Hidden Parts the gospel of Philip

Hidden Parts

As long as their [insides] are hidden, [most] beings in the world are alive and well. [If their insides] are exposed, they die, as is clear by the example of the visible part of a person. [As long as] a person’s intestines are hidden, the person is alive. [83] If the intestines are exposed and come out, the person dies. Likewise, while its root is hidden, a tree sprouts and grows. If its root is exposed, the tree withers.

So it is with all things produced in the world, not only the visible but also the hidden. As long as the root of evil is hidden, it is strong. When it is recognized, it is undone, and if it is brought to light, it dies. For this reason the word says, “Already the ax is laid at the root of the trees.” It will not merely cut them down, for what is cut down sprouts up again. Rather, the ax will dig down until it cuts out the root. Jesus pulled out the root of the whole place, but others did so only in part.

The Root of Evil

Let each of us also dig down after the root of evil within us and pull it out of our hearts from the root. It will be uprooted if we recognize it. But if we are ignorant of it, it takes root in us and produces fruit in our hearts. It dominates us. We are its slaves, and it takes us captive so that we do what we do [not] want and do [not] do what we want. It is powerful because we do not recognize it. As long as [it] exists, it stays active.

Ignorance Is the Mother of Evil

Ignorance is the mother of [all evil]. Ignorance leads to [death, because] those who come from [ignorance] neither were nor [are] nor will be. [But those in the truth] [84] will be perfect when all truth is revealed. For truth is like ignorance. While hidden, truth rests in itself, but when revealed and recognized, truth is praised in that 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 a slave, knowledge is freedom. If we know the truth, we shall find the fruit of truth within us. If we join with it, it will bring us fulfillment.

Most things in the world, as long as their inner parts are hidden, stand upright and live. If they are revealed, they die, as is illustrated by the visible man: as long as the intestines of the man are hidden [the ugly truth about themselves – their ego, pride of life and inherent wickedness], the man is alive [he never comes to “accurate knowledge of the truth” and will never be able to kill the “old man”]; when his intestines are exposed and come out of him [i.e. the demons, his carnal nature just mentioned] the man will die [he will know that he must kill the “old man”]. So also with the tree [constitution, charter, premise of any way of life in the world]: while its root is hidden, it sprouts and grows. If its root is exposed [if one has knowledge of the intent behind it (false pretense)], the tree dries up. So it is with every birth that is in the world, not only with the revealed [the physical birth] but with the hidden [the spiritual birth (regeneration)]. For so long as the root of wickedness [all falsehood] is hidden, it is strong [spiritual thievery can only exist in ignorance]. But when it is recognized, it is dissolved [it no longer has a hold on the soul who perceives it]. When it is revealed [to others by that soul], it perishes. That is why the Word says, "Already the axe is laid at the root of the trees" (Mt 3:10). It will not merely cut - what is cut sprouts again - but the ax penetrates deeply [into the heart of the matter], until it brings up the root. Jesus pulled out the root of the whole place [by example He showed the Way to sonship and life], while others [the prophets who came before Him] did it only partially those of us on the earth cannot see. As for ourselves, let each one of us dig down after the root of evil which is within one [we must all take a hard look in the mirror and find out who we really are, then we must purge our ego’s (deny thyself) and the pride of life which only serves to hold us back from doing the will of the Father], and let one pluck it out of one's heart from the root. It will be plucked out if we recognize it [once we are able to recognize our true motives, we will better be able to grasp the truth about ourselves, where we came from, and how to heal ourselves hence “physician heal thyself” we will gain the knowledge to turn around from our wicked ways in humility so that we can abound in grace, love and the forgiveness given us for our past actions that we might begin to truly conform to Christ and walk as He did by obeying His commandments]. But if we are ignorant of it, it takes root in us and produces its fruit in our heart [our subjective minds are framed by it, i.e. they form the “idols of our heart” which are very difficult to overcome]. It [the fruit of demons (evil thoughts and intents)] masters us. We are its slaves. It takes us captive, to make us do what we do not want; and what we do want, we do not do [this is the power of the senses (flesh)]. It is powerful because we have not recognized it [in ignorance we are unable to see what is hidden in the recesses of our subconscious minds until it is revealed to us]. While it exists it is active [even if we recognize it, we cannot stop it at first as it takes time to re-generated (or retrain) our sub-conscious mind). Ignorance is the mother of all evil. Ignorance will result in death, because those who come from ignorance neither were nor are nor shall be [this may be referring to the thoughts that are generated by an ignorant mind]. [...] will be perfect when all the truth is revealed. For truth is like ignorance: while it is hidden, it rests in itself, but when it is revealed and is recognized, it is praised, inasmuch as it is stronger than ignorance and error. It gives freedom. The Word said, "If you know the truth, the truth will make you free" (Jn 8:32). Ignorance is a slave. Knowledge is freedom. If we know the truth, we shall find the fruits of the truth within us. If we are joined to it, it will bring our fulfillment. (Philip 97) This whole paragraph is about the effects of spiritual thievery which occurs as a result of ignorance. The truth is available to all who diligently seek it as hidden treasure but it is cleverly and purposely hidden that only those whose hearts are in the right condition are able to apprehend it that it not be used for evil purposes.

Fog and Error in the Gospel of Truth
The Figure of Error in the Odes of Solomon