Zinner on Thomas
Last mod: 12/3/24
I may have mentioned that somewhere/somehow I ended up subscribed to a site that sends along quasi-random articles and papers related to the Gospel of Thomas (and random articles on tectonic plates, mating habits of squirrels, and timeism, etc). This morning’s send included several excerpts from Samuel Zinner’s book titled: The Gospel of Thomas: Exploring the Semitic Alternatives. One excerpt that caught my attention was the introductory remarks on Logion (Saying) 77:
Jesus said: “I am the light above all. I am the all.
The all came forth from me, and the all extended to me.
Split the tree, I am there; lift up the stone and you will find me there
Zinner’s remarks: At first sight, the two most seemingly incongruent logia in Thomas, in view of the text’s central emphasis on the necessity of the disciple’s individual or self-knowledge, are logion 12 on James and logion 77 on Jesus. Interestingly, both sayings present the respective persons as somehow cosmic in nature. Also suggestive is that logion 11’s doublet in logion 111.1 both refer to the passing away of the cosmos, and each is followed by a saying that stresses the individual. This textual and thematic proximity suggests that part of the solution to the apparent tension is that the James of logion 12 and the Jesus of logion 77 are both masters who teach the necessity of the disciple’s individual self-enlightenment rather than concentrating on proclaiming their own exalted celestial/cosmic identities that qualify them to be teachers. In other words, they proclaim their own exalted identities only in order to give their students a hint of their own self-identities which are equal to that of their masters.
An interesting assessment (something far beyond my modest capabilities) that could have been more poignant had he also made the correlation of the last sentences with that portion of Saying 13 that says: “ Jesus said: I am not your master, . .”
_____________________________________________________
Inward It Shall be Opened
(last mod 8/21/24)
Jesus asked of Thomas: ‘Compare me to someone, who do I resemble?
Thomas replied that he was incapable of describing him.
Jesus said to Thomas: ‘I tell my mysteries to those that are worthy. Because you believe, those things that are hidden will be disclosed to you.” He took him aside and revealed what no ear has heard, what no hand has touched, and what has never occurred to the mind of man. These are secrets that Jesus revealed to Thomas and from Thomas to mankind. The light within them remains concealed in the image of the Fathers light. When you know the meaning, those things hidden will be uncovered and you will overcome death.
Know yourself and you will be known. To know yourself is to become solitary; you must make the two one; inside like the outside, above like the below, male like female. Become a passer-by and take the council of no man
Know the Kingdom within you and the Kingdom without will become manifest. Recognize what is in your sight and the hidden will be revealed. To enter the Kingdom fashion eyes in place of eyes, hands for hands, foot for foot, likeness for likeness.
The fortunate lion becomes man when consumed by man; unfortunate is the man whom the lion consumes even though the lion becomes a man. This is a great wonder: when flesh came into being because of the spirit. There is a greater wonder: a spirit that came into being because of the flesh.
You consumed what is dead and made it come to life. When you make the two one, you will become a Son of Man. Even in your poverty you make a home for this great wealth.
You exist in a time and place that is not your own. Stay vigilant and arm yourselves for the difficulty ahead. Remember that you came into being before coming into being. Remember that where the beginning is, there will the end also be. Take your place in the beginning and know the end and you will find the Kingdom. You are from it and to it you will return.
When asked where you are from, answer: ‘I am a child of the light and come from the place where the light came into being on its own accord. A place where the light established itself and became known through the image of the Father. I am the elect of the living Father.”
If asked what is the sign of the Father in you, tell them ‘It is movement and repose’. You must find that place within repose for yourself lest you become a corpse.
He who seeks shall find and to him who knocks inward it shall be opened