The Fifth Gospel


“That afterlife you await has already come.”
“That afterlife you await has already come.”
“That afterlife you await has already come.”
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Doubting Thomas: A Historical Imagination
The Gospel of St. Thomas
(Click the images for a lightbox slideshow)

{Continued from a historical imagination of the crucifixion, and the conclusion of my series on a rational account for the supernatural events described in the New Testament without contravening the laws of physics and biology.)
Above quote from the Gospel of St. Thomas, 51:2 (see translation, below).

Doubting Thomas: A Historical Imagination

Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
~ John 20:27~29

Later, when they were alone, St. Thomas said, "Jesus, you said I am not blessed, because I need evidence to justify a beleif. But I told you I now believe. Why am I not blessed?"

Jesus smiled. "Aww, dear Thomas, You have other blessings! You earnestly seek the truth and cast aside the unprovable. You will understand more of the creation's natural laws than others ever will. You are truly a philosopher. But as Socrates said, the path of the philosopher is a lonely one. Many will curse your skepticism. In the end though, you will be greater even than Peter or John. Your future followers are the ones who will discover how to change the world for the better. They will become experts in the laws of nature. Your voice is for them. That is your legacy."

"Ah," said Thomas. "That is quite a responsibility. Hm. Well, I did writing some of your teachings down. Would you like to read it?"

"Hahaha! The others showed me without telling you!" Jesus laughed. "I already read it."

"What do you think? Did I get anything wrong?"

Jesus paused for a moment. "That's the right question, Thomas, and there are some small things I'm unsure about. For example, when you said eating the flesh of the lion makes the lion our own flesh. Well, that's kind of what I meant to an extent. You know that warm feeling and new strength you get after eating some good meat?" Thomas nodded. "Well that's the spirit of the lion working in you, when you have digested the flesh. That's more what I meant. But don't change it."

"Why not?" Thomas asked. "I want my description of your words to be as accurate as possible."

Jesus looked up at the sky, towards where the other disciples were. "They will all say their words are the most accurate, because everyone thinks they know better than anyone else. For years I criticized the know-it-alls, the scribes and pharisees, and others will write that all down. Then yet more scribes and pharisees will take over, and control the words people receive."

Jesus looked back at Thomas. "I'm not sure the world will be ready for your wisdom, Thomas. There's many things I cannot know. We are granted free will, so many events in the future are unpredictable." Thomas looked a little frightened. "Of course we can know some things about the future," Jesus said reassuringly. "The scribes and pharisees will say their accounts of my life are the Word of God. It's inevitable!"

Now Thomas was really listening. "But don't criticize that, Thomas. That's how the good news I share of a good afterlife, rather than bad, will inspire many to be better people."

"Do I need to believe in an afterlife? I am no God. How can I be sure I will have life after death too?" Thomas asked.

"You can't" Jesis grinned. "You need evidence first!"

They both laughed.

"But seriously," Thomas insisted, "maybe I need to believe I will have life after death because you came back from the tomb."

Jesus looked at the ground, solemnly. "That is a serious problem," Jesus admitted, "but only if you need to make it a problem. You can't have direct evidence for yourself until you die, so you don't need to think about it. Then we can have a laught about it together in heaven, because I know you want to be good."

Thomas smiled. "And that's what matters now. The kingdom of heaven is here, but they need to think of it as some future promise as motivation. With all the ignorance around us, they need to argue about it, but it doesn't actually matter. One day, Thomas, people won't even need to think a reward in afterlife is even important, and will just want to be good. They will be the most blessed of all my lovers. What you are writing is for them, Thomas."

"When will I find them?" Thomas asked.

"Remember I said to you, you are on a lonely path? As my church grows, Thomas, it will change to meet the changing needs of the people. When the Romans fall, it will change, and the era of the Father will begin. The church authorities will take on all the power they can to end persecution by empires and kings. In the era of the Father, many will still not be able to read, let alone have their own copies of the texts the church will make."

