Selections from the Gnostic Nag Hammadi Library: The Gospel of Philip, Part 1 of 2

“Faith receives; love gives. [No one will be able to] [receive] without faith, and no one will be able to give without love. So we believe in order that we may receive, but we give in order that we may love, since anyone who doesn’t give with love doesn’t get anything out of it.”

“A pearl doesn’t become less valuable if it’s cast down into the mud, nor will it become more valuable if it’s anointed with balsam; but it’s valuable to its owner all the time. That’s what it’s like with God’s children: no matter where they are, they’re still valuable to their Father.”

“Whoever comes out of the world can no longer be bound because they were in the world. They’re revealed to be above desire […] and fear. […] They’re better than envy. […]” “Don’t fear the flesh [worldly desires], nor love it. If you fear it, it’ll master you; if you love it, it’ll swallow and choke you.”

“Truth didn’t come into the world naked, but it came in types and images. It (the world) won’t receive it in any other way. There’s a rebirth and an image of rebirth. It’s truly necessary to be begotten again through the image. What’s the resurrection and the image? Through the image, it’s necessary for it to arise. The bridal chamber and the image? Through the image, it’s necessary for them to enter the truth, which is the restoration. It’s not only necessary for those who acquire the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, but they, too, have been acquired for you. If someone doesn’t acquire them, the name will also be taken from them. But they’re received in the chrism […] of the power of the cross. The apostles called this ‘[the] right and the left,’ because this person is no longer a [Christian], but a Christ.”