FIRST BAPTIST SHAMGAR

GOSPEL

Didache and Gospel of Thomas THE TEACHING OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES The Didache , or the Doctrine of the Twelve Apostles, was an early document believed to have originated in Syria. It was written between 65 and 80 CE, though it is often attributed to the second century. Although lost for many centuries, the Didache was rediscovered by Archbishop Bryennios of Nicomedia and published in 1883. Though fragmentary, the work is divisible into two distinct sections: one morally instructional, the other disciplinary. The first portion deals with the new Christian's tasks of conversion, including guidelines for ritual and prayer. Instructions for baptizing converts are also included: baptism is to occur in a lake or river if possible, but otherwise water is to be poured over the head three times. The second portion of the Didache warns against evildoers and their attempts to take advantage of the faithful. The work is perhaps the first text to append a doxology to the Lord's Prayer: "...for thine is the power and the glory unto all ages." In addition, it speaks of the heirarchy of local ministry as a two-tiered system between bishop/presbyter and deacon, thereby providing important evidence about the sturcture of the primitive Church. As we noted, in the early days of a cult or movement, a "how-to" manual would be essential. The Didache may represent one of the earliest "how-to" manuals of the earliest devotees of Jesus. CHAPTER 1 THE TWO WAYS;THE FIRST COMMANDMENT 1) There are two ways: one of Life - one of Death. There are great differences between these two ways. 2) The way of life is this: First, You must love God your maker; Second, you must love your neighbor as yourself. Anything you would not want someone to do to you, likewise do not do the same to another. 3) And these are our teachings: Bless them that curse you. Pray for your enemies. Fast for your persecuters. What great reward is yours if you only love those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But if you will love those who hate you, your enemies will vanish. These first chapters repeat familiar Deuternomical/Levitical material which confirms the close connection between the Way as first practiced and the Jewish community of the the Temple and the Synagogues. CHAPTER 5 THE WAY OF DEATH 1) The way of death is this: First of all, it is evil and cursed: full of murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, robberies, false testimonies, hypocrisy, deceit, arrogance, depravity, self-will, greed, filthy talk, jealous, over-confidence, proud, boastful; 2) Persecutors of all things good, hating truth, loving lies, not knowing the reward for righteousness, not clinging to good nor righteous judgment, being drawn to evil rather than good; from whom gentleness and endurance are distanced, loving vanities, chasing reward, having no mercy for the poor, not working for the afflicted, not knowing their Creator, murderers of children, destroyers of God's creation, turning away from the needy, oppressing the afflicted, prejudiced in favor of the rich and against the poor, utterly sinful. Children, may all of you be delivered from all these abominations. CHAPTER 6 AGAINST FALSE TEACHERS, AND FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS 3) And concerning food, eat what is right but guard that you never eat that which is sacrificed to idols, for that is recognized as worship of the dead gods. For non-Jews, Gentitles, the Way reformulated the dietary laws of Judaism simply invoking this single prohibition. Cf Acts 15: 24-29 CHAPTER 7 CONCERNING BAPTISM 1) And concerning baptism, baptize this way: After reviewing all of this teaching, baptize in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in living (running) water. 2) But if living water is not available, then baptize into other water; and cold is prefered, but if not available in warm. 3) But if neither is available, pour water three times upon the head in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 4) But before the baptism, let the administrator fast, and also the one being baptized, and all others who are able; Be sure to instruct the one being baptized to fast one or two days before. CHAPTER 8 CONCERNING FASTING AND PRAYER (THE LORD’S PRAYER) 1) Be careful not to schedule your fasts at the times when the hypocrites fast. They fast on the second (Monday) and fifth (Thursday) day of the week, therefore make your fast on the fourth (Wednesday) day and the Preparation day (Friday, the day of preparation for the Sabbath-Saturday). 2) Likewise, don't pray as the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in His Gospel in this manner: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our debt in the manner that we forgive our debtors. And do not allow us to fall to temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Yours is the power and the glory forever. Amen! 3) Pray in this manner three times per day. CHAPTER 9 THE THANKSGIVING SACRAMENT 1) Now concerning the Thanksgiving meal, give thanks in this manner. 