"Then one day, the era of the Son will start. Due to the church's efforts to end persecution, everyone will be able to have their own copy of the church texts. Then the scribes and pharisees will tell the people how they must act to reach heaven, and they will argue amongst themselves, and all will say that only they are right on the meaning of my words."

"Then finally, Thomas, the era of the Holy Spirit will start. Ib the last days before the end of the world, There will be seekers of truth, like you, who know the laws of nature far better than anyone alive now, and in the end, knowledge will ascend over superstition and bickering.

But Thomas was still thinking about Jesus' earlier words. So Jesus nudged him, concluding, "In the Era of the Spirit, they will understand what you wrote, Thomas. So write some more! It doesn't need to be everything you remember. Try to choose the bits you think could matter to them most. But whatever you do with your words, stay away from the scribes and pharisees, Thomas. They are not ready to understand you, and they will not be ready, for a very long time."

"Yes, sir I will do that," Thomas said obediently. "Thank you for your instruction."

"Oh, thank you too, Thomas, thank you too! You distracted me from my pain. These wounds really hurt. And I will not be able to keep going much longer. Soon I will have to join my ancestors on Sinai. Tell the others to find that donkey again, Thomas, I don't thnk I will even be able to walk with canes again, with these holes in my feet. But what a delight, Thomas, to speak with you again! What a total delight! Thank you again!"

And Jesus lay back on his blanket, and after glancijng briefly at the stars and moon above him, closed his eyes to sleep until the donkey arrived.

The Gospel of St. Thomas

Adapted from the Nag Hammaid Library, There's a few understandable confusions from the time it was written that I suggested appropriate fixes, in italics. Also, I removed technical notes on the translation to make it more readable. Otherwise, it's directly from the most literal translation, by James Robinson.

There is no history in the text. No miraculous conception. No miracles. No resurrection. Just memories of Jesus' words. Given the account of Thomas in the gospels, I have to deduce Thomas knew Jesus induced a coma on the cross by eating the soldiers' shit sponge soaked in vinegar, and the soldiers couldn't be bothered to wait anymore after he vomited it up and passed out. That also fits with the general observation that people took three days or more to die after being crucified. Then with everything else happening, Thomas wisely kept silent, writing in Coptic so his text wouldn't get handed out to the naive.

These are the hidden words that the living Jesus spoke. And Didymos Judas Thomas wrote them down.

(1) And he said: “Whoever finds the meaning of these words will know the kingdom of heaven.”

(2) Jesus says:

(1) “The one who seeks should not cease seeking until he finds.
(2) And when he finds, he will be dismayed.
(3) And when he is dismayed, he will be astonished.
(4) And he will be king over the All.”

(3) Jesus says:

(1) “If those who lead you say to you: ‘Look, the kingdom is in the sky!’ then the birds of the sky will precede you.
(2) If they say to you: ‘It is in the sea,’ then the fishes will precede you.
(3) Rather, the kingdom is inside of you and outside of you.”
(4) “When you come to know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will realize that you are the children of the living Father.
(5) But if you do not come to know yourselves, then you exist in poverty, and you are poverty.”

(4) Jesus says:

(1) “The person old in his days will not hesitate to ask a child seven days old about the place of life, and he will live.
(2) For many who are first will become last,
(3) and they will become a single one.”

(5) Jesus says:

(1) “Come to know what is in front of you, and that which is hidden from you will become clear to you.
(2) For there is nothing hidden that will not become manifest.”

(6)

(1) His disciples questioned him, and they said to him: “Do you want us to fast? And how should we pray and give alms? And what diet should we observe?”
(2) Jesus says: “Do not lie.
(3) And do not do what you hate.
(4) For everything is disclosed in view of the truth.
(5) For there is nothing hidden that will not become revealed.
(6) And there is nothing covered that will remain undisclosed.”

(7) Jesus says:

(1) “Blessed is the lion that a person will eat and the lion will become human.
(2) And anathema is the person whom a lion will eat and the lion will become human.”

