Description
Book SynopsisThe mainstream position of the Christian church on sexuality was perhaps best summed up by Pope Innocent III (1160-1216) when he stated that “the sexual act is so shameful that it is intrinsically evil.” Another Christian theologian maintained that the “Holy Ghost is absent from the room shared by a wedded couple.” What Philip records in his gospel is that Christ said precisely the opposite: The nuptial chamber is in fact the holy of holies. For Philip the holy trinity includes the feminine presence. God is the Father, the Holy Ghost is the Mother, and Jesus is the Son. Neither man nor woman alone is created in the image of God. It is only in their relationship with one another--the sacred embrace in which they share the divine breath--that they resemble God. The Gospel of Philip is best known for its portrayal of the physical relationship shared by Jesus and his most beloved disciple, Mary of Magdala. Because it ran counter to the direction of the Church, which condemned the “works of the flesh,” Philip’s gospel was suppressed and lost until rediscovered at Nag Hammadi in 1947. Orthodox theologian Jean-Yves Leloup’s translation from the Coptic and his analysis of this gospel are presented here for the first time in English. What emerges from this important source text is a restoration of the sacred initiatic union between the male and female principles that was once at the heart of Christianity’s sacred mystery.
Trade Review“In this rich and lucid translation, Jean-Yves Leloup unlocks mysteries of the enigmatic bridal chamber found in the Gospel of Philip and sheds new light on their associations with Jewish esoteric tradition.” * Margaret Starbird, author of The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalene and the Holy Grail *
“For scholars and seekers alike, every page of this book opens profound new dimensions in the teachings of Jesus.” * Jacob Needleman, author of Lost Christianity and The American Soul *
"This book displays new and profound facets and dimensions in the teachings of Jesus." * East and West Series, Vol. 48, No. 2, Feb 2006 *
Table of Contents
List of Abbreviations
Foreword by Jacob Needleman
Introduction
THE GOSPEL OF PHILIP
