Why is it called a gospel?
The title appears at the end of the surviving tractate, but the work does not resemble the narrative structure of the canonical gospels. It reads more like a sequence of theological observations and interpretations. Readers expecting a biography of Philip or a continuous story of Jesus will encounter a very different literary object.
What survives?
The work survives in Coptic as the third tractate of Nag Hammadi Codex II. The manuscript contains damage and gaps, so translations necessarily mark uncertain or missing portions. Claims about exact wording should be checked against the edition and its treatment of lacunae.
What is the bridal chamber?
The text uses bridal and union imagery alongside baptism, anointing and other ritual language. Scholars differ over how these references relate to actual practices, theological symbolism and the text’s community. A responsible edition preserves the imagery without pretending that every metaphor maps neatly onto one reconstructed ceremony.
What about Mary Magdalene?
A damaged passage refers to Mary Magdalene as a companion and describes Jesus loving her more than the disciples. The manuscript gap affects a famous verb in the following line. Modern claims about marriage or sexuality often go beyond what the damaged Coptic passage can establish.