(8)

(1) And he says: “The human being is like a sensible fisherman who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from the sea filled with little fish.
(2) Among them the sensible fisherman found a large, fine fish.
(3) He threw all the little fish back into the sea, and he chose the large fish effortlessly.
(4) Whoever has ears to hear should hear.”

(9) Jesus says:

(1) “Look, a sower went out. He filled his hands (with seeds), and he scattered (them).
(2) Some fell on the path, and the birds came and pecked them up.
(3) Others fell on the rock, and did not take root in the soil, and they did not put forth ears.
(4) And others fell among the thorns, they choked the seeds, and worms ate them.
(5) And others fell on good soil, and it produced good fruit. It yielded sixty per measure and one hundred twenty per measure.”

(10) Jesus says:

“I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I am guarding it until it blazes.”

(11) Jesus says:

(1) “This heaven will pass away, and the (heaven) above it will pass away.
(2) And the dead are not alive, and the living will not die.
(3) In the days when you consumed what was dead, you made it alive. When you are in the light, what will you do?
(4) On the day when you were one, you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?”

(12)

(1) The disciples said to Jesus: “We know that you will depart from us. Who (then) will rule over us?”
(2) Jesus said to them: “No matter where you came from, you should go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.”

(13)

(1) Jesus said to his disciples: “Compare me, and tell me whom I am like.”
(2) Simon Peter said to him: “You are like a just messenger.”
(3) Matthew said to him: “You are like an (especially) wise philosopher.”
(4) Thomas said to him: “Teacher, my mouth cannot bear at all to say whom you are like.”
(5) Jesus said: “I am not your teacher. For you have drunk, you have become intoxicated at the bubbling spring that I have measured out.”
(6) And he took him, and withdrew, and he said three words to him.
(7) But when Thomas came back to his companions, they asked him: “What did Jesus say to you?”
(8) Thomas said to them: “If I tell you one of the words he said to me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me, and fire will come out of the stones and burn you up.”

(14) Jesus said to them:

(1)”If you fast, you will bring forth sin for yourselves.
(2) And if you pray, you will be condemned.
(3) And if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits.
(4) And if you go into any land and wander from place to place, and if they take you in,
(then) eat what they will set before you. Heal the sick among them!
(5) For what goes into your mouth will not defile you. Rather, what comes out of your mouth will defile you.”

(15) Jesus says:

“When you see one who was not born of woman, fall on your face and worship him. That one is your Father.”

(16) Jesus says:

(1) “Perhaps people think that I have come to cast peace upon the earth.
(2) But they do not know that I have come to cast dissension upon the earth: fire, sword, war.
(3) For there will be five in one house: there will be three against two and two against three, father against son and son against father.
(4) And they will stand as solitary ones.”

(17) Jesus says:

“I will give you what no eye has seen, and what no ear has heard, and what no hand has touched, and what has not occurred to the human mind.”

(18)

(1) The disciples said to Jesus: “Tell us how our end will be.”
(2) Jesus said: “Have you already discovered the beginning that you are now asking about the end? For where the beginning is, there the end will be too.
(3) Blessed is he who will stand at the beginning. And he will know the end, and he will not taste death.”

(19) Jesus says:

(1)“Blessed is he who was, before he came into being.
(2) If you become disciples of mine and listen to my words, these stones will serve you.
(3) For you have five trees in Paradise that do not change during summer and winter, and their leaves do not fall.
(4) Whoever comes to know them will not taste death.”

(20)

(1) The disciples said to Jesus: “Tell us whom the kingdom of heaven is like!”
(2) He said to them: “It is like a mustard seed.
(3) The smallest of all seeds.
(4) But when it falls on cultivated soil, it produces a large branch and becomes shelter for the birds of the sky.”

