Jesus the Measurement Spread Out

Jesus the Measurement Spread Out 
(Gospel of Philip and the Odes of Solomon) 

The Apostles who preceded us called (him) thus: Jesus the Nazirite Messiah— this is Jesus the Nazirite Christ. The last name is the Christ, the first is Jesus, that in the middle is the Nazirite. ‘Messiah’ has two references: both the anointed and also the measured. ‘Jesus’ in Hebrew means the redemption. ‘Nazirite’ is the truth, therefore the Nazirite is the true. The Christ is the measured, the Nazirite and Jesus are the measurement. (The Gospel of Philip)

In Aramaic Jesus is Yeshua a shortened form of Yehoshua which is translated into English as Joshuaand means Yahweh is Salvation

The Syriac word for messiah is msiha it can also mean measured 

Nazirte does not mean truth in Hebrew, Aramaic or any other language. But the church father 

Irenaeus mentions that in a formula spoken by Valentinians 

The name of restitution stands thus: Messia, Uphareg, Namempsoeman, Chaldoeaur, Mosomedoea, Acphranoe, Psaua, Jesus Nazaria.(3) The interpretation of these words is as follows: "I do not divide the Spirit of Christ, neither the heart nor the supercelestial power which is merciful; may I enjoy Thy name, O Saviour of truth!"

The words "Jesus Nazaria" translates as "Saviour of truth"

Thus the Christ is the measurement, and the Truth and Redemption have been measured out. (The Gospel of Philip)

The eucharist is Jesus. For he is called in Syriac "Pharisatha," which is "the one who is spread out," for Jesus came to crucify the world. (The Gospel of Philip)

eucharist literally thanksgiving, refers to the Lord's last supper

Jesus is called the Amen in the book of Revelation (Rev 3:14) it is by Jesus that we give thanks and say the Amen 2cor 1:20

The thanksgiving is Jesus. For he is called in Syriac "Pharisatha," which is "the one who is spread out," for Jesus came to crucify the world. (The Gospel of Philip)

Schenke notes the Syriac root prs with the meaning "spread out"  Segal (Concise Hebrew-English Dictionary Tel Aviv 1938) gives a cognate Hebrew word with the two meanings break bread and spread. this would serve to explain the identification of Jesus and the eucharist.

but spread out also suggests extending upon the cross 

For Gnostic Christians redemption is effected by the imparting of the knowledge (gnosis) of the cross. 

A person receives them in the chrism with the oil of the power of the cross. (The Gospel of Philip)

Crucifying the world means presumably revealing is true character and worthlessness

These sayings in the Gospel of Philip should be compared with another Syriac text the Odes of Solomon 


Ode 27 from the Odes of Solomon

I extended my hands and hallowed my Lord,
For the expansion of my hands is His sign.
And my extension is the upright cross.  Hallelujah.


Ode 42 from the Odes of Solomon

1 I stretched out my hands and approached my Lord:
2 For the stretching of my hands is His sign:
3 My expansion is the outspread tree which was set up on the way of the Righteous One.

the  " stretching out of the hands," is meant as a gesture of prayer 

The tree appears to be the Tree of Life. In Ode 27 it is called the "upright" or "righteous" tree, because, on it, the Righteous died for the unrighteous, and made it, as it were, His own.

The " stretching out of the hands," mentioned in Ode 27, and now repeated in Ode 42, as the "sign" of the Lord, indicating the triumph of the Cross; there is also the Bridegroom, no longer merely the Beloved, but with His "arm over the Bride," the wedding being consummated.

42:8 Like the arm of the bridegroom over the bride, so is my yoke over those who know me.

The "measuring " by the "hands" of the Crucified is ordained that He may (Ode 23:19) "inherit" all mankind, making it the family of the righteous Father. Such is the effect of the "upright tree," which is also the "outspread tree," and the "way" to eternal life.

gospel of philip Converts

Converts

A Hebrew makes a Hebrew, and such a person is called a convert. A convert does not make a convert. [Some people] are as they [are] and make others [like them], while others simply are.

The father makes a son, and the son has not the power to make a son. For he who has been begotten has not the power to beget, but the son gets brothers for himself, not sons.

the distinction here seems to be between someone who is born a jew and someone who obtains it after birth, and also those who have something and can give it to others and those who have simply obtainted something for themselves

he who has not received the Lord is still a hebrew

Inheriting the Living and the Dead

A slave seeks only to be free and does not seek the master’s estate.
But the son is not only a son but lays claim to the inheritance of the father.
Heirs to the dead are dead, and what they inherit is dead. Heirs to the living are alive, and they inherit both the living and the dead. The dead inherit nothing, for how could a dead person inherit? If a dead person inherits the living, the living will not die and the dead will come to life.

this reminds us of the previous saying and gives us a parallel between a hebrew and a convert and a son and a slave

A Son of God, is all-important to Him, is a Co-owner of His property.

