GOSPEL OF THOMAS

Thomas is depicted as the youngest disciple.

His doubt is well-chronicled, but his scripture is less so.

The Gospel of Thomas does not have the formal organization of the four gospels.  This lack of apparent order is often used as a complaint against this scripture.  Nor does Thomas contain a retelling of Jesus’ life or public ministry.  Some references are, at first glance, obscure.  To its credit, Thomas includes a good body of the essential teachings of Jesus, as there are many sayings and parables well lent to the other four gospels.  It does seem that Thomas has captured most of the main elements of Jesus’ teaching and thus deserves its place alongside the narrative gospels.

        In transcribing this scripture, Thomas seems to have written what Jesus said to him and the other disciples.  He does not write a manuscript concerning miracles, for instance, and there is a sound reason for this.  The miracles and life of Jesus were already known to the disciples, and there does not seem a pressing need to retell these events.  There is one area, however, where Thomas and the other disciples would have information unknown to the others—that would be to ask, what did Jesus say to you?

        The loose thread was to garner the full story of what Jesus spoke, to capture the essence of his teaching if you will.  Also, they could not have a complete compilation of Jesus’ teachings.  Jesus would take individuals aside and teach privately.  We also know that the traveling groups changed their makeup of disciples, including women, and at other times might be men only.  So the effort was to gain every word Jesus taught, thus the lack of emphasis on miracles, the exclusion of specific theologies later presented, and the retention of the purity of what Jesus spoke—such seems the Gospel of Thomas.

        We also know that men speak differently to men than women; women are likely to ask different questions than men.  Already the broadening of scripture moves beyond the four gospels to include individual teaching.  Jesus also related information to different groups, such as a group of women compared to a group of Pharisees.  To the poor, he gave hope and encouragement; to the rich, he spoke of charity and not being unrighteously tied to money.  The Gospel of Thomas is a purely cognitive work but also includes the Parable of the Sower. 

        As for Thomas himself, he seems to well comprehend Jesus’ message.  We have in saying 13, “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.”  This exchange seems quite astounding.  It would indicate Thomas was either better trusted with higher knowledge or a brother whose waters ran deeper than some of the other disciples.  As to the meaning, it is conjectural, but what Jesus told him did not sound like anything he had revealed to the others.  This disparity leads to the thought that what Jesus expressed to Thomas may be one of the many secret teachings the Essene coveted.

        As Thomas’ work progresses, the second half includes more sayings but less direct teaching.  They seem to apply to the condition of man generally or the ministry, such as in saying 73, referring to a great harvest but few workers.  Some sayings even have a parable-like quality that involves brief storytelling to make the point, as in saying 76: Jesus said, “The kingdom of the father is like a merchant who had a consignment of merchandise and discovered a pearl.  That merchant was shrewd.  He sold the merchandise and bought the pearl alone for himself.  You too, seek this unfailing and enduring treasure where no moth comes near to devour and no worm destroys.”  There are also parables that leave us with a quandary.  

        The above leads us to accept that Thomas provides a cognitive history of Jesus’ ministry rather than a literal history.  The Gospel of Thomas is also believed by some scholars to have been source material for the synoptic gospels.  Earlier copies of Thomas might not be found, but many scholars believe Thomas is the famous “Q” source manuscript.  Archeologists hope more parts of manuscripts might be found, either to corroborate or disavow this view.

        Throughout his ministry, Jesus repeated the basic tenets of the Way.  He commented on social matters and spiritual interaction (Mt. ch. 5),  such as praying for or loving your enemies rather than cursing them.  He emphasizes the condition of the heart and the heart-teaching of the Way.  He speaks to the practice of the Way in Matt. 7.7-20, to ask, seek, and knock, to choose a conservative or narrow pathway, and that you know yourself and others by the fruit they bear.  

        The early church separated tasks according to skill or ability.  In that manner, the Way could be spread more quickly.  Jesus’s outreach ministry develops, with Paul and Peter representing the most notable examples.  Although it is unclear how much direct ministry work women did, it can be assumed they worked more quietly and behind the scenes, spoke to and ministered to women, and provided core services.  Men could travel greater distances with safety and seem to have done more distant outreach.