(21)

(1) Mary said to Jesus: “Whom are your disciples like?”
(2) He said: “They are like servants who are entrusted with a field that is not theirs.
(3) When the owners of the field arrive, they will say: ‘Let us have our field.’
(4) But they are naked in their presence so as to let them have it, and thus to give them their field.”
(5) “That is why I say: When the master of the house learns that the thief is about to come, he will be on guard before he comes and will not let him break into his house, his domain, to carry away his possessions.
(6) But you, be on guard against the world!
(7) Gird your loins with great strength, so that the robbers will not find a way to get to you.”
(8) “For the necessities for which you wait will be found.
(9) There ought to be a wise person among you!
(10) When the fruit was ripe, he came quickly with his sickle in his hand, and he harvested it.
(11) Whoever has ears to hear should hear.”

(22)

(1) Jesus saw infants being suckled.
(2) He said to his disciples: “These little ones being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom.”
(3) They said to him: “Then will we enter the kingdom as little ones?”
(4) Jesus said to them: “When you make the two into one, and when you make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside and the above like the below —
(5) that is, to make the male and the female into a single one, so that the male will not be male and the female will not be female —
(6) and when you make eyes instead of an eye and a hand instead of a hand and a foot instead of a foot, an image instead of an image,
(7) then you will enter the kingdom.”

(23) Jesus says:

(1) “I will choose you, one from a thousand and two from ten thousand.
(2) And they will stand as a single one.”

(24)

(1) His disciples said: “Show us the place where you are, because it is necessary for us to seek it.
(2) He said to them: “Whoever has ears should hear!
(3) Light exists inside a person of light, and he shines on the whole world. If he does not shine, there is darkness.”

(25) Jesus says:

(1) “Love your brother like your life!
(2) Protect him like the apple of your eye!”

(26) Jesus says:

(1) “You see the splinter that is in your brother’s eye, but you do not see the beam that is in your own eye.
(2) When you remove the beam from your own eye, then you will see clearly enough to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

(27)

(1) “If you do not abstain from the world, you will not find the kingdom.
(2) If you do not make the Sabbath into a Sabbath, you will not see the Father.”

(28) Jesus says:

(1) “I stood in the middle of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them.
(2) I found all of them drunk. None of them did I find thirsty.
(3) And my soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their heart, and they cannot see; for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world empty.
(4) But now they are drunk. But when they shake off their wine, then they will change their mind.”

(29) Jesus says:

(1) “If the flesh came into being because of the spirit, it is a wonder.
(2) But if the spirit (came into being) because of the body, it is a wonder of wonders.
(3) Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has taken up residence in this poverty.”

(30) Jesus says:

(1) “Where there are three gods, they are gods.
(2) Where there are two or one, I am with him.”

(31) Jesus says:

(1) “No prophet is accepted in his own village.
(2) A physician does not heal those who know him.”

(32) Jesus says:

“A city built upon a high mountain and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden.”

(33) Jesus says:

(1) “What you will hear with your ear {with the other ear} proclaim from your rooftops.
(2) For no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, nor does he put it in a hidden place.
(3) Rather, he puts it on a lampstand, so that everyone who comes in and goes out will see its light.”

(34) Jesus says:

“If a blind (person) leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit.”

(35) Jesus says:

(1) “It is not possible for someone to enter the house of a strong person and take it by force unless he binds his hands.
(2) Then he will loot his house.”

(36) Jesus says:

“Do not worry from morning to evening and from evening to morning about what you will wear.”

(37)

(1) His disciples said: “When will you appear to us, and when will we see you?”
(2) Jesus said: “When you undress without being ashamed and take your clothes and put them under your feet like little children and trample on them,
(3) then [you] will see the son of the Living One, and you will not be afraid.”

(38) Jesus says:

(1) “Many times have you desired to hear these words, these that I am speaking to you, and you have no one else from whom to hear them.
(2) There will be days when you will seek me and you will not find me.”

(39) Jesus says:

(1) “The Pharisees and the scribes have received the keys of knowledge, but they have hidden them.
(2) Neither have they entered, nor have they allowed to enter those who wish to.
(3) You, however, be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves!”

(40) Jesus says:

(1) “A grapevine was planted outside the vineyard of the Father.
(2) And since it is not supported, it will be pulled up by its roots and will perish.”