The slaves of unrightousness seek to be free from slavery to sin and enter into the rest of God

[The saints inherit the kingdom for themselves, having a position in its administration]

one is either a son or a slave. children and slaves are of course both part of a household but have very different rights and roles within that household. see Galatians 4:7 Therefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

the next we are told the dead inherit the dead but the living inherit both the living and the dead

this is not speaking about natural death but spiritual death. to be spiritually dead is the same as been a slave to sin


We find in the Gospel of Thomas :

111 Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will roll up in your presence, and whoever is living from the living one will not see death."


Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me; and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”


Jesus, Gentiles, Christians

A gentile does not die, never having been alive so as to die. One who has believed in truth is alive, but this person is at risk of dying just by being alive.
Since Christ came, the world has been created, cities have been beautified, and the dead have been buried.
When we were Hebrews we were orphans, with only a mother, but when we became Christians we had a father and a mother.

perhaps this gives us a hierarchy of gentile converts hebrew christian
a gentile is dead, a convert cannot convert others, but a hebrew can a hebrew has only a mother but a christian has a father and a mother the son inherits through the father but a slave does not inherit those who believe in truth are alive and the living inherit the living

A gentile is someone who is not a jew it also refers to someone who is not a christian. anyone who believes the truth is not a gentile

To die in this context means to go astray from the Path. This is a spiritual death, which is the only one of significance here

“The world has been created, the cities adorned, the dead carried out” can refer to the new visionary understandings Christ brought which created mystical, spiritual communities which buried the dead past.

Since Christ [the anointing] came, the world has been created [(re-created actually for the sons are considered “a new creation”) through Him as the “firstborn in many brothers” He became the door to spiritual birth for anyone who receives Him], the cities [our minds] beautified [“trusted in God” and becoming “subjected to our own husband” to do His will and not our own (the individual spirit consciousness is united in One)], the dead [the fleshly carnal nature (sarx) “the old man” and egoic nature] carried out.


the true followers of Christ are now sons of Abraham the True Father

[105]. Jesus says: "He who knows father and mother shall he be called: Son of a harlot!"?

 Jews only have mothers. A Jewish mother and a Gentile father is a Jew but Jewish father and Gentile mother is not a Jew as Christians we have both father and mother.

John 8.18 John 8.41


The Name “Christian”

The anointing is superior to baptism, for it is from the word "anointing" that we have been called "Christians," certainly not because of the word "baptism". And it is because of the anointing that "the Christ" has his name. For the Father anointed the Son, and the Son anointed the apostles, and the apostles anointed us. He who has been anointed possesses everything.

although baptism is often seen as the major expression of a convert’s faith, Philip regarded it as far less important than the anointing—it is only with the anointing that a convert can truly be termed a Christian.  Receiving this title is the most immediate effect of anointing.

If you say, “I am a Jew,” no one will be moved. If you say, “I am a Roman,” no one will be disturbed. If you say, “I am a Greek, barbarian, slave, free,” no one will be troubled. If you say, “I am a Christian,” the [world] will be shaken. May I [receive the one] whose name the [world] cannot bear to hear.

Notice that the name “Christian” (coming only after the anointing) is one that will make everyone tremble and the “rulers” “will not endure hearing.”

this passage reflects a period when christians had begun to be persecute for the name at any rate they are thought of as standing apart from other people

In the early years of the church from the 1st century until the 4th century AD Christianity was still a new and unknown faith. it was viewed with suspicion by many and internally Christianity was full of divisions with a huge variety of sects calling themselves christian. Greek Romam Barbarian and jew are fundamentally ethnic categories whereas Christians could come from any race nationality or culture from slaves or free men and women

the father’s house the gospel of philip

The lord said to the disciples,
“From every house you are in, take out possessions,
but take things into the father’s house
and do not steal what is inside and run off.”

literally the father's house would be the temple in Jerusalem but the father's house may also be the house not made of hands a internal and spiritual house

The Lord said to the disciples, "[...] from every house [individual soul]. Bring into the house of the Father [unite all into that One universal mind the Christ Consciousness holy and perfect - ].

The vessels in the Temple represent our capacity to comprehend and our ability to measure or appreciate life, love, and Truth, the Gospel.

But do not take [for yourself] (anything) in the house of the Father nor carry it off [this appears to be directed at those who once knowing the truth turn away and go back the poverty-stricken elements of the world and/or use it for “unjust gain”?]." (Philip 13)

The Lord said to his disciples, "Converts should flow from every house to the House of the Parents, but be careful that you are not the cause of anyone leaving the House of the Parents to return to the house from which he came."

The nature of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas

The nature of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas

The Gospel of Thomas use the words flesh, falsehood or death as a symbol of our sinful nature

Saying 28 Jesus said: I stood in the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in the flesh. I found them all drunk; I found none of them thirsting, and my soul was afflicted for the sons of men; for they are blind in their heart, and they do not see that they came empty into the world, (and) empty they seek to leave the world again. But now they are drunk. When they have thrown off their wine, they will repent

Here Jesus came in the Flesh his soul was afflicted for the children of men.  
"I appeared to them in the flesh" is translated by LAYTON to read "I was shown forth incarnate" 

Incarnate means “having a bodily form.” ... The prefix in- means “in” and caro means “flesh,” so incarnate means “in the flesh.”