2) First, concerning the cup: We thank You, our Father, For the Holy Vine of David Your servant, Whom You made known to us through Your Servant Jesus; May the glory be Yours forever. 3) Concerning the broken bread: We thank You, our Father, For the life and knowledge Which You made known to us through Your Servant Jesus; May the glory be Yours forever. As this broken bread was scattered over the mountains, And was gathered together to become one, So let Your Church be gathered together From the ends of the earth into Your kingdom; for the glory and power are Yours through Jesus Christ forever. 5) But let no one eat or drink of your Thanksgiving, unless they have been baptized in the Name of the Lord; for concerning this the Lord said, "Do not give what is holy to dogs." CHAPTER 10 PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION 1) After the meal, give thanks in this manner: 2) We offer thanks, Holy Father, For Your Holy Name which fills our hearts, And for the knowledge, faith and eternal life, You made known to us through Your Servant Jesus; Yours is the glory forever. 3) Almighty Master, You created all things for Your own purpose; You gave men food and drink to enjoy, That they might give You thanks; But to us You freely give spiritual food and drink, And eternal life through Your Servant. 4) Foremost, we thank You because You are mighty; Yours is the glory forever. 5) Lord, Remember Your Church, To deliver it from everything evil And perfect it according yo Your love, And gather it from the four winds, Sanctified for Your kingdom which You have prepared for it; For the power and glory are Yours forever. 6) Let Your grace come, And let this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David! May all who are holy, come; Let those who are not, repent. Maranatha. Amen. 7)But permit the prophets to make Thanksgiving as they wish. CHAPTER 11 CONCERNING TEACHERS, APOSTLES, AND PROPHETS TEACHERS: 1) Whoever comes to teach you concerning all these things we've written here, receive him. 2) But if the teacher himself goes astray, teaching another doctrine which would undermine this doctrine, do not hear him; but if his teaching provokes you to greater righteousness and increases your knowledge of the Lord, welcome him as the Lord. APOSTLES & PROPHETS 3) Concerning the apostles and prophets, Deal with them according to the decree of the Gospel. APOSTLES: 4) Let every apostle that comes to you be received as the Lord. 5) But he must not remain longer than one day, unless is is absolutely necessary, in which case he may stay another. But if he stays three days, recognize him as a false prophet. 6) When the apostle leaves, send him with only bread to sustain him to his next destination. But if he asks for money, recognize that he is a false prophet. PROPHETS: 7) Do not test or judge any prophet who speaks in the Spirit, for every other sin will be forgiven, but not this sin. 8) But be warned; not everyone who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet, but only those who walk in the ways of the Lord. Therefore, from their consistent behaviors can you discern the false prophet. 9) And every prophet who commands food to be brought to him in the Spirit will not eat from it, unless he is a false prophet; 10) Every prophet will teach the truth, but if he doesn't practice his own words, he is a false prophet. 11) And every prophet who has proven that thaey are genuine, whose illustrations occasionally appear too worldly when teaching about the Church, yet he scrupulously does not teach others to copy his illustrations, shall not be judged among you, for God will judge righteously. For his example came from the ancient prophets. 12) Whoever says in the Spirit, "Give me money," or something similar, do not listen to him. But if he solicites that you give to the needy, none should judge him. CHAPTER 12 RECEPTION OF CHRISTIANS 1) Everyone who comes in the name of the Lord should be received, and then you must examine him. Under scrutiny you will gain insight into his character. 2) If he is a traveler, help him according to your ability. But he should not be allowed to stay with you more than two or possibly three days. 3) But if he desides to stay longer, and is a craftsman, put him to work. 4) But if he is not skilled, make a careful judgment as to his living conditions as a Christian among you, making sure that he is not allowed to be idle. 5) But if he doesn't cooperate, he is a user - even trading on Christ. Beware of such as this. CHAPTER 13 SUPPORT OF PROPHETS 1) Every true prophet who settles among you is worthy of his food. 2) A true teacher is also worthy of his food. 3) For this reason, Store all the first-fruits of your wine, grain, cattle, and sheep. Give these to the prophets, for they are your high priests. 4) If a prophet does not reside among you, distribute it to the poor. 5) If you make bread, give the first-fruit according to the commandment. 