(41) Jesus says:

(1) “Whoever has something in his hand, something more will be given to him.
(2) And whoever has nothing, even the little he has will be taken from him.”

(42) Jesus says:

“Become passers-by.”

(43)

(1) His disciples said to him: “Who are you to say this to us?”
(2) “Do you not realized from what I say to you who I am?
(3) But you have become like the Jews! They love the tree, but they hate its fruit. Or they love the fruit, but they hate the tree.”

(44) Jesus says:

(1) “Whoever blasphemes against the Father, it will be forgiven him.
(2) And whoever blasphemes against the Son, it will be forgiven him.
(3) But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither on earth nor in heaven.”

(45) Jesus says:

(1) “Grapes are not harvested from thorns, nor are figs picked from thistles, for they do not produce fruit.
(2) A good person brings forth good from his treasure.
(3) A bad person brings (forth) evil from the bad treasure that is in his heart, and in fact he speaks evil.
(4) For out of the abundance of the heart he brings forth evil.”

(46) Jesus says:

(1) “From Adam to John the Baptist, among those born of women there is no one who surpasses John the Baptist so that his (i.e., John’s) eyes need not be downcast.”
(2) “But I have also said: Whoever among you becomes little will know the kingdom, and will surpass John.”

(47) Jesus says:

(1) “It is impossible for a person to mount two horses and to stretch two bows.
(2) And it is impossible for a servant to serve two masters. Else he will honor the one and insult the other.
(3) No person drinks old wine and immediately desires to drink new wine.
(4) And new wine is not put into old wineskins, so that they do not burst; nor is old wine put into a new wineskin, so that it does not spoil it.
(5) An old patch is not sewn onto a new garment, because a tear will result.”

(48) Jesus says:

“If two make peace with one another in one and the same house, then they will say to the mountain: ‘Move away,’ and it will move away.”

(49) Jesus says:

(1) “Blessed are the solitary ones, the elect. For you will find the kingdom.
(2) For you come from it and will return to it.”

(50) Jesus says:

(1) “If they say to you: ‘Where do you come from?’ then say to them: ‘We have come from the light, the place where the light has come into being by itself, has established [itself] and has appeared in their image.’
(2) If they say to you: ‘Is it you?’ then say: ‘We are his children, and we are the elect of the living Father.’
(3) If they ask you: ‘What is the sign of your Father among you?’ then say to them: ‘It is movement and repose.’”

(51)

(1) His disciples said to him: “When will the resurrection of the dead take place, and when will the new world come?”
(2) He said to them: “The afterlife that you await has already come, but you do not recognize it.”

(52)

(1) His disciples said to him: “Twenty-four prophets have spoken in Israel, and all of them have spoken through you.”
(2) He said to them: “You have pushed away the living one) from yourselves, and you have begun to speak of those who are dead.”

(53)

(1) His disciples said to him: “Is circumcision beneficial, or not?”
(2) He said to them: “If it were beneficial, their father would beget them circumcised from their mother.
(3) But the true circumcision in the spirit has prevailed over everything.”

(54) Jesus says:

“Blessed are the poor. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to you.”

(55) Jesus says:

(1) “Whoever does not hate his father and his mother cannot become a disciple of mine.
(2) And whoever does not hate his brothers and his sisters and will not take up his cross as I do, will not be worthy of me.”

(56) Jesus says:

“Whoever has come to know the world has found a corpse.
And whoever has found (this) corpse, of him the world is not worthy.”

(57) Jesus says:

(1) “The kingdom of the Father is like a person who had (good) seed.
(2) His enemy came by night. He sowed darnel among the good seed.
(3) The person did not allow (the servants) to pull up the darnel.
He said to them: ‘Lest you go to pull up the darnel (and then) pull up the wheat along with it.’
(4) For on the day of the harvest the darnel will be apparent and it will be pulled up and burned.”

(58) Jesus says:

“Blessed is the person who has struggled. He has found life.”

(59) Jesus says:

“Look for the Living One while you are alive, so that you will not die and then seek to see him. And you will not be able to see (him).”