        Although it is not specific to this text it would be a good time to mention that the early church was not socialist.  Jesus did profess a social order emphasizing charity and concern for the poor and disadvantaged, and due to Roman taxes there were many of these.  However, if you were unwilling to work you received nothing.  The co-op movement, exchanging clothes and food, etc., would probably be closer to the mark.  It is the type of help ministry many churches use today.

        Many within the early church would seek out Thomas.  Thomas would have presented cornerstone teaching and was likely involved in other works.*   Since the ministry had just begun, all those who knew Jesus would have ample opportunity to express themselves.  It is possible Thomas spoke at length concerning the scriptures we read today.   To exclude Thomas or limit the Gospel of Thomas as a secondary work would not represent what happened within the early church.

 *Later in his life, Thomas proselytized in India, where he was martyred.

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Thomas (1): And he said, “Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death.”

Greek POxy:  He said to them: “Whoever hears these words shall never taste death.”

John 8.51:  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if anyone keeps my word, he shall never see death.”

In these sayings, Jesus speaks eternal Truth, which feeds the soul and therefore offers eternal life.  Jesus speaks of ‘interpretation’, which tells us that just getting the idea of these truths will not be sufficient but that these truths must be realized (“finds the interpretation”) in each person’s life.  The ‘interpretation’ references character. Expression is not simply mental understanding but refers to renewing the mind (“keeps my word”).   Naturally, this effort requires a pathway, which the sowing of good spiritual seed into good soil is designed to create. The interpretation of these truths into daily life is the ultimate goal.

Oxyrhynchus is the location of discovered ancient manuscripts, parts of the Gospel of Thomas, Mary Magdalene, and others.*

*See earlychristianwritings.com for many other commentaries.

(Th. 2)  Jesus said, “Let him who seeks to 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.”

The truths or revelations a person finds concerning themselves can be troubling.  We might discover a soul nature we previously had not considered ourselves to be.  We might be more negative than we thought, or we ascend into our intellect to meet our justifications for poor behavior.  The Adam and Eve story denotes this poor behavior, common to all men and women, and all of this can be perplexing.  The spirit reveals hidden knowledge concerning the individual’s earthly nature and understanding.

Within this process of revealment, or revelation, blessings may also be abundant, and one should not forget the harvest (“and he will rule over All”).  Yet, once the perplexity is resolved or better understood, a person becomes astonished at the nature of what he has seen.  This confrontation extends each of us into knowledge about life, ourselves, our pathway, and God’s character and requirements—the path of daily enlightenment is revealed.  The reference to ruling over the All, as in, “I am not alone, for the Father is with me,” and “I have overcome the world (Jn. 16.32-33),” alludes to command over the soul by the Father who is with(in) me (or His spirit).  Tribulation is in the world, Jesus tells the disciples, but in me who has overcome worldly tribulation there lies peace.

(Th. 3) Jesus said, “If those who lead you say to you, ‘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 [self-evident], 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.”

Luke 17:21 “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Lo, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Both scriptures reference the kingdom of God being within.  Both sayings also point to soul-identity, who you are, when Jesus says, “then you will become known…as sons of the living father” (Th. 3).  The focus is on realizing your sonship. This saying points in a clear direction with a known result.

In Luke, “not coming with signs to be observed…God is in the midst of you” (Lk. 17.21), Jesus explains that we view the world from within outwardly, seeing or not seeing as each person might.  Referring to “…God in the midst of you,” by nature, we identify with what we see and participate in; few recognize God in the midst of us.

When a person recognizes his sonship, soul identity becomes revealed, as in, “When you come to know yourselves.”  That revelation refers to the Child of God, and since he seems to be talking to men, “the sons of the living father.”  This statement directs us to self-knowing or revelation of true identity.  Not coming to grips, a person becomes impoverished in their soul, or one might say that they have no realized soul identity and thus become poverty itself.  Also, both scriptures reference oneness, and infer completeness or wholeness, concerning “the kingdom is inside of you and it is outside of you”; “the kingdom…in the midst of you.”

The first three sentences referring to birds, fish, and then the kingdom within may be pointing out that one should not be distracted and quit looking here and there for God and his kingdom, for He (His spirit) is within you just as His kingdom is within you.  A kingdom without a king is an empty structure and of no account.  In light of this, Jesus then says, [But], “when you come to know yourselves, then you become known” [revealed to yourself and God], and from this revelation, you come into an identity as a Child of God.  So, Jesus seeks to establish identity through revelation, knowing, or realization, not just belief or emotional conviction.  As revealed in Thomas 9, sowing good seeds may accomplish this task.  