6) In this manner, when you open a container of wine or oil, give the first-fruit of it to the prophets. 7) And concerning your money, clothing, and all possessions, give the appropriate first-fruit, according to godly discretion, and give according to the commandment. CHAPTER 14 THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH ASSEMBLY 1) Every Lord’s day, gather together, eat a meal, and give thanks after having first confessed your sins, that your sacrifice may be pure. 2) Do not allow anyone who has a disputation with his brother gather with you, until they are reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be defiled. 3) For this is the sacrifice that was spoken of by the Lord: "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and My Name is marvelous among the nations." CHAPTER 15 BISHOPS AND DEACONS; CHRISTIAN REPROOF 1) Therefore, appoint for yourselves, worthy bishops and deacons of the Lord. Make sure that they are men who are meek, not lovers of money, but truthful and proven. They will provide among you the services of prophets and teachers. 2) Do not despise them, rather they should be honored, together with the prophets and teachers. 3) Correct each another in peace, not in anger, as set forth in the Gospel. But if one among you wrongs another, no one should befriend the offender, nor even speak to him until he repents. 4) Concerning your prayers, giving, and works, perform them according to the Gospel of our Lord. CHAPTER 16 WATCHFULNESS; THE COMING OF THE LORD As we said, this is an early example of the Christian Apocalyptic. 1) Guard your lives. Keep your menorah's (lamps) burning, and ever perpared, for the hour of our Lord's return is not known. 2) Gather together frequently, pursuing that which will benefit your souls, otherwise the entire time of your faith will be nearly worthless if you have not persevered to the end. 3) For in the last days false prophets and corrupters will be multiplied, and the sheep will become wolves, and love will be turned into hate. 4) As lawlessness increases, they will hate and persecute and betray one another. And then the deceiver of the world will appear as Son of God, and will perform signs and wonders, and the earth will be delivered into his hands, and he will do abominable things that will surpass all evil done since the beginning. 5) Then all mankind will be tried by fire, causing many to fall away and perish. But those with enduring faith will be saved from by the One Who was cursed. 6) Then the signs of truth will appear: First, the sign of heaven opening. Then, the sign of the trumpet sounding. And third, the resurrection of the dead. 7) Yet, not of all, but as it is said: "The Lord will come, and all His saints with Him." 8) Then the world will see the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven. Gospel of Thomas Commentary The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of traditional Sayings (logoi) of Jesus. It is attributed to Didymos Judas Thomas, the "Doubting Thomas" of the canonical Gospels, and according to many early traditions, the twin brother of Jesus ("didymos" means "twin" in Greek). We have two versions of the Gospel of Thomas today. The first was discovered in the late 1800's among the Oxyrhynchus Papyri, and consists of fragments of a Greek version, which has been dated to c. 200. The second is a complete version, in Coptic, from Codex II of the Nag Hammadi finds. Thomas was probably first written in Greek (or possibly even Syriac or Aramaic) sometime between the mid 1st and 2nd centuries. There has been much speculation on the relationship of Thomas to the canonical Gospels. Many Sayings in Thomas have parallels with the New Testament Sayings, especially those found in the synoptic Gospels. This leads many to believe that Thomas was also based on the so-called "Q" Document, along with Matthew, Luke, and Mark. Indeed, some have speculated that Thomas may in fact be "Q". Unlike the synoptic Gospels, and like "Q", the Gospel of Thomas has no narrative connecting the various Sayings. In form, it is simply a list of 114 Sayings, in no particular order. Comparison with New Testament parallels show that Thomas contains either more primitive versions of the Sayings, or developments of more primitive versions. Either way, Thomas seems to preserve earlier traditions about Jesus than the New Testament. Although it is not possible to attribute the Gospel of Thomas to any particular sect, it is clearly Gnostic in nature. As the preamble indicates, these are "secret sayings", and are intended to be esoteric in nature. The Sayings are not intended to be interpreted literally, as their New Testament parallels often are, but to be interpreted symbolically, as attested by Saying #1. While a literal interpretation may make sense, only by understanding the deeper meanings of the Sayings can one truly understand them. Thus in Saying #114, it is to be understood that "male" symbolizes the pneumatic (spiritual, or Gnostic) Christians, and "female" symbolizes