The appearing in flesh does not mean that Jesus was part of the trinity or an angel in Heaven before he was born. “to appear” means to look at behold, to allow one’s self to be seen, Jesus was in the world but the world did not know him until him made his appearance on the world stage.

We should compare this saying with saying 101 to find out the meaning of the word flesh Jesus has 2 mother's his birth mother after the flesh and his true mother the holy spirit

Saying 101) Jesus said, "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to Me. And whoever does [not] love his father and his mother as I do cannot become a [disciple] to Me. For My mother [gave me falsehood], but [My] true [Mother] gave me life."

For My birth mother [gave me death], but [My] true [Mother] gave me life." april deconick translation

Jesus birth mother could only give him death or falsehood which we understand to be sin in the flesh. but his true mother give him life. 

Here in saying 101 death or falsehood is an equivalent expression for human nature.

Sin, is an equivalent expression  for human nature.

Hence, the flesh is always regarded as unclean. It is therefore written, "How can he be clean who is born of a woman?" (Job 25:4) "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one." (Job 14:4) "What is man that he should be clean? And he which is born of a woman that he should be righteous? Behold, God putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, who drinketh iniquity like water?" (Job 15:14-16)

According to this physical law, the Seed of the woman was born into the world. The nature of Mary was as unclean as that of other women; and therefore could give birth only to "a body" like her own, though especially "prepared of God" (Heb. 10:5). Had Mary's nature been immaculate, as some claim, an immaculate body would have been born of her; which, therefore, would not have answered the purpose of God; which was to condemn sin in the flesh; a thing that could not have been accomplished, if there were no sin there.

This view of sin in the flesh is enlightening in the things concerning Jesus. The apostle says, "God made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21); and this he explains in another place by saying, that "He sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Rom. 8:3) in the offering of his body once (Heb. 10:10,12,14).

Sin could not have been condemned in the body of Jesus, if it had not existed there. His body was as unclean as the bodies of those for whom he died; for he was born of a woman, and "not one" can bring a clean body out of a defiled body; for "that", says Jesus himself, "which is born of the flesh is flesh" (John 3:6).

Should We Worship Mary the Mother of Jesus Gospel of Thomas saying 79

Should We Worship Mary Gospel of Thomas saying 79 

Gospel of Thomas saying 79 A woman in the crowd said to him, "Blessed are the womb that bore you and the breasts that nourished you!" He said to [her], "Blessed are those who have heard the father's utterance (or Word) and truly kept it! For days are coming when you (plur.) will say, 'Blessed are the womb that has not conceived and the breasts that have not given milk!

This saying in Thomas also found in the gospel of Luke would certainly have been a fine opportunity for Jesus to pay special honor to his mother if that had been appropriate. He did not do so.

Jesus deflects praise from his mother and himself toward those who are obedient to God. So we should not worship Jesus’ mother or give her honour for she was just flesh and blood like us and we should only honour and worship Yahweh our Elohim

382 Mary, the mother of Jesus, was unique, in that she gave birth to a son by a special miracle, without the intervention of the customary physical means. This of course does not mean that she was more than human, any more than that her son was more than human. She had as much need to pray to Allah as anyone else. The Christian dogma, in all sects except the Unitarian, holds that Jesus was God and the son of God. The worship of Mary became the practice in the Roman Catholic Church, which calls Mary the "Mother of God". This seems to have been endorsed by the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.C., in the century before Muhammad was born to sweep away the corruptions of the Church of Christ . 

The woman who says how Blessed Mary is to have given birth to Jesus is thinking carnally. She believes that Mary gave life to Jesus, but flesh gives birth to flesh. God could turn stones into men (and He basically did!). Again man was created, but spirit is born of spirit. So God gives birth to spirit. 

Saying 101) <Jesus said,> "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to Me. And whoever does [not] love his father and his mother as I do cannot become a [disciple] to Me. For My mother [gave me falsehood], but [My] true [Mother] gave me life."


For My birth mother [gave me death], but [My] true [Mother] gave me life." April deconick translation

Jesus birth mother could only give him death or falsehood which we understand to be sin in the flesh. but his true mother give him life. Sin, is an equivalent expression  for human nature.

Jesus goes on to tell this woman that the lucky ones are those who hear the Word of God and do what He says.

The last part of this Saying is a warning of disaster to come, when children will be much more a burden than a blessing, but whether Jesus is speaking about 70 CE or at the end of the present age is impossible to determine so I think it is both.


Jesus says that difficult times are coming for those thinking and living carnally.  God will break us like a Potter breaks and then refashions a pot. He will shape us into perfection, which is His image!

