Gospel of Philip 17

1When Abraham […] to see what he was going to see, [he] circumcised the flesh of the foreskin, [telling] us that it is necessary to destroy the flesh.

2[Most (things)] of [the] world can stand and live as long as their [insides are hidden. If they are revealed], they die, as [illustrated] by the visible human being. [As long as] a person’s insides are hidden, that person is alive. If their insides are exposed and come out of them, the person will die. It is the same with a tree. While its root is hidden, it blossoms and grows. If its root is exposed, the tree dries up. This is how it is with everything born in the world, not only the revealed but also the hidden, because as long as the root of evil is hidden, it is strong. But if it is recognized, it dissolves, and if it is revealed, it dies. So the Word says, “Already the axe is laid at the root of the trees.” It will not merely cut, because that which will be cut blossoms again. Instead, the axe digs down into the ground until it brings up the root. Jesus pulled out the root completely, but others did so only partially. As for us, let every one of us dig down to the root of the evil within and pull it out from its root in us. It will be uprooted if we recognize it. But if we do not recognize it, it takes root within us and bears its fruit in us. It masters us, and we are forced to serve it. It captures us so that we do what we do [not] want to do, and we do [not] do what we want to do. [It is] powerful because we have not recognized it. It remains active as long as [it exists]. [Ignorance] is the mother of [all evil]. Ignorance will cause [death, because] what exists from [ignorance] did not exist, nor [does it exist], nor will they come into being […] they will be perfected when the whole truth is revealed, because truth is like ignorance. When it is hidden, it rests within itself, but if it is revealed and recognized, it is glorified because it is stronger than ignorance and error. It gives freedom. The Word says, “If you know the truth, the truth will make you free.” Ignorance is slavery; knowledge is freedom. If we know the truth, we will find the fruits of truth within us. If we unite with it, it will receive our fullness.

3Now we have what is revealed of creation. We say, “Those who are strong are honorable, but those who are hidden are weak and scorned.” This is how it is with those who are revealed of the truth: they are weak and scorned, but the hidden are strong and honorable. Yet the mysteries of the truth are revealed in types and images.

4The chamber, however, is hidden; it is the Holy within the Holy. At first, the veil concealed how God managed creation, but when the veil is torn and what is inside is revealed, this house will be left behind [like] a desert—or rather, it will be [destroyed]. And all divinity will flee [from] these places, not into the Holies [of the] Holies, because it will not be able to unite with the pure [light] and the [flawless] fullness, [but] it will come to be under the wings of the cross [and under] its arms. This ark will [become their] salvation when the floodwaters surge over them. If some belong to the priesthood, they will be able to enter inside the veil with the high priest. So the veil was not torn only at the top, since then it would have been open only to those at the top. Nor was it torn only at the bottom, since then it would have been revealed only to those at the bottom. Instead, it was torn from top to bottom. Those at the top opened the bottom to us so that we may enter the secret of the truth. This truly is what is honorable and strong, but we will enter there through scorned types and weaknesses. They are humbled in the presence of the perfect glory. There is glory better than glory; there is power better than power. So the perfect was opened to us together with the secrets of the truth, the Holies of the Holies were revealed, and the chamber invited us in.

5As long as it is hidden, evil is inactive, but it has not been removed from among the Holy Spirit’s seed. They are servants of evil. But whenever it is revealed, the perfect light will flow out upon everyone, and all who are in it will [receive the chrism]. Then the servants will be set free, and the captives will be redeemed. “[Every] plant [which] my Father who is in heaven [has not] planted [will be] uprooted.” Those who are separated will unite […] will be filled.