Chapter1— Sayings of Jesus (Greek fragments)
Chapter One of the Gospel of Thomas opens the collection with a series of sayings attributed to Jesus, establishing a tone of esoteric wisdom and immediate spiritual authority. Unlike the narrative-driven accounts of the canonical gospels, this text presents a sayings source where the kingdom of God is portrayed as an internal reality accessible through insight rather than external pilgrimage. These initial sayings set the stage for the work's broader exploration of gnosis, emphasizing that true understanding requires a shift in perception that transcends conventional religious expectations.
Translation:
About this translation
King James Version (1611)
The most influential English translation ever made. Sometimes archaic, but the standard PD English text.
Translators commissioned by King James I of England, 1604–1611
Jesus said, Whosoever shall find the interpretation of these words shall not taste death. 2Jesus said, Let him who seeketh not cease seeking until he findeth; and when he findeth he shall be troubled; and when he is troubled he shall marvel, and shall reign over all.Awakening Under a Tree 3Jesus said, If your leaders say unto you, Lo, the kingdom is in heaven, the birds of the heaven shall precede you. If they say unto you, It is in the sea, the fish shall precede you. But the kingdom is within you, and without you. When ye know yourselves, ye shall be known, and ye shall know that ye are the children of the living Father. But if ye know not yourselves, ye are in poverty, and ye are the poverty. 4Jesus said, The man old in days will not hesitate to ask a little child seven days old about the place of life, and he shall live. For many that are first shall be last, and they shall become a single one. 5Jesus said, Know what is before thy face, and that which is hidden from thee shall be revealed unto thee. For there is nothing hidden which shall not be revealed. 7Jesus said, Blessed is the lion which the man shall eat, and the lion shall become man; and cursed is the man which the lion shall eat, and the lion shall become man. 8Jesus said, The man is like a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of little fish; among them he found a great and good fish. The wise fisherman threw all the little fish back into the sea, and chose the great fish without difficulty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 9Jesus said, Behold, the sower went out, took a handful of seed, and scattered it. Some fell on the road; the birds came and gathered it 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 seed and the worm ate it. And others fell on the good soil; it produced good fruit; it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure. 10Jesus said, I have cast fire upon the world, and behold, I am watching it until it is kindled. 11Jesus said, This heaven shall pass away, and the one above it shall pass away; and the dead are not alive, and the living shall not die. In the days when ye ate of what was dead, ye made it alive. When ye come to be in the light, what will ye do? On the day when ye were one, ye became two. But when ye become two, what will ye do? 12The disciples said unto Jesus, We know that thou wilt depart from us. Who is to be our leader? Jesus said unto them, Wherever ye are, ye are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being. 13Jesus said unto his disciples, Compare me and tell me whom I am like. Simon Peter said unto him, Thou art like a righteous angel. Matthew said unto him, Thou art like a wise philosopher. Thomas said unto him, Master, my mouth is wholly unable to say whom thou art like. Jesus said, I am not thy master. Because thou hast drunk, thou hast become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out. And he took him, and withdrew, and spake three words. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, What said Jesus unto thee? Thomas said unto them, If I tell you one of the words which he said unto me, ye will take up stones and cast them at me; and a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up. 14Jesus said unto them, If ye fast, ye shall bring sin upon yourselves; and if ye pray, ye shall be condemned; and if ye give alms, ye shall do evil unto your spirits. When ye enter into any house and remain in it, salute them, saying, Peace be to this house. 24Jesus said, Let there be among you a man of understanding. When the crop grew up, he came with his sickle in his hand and reaped it.
This chapter appears in 1 cross-tradition parallel
Verse Discussions…
Every verse has its own thread. Click a verse to read or leave a response.
Chapter Discussion
Discussion
No one has written anything here yet. Some places to begin:
- What in this chapter surprised you, or stopped you?
- Where does this passage cut against your expectation?
- What questions does it raise that you don't have an answer to yet?
Sign in to join the discussion.
— 1 —sacredatlas.org