79) #A woman [a Jew who understood that the scriptures were pointing to Christ] from the crowd said to Him, "Blessed are the womb [Judaism (Gal 1:15)] which bore you and the breasts [the Old and New Testaments] which nourished You [He spoke forth both of these as the Word of God]." He said to her, "Blessed are those [the Elect] who have heard [the higher/inward (spiritual) meaning of] the word [in both Testaments] of the Father [Spirit-level as opposed to the mother which is of the flesh and blood level] and have truly kept it [obeyed and observed it as opposed to the Jews and the "Christo-pagans who do not]. #For there will be days [2,000 years (2 spiritual days) of Messianic age] when you will say, 'Blessed are the womb which has not conceived [true Judaism] and the breasts [of true Christianity] which have not given milk [both were subverted into "worldly" religions before they ever had a chance to bring forth adequate fruit to give birth to the spirit in anyone] .'" 

The Doctrine of Sin in the Gospel of Thomas

The Doctrine of Sin in the Gospel of Thomas

The Gospel of Thomas use the word sin in two ways the first meaning is transgression of God's Law and the second meaning is about our sinful nature 

Words which are used to describe sin and transgression

There are words in the gospel of thomas which refer directly to sin and transgression these words are sin, blaspheme, and defile. There are also words which indirectly refer to sin and transgression these words are lie, evil or bad, lamb, heart, and drunk 

The word sin occurs twice in sayings 14 and 104

The word defile occurs twice in saying 14

The word blaspheme occur three times in saying 44

The word lie is used once in saying 6

The word evil or bad appears 3 times in saying 45

The word hate occurs in saying 6, 43, 55 101

next is the lamb in saying 60 the lamb could be referring to the sin-offing  

Also the Gospel of Thomas use the words flesh, body, heart, falsehood or death as a symbol of our sinful nature.

The word flesh occurs four times in sayings 28 and 29 and 112

The word body occurs five times see sayings 28 80, and 87 

The word heart occurs six times but in saying 45 it is used to describe our sinful human nature 

The word falsehood or death occurs in saying 101 see Marvin Meyer translation or the April Deconick translation

the word fault or overcome is used in saying 104 it refers to madness 

Blaspheme

[44]. Jesus says: "He who has blasphemed the Father will be forgiven, and he who has blasphemed the Son will be forgiven: but he who has blasphemed the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either on earth or in heaven."

 This is a dangerous sin because you have truly denied the presence and the power of God."

This familiar verse echoes what we read in Matthew 12:31 and Luke 12:10. 

blaspheme against the holy spirit is to reject the power of God

We should also note that all sins are not the same. Sins of the soul are far worse than the sins of flesh. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit would be a person rejecting the Truth when they hear it

Hate

6 His students asked him and said to him, Do you want us to fast? How should we pray? Should we give to charity? What diet should we observe?
Yeshua said, Do not lie and do not do what you hate. All things are disclosed before heaven.
There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, nothing covered that will remain undisclosed.

Do not lie and do not do what you hate is a commandment if you break this commandment  it is a sin or a transgression of divine law

12 And YOU must not swear in my name to a lie, so that you do profane the name of your God. I am Jehovah. 

12 “All things, therefore, that YOU want men to do to YOU, YOU also must likewise do to them; this, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean.

Tobit 4:15 15 And what you hate, do not do to anyone. Do not drink wine to excess or let drunkenness go with you on your way. (The New Revised Standard Version )

55 Jesus said, "Those who do not hate their fathers and their mothers cannot be disciples of me, and those who do not hate their brothers and their sisters and take up their cross like me will not become worthy of me."

You must separate yourselves from unbelieving family and friends
You must hate sin and be willing to pick up your cross if you truly want to follow Jesus."

hate is used as those of the world if you do not hate those of the world you can not be a disciples of Jesus because you would have sinned by not hating those of the world.

.lamb or sin-offing

60) They saw a Samaritan carrying a lamb on his way to Judea. He said to his disciples, "That man is round about the lamb." They said to him, "So that he may kill it and eat it." He said to them, "While it is alive, he will not eat it, but only when he has killed it and it has become a corpse." They said to him, "He cannot do so otherwise." He said to them, "You too, look for a place for yourself within repose, lest you become a corpse and be eaten."

The lamb the Samaritan is carrying could be a reference to animal sacrifice that would be a sin offering. We too are lambs or sheep of God the difference is we offer spiritual sacrifices.


The words use in the Gospel of Thomas to refer to sin as the transgression of God's Law are sin, blasphemed, hate, lamb and fault/overcome

14. Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves, and if you pray, you will be condemned, and if you give to charity, you will harm your spirits. When you go into any region and walk about in the countryside, when people take you in, eat what they serve you and heal the sick among them. After all, what goes into your mouth will not defile you; rather, it's what comes out of your mouth that will defile you."

 Some ground for Thomas's notion is given in Mark 2:18-20 (Matthew 9:14-15; Luke 5:33-35), where Jesus says that the sons of the bride-chamber cannot fast while he is with them. Since Thomas regards the kingdom as present rather than future, fasting (prayer, giving to charity, and dietary laws) is pointless and, indeed, sinful."

[104]. They said [to him:] "Come, let us pray and fast today!" Jesus says: "What then is the sin that I have committed, or in what have I been at fault? But when the bridegroom comes out of the bridal chamber, then they must fast and pray!"