(60)

(1) He saw a Samaritan who was trying to steal a lamb while he was on his way to Judea.
(2) He said to his disciples: “That (person) is stalking the lamb.”
(3) They said to him: “So that he may kill it and eat it.”
(4) He said to them: “As long as it is alive he will not eat it, but (only) when he has killed it and it has become a corpse.”
(5) They said to him: “Otherwise he cannot do it.”
(6) He said to them: “You, too, look for a place for your repose so that you may not become a corpse and get eaten.”

(61)

(1) Jesus said: “Two will rest on a bed. The one will die, the other will live.”
(2) Salome said: “(So) who are you, man? You have gotten a place on my couch as a <stranger> and you have eaten from my table.”
(3) Jesus said to her: “I am he who comes from the one who is (always) the same. I was given some of that which is my Father’s.”
(4) “I am your disciple!”
(5) Therefore I say: If someone becomes like God, he will become full of light.
But if he becomes one, separated from God, he will become full of darkness.

(62) Jesus says:

(1) “I tell my mysteries to those who are worthy of mysteries.”
(2) “Whatever you right hand does, your left hand should not know what it is doing.”

(63) Jesus says:

(1) “There was a rich person who had many possessions.
(2) He said: ‘I will use my possessions so that I might sow, reap, plant,
and fill my storehouses with fruit so that I will not lack anything.’
(3) This was what he was thinking in his heart. And in that night he died.
(4) Whoever has ears should hear.”

(64) Jesus says:

(1) “A person had guests. And when he had prepared the dinner, he sent his servant, so that he might invite the guests.
(2) He came to the first and said to him: ‘My master invites you.’
(3) He said: ‘I have bills for some merchants. They are coming to me this evening. I will go and give instructions to them. Excuse me from the dinner.’
(4) He came to another and said to him: ‘My master has invited you.’
(5) He said to him: ‘I have bought a house, and I have been called (away) for a day. I will not have time.’
(6) He went to another and said to him: ‘My master invites you.’
(7) He said to him: ‘My friend is going to marry, and I am the one who is going to prepare the meal. I will not be able to come. Excuse me from the dinner.’
(8) He came up to another and said to him: ‘My master invites you.’
(9) He said to him: ‘I have bought a village. Since I am going to collect the rent, I will not be able to come. Excuse me.’
(10) The servant went away. He said to his master: ‘Those whom you invited to the dinner have asked to be excused.’
(11) The master said to his servant: ‘Go out on the roads. Bring whomever you find, so that they might have dinner.’
(12) Dealers and merchants (will) not enter the places of my Father.”

(65) He said:

(1) “A [usurer] owned a vineyard. He gave it to some farmers so that they would work it and he might receive its fruit from them.
(2) He sent his servant so that the farmers might give him the fruit of the vineyard.
(3) They seized his servant, beat him, and almost killed him. The servant went (back and) told his master.
(4) His master said: ‘Perhaps they did not recognize him.’
(5) He sent another servant, and the farmers beat that other one as well.
(6) Then the master sent his son and said: ‘Perhaps they will show respect for my son.’
(7) (But) those farmers, since they knew that he was the heir of the vineyard, seized him and killed him.
(8) Whoever has ears should hear.”

(66) Jesus says:

“Show me the stone that the builders have rejected. It is the cornerstone.”

(67) Jesus says:

“Whoever knows all, if he is lacking one thing, he is lacking everything.”

(68) Jesus says:

(1) “Blessed are you when they hate you and persecute you.
(2) But they (themselves) will find no place there where they have persecuted you.”

(69) Jesus says:

(1) “Blessed are those who have been persecuted in their heart.
They are the ones who have truly come to know the Father.”
(2) “Blessed are those who suffer from hunger so that the belly of the one who wishes it will be satisfied.”

(70) Jesus says:

(1) “If you bring it into being within you, then that which you have will save you.
(2) If you do not have it within you, then that which you do not have within you will kill you.”

(71) Jesus says:

“I will destroy this house, and no one will be able to build it again.”