the psychic (unenlightened, or orthodox) Christians, rather than actually referring to males and females. Keep in mind that true understanding of this text was meant to come from PERSONAL contact with the Divine, inspiration from within. I will now present translations of both the Greek and Coptic versions of the Gospel of Thomas. Of the 114 Sayings in the complete work, and all of the fragments of the Greek text. Also, the Greek version contains one Saying not found in the Coptic version, which comes between Sayings 32 and 33 of the Coptic version. I will enter the Coptic version first, as it is more complete, followed by the Greek version. After both translations, I've provided a listing of New Testament parallels for all 114 sayings for easier comparison. Note that for the Coptic version, I use the standard NHL translation, except for saying 70, where I have substituted the translation found in Elaine Pagels' "The Gnostic Gospels", as it seems a better translation. These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down. 1) And He said, "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death." 2) Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All." 3) Jesus said, "If those who lead you say, '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 realize 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." 4) Jesus said, "The man old in days will not hesitate to ask a small child seven days old about the place of life, and he will live. For many who are first will become last, and they will become one and the same." 5) Jesus said, "Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest." 6) His disciples questioned Him and said to Him, "Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?" Jesus said, "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered." 7) Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion which becomes man when consumed by man; and cursed is the man whom the lion consumes, and the lion becomes man." 8) And He said, "The Kingdom is like a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of small fish. Among them the wise fisherman found a fine large fish. He threw all the small fish back into the sea and chose the large fish without difficulty. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear." 9) Jesus said, "Now the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds), and scattered them. Some fell on the road; the birds came and gathered them up. Others fell on the rock, did not take rood in the soil, and did not produce ears. And others fell on thorns; they choked the seed(s) and worms ate them. And others fell on the good soil and produced good fruit: it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure." 10) Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I am guarding it until it blazes." 11) Jesus said, "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away. The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. In the days when you consumed what is dead, you made it what is alive. When you come to dwell in the light, what will you do? On the day when you were one you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?" 12) The disciples said to Jesus, "We know that You will depart from us. Who is to be our leader?" Jesus said to them, "Wherever you are, you are to go to James the righteous, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being." 13) Jesus said to His disciples, "Compare me to someone and tell Me whom I am like." Simon Peter said to Him, "You are like a righteous angel." Matthew said to Him, "You are like a wise philosopher." Thomas said to Him, "Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom You are like." Jesus said, "I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated by the bubbling spring which I have measured out." And He took him and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?" Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up." 14) Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will give rise to sin for yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and walk about in the districts, if they receive you, eat what they will set before you, and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but that which issues from your mouth - it is that which will defile you." 15) Jesus said, "When you see one who was not born of woman, prostrate yourselves on your faces and worship him. That one is your Father." . . . . . . . . 65) He said, "There was a good man who owned a vineyard. He leased it to tenant farmers so that they might work it and he might collect the produce from them. He sent his servant so that the tenants might give him the produce of the vineyard. They seized his servant and beat him, all but killing him. The servant went back and told his master. The master said, 'Perhaps did not recognize .' He sent another servant. The tenants beat this one as well. Then the owner sent his son and said, 'Perhaps they will show respect to my son.' Because the tenants knew that it was he who was the heir to the vineyard, they seized him and killed him. Let him who has ears hear." 66) Jesus said, "Show me the stone which the builders have rejected. That one is the cornerstone." 