Notice that “they” rather than “you” is the form used here, so that Jesus is implicitly is speaking about people outside the immediate audience of the saying that is the Pharisees.  

"Jesus is asked to pray and fast (see Sayings 5 and 14). Since he has committed no sin, he refuses

Although we do not know the particulars regarding this fast, it seems from Jesus’ response, that Jesus is telling these Pharisees that he had no personal reason to fast on that day. In addition, Jesus indicates that their timing for the fast was inappropriate. But when  the bridegroom comes out of the bridal chamber at the second coming than the false believers will fast and pray"


104) They [the Pharisees] said [to Jesus], "Come, let us pray today and let us fast [thinking in their fleshly minds that these lower/outward forms of worship are beneficial]." Jesus said, "What is the sin that I have committed [that I should join with you in prayer], or wherein have I been defeated [when was I overcome by the flesh]? But when the bridegroom [the Word] leaves the bridal chamber [of your heart - as a result of turning back to the rudiments of the world], then let them [those who have fallen to the robbers losing the Keys of Knowledge] fast and pray." (Lk 5:33-39; Mt 9:14-17; etc..)

The nature of sin

Next the Gospel of Thomas use the words flesh, falsehood or death as a symbol of our sinful nature.

Saying 28 Jesus said: I stood in the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in the flesh. I found them all drunk; I found none of them thirsting, and my soul was afflicted for the sons of men; for they are blind in their heart, and they do not see that they came empty into the world, (and) empty they seek to leave the world again. But now they are drunk. When they have thrown off their wine, they will repent

The appearing in flesh does not mean that Jesus was part of the trinity or an angel in Heaven before he was born. “to appear” means to look at behold, to allow one’s self to be seen, Jesus was in the world but the world did not know him until him made his appearance on the world stage.

It was the word that became flesh when Jesus says I appeared in the flesh this is the Eternal spirit called the Logos or word, which is identical with Theos or Deity. Now, Theos was the Logos, that is Deity was the word and this word became flesh. This is Deity manifested in flesh. Jesus came from the seed of David according to the flesh that is in the sameness of sinful flesh but being the son of God his character was clean so he was without sin (that is transgression of God's law) but he had the sinful nature and this is how God condemned sin in the flesh when Jesus was made sin for us for it was in the flesh of Jesus that God condemned sin in the flesh and killed the one who has the power of death that is the devil which is our own desires and when desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death

(45) Jesus says:

(1) "Grapes are not harvested from thorns, nor are figs picked from thistles, for they do not produce fruit. (2) A good person brings forth good from his treasure. (3) A bad person brings (forth) evil from the bad treasure that is in his heart, and (in fact) he speaks evil. (4) For out of the abundance of the heart he brings forth evil."

saying 101) <Jesus said,> "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to Me. And whoever does [not] love his father and his mother as I do cannot become a [disciple] to Me. For My mother [gave me falsehood], but [My] true [Mother] gave me life."

For My birth mother [gave me death], but [My] true [Mother] gave me life."

Jesus birth mother could only give him death or falsehood which we understand to be sin in the flesh. but his true mother give him life. Sin, is an equivalent expression  for human nature.

Hence, the flesh is always regarded as unclean. It is therefore written, "How can he be clean who is born of a woman?" (Job 25:4) "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one." (Job 14:4) "What is man that he should be clean? And he which is born of a woman that he should be righteous? Behold, God putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, who drinketh iniquity like water?" (Job 15:14-16)

According to this physical law, the Seed of the woman was born into the world. The nature of Mary was as unclean as that of other women; and therefore could give birth only to "a body" like her own, though especially "prepared of God" (Heb. 10:5). Had Mary's nature been immaculate, as some claim, an immaculate body would have been born of her; which, therefore, would not have answered the purpose of God; which was to condemn sin in the flesh; a thing that could not have been accomplished, if there were no sin there.

This view of sin in the flesh is enlightening in the things concerning Jesus. The apostle says, "God made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21); and this he explains in another place by saying, that "He sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Rom. 8:3) in the offering of his body once (Heb. 10:10,12,14).

Sin could not have been condemned in the body of Jesus, if it had not existed there. His body was as unclean as the bodies of those for whom he died; for he was born of a woman, and "not one" can bring a clean body out of a defiled body; for "that", says Jesus himself, "which is born of the flesh is flesh" (John 3:6).


Speaking of the conception and preparation of the Seed, the prophet as a typical person, says, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5). This is nothing more than affirming that he was born of sinful flesh; and not of the pure and incorruptible angelic nature.