(72)

(1) A person said: “Tell my brothers that they have to divide my father’s possessions with me.”
(2) He said to him: “Man, who has made me a divider?”
(3) He turned to his disciples and said to them: “I am not a divider, am I?”

(73) Jesus says:

(1) “The harvest is plentiful, but there are few workers.
(2) But beg the Lord that he may send workers into the harvest.”

(74) He said:

“Lord, there are many around the well, but there is nothing in the <well>.”

(75) Jesus says:

“Many are standing before the door, but it is the solitary ones who will enter the wedding hall.”

(76) Jesus says:

(1) “The kingdom of the Father is like a merchant who had merchandise and found a pearl.
(2) That merchant is prudent. He sold the goods and bought for himself the pearl alone.
(3) You too look for his treasure, which does not perish, and which stays where no moth can reach it to eat it, and no worm destroys it.”

(77) Jesus says:

(1) “I am the light that is over all. I am the All. The All came forth out of me. And to me the All has come.”
(2) “Split a piece of wood — I am there.
(3) Lift the stone, and you will find me there.”

(78) Jesus says:

(1) “Why did you go out to the countryside? To see a reed shaken by the wind,
(2) and to see a person dressed in soft clothing [like your] kings and your great persons?
(3) They are dressed in soft clothing and will not be able to recognize the truth.”

(79)

(1) A woman in the crowd said to him: “Hail to the womb that carried you and to the breasts that fed you.”
(2) He said to [her]: “Hail to those who have heard the word of the Father and have truly kept it.
(3) For there will be days when you will say: ‘Hail to the womb that has not conceived and to the breasts that have not given milk.’”

(80) Jesus says:

(1) “Whoever has come to know the world has found the (dead) body.
(2) But whoever has found the (dead) body, of him the world is not worthy.”

(81) Jesus says:

(1) “Whoever has become rich should be king.
(2) And the one who has power should renounce (it).”

(82) Jesus says:

(1) “The person who is near me is near the fire.
(2) And the person who is far from me is far from the kingdom.”

(83) Jesus says:

(1) “The images are visible to humanity, but the light within them is hidden in the image.
(2) {} The light of the Father will reveal itself, but his image is hidden by his light.”

(84) Jesus says:

(1) “When you see your likeness you are full of joy.
(2) But when you see your likenesses that came into existence before you — they neither die nor become manifest — how much will you bear?”

(85) Jesus says:

(1) “Adam came from a great power and a great wealth. But he did not become worthy of you.
(2) For if he had been worthy, then he would not have tasted death.”

(86) Jesus says:

(1) “Foxes have their holes and birds have their nest.
(2) But the son of man has no place to lay his head down and to rest.”

(87) Jesus says:

(1) “Wretched is the body that depends on a body.
(2) And wretched is the soul that depends on these two.”

(88) Jesus says:

(1) “The messengers and the prophets are coming to you, and they will give you what belongs to you.
(2) And you, in turn, give to them what you have in your hands and say to yourselves: ‘When will they come and take what belongs to them?’”

(89) Jesus says:

(1) “Why do you wash the outside of the cup?
(2) Do you not understand that the one who created the inside is also the one who created the outside?”

(90) Jesus says:

(1) “Come to me, for my yoke is gentle and my lordship is mild.
(2) And you will find repose for yourselves.”

(91)

(1) They said to him: “Tell us who you are so that we may believe in you.”
(2) He said to them: “You examine the face of sky and earth, but the one who is before you, you have not recognized, and you do not know how to test this opportunity.”

(92) Jesus says:

(1) “Seek and you will find.
(2) But the things you asked me about in past times, and what I did not tell you in that day, now I am willing to tell you, but you do not seek them.”

(93)

(1) “Do not give what is holy to the dogs, lest they throw it upon the dunghill.
(2) Do not throw pearls to swine, lest they turn them into mud.”

(94) Jesus [says]:

(1) “The one who seeks will find.
(2) [The one who knocks], to that one will it be opened.”