67) Jesus said, "Whoever believes that the All itself is deficient is (himself) completely deficient." 68) Jesus said, "Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted. Wherever you have been persecuted they will find no Place." 69) Jesus said, "Blessed are they who have been persecuted within themselves. It is they who have truly come to know the Father. Blessed are the hungry, for the belly of him who desires will be filled." 70) Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." 71) Jesus said, "I shall destroy [this] house, and no one will be able to rebuild it." 72) [A man said] to Him, "Tell my brothers to divide my father's possessions with me." He said to him, "O man, who has made Me a divider?" He turned to His disciples and said to them, "I am not a divider, am I?" 73) Jesus said, "The harvest is great but the laborers are few. Beseech the Lord, therefore, to send out laborers to the harvest." 74) He said, "O Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the cistern." 75) Jesus said, "Many are standing at the door, but it is the solitary who will enter the bridal chamber." 76) Jesus said, "The kingdom of the Father is like a merchant who had a consignment of merchandise and who discovered a pearl. That merchant was shrewd. He sold the merchandise and bought the pearl alone for himself. You too, seek his unfailing and enduring treasure where no moth comes near to devour and no worm destroys." 77) Jesus said, "It is I who am the light which is above them all. It is I who am the All. From Me did the All come forth, and unto Me did the All extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find Me there." 78) Jesus said, "Why have you come out into the desert? To see a reed shaken by the wind? And to see a man clothed in fine garments like your kings and your great men? Upon them are the fine [garments], and they are unable to discern the truth." 79) A woman from the crowd said to Him, "Blessed are the womb which bore You and the breasts which nourished You." He said to her, "Blessed are those who have heard the word of the Father and have truly kept it. For there will be days when you will say, 'Blessed are the womb which has not conceived and the breasts which have not given milk.'" 80) Jesus said, "He who has recognized the world has found the body, but he who has found the body is superior to the world." 81) Jesus said, "Let him who has grown rich be king, and let him who possesses power renounce it." 82) Jesus said, "He who is near Me is near the fire, and he who is far from Me is far from the Kingdom." 83) Jesus said, "The images are manifest to man, but the light in them remains concealed in the image of the light of the Father. He will become manifest, but his image will remain concealed by his light." 84) Jesus said, "When you see your likeness, you rejoice. But when you see your images which came into being before you, and which neither die not become manifest, how much you will have to bear!" 85) Jesus said, "Adam came into being from a great power and a great wealth, but he did not become worthy of you. For had he been worthy, [he would] not [have experienced] death." 86) Jesus said, "[The foxes have their holes] and the birds have [their] nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head and rest." 87) Jesus said, "Wretched is the body that is dependant upon a body, and wretched is the soul that is dependent on these two." 88) Jesus said, "The angels and the prophets will come to you and give you those things you (already) have. And you too, give them those things which you have, and say to yourselves, 'When will they come and take what is theirs?'" 89) Jesus said, "Why do you wash the outside of the cup? Do you not realize that he who made he inside is the same one who made the outside?" 90) Jesus said, "Come unto me, for My yoke is easy and My lordship is mild, and you will find repose for yourselves." 91) They said to Him, "Tell us who You are so that we may believe in You." He said to them, "You read the face of the sky and of the earth, but you have not recognized the one who is before you, and you do not know how to read this moment." 92) Jesus said, "Seek and you will find. Yet, what you asked Me about in former times and which I did not tell you then, now I do desire to tell, but you do not enquire after it." 93) "Do not give what is holy to dogs, lest they throw them on the dung-heap. Do not throw the pearls to swine, lest they grind it [to bits]." 