The Lost Scriptures – books that did not make it into the New Testament.

The Gospel of Philip

“A Hebrew makes another Hebrew, and such a person is called “proselyte”. But a proselyte does not make another proselyte. […] just as they […] and make others like themselves, while others simply exist. The slave seeks only to be free, but he does not hope to acquire the estate of his master. But the son is not only a son but lays claim to the inheritance of the father. Those who are heirs to the dead are themselves dead, and they inherit the dead. Those who are heirs to what is living are alive, and they are heirs to both what is living and the dead. The dead are heirs to nothing. For how can he who is dead inherit? If he who is dead inherits what is living he will not die, but he who is dead will live even more.

A Gentile does not die, for he has never lived in order that he may die. He who has believed in the truth has found life, and this one is in danger of dying, for he is alive. Since Christ came, the world has been created, the cities adorned, the dead carried out. When we were Hebrews, we were orphans and had only our mother, but when we became Christians, we had both father and mother. Those who sow in winter reap in summer. The winter is the world, the summer the other Aeon (eternal realm). Let us sow in the world that we may reap in the summer. Because of this, it is fitting for us not to pray in the winter. Summer follows winter. But if any man reap in winter he will not actually reap but only pluck out, since it will not provide a harvest for such a person. It is not only […] that it will […] come forth, but also on the Sabbath […] is barren.”

The Gospel of Philip is one of those documents found in the Nag Hammadi discovery. This gospel is easily recognized as a Gnostic text, but the teachings are often difficult to understand. The gospel of Philip is not like other gospels. It is not a narrative text – instead it is a group of mystical reflections that have been taken from other “sermons” or “theological meditations” and brought together and attributed to Philip.

One of the characteristics of this writing is the contrast between those who can understand and those who cannot – between knowledge that is available to all and knowledge which is only available to insiders. In some ways we still divide ourselves in this manner – those who understand and those who question – those who have access to knowledge and those who seem to be kept out of the circle of understanding – those who are insiders and those who are outsiders.  

Jesus makes us all insiders through his love, mercy and Grace. Whether we become theologians, or whether we struggle through some basic understanding of scripture, it is the love of G-d manifested through the cross of Jesus where G-d claims us as G-d’s own. And that is no mystery.

Pastor Dave

The Lost Scriptures – books that did not make it into the New Testament.

The Gospel of Mary

 . . Will matter then be destroyed or not? 22) The Savior said, All nature, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another, and they will be resolved again into their own roots. 23) For the nature of matter is resolved into the roots of its own nature alone.

24) He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 25) Peter said to him, Since you have explained everything to us, tell us this also: What is the sin of the world? 26) The Savior said There is no sin, but it is you who make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called sin.

27) That is why the Good came into your midst, to the essence of every nature in order to restore it to its root. 28) Then He continued and said, That is why you become sick and die, for you are deprived of the one who can heal you. 29) He who has a mind to understand, let him understand. 30) Matter gave birth to a passion that has no equal, which proceeded from something contrary to nature. Then there arises a disturbance in its whole body. 31) That is why I said to you, Be of good courage, and if you are discouraged be encouraged in the presence of the different forms of nature. 32) He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 33) When the Blessed One had said this, He greeted them all, saying, Peace be with you. Receive my peace unto yourselves. 34) Beware that no one lead you astray saying Lo here or lo there! For the Son of Man is within you. 35) Follow after Him!

36) Those who seek Him will find Him. 37) Go then and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. 38) Do not lay down any rules beyond what I appointed you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained by it. 39) When He said this He departed.

Composed sometime during the late second century, the Gospel of Mary exists in two fragments – written in Greek. This is clearly an intriguing text, for it accorded Mary Magdalene a high status among the apostles. The apostle Levi will go on to say that Jesus loved Mary more than the rest of the apostles. Jesus will also reveal to Mary the truth of all things, which he only reveals to her. The Gospel of Mary ends with the apostles accepting the command to preach the Gospel of Jesus – not laying down any other rule or other law.

It is because of this “secret revelation” that is given only to Mary by Jesus, that the church describes this Gospel as a Gnostic text. This is the primary reason this gospel is not included in the canon. But perhaps the most important point we can glean from this text is the encouragement of fearful disciples to go out and proclaim the gospel. We all need this kind of encouragement – the apostles needed it, we need it as well. It is not easy to “…go into all the world and make disciples of all nations…” as Matthew 28:19 encourages. Jesus would continue to teach the same until his ascension.

Pastor Dave