Gnostic Condemnation of the Body and Material Life

Gnostic Condemnation of the Body and Material Life

The text asserts a radical dualism, viewing the physical world and the body as inherently evil, irrational, and beast-like:

Bestial Nature: The human body is compared directly to beasts because it is conceived through intercourse and survives by consuming other creatures, leading only to decay and perishing.

Fire of Lust: Physical passions, particularly lust, are depicted as an internal "fire" that makes the mind "drunk" and the soul "deranged," trapping individuals in a "dark sweetness."

The Necessity of Flight: To escape this trap, the wise person must "make himself wings so as to fly," abandoning the visible world and the physical senses.