The Nag Hammadi (Coptic) version of the The Third Saying in the Gospel of Thomas bears a striking difference with that found in the Oxyrhynchus (Greek) Fragment. Both are a thought provoking and complex series of phrases, however, the Coptic version begins with what could be an admonishment to misguided teachers or a guide to us on how to evaluate the worthiness of a teacher. The beginning of both are below:
Coptic: (3) Jesus said: If those who lead you say to you: See, the kingdom is in heaven, then the birds of the heaven will go before you; if they say to you: It is in the sea, then the fish will go before you. But the kingdom…
Greek: (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 that] it is under the earth, then the fish of the sea [will enter it, preceding] you. And, the [kingdom…
While I believe the ‘but’ and the ‘and’ are important distinctions, what is most intriguing (and appearing in both) is the concept of ‘precedence’. I do suppose there is great significance to this.