Selections from the Gnostic Nag Hammadi Library: The Gospel of Philip, Part 2 of 2

Spiritual Growth “The world is farmed through four things. They gather into barns through water, earth, wind, and light. And in the same way, God farms through four things too: through faith, hope, love, and knowledge. Our Earth is the faith in which we’re rooted. [And] the [water] is the hope through which [we’re] nourished. The wind is the love through which we grow. And the light [is] the knowledge through which we [ripen]. […]” “Blessed is the one who hasn’t [caused grief or distress to others]. This one is Jesus Christ. He went all over the place and didn’t burden anyone.”

Uprooting Evil “It’ll be uprooted if we recognize it. But if we don’t recognize it, it takes root within us and bears its fruit in us. It masters us, and we’re forced to serve it.” “The Word says, ‘If you’ll know the truth, the truth will make you free.’ Ignorance is slavery; knowledge is freedom. If we know the truth, we’ll find the fruits of truth within us.”

“As long as it’s hidden, evil is inactive, but it hasn’t been removed from among the Holy Spirit’s seed. They’re slaves of evil. But whenever it’s revealed, then the perfect light will flow out upon everyone, and all of them who are in it will [receive the chrism]. Then the slaves will be made free and the captives will be redeemed. ‘[Every] plant [which] my Father who’s in Heaven [hasn’t] planted [will be] uprooted.’”