If Christ had been a son of Adam merely, he would have been a sinner, and, therefore, unfit for sacrificial purposes. On the other hand, if he had been clothed with angelic or immaculate nature, he would have been equally disqualified, inasmuch as it was necessary that the sinning nature should suffer in him. The combination of condemned human nature with personal sinlessness character was effected through divine power begetting a son from Mary's substance. A "Lamb of God," was thus produced, guileless from his paternity, and yet inheriting the human sin-nature of his mother. The Lamb being provided, the sacrifice followed. The "Messiah was cut off." "He was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: . . . Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
God dealt with him representatively. (Heb 10:4) There is a great difference between a representative and a substitute. A representative is not disconnected from those represented. On the contrary, those represented go through with him all that he goes through. But in the case of a substitute, it is otherwise. He does his part instead of those for whom he is the substitute, and these are dissociated from the transgression.

Christ suffering as the representative of his people, is one with them, and they are one with him. In what he went through they went through. Hence, Paul says believers were impaled with Christ, and baptised into his death. This death he declares to have been "the declaration of the righteousness of God," which God required as the basis of the work of reconciliation and forgiveness (Rom 3:24-26).

Sinful flesh being the hereditary nature of the Lord Jesus, he was a fit and proper sacrifice for sin; especially as he was himself "innocent of the great transgression", having been obedient in all things. Appearing in the nature of the seed of Abraham (Heb. 2:16-18), he was subject to all the emotions by which we are troubled; so that he was enabled to sympathize with our infirmities (Heb. 4:15), being "made in all things like unto his brothers." But, when he was "born of the Spirit", in the quickening of his mortal body by the spirit (Rom. 8:11), he became a spirit; for "that which is born of the spirit is spirit." Hence, he is "the Lord the Spirit", incorruptible flesh and bones.



Rom. 5:12, 17, 19: “Through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned—. . . . By the trespass of the one man death ruled as king . . . Through the disobedience of the one man many were constituted sinners.”

1 Cor. 15:22: “In Adam all are dying.”

Paul's point is that since the "fall" of Adam every single member of Adam's progeny has been born into a "constitution" of sin, even before becoming actual transgressors or sinners! This "constitution" is elsewhere termed "sinful flesh" or "sin's flesh"; that is, "flesh" under the dominion of a sinful constitution and therefore subject to death (ch. 8:3; 6:9). It is this constitution to which Paul refers when he describes Christ as having been "made sin for us" (2Cor. 5:21). Though never at any time guilty of transgression, the Lord Jesus was a direct descendant of Adam, and therefore inherited the same corruptible, death-stricken nature, as have all Adam's progeny.
Thus Paul describes a realm of sin and death, a constitution or arena of domination, in which the propensities of flesh, inflamed by Adam's transgression, must be suppressed and conquered. This teaches that death is the way to life! The only means to justification is through repression of the unlawful desires of the flesh.
Man is not personally responsible for the death-stricken state into which he is born; it is not his crime but his misfortune, a calamity that has come upon him like an
unfortunate disease. Yet, in this very situation, he is provided an opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty to God. Paul found himself in this "constitution", having "a body of sin" (Rom. 6:6), being "sold under sin" (ch. 7:14), and therefore being naturally dominated by King Sin who figuratively has purchased him, along with all others in this mortal.

"Sinners" — Man is constituted a sinner, for he exists in the domain of sin, being bound by the nature that derived from sin in the first place, and is, himself, potentially a sinner. So he dwells in an arena where sin is a constant influence. Paul uses the figure of Death as a monarch reigning over his domain of sin. All mortals are subjects of that kingdom, being born into it, even though they may not approve of the principles in which it rejoices.

Jesus had our nature in order to destroy the devil. Contrast this with Rom.8:3: "God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (that is, in our human nature) condemned sin in the flesh". This shows that the devil and the sinful tendencies that are naturally within human nature are effectively the same. It is vitally important to understand that Jesus was tempted just like us. Misunderstanding the doctrine of the devil means that we cannot correctly appreciate the nature and work of Jesus. It was only because Jesus had our human nature - the 'devil' within him - that we can have the hope of salvation (Heb.2:14-18; 4:15). By overcoming the desires of his own nature, the Biblical devil, Jesus was able to destroy the devil on the cross (Heb.2:14). If the devil is a personal being, then he should no longer exist. Heb.9:26 says that Christ was manifested "to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself". Heb.2:14 matches this with the statement that through his death Christ destroyed the devil in himself. By His death Jesus in prospect destroyed "the body of sin" (Rom.6:6), i.e. human nature, sin revealed in (the form of) our very bodies.

