Gospel of Philip

 

  ANALOGUE 26 God is a dyer in the same way that colors called true or permanent are used for dying the things placed into them. This is the heart of the matter—God uses dyes that are not perishable, but are permanent—immortal colors, and plunges those immersed in it into an abundance of water. Whatever the problem is for humanity, however it has been defined, this analogue presents the antidote and cure for humankind’s loss of nobility described in the preceding analogue.  It uses the metaphor of dying a woven fabric to infuse it (perhaps the tapestry of humanity) with divine color or quality. We could imagine that in its current state the fabric of humanity is lackluster—dulled and without color.  The purpose of dying is not just to change the surface but to infuse color into the very nature of the threads themselves, leaving nothing untouched by the color or the divine beauty.  While some dyed colors are perishable and impermanent, God uses dyes that are indelible, imperishable and

ANALOGUE 25:  Original Nobility and its Tragic Loss Adam was formed in creation and then there were those begotten through him, but you cannot find nobility in his progeny. If Adam had been begotten instead of made, his seed would likewise have been noble-minded, but he was made and they were begotten, so where is the nobility? First there occurred adultery and then murder, for the Slayer was begotten in adultery, being the son of the serpent. Thus he became a murderer like his true father and killed his brother. Any partnership, therefore, between unlike beings is a form of adultery . This analogue contains a curious argument with an interesting “logic” all its own. Perhaps it is related to gardens, farming and the cultivation discussed in Analogue 24, or a remembering of the original garden experience. The memory of Adam in these analogues is a reflection on our ancient past in relationship to the human condition. Upon remembering, questions arise: Who and what were our ancient ances