies” [. . . the] veil was rent [. . .] bridal chamber except the image [. . .] above. Because of this its veil was rent from top to bottom. For it was fitting for some from below to go upward. The powers do not see those who are clothed in the perfect light, and consequently are not able to detain them. One will clothe himself in this light sacramentally in the union. If the woman had not separated from the man, she should not die with the man. His separation became the beginning of death. Because of this Christ came to repair the separation which was from the beginning and again unite the two, and to give life to those who died as a result of the separation and unite them. But the woman is united to her husband in the bridal chamber. Indeed those who have united in the bridal chamber will no longer be separated. (Wesley W. Isenberg, “The Gospel of Philip (II,3),” 69-70, in The Nag Hammadi Library in English, ed. James M. Robinson [San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 1990], 151)