The Ascent of the Soul The Gospel of Mary

The Ascent of the Soul The Gospel of Mary

The Ascent of the Soul in The Gospel of Mary


"And Desire said, 'I did not see you go down, yet now I see you go up. So why do you lie since you belong to me?'
"The soul answered, 'I saw you. You did not see me nor did you know me. You took the garment (I wore) for my (true) self. And you did not recognise me.'
"After it had said these things, it left rejoicing greatly.
"Again, it came to the third Power, which is called 'Ignorance.' [It] examined the soul closely, saying, 'Where are you going? You are bound by wickedness. Indeed you are bound! Do not judge!'
"And the soul said, 'Why do you judge me, since I have not passed judgement? I have been bound, but I have not bound (anything). They did not recognise me, but I have recognised that the universe is to be dissolved, both the things of earth and those of heaven.'
"When the soul had brought the third Power to naught, it went upward and saw the fourth Power. It had seven forms. The first form is darkness; the second is desire; the third is ignorance; the fourth is zeal for death; the fifth is the realm of the flesh; the sixth is the foolish wisdom of the flesh; the seventh is the wisdom of the wrathful person. These are the seven Powers of Wrath.
"They interrogated the soul, 'Where are you coming from, human-killer, and where are you going, space-conqueror?'
"The soul replied, saying, 'What binds me has been slain, and what surrounds me has been destroyed, and my desire has been brought to an end, and ignorance has died. In a world, I was set loose from a world [an]d in a type, from a type which is above, and (from) the chain of forgetfulness which exists in time. From this hour on, for the time of the due season of the aeon, I will receive rest in silence.' "

The beginning of the vision is missing the revelation starts with the second power Desire. I would suppose that the vision is a revelation to Mary Magdalene about herself about her own enlightenment

"And Desire said, 'I did not see you go down, yet now I see you go up. So why do you lie since you belong to me?'

"The soul answered, 'I saw you. You did not see me nor did you know me. You mistook the garment (I wore) for my (true) self. And you did not recognise me.'

"After it had said these things, it left rejoicing greatly.

The Garment here is the ego or personality which the soul clothes itself with it is not the true real self which is the Christ consciousness

Again, it came to the third Power, which is called 'Ignorance.' [It] examined the soul closely, saying, 'Where are you going? You are bound by wickedness. Indeed you are bound! Do not judge!'




Ignorance judges the soul to be bound by the wickedness of the passions and lacking in discernment do not judge it commands. The soul is bound to the lower world by its physical nature which produces sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery


Mary Magdalene represents the psyche of the carnal consciousness. This psyche is demoniacal, and from it Jesus cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). It is there that the emotions have their centres of action. It is the seat of desire.

Now the female offspring of the soul are wickedness and passion, but a healthy state of the passions and virtue is male,

The feelings and affections, which are the seat of the emotions in our unenlightened heart, belong to the soul.

The soul is ascending through different levels of the carnal consciousness or the senses until it raises to the higher self the Christ consciousness which releases the soul from the emotional errors (the demons) that have their existence in the unenlightened heart and establishes peace and repose in the consciousness

The purification of the soul is a change of mind and purpose (Acts 5:31; 11:18). Belief in the gospel of the kingdom is to have this state of mind and character according to “the law of faith.” The Gospel is intended to enlighten and purify the mind while enriching the emotions, attitudes and decisions with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Gal 5:22-23) . Where the truth prevails there is 'righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit' (Romans 14:17) which will result in edification of one another (v 19).

The 7 forms of the fourth power represent the 7 demons cast out of Mary Magdalene. The powers are the Archons or the rulers of power of the senses

The 2nd Power is Desire the carnal mind craving, the 3rd Power is Ignorance it believes it has power to judge others, but the soul knows that all power belongs to God alone, the fourth Power is Wrath which has 7 forms the seven Powers of Wrath

the 7 forms of the fourth power are (spiritual) darkness, the second desire (craving), the third ignorance (of the Truth), the fourth is the zeal for death (a lack of consciousness), the fifth is the kingdom of the flesh (which enslaves the emotions), the sixth is the foolish wisdom of flesh (materialistic worship, born of the carnal mind), the seventh is the wrathful wisdom (false doctrines and theories born of the carnal mind, which is a counterfeit of true Wisdom). These are the seven powers of wrath (the limited and inferior thoughts and attitudes ).

Their collective character and name is wrath

The idea of seven steps of ascent to divinity (which correspond to the seven heavens) is widely known.

The Ascent of the Soul in The Gospel of Mary is not about the soul ascending to the literal heavens but the heavens which is a state of consciousness in harmony with the thoughts of God.

The Ascent of the Soul is to it free from the powers of human nature not matter

The 4 Powers are within ourselves

The 4 Powers are the 7 forms which are established as parts of our Being

They represent the senses

the powers are a personification of human nature or human qualities this is seen from the Testament of Reuben chapter 2 the concerning the seven spirits of error

Testament of Reuben

2:1 And now hear me, my children, what things I saw concerning the seven spirits of error, when I repented.
2:2 For seven spirits are established against man, and they are the sources of the deeds of youth.
2:3 And seven other spirits are given to man at creation, so that by them every human deed is done.
2:4 The first is the spirit of life, with which man's whole being is created. The second is the spirit of sight, with which comes desire.
2:5 The third is the spirit of hearing, with which comes instruction. The fourth is the spirit of smell, with which is given tastes for drawing air and breath.
2:6 The fifth is the spirit of speech, with which comes knowledge.
2:7 The sixth is the spirit of taste, for consuming food and drink; by it comes strength, because in food is the substance of strength.
2:8 The seventh is the spirit of procreation and intercourse, with which comes sin through fondness for pleasure.
2:9 For this reason, it is the last in order of creation, and the first in that of youth, because it is filled with ignorance, and leads the youth as a blind man into a ditch, and like an animal over a cliff.

