Jesus is the Fruit of Knowledge the gospel of truth

**Jesus is the Fruit of Knowledge**


In the profound teachings of the Gospel of Truth and the Gospel of Philip, Jesus is revealed as the embodiment and fruit of divine knowledge—knowledge that brings awakening, illumination, and ultimately, life. This knowledge stands opposed to error, which is the collective false understanding and misguided beliefs that arise when humanity turns away from the true revelation of God. Jesus’ crucifixion and the gospel itself, nailed together to the tree, symbolize the ultimate gift and beginning of true understanding, a gift that transforms forgetfulness into joy and spiritual awakening.


The **Gospel of Truth** declares:
*"That is the gospel of him whom they seek, which he has revealed to the perfect through the mercies of the father as the hidden mystery, Jesus the anointed. Through him he enlightened those who were in darkness because of forgetfulness. He enlightened them and gave them a path. And that path is the truth that he taught them."*


This passage shows Jesus as the revealer of hidden mysteries and the one who leads those lost in darkness—caused by forgetfulness—back into the light of true knowledge. The darkness here symbolizes spiritual ignorance and separation from the Father’s truth. Jesus is not merely a teacher but the living embodiment of the path to God’s truth.


Because Jesus revealed this truth, **error**—personified as a feminine figure—was angry and persecuted him. The text continues:
*"For this reason error was angry with him, so she persecuted him. She was distressed by him, and she was made powerless. He was nailed to a tree. He became a fruit of the knowledge of the father. He did not, however, destroy them because they ate of it. He rather caused those who ate of it to be joyful because of this discovery."*


Here, error represents the false systems and beliefs—like those of the Sadducees and Pharisees—that resist the enlightenment Jesus brings. Yet paradoxically, Jesus being nailed to the tree (the cross) is itself the fruit of the Father’s knowledge. Those who partake in this fruit—who accept Jesus’ message—are not destroyed but filled with joy, for they gain true understanding. Thus, the crucifixion is not defeat but the beginning of spiritual awakening.


The Gospel of Philip deepens this symbolism by exploring the imagery of two trees in paradise:
*"There are two trees growing in paradise. One produces \[animals] and the other produces people. Adam \[ate] of the tree that produces animals, and \[he] became an animal and brought forth animals. As a result Adam’s children worship animals. The tree \[whose] fruit \[he ate] is the \[tree of knowledge, and because of this, sins] increased. \[If he had] eaten the \[fruit of the other tree], the fruit of \[the tree of life, which] produces people, \[gods would] worship people. As \[in paradise] God created people \[that people] \[72] might create God, so also in this world people make gods and worship what they have created. It would be more fitting for gods to worship people."*


This passage contrasts two paths: the tree of knowledge (the Law) which leads to animalistic and sinful nature, and the tree of life, which produces divine humanity. Adam’s choice of the tree of knowledge results in a fallen state where humanity imitates animal nature and worships created idols rather than God. The ideal is the tree of life, which nurtures true spiritual beings who can reflect and inspire the divine.


Further, the Gospel of Philip reflects on the garden planted by God:
*"God planted a garden, and humans \[lived in the] garden. There are some \[who dwell] with…God…. This garden \[is where] it will be said to me, ‘…\[eat] this and do not eat that, \[as you] \[74] wish.’ This is where I shall eat everything, where the tree of knowledge is. That tree killed Adam, but here the tree of knowledge has brought people back to life. That tree was the law. It can give knowledge of good and evil, but it neither freed Adam from evil nor made him good, and it brought death to those who ate of it. For when it was said, ‘Eat this and do not eat that,’ death began."*


This paradox reveals that the tree of knowledge, identified as the Law of Moses, brought death rather than freedom to Adam and his descendants. Yet, through Jesus as the fruit of this knowledge, it is transformed from a source of death into a source of life. Jesus’ coming changes the meaning of knowledge itself—from a restrictive law causing death into a liberating revelation granting resurrection and renewal.


The connection between Jesus and the tree is further illustrated by the figure of Joseph the Carpenter:
*"Philip the apostle said, ‘Joseph the carpenter planted a garden, for he needed wood for his trade. He is the one who made the cross from the trees he planted, and his own offspring hung on what he planted. His offspring was Jesus and what he planted was the cross.’ The tree of life, however, is in the middle of the garden. It is an olive tree, and from it comes chrism, and from chrism comes resurrection."*


This allegory ties Jesus’ crucifixion to the tree planted by Joseph, making the cross itself a symbol of knowledge-bearing fruit. While the cross was a tool of death, it also becomes the source of resurrection and new life, much like the olive tree producing chrism—a sacred anointing signifying the presence of divine life.


Finally, the Gospel of Philip emphasizes Jesus’ role in bringing true spiritual sustenance:
*"Before Christ came there was no bread in the world, just as paradise, where Adam lived, had many trees for animal food but no wheat for human food, and people ate like animals. But when Christ, the perfect human, came, he brought bread from heaven, that humans might be fed with human food."*


Christ’s flesh, understood here as the word, and his blood as the Holy Spirit, provide the true spiritual nourishment:

"For this reason he said, 'One who does not eat my flesh and drink my blood does not have life within.' What does this mean? His flesh is the word and his blood is the holy spirit. Whoever has received these has food, drink, and clothing."

The Gospel of Truth resonates here as it says Jesus "did not destroy those who ate of it. He rather caused those who ate of it to be joyful because of this discovery." Eating the fruit, then, is to receive and accept the gospel’s revelation—symbolized as nourishment—bringing life and joy, not condemnation.


**In summary**, Jesus as the fruit of knowledge is the key revelation that transforms death into life, ignorance into understanding, and spiritual blindness into joy. He is the mystery revealed to the perfect, the one who defeats error by being nailed to the tree, becoming the living fruit that offers true knowledge of the Father. Through Jesus, the restrictive law of knowledge becomes the liberating gospel of life, enabling humanity to transcend animal nature and enter into divine communion. This profound teaching invites us to partake in the fruit of Jesus’ knowledge and discover the joy and resurrection that come from awakening to God’s truth.