These first three scriptures give us a powerful insight into the direction Jesus taught, much more oriented to the person’s godly relationship and to soul awakening to the spirit of God, moving from stagnating faith into a faith that prospers renewal.

(Th. 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.”

This saying has a more mystical bent than many others.  The child who is seven days old is one day before circumcision, which for Jewish males occurs on the eighth day after birth.  This means that the awakening cannot come by way of the old Jewish teachings, for the child is not yet officially initiated through circumcism, that is, the current legalism found in Jesus’ day within Judaism, but must come from someone who knows himself as a child of God, and thus not tainted.  This new understanding provides spiritual life, “…and he will live.”

The first part gives a reference to a child.  The child represents purity and innocence (but not naivety).  “The old man in days” would refer to us, tainted and battered by the world as an older person would be.  The old man would have had plenty of time to commit many sins.

The child of seven days is sinless, pure, and particularly not tainted by the restraints of legalism.     

The second part is difficult and does leave room for many varied cognitions.  It may be that the first in understanding (the old man) will have to humble himself (intellect & attachment to worldly ways) and place himself in contrast to the sinless (the child, spirit), thus he awakens so that the pure spirit-nature (child) may become one within him or “one and the same,” thus making first and last come together as one.  The child of seven days is perfect, reflecting the number seven.  The child seems to represent the spirit of God within.

With understanding or revelation knowledge (Essenes, prophetical), sometimes referred to as enlightenment, as opposed to doctrinal knowledge (Pharisees), the old man and child live in the spirit-knowing or revelation, “place of life”.  This is not the only scripture where Jesus refers to the first becoming last and last first.*

*See Mt. 20: 1-16; see Mk. 10: 42-45.

(Th. 5)  Jesus said, “Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden to you will become plain to you.  For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest.”

Matthew 10:26    “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”

Mark 4:22  “For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light.

Luke 12:3   “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”

In Matthew, Jesus seems to be speaking about others, or the world, and not to fear the world, for they of the world will be revealed or exposed.  However, the theme seems to convey that you cannot hide, that all will be eventually revealed within you and about you, “except to come to light,” referenced in the Mark scripture.  There is the implication of transparency, with nothing to hide, nothing to conceal, nothing to lie about or deceive.  Walking in the Way is illustrated as a revealing walk, “that which is hidden to you will become plain to you.”  The walk is in context within the world but remains the province of God.  

Jesus tells us that if you can see the pathway then what must follow is the walk, else nothing further can be seen or revealed.  Jesus tells us the soul will be made manifest in any case and that if you look, the hidden becomes revealed.  Sometimes this will be spiritual knowledge and sometimes it will be knowledge about yourself or the world, even about the nature of God.

Within these first five scriptures, there seems to be a good deal of emphasis by Thomas in discussing the revelation of hidden knowledge, whether of the soul or about the world.  Saying six seems to have a similar bent.

(Th. 6)  His disciples questioned him and spoke, “Do you want us to fast?  How shall we pray?  Shall we give alms?  What diet do 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.”

We have in this scripture a questioning of what is proper, but Jesus does not answer specifically.  He does not tell them how to adhere to proper behavior, whatever that may be, within fasting, praying, giving, and eating.  He speaks about attitude and not so much concerning formalities—if the spirit reveals then be willing to change.  If you can’t change, sow seed for change.

Jesus reminds us it is better to reveal what is hidden and not be defensive or suppressive.  Hiding puts pressure on any person.  Hiding from your arrogance, stubbornness, and willfulness can create a pressure cooker within the soul.  The Wayfarer should take note of this, for it is best to admit who you are before God.  Be who you are!  This will push the door open a crack and allow the spirit of God to enter and enhance.  You do not have to tell anyone else but be honest before God.  “All things are plain in the sight of heaven.”

(Th. 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.”

                                                                                                                   The ‘lion’ denotes mortal consciousness and the earthly mind’s ravenous nature.
  

The man can be thought of as the forgiven man, the spiritual man, one who is awake, one who has not fallen into the sleep of the flesh and forgotten his divinity.  He knows the lion for what it is, the lion of his earthly nature.  It must be consumed.  