94) Jesus [said], "He who seeks will find, and [he who knocks] will be let in." 95) [Jesus said,] "If you have money, do not lend it at interest, but give [it] to one from whom you will not get it back." 96) Jesus [said], "The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain woman. She took a little leaven, [concealed] it in some dough, and made it into large loaves. Let him who has ears hear." 97) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the [Father] is like a certain woman who was carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking [on] a road, still some distance from home, the handle of the jar broke and the meal emptied out behind her on the road. She did not realize it; she had noticed no accident. When she reached her house, she set the jar down and found it empty." 98) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain man who wanted to kill a powerful man. In his own house he drew his sword and stuck it into the wall in order to find out whether his hand could carry through. Then he slew the powerful man." 99) The disciples said to Him, "Your brothers and Your mother are standing outside." He said to them, "Those here who do the will of My Father are My brothers and My mother. It is they who will enter the Kingdom of My Father." 100) They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to Him, "Caesar's men demand taxes from us." He said to them, "Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, give God what belongs to God, and give Me what is Mine." 101) "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." 102) Jesus said, "Woe to the Pharisees, for they are like a dog sleeping in the manger of oxen, for neither does he eat nor does he let the oxen eat." 103) Jesus said, "Fortunate is the man who knows where the brigands will enter, so that he may get up, muster his domain, and arm himself before they invade." 104) They said [to Jesus], "Come, let us pray today and let us fast." Jesus said, "What is the sin that I have committed, or wherein have I been defeated? But when the bridegroom leaves the bridal chamber, then let them fast and pray." 105) Jesus said, "He who knows the father and the mother will be called the son of a harlot." 106) Jesus said, "When you make the two one, you will become the sons of man, and when you say, 'Mountain, move away,' it will move away." 107) Jesus said, "The Kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine sheep and looked for that one until he found it. When he had gone to such trouble, he said to the sheep, 'I care for you more than the ninety-nine.'" 108) Jesus said, "He who will drink from my mouth will become like Me. I myself shall become he, and the things that are hidden will become revealed to him." 109) Jesus said, "The Kingdom is like a man who had a [hidden] treasure in his field without knowing it. And [after] he died, he left it to his son. The son did not know (about the treasure). He inherited the field and sold [it]. And the one who bought it went plowing and found the treasure. He began to lend money at interest to whomever he wished." 110) Jesus said, "Whoever finds the world and becomes rich, let him renounce the world." 111) Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will be rolled up in your presence. And one who lives from the Living One will not see death." Does not Jesus say, "Whoever finds himself is superior to the world?" 112) Jesus said, "Woe to the flesh that depends on the soul; woe to the soul that depends on the flesh." 113) His disciples said to Him, "When will the Kingdom come?" "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." 114) Simon Peter said to Him, "Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of Life." Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the Kingdom of Heaven." III: Fragments of Greek Gospel of Thomas Several fragments of a Greek version of Thomas were found among the Oxyrhynchys Papyri in the late 19th century. These fragments consist of the preamble, and sayings 1-6, 26-28, 30-32, 36-38, and 39, as well as a saying not found in the Coptic version, which follows 32. These fragments are found on Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1, 654, and 655. Generally, the sayings are essentially the same in both versions. However, the equivalent of saying 30 adds the end of the Coptic version's saying 77. The translation used here is a combination of thranslations by B.P. Grenfell and A.S. Hunt and Bentley Layton. P) These are the secret sayings which were spoken by Jesus the Living One, and which Judas, who is called Thomas, wrote down" 1) He said to them: "Whoever hears these words shall never taste death." 2) [Jesus said]: "Let him who seeks not cease until he finds, and when he finds he shall wonder; wondering he shall reign, and reigning shall rest." 3) Jesus said, "If those who attract you say, 'See, the Kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is under the earth,' then the fish of the sea will precede you. Rather, the Kingdom of God is inside of you, and it is outside of you. [Those who] become acquainted with [themselves] will find it; [and when you] become acquainted with yourselves, [you will understand 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." 