(95) [Jesus says:]

(1) “If you have money, do not lend it out at interest.
(2) Rather, give [it] to the one from whom you will not get it back.”

(96) Jesus [says]:

(1) “The kingdom of the Father is like a woman.
(2) She took a little bit of yeast. She hid it in dough and made it into huge loaves of bread.
(3) Whoever has ears should hear.”

(97) Jesus says:

(1) “The kingdom is like a woman who is carrying a jar filled with flour.
(2) While she was walking on the way, very distant from home, the handle of the jar broke and the flour leaked out on the path.
(3) (But) she did not know (it); she had not noticed a problem.
(4) When she reached her house, she put the jar down on the floor and found it empty.”

(98) Jesus says:

(1) “The kingdom of the Father is like a person who wanted to kill a powerful person.
(2) He drew the sword in his house and stabbed it into the wall to test whether his hand would be strong.
(3) Then he killed the powerful one.”

(99)

(1) The disciples said to him: “Your brothers and your mother are standing outside.”
(2) He said to them: “Those here, who do the will of my Father, they are my brothers and my mother.
(3) They are the ones who will enter the kingdom of my Father.”

(100)

(1) They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to him: “Caesar’s people demand taxes from us.”
(2) He said to them: “Give Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.
(3) Give God the things that are God’s.
(4) And what is mine give me.”

(101)

(1) “Whoever does not hate his father and his mother as I do will not be able to be a disciple of mine.
(2) And whoever does not love his father and his mother as I do will not be able to be a disciple of mine.
(3) For my mother [....], but my true mother gave me life.”

(102) Jesus says:

“Woe to them, the Pharisees, for they are like a dog sleeping in a cattle trough, for it neither eats nor lets the cattle eat.”

(103) Jesus says:

“Blessed is the person who knows at which point of the house the robbers are going to enter, so that he may arise to gather together his [domain] and gird his loins before they enter.”

(104)

(1) They said to Jesus: “Come, let us pray and fast today!”
(2) Jesus said: “What sin is it that I have committed, or wherein have I been overcome?
(3) But when the bridegroom comes out of the wedding chamber, then let us fast and pray.”

(105) Jesus says:

“Whoever will come to know father and mother, he will be called son of a whore.”

(106) Jesus says:

(1) “When you make the two into one, you will become sons of man.
(2) And when you say ‘Mountain, move away,’ it will move away.”

(107) Jesus says:

(1) “The kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep.
(2) One of them went astray, the largest. He left the ninety-nine, and he sought the one until he found it.
(3) After he had toiled, he said to the sheep: ‘I love you more than the ninety-nine.’”

(108) Jesus says:

(1) “Whoever will drink from my mouth will become like me.
(2) I myself will become he,
(3) and what is hidden will be revealed to him.”

(109) Jesus says:

(1) “The kingdom is like a person who has a hidden treasure in his field, of which he knows nothing.
(2) And after he had died, he left it to his son. But the son did not know.
He took over that field and sold it.
(3) And the one who had bought it came, and while he was ploughing [he found] the treasure.
He began to lend money at interest to whom he wished.”

(110) Jesus says:

“The one who has found the world and has become wealthy should renounce the world.”

(111) Jesus says:

(1) “The heavens will roll up before you, and the earth.
(2) And whoever is living from the living one will not see death.”
(3) Does not Jesus say: “Whoever has found himself, of him the world is not worthy”?

(112) Jesus says:

(1) “Woe to the flesh that depends on the soul.
(2) Woe to the soul that depends on the flesh.”

(113)

(1) His disciples said to him: “The kingdom — on what day will it come?”
(2) “It will not come by watching and waiting for it.
(3) They will not say: ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’
(4) Rather, the kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it.”

(114)

(1) Simon Peter said to them: “Let Mary go away from us, for women are not worthy of life.”
(2) Jesus said: “Look, I will draw her in so as to make equal, that she too may become a living spirit, similar to you.”
(3) “Every woman who is equal to man and worthy of me will enter the kingdom of heaven.”