The lion represents the mortal man who careens through the earth and has succumbed to beastly nature.  He is an unenlightened man, a man or woman who has little or no vision for the spirit of God.  Drenched in earthly nature and with only the animal mind to guide him, the territorial beast consumes the divine soul mind, leaving him unenlightened, dulled, and unaware that the spirit of God is alive in him.

With that lack of awareness, the loss of many rights ensues.  These would include an individual’s right to pursue a spirit-created mind, as opposed to the psychological-created mind; civil and human rights given from God’s view, as opposed to an earth version of what someone thinks is fair and equal; the development of sharper awareness of obligations, as well as considerations that entail others.  This kind of loss breaks down the whole of society.  

Jesus provides the pathway for the re-emergence of the spiritual man.  This re-emergence becomes the daily walk, sowing good seeds, good deeds, and speaking and moving in the spirit.  Jesus points to the pathway of what you will be.  Thus, Jesus knew the implications should this awakening dawn upon the individual.  He points to the Way, the future of your soul if you will, as each begins to walk with Him in this journey.  When the lion is a scourge, a killer, and a consumer of souls, and if we observe man as spirit-man consuming this scourge of character (the lion, the beast), we see the direction Jesus indicates.

        [As an aside, resting in the spirit allows for balance, so one should not take the above as a description of constant engagement with man’s mortal nature.  That would be exhausting and would depress the soul besides.  It is not you who does the work, it is the spirit.  The vision for this pathway should provide time for insight, rest, restoration, and rejuvenation.  Let the spirit lead the way.]

(Th. 8) And he said, “The man 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.”

Matthew 13:47  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind:  (48) when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad.” 

In Thomas, the phrase “full of small fish” would indicate a lesser understanding or understanding of no real value.  The kingdom of heaven referred to is within, and each should sort the good, but throw the bad away.  In this case, it would not be hard for anyone to choose the larger fish, assuming the person had any sense, for that is the fish with value.  Jesus also emphasizes making sound spiritual decisions and choices when he says, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”  This is another way of saying that the wise choice should be obvious.

In Matthew, the scripture we see is a slightly different kind of sorting: there is more than one good fish, but the rest are deemed too small, so they are thrown back.  This could relate to many good understandings gathered for the soul, but just like the fisherman, a person has to develop wisdom in which fish to throw out and which to keep.  It lends itself to order and wisdom or order of importance.  Within greater revelation, there are usually many detailed understandings revealed.  Jesus points to the greater revelation.

(Th. 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 root in the soil, and did not produce ears.  And others fell on thorns; they choked the seeds and worms ate them.  And others fell on the good soil and it produced good fruit:  it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure.”*

*Matthew 13.3-9; Mark 4.9; Luke 8.8; Law of Unconscious Growth

This saying deals with where you are planting your spiritual seed.  Will it grow a good crop, and when harvested provide bounty?  It also deals with preparation, where you stand on your pathway, and with attitudes within the soul nature (“choked…worms”).  Contrarily, are you generally loving-forgiving toward your fellow man, sincere of spiritual application, and other similar attributes—where the seed of spirit can take root and grow?  Otherwise, the soul nature will not produce fruit, or the crop will be stunted.

Birds usually carry a negative connotation.  No one casts seed on a roadway.  Only refuse will be thrown upon the road, for seed cannot grow there.  This brief passage indicates a person who sees no worth in spiritual acumen or performance, hence he deems these seeds as worthless, and he is uncaring.  Birds can easily see such seeds and will land to pluck them up.  Ravens, for instance, are birds who will take all that is cast aside.

(10)  Jesus said, “I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I am guarding it until it blazes.”

Luke 12:49  “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!”

This scripture provides insight into the revolutionary consciousness Jesus presents.  This scripture does not mince words.  Jesus knows full well that what he brings at the behest of the Father will inflame the soul and bring the soul to the needed confrontation with the spirit.  This fire rages for what the spirit craves for the soul, freedom.  Jesus’ work would strike at the very heart of man in mind, will, and emotions.  