4) Jesus said: "Let the old man who is full of days not hesitate to ask the child of seven days about the place of life; then he will live. For many that are first will be last, and last, first, and they will become a single one." 5) Jesus said: "Recognize what is before your face and that which is hidden from the you will be revealed to you. For there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest, nor buried which shall not be raised." 6) His disciples asked him and said to him, "How do you want us to fast? And how shall we pray? And how [shall we] give alms? And what kind of diet shall we follow?" Jesus said, "Do not lie, and do not do what you hate, for all things are disclosed before truth. For there is nothing hidden which shall not be shown forth." 27) Jesus said: "Unless you fast to the world, you shall in no way find the Kingdom of God; and unless you sabbatize the Sabbath, you shall not see the Father." 28) Jesus said: "I stood in the midst of the world, and in the flesh I was seen by them, and I found all drunken, and I found none among them thirsty. And my soul grieved over the souls of men, because they are blind in their heart and see not. [...] 30/77) Jesus said: "Where there are [two, they are not] without God, and when there is one alone, [I say,] I am with him. Raise the stone, and there you will find me; cleave the wood, and there I am." 31) Jesus said: "A prophet is not acceptable in his own country, neither does a physician work cures upon those that know him." 32) Jesus said: "A city built on the top of a high hill and fortified can neither fall nor be hid." --) Jesus said: "Thou hearest with one ear, [but the other thou has closed]. 36) Jesus said, "Do not worry from dawn to dusk and from dusk to dawn about [what food] you [will] eat, [or] what [clothing] you will wear. [You are much] better than the [lilies], which [neither] card nor spin. And for your part, what [will you wear] when you have no clothing? Who would add to your stature? It is he who will give you your clothing. 37) His disciples said to him, "When will you be visible to us, and when shall we behold you?" He said, "When you strip naked without being ashamed, and take your garments and put them under your feet like little children and tread upon them, then you will see the child of the Living, and you will not be afraid." IV: Canonical Comparisons of Thomas Sayings I have grouped the sayings in the Gospel of Thomas into 5 categories. Sayings that are variants of or close parallels to canonical passages (22 of these), sayings that appear more remotely parallel or similar in some way (28), sayings which contain parts parallel to several unconnected passages (13), sayings parallel to non-canonical traditions of Jesus (only 1 of these), and those with no apparent parallels (50!!). Due to space limitations, I have decided only to cite passages, and you can go through and compare them using any Bible. I haven't attempted to make any comparisons to the various Apocryphal or other Christian and Gnostic texts. A: Variants/Close Parallels --------------------------- 9: Mt13:3-8, Mk4:3-8, Lk8:5-8 10: Lk12:49 16: Mt10:34-36, Lk12:51-53 20: Mt13:31-32, Mk4:30-32, Lk13:18-19 26: Mt7:3-5, Lk6:41-42 34: Mt15:14, Lk6:39 35: Mt12:29, Mk3:27, Lk11:21-22 41: Mt25:29, Lk19:26 45: Mt7:16-20, Lk6:43-46 46: Mt11:11, Lk7:28 54: Mt5:3, Lk6:20 64: Mt22:3-9, Lk14:16-24 65: Mt21:33-39, Mk12:1-8, Lk20:9-15 66: Mt21:42, Mk12:10, Lk20:17; Psalm118:22 73: Mt9:37-38, Lk10:2 86: Mt8:20, Lk9:58 89: Lk11:39-40 93: Mt7:6 94: Mt7:7-8, Lk11:9-10 100: Mk12:13-17, Lk20:22-25 103: Mt24:43, Lk12:39 107: Mt18:12-13, Lk15:3-7 B: Remote Parallels ------------------- 1: Jn8:51 3: Lk17:21 5: Mt10:26, Lk10:2 8: Mt13:47-48 17: 1Cor2:9; Isiah64:4 30: Mt18:20 31: Mk6:4, Lk4:23-24, Jn4:44 32: Mt5:14 36: Mt6:25, Lk12:22 40: Mt15:13 44: Mt12:32, Mk3:28-29, Lk12:10 48: Mt18:19, Mk11:23-24 57: Mt13:24-30 58: Mt11:28 59: Jn7:34, Jn13:33 63: Lk12:16-21 68: Mt5:11, Lk6:22 71: Mk14:58 72: Lk12:13-15 75: Mt22:14 78: Mt11:7-9, Lk7:24-26 90: Mt11:28-30 95: Lk6:34-35, Lk14:12-14 96: Mt13:33, Lk13:20-21 99: Mt12:46-50, Mk3:31-35 101: Mt10:37, Lk14:26 109: Mt13:44 113: Lk17:20-21 C: Multiple Parallels --------------------- 14a: no parallels 14b: Lk10:8-9 14c: Mt15:11, Mk7:15 21a: no parallels 21b: Mt24:43, Lk12:39 21c: Mk4:26-29 22a: Mt18:3, Lk18:17 22b: Mt5:29-30, Mk9:43-48 24a: Jn13:36 24b: Mt6:22-23, Lk11:34-36 33a: Mt10:27 33b: Mt5:15, Mk4:21, Lk8:16, Lk11:33 39a: Lk11:52 39b: Mt10:16 43a: Jn8:25 43b: Mt7:16-20, Lk6:43-46(?) 55a: Lk14:26 55b: Mt10:37 62a: Mt13:11, Mk4:11, Lk8:10 62b: Mt6:3 69a: Mt5:8 (cf. Thomas saying 68) 69b: Mt5:6, Lk6:21 76a: Mt13:45-46 76b: Mt6:20, Lk12:33 79a: Lk11:27-28 79b: Lk23:29 91a: Jn9:36 91b: Lk12:54-56 D: Non-Canonical Parallels 42: Some stands of Islamic tradition attribute this saying to Jesus. E: No Parallels All the following sayings have no parallels in the Bible or other non-Gnostic traditions: 2 23 51 77 98 4 25 52 80 102 6 27 53 81 104 7 28 56 82 105 11 29 60 84 106 12 37 61 85 108 13 38 67 87 110 15 47 70 88 111 18 49 73 92 112 19 50 74 97 114 *PASTOR* M.J.N.SR.B.A. RETNOM/Webmaster

Links to other sites on the Web