3:1 In addition to all these there is an eighth spirit of sleep, with which is brought about the trance of nature and the image of death.
3:2 With these spirits are mingled the spirits of error.
3:3 First, the spirit of fornication resides in the nature and in the senses; the second, the spirit of insatiableness, in the stomach; the third, the spirit of fighting, in the liver and gall.
3:4 The fourth is the spirit of flattery and trickery, in order that through excessive effort one might appear to be at the height of his power.
3:5 The fifth is the spirit of pride, that one may be boastful and arrogant. The sixth is the spirit of lying, which through destructiveness and rivalry, handles his affairs smoothly and secretively even with his relatives and his household.
3:6 The seventh is the spirit of injustice, with which are thefts and acts of rapacity, that a man may fulfil the desire of his heart; for injustice works together with the other spirits by the taking of gifts.
3:7 And with all these the spirit of sleep is joined which is that of error and fantasy.
3:8 And so every young man is destroyed, darkening his mind from the truth, and not understanding the Law of God, nor obeying the admonitions of his fathers as befell me also in my youth.
3:9 And now, my children, love the truth, and it will preserve you: hear you the words of Reuben your father.

The Son of Man is within you The Gospel of Mary

The Son of Man is within you The Gospel of Mary

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.

Jesus departs saying, “the Son of Man is within you,” so do not be lead astray by false teachings. The disciples weep and are very distressed by what Jesus has said.

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.

Regarding the "Son of Man", or “Son of Adam”, “the Son of Man is within you.” another translation renders that as “the Seed of True Humanity” or child of true humanity. The Eastern term is “atman”, the true self or Spirit of Life within.

Such gendered terminology definitely requires contextualisation, however, some scholars have favoured new translations of terms that are gender neutral terms. For instance, “Son of Man” appears in earlier translations like Wilson and MacRae, yet, is abandoned by King in favour of “child of true humanity,” 43 while De Boer replaces the term with “Human Being

43 King, The Gospel of Mary of Magdala, p. 33.
44 De Boer, Mary Magdalene, pp. 81-86.

Some commentary found in a footnote of the same translation adds:

“The disciples must search within themselves, to find the Seed of True Humanity that is within each person. They must guard against those who try to lead them astray by requiring that a person conform to what is outside.” (The Complete Gospels, Robert J. Miller)

Like the Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Mary has recourse here to the Gospel of Luke 17:20-23 where Jesus warns the disciples not to let themselves be led astray by false signs the saying in Luke the kingdom of God is in your midst.” is turned into the affirmation that the the Son of Man is within you in the gospel of mary .

Luke 17 no one will say, 'Look here!' or 'There!' For you see, the kingdom of God is among you."

The Gospel of Luke declares that the Kingdom is already present. Believers do not need to wait for its coming because it is present in the mission of Jesus.

The Gospel of Thomas also teaches that the presence of the kingdom is within the believer and it also locates it outside of us as well which would be the Church

Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realise that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."

(113) His disciples said to him, "When will the kingdom come?" Jesus said, "It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or 'there it is.' Rather, the kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it."

The Kingdom is not in the sky or the sea rather God's kingdom is already present within the believer and outside as the Church God's spiritual Kingdom

82) Jesus said, "He who is near me is near the fire, and he who is far from me is far from the kingdom."

Here in Saying 82 Jesus is identified as both fire and Kingdom for the king is the kingdom therefore we should understand that since Jesus is the Kingdom and the kingdom is within you thus the son of man is within you

The Testimony of Truth
he has to come to know the Son of Man, that is, he has come to know himself. This is the perfect life, that man know himself by means of the All. (The Testimony of Truth)


the Son of Man is within you in it is there within oneself that one must seek him and it is there that one will find him only so is it possible to follow after him

The son of man is Jesus, the true self within or the Christ consciousness we must follow him or it

Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect Man, and separate as He commanded us and preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said.

this last saying is a reference to the Saviour's earlier command to find the son of man within. to find the son of man within or to put on the perfect Man means to to know the Christ consciousness one's true self whose roots are nourished by the Good We must acquire this spiritual self or spiritual image as one's truest identity

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.

Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect Man, and separate as He commanded us and preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said.

Jesus represents God's idea of man in expression (Son of man); Christ is that idea in the absolute (Son of God). The Christ is the man that God created in His image and likeness, the perfect-idea man, and is the real self of all men.

Christ is the one and only complete, ideal man in the mind of the everywhere present God; the "only begotten Son of God" and "hid with Christ in God." The "Son of man" is the thought of this spiritual man, or idea of God, and like all thoughts is subject to the limitations of its own identity. By voluntarily casting off these limitations the man identity may come into realization of its own universality as the only begotten of God. So we find Jesus referring to Himself as both the "Son of God" and the "Son of man," because He had reached a place in understanding where He realized His relation to Being. In John 7:29 Jesus explains this realization when He says, "I know him; because I am from him, and he sent me."