This fire cannot be of value unless it is kindled in the soul.  Not kindled, it would become degraded into an earthly message instead of a celestial one.  Further, we can glimpse within the work of Jesus, miracles for one, and observe the contentiousness Jesus knew he would create.  Each soul will have to come to the measure of the fire kindled in his or her soul.  It may seem daunting as a whole but a pathway is provided.  This confrontation is unavoidable and will force a choice—an acceptance or a denial.  The reader might wish to take a few moments and look with diligence at what fires burn in his soul: some fires consume like the lion, mortal, lusting, and violent, whereas the cleansing fire provides peace and deliverance.  

We cannot be sure that Jesus immediately knew this fire would spread into the world.  Later we see that he did understand that it would, for he tells the disciples to take this message of change (repentance) unto all the world and to do so in his name.

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        This concludes Part One in the discussion of the Gospel of Thomas.  It is hoped that these scriptures will be prayed upon so the spirit may provide personal revelation for you.  This work is not intended to be an intellectual exercise.  Like other articles, it is to be studied with the individual spirit engaged and has been written to spur direct knowing in the spirit.  Revelation knowledge becomes critical at some point in everyone’s soul development, an understanding more as a living reality rather than intellectuality.  This work, it is hoped, will open many doors for those who Walk in The Way.

        When comparing scripture, we sometimes view a more extrapolated theology than in Thomas.   It would seem that Thomas would have less enthusiasm toward the fundamentalist message, particularly Jn. 3: 15-17, which gives us the scripture (15) “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; (16) that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son; and (17) that the world through him might be saved.”  In context, the first part is usually interpreted as a belief teaching, solely; its second emphasis denotes personal attribution, and there Thomas would be more satisfied.  Belief has its value on the pathway and shares an important place with faith.  Both belief and faith are foundational and basically initiate all people’s pathway.

        Thomas might view the scripture “through him might be saved” as an understanding that through Jesus’ ways or teachings, the world might be saved.  This message mainly dealt with repentance, or the return to godly character.  It also submits attribution to his person, meaning Jesus.  This personnel attribution becomes the linchpin of later Christian conversion.  In either case, the John scripture seems to exist within isolation, as there is not a similar statement so succinctly put, and it does seem to have a strong Pauline flavor.  Because it was written later (c. A.D 90), some scholars feel that Pauline adherents had redacted John.  Pauline converts had two generations of influence before the John manuscript came to light.  Even so, the early church was Essene-oriented and dealt with the standards of godly character and the overall Good News that does not impugn sin against you.

        [Another personal note, I do not disdain Orthodoxy; belief and faith can move mountains, and love-forgiveness remain mainstays of the Orthodox Pauline message.  Paul also discusses identity and the transference into the new man Jesus describes (Romans).  That’s some heavy lifting, for the people knew very little.  Some accuse Paul of being a Pharisee in sheep’s clothing. However, Paul left Damascus and went to Arabia, the town of Nazara most likely, and received the same basic priestly training all Essene priests undergo (7 years), including Jesus.  Paul moved the Jewish Messiah rooted in the Torah to a universal Messiah (Christ), of which the Jewish signature must now fall away.  The lament of Paul that he can only give them milk instead of meat indicates more could have been given, but we shall never know what he wanted to tell them.  Paul is also accredited with many healings.]   

Even so, Thomas does not mention the belief-sacrifice-salvation message.  Thomas’ work seems to move toward Jesus’ direct speaking, cognitive not of the intellect (understood) but of the spirit (realized).

         We do see in Thomas a general theme of internal agreement, and perhaps he does the best job of tying other gospels to the three synoptic gospels.  Many scholars believe Thomas is the seminal gospel for Mark, Matthew, and Luke.  We also know that Thomas, Matthew, and Philip were given responsibility for organizing the written work or putting down in writing the teachings of Jesus.  With this effort comes the narrative gospel but also the cognitive gospel.  We see belief emphasized within the narrative gospels more so.  Realization is more emphasized in Thomas.

        We begin to see various mysteries revealed—the parable of the sower, the wise fisherman, the pearl of great value, and that he who thinks they are wise may need to begin again (old man and the child, first and last).  That is one reason Thomas is given a special place in this work.  It goes to the heart of Jesus’ teaching, which is seen as knowledge and performance, wise choosing, and other similar attributes.  In essence, he gives us some of the teaching not given to the public; his work resides with those more interested in the deeper study.  He writes specifically what Jesus said, providing new understanding while also providing sources for other gospel statements. 

For the rabbit and the lion in each of us, press on.

God Bless!