The Gospel of Thomas is a lost Christian text that was discovered in Egypt in 1945 and was purportedly written by the apostle Thomas. I devote an entire chapter to Thomas in my book Christianity 2.0.
The most controversial saying in Thomas is Saying 114 in which Jesus and Simon Peter have a conversation that at first glance seems very offensive to modern sensibilities.
In the passage, Simon Peter says that Mary Magdalene should leave because women aren’t worthy of life. Jesus responds by saying that he will “make her male” and that only women who turn themselves into men will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. This seemingly sexist exchange has caused many people to write off the Gospel of Thomas as illegitimate.
I would have addressed Saying 114 in my book, but I couldn’t really find a proper place to fit it in.
So what exactly is going on here? First, we must understand that Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic, a language that didn’t easily translate into other languages because it used a great deal of exaggeration in its expressions. Jesus speaks in an exaggerated manner quite often in the Gospels, and thus he isn’t always saying what he appears to be saying. And, unfortunately, it isn’t always obvious when this is the case. However, he is definitely using exaggeration here.
Second, it is important to understand the classic sexual symbolism that existed in ancient times. Men were seen to represent wholeness and unity, while women were seen to represent division. A woman and her feminine wiles were viewed as a potentially corrupting influence that could destroy a man. Of course, such a negative view of women would be highly controversial today (our popular culture pushes the idea that men are the more dangerous sex), but it was the prevailing wisdom at that time, and this symbolism of wholeness vs. division helps to provide the context for what Jesus and Peter are saying.
In Christianity 2.0, I argue that Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas reveals there is a higher form of salvation available than what traditional Christianity offers. This higher salvation can only be attained by becoming “whole” or “unified” (releasing the darkness in the unconscious that causes the “division” between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind).
When Jesus said that he would make Mary male, he meant that he would help her change from a state of “division” to a state of “wholeness.” In other words, he would help her remove the darkness in her unconscious that was causing her to be in this state of division, and this would dramatically raise her level of consciousness (LOC), allowing her to attain this higher salvation and thus making her “whole.” Given that Mary Magdalene’s LOC was at 723 when Jesus was crucified (i.e. she had reached enlightenment), it would seem that he succeeded in this endeavor.
And so when Jesus speaks of women turning themselves into men, he is using men and women as metaphors. He isn’t talking about women specifically. Jesus is instead referring to those of either sex who are able to go from a state of “division” to a state of “unity” and “wholeness.” This is how one will enter the kingdom of heaven. (Novak, 2005, pp. 217-218)
Saying 114 calibrates at 582.
***
I will also discuss three other controversial sayings from the Gospel of Thomas.
His disciples said to him, "Twenty-four prophets have spoken in Israel, and they all spoke of you."
He said to them, "You have ignored the Living One right in front of you, and you have talked about those who are dead." (Gospel of Thomas 52)
Jesus here seems to be refuting the Old Testament prophets, denying their validity by calling them “dead.” This statement appears to be in direct conflict with the canonical Gospels in which Jesus says that the prophets were correct (Matthew 5:17). So what is going on here? It’s been often said that you have to meet people where they are at. If Jesus had said that many or most of the prophets were wrong, the people would have likely rejected him. So he could not have said this, at least not publicly. But given that Jesus often spoke in an exaggerated manner, we should not interpret Saying 52 as an outright rejection of the prophets and scriptures. Rather, Jesus is making three points:
First, Jesus is emphasizing the importance of “the Living One” (i.e. himself), suggesting that he is more important than any prophet or scripture. This is because Jesus is a high-level teacher and adopting him as a savior is necessary for true salvation to even be possible.
Second, Jesus is also suggesting that the Old Testament is not quite as sacred as is believed. This has to do with its depiction of God as having human qualities such as anger, jealousy, favoritism, and vengefulness. While there are many individual verses in the Old Testament that have a high level of truth, most of its books are more negative than positive due to their negative depiction of God.
Third, truth must ultimately be found within oneself. Progressive Christianity would have us believe this means we can make up our own truth, but this is incorrect. What it actually means is that doing inner spiritual work (releasing the darkness in our unconscious) will take us to a higher level of consciousness and thus a higher level of truth. As you go up the Map of Consciousness, each level represents a higher level of truth (For example, it is true that we should forgive others who have wronged us, but at a higher level, one realizes there is nothing to forgive). In other words, the only truly infallible way to discover truth is to raise your level of consciousness. (Novak, 2005, pp. 153-155)
Many Christians focus on studying scripture, and there is nothing wrong with this. It is usually beneficial to do so as it can help prevent error. However, the potential drawback of doing this is that many interpretations of scripture are incorrect. This is why it is better to focus on being rather than knowing. As you raise your level of consciousness, you will be less susceptible to error. You will be less likely to be swayed by falsehood.
Saying 52 calibrates at 483.
***
Another controversial passage is Saying 13:
“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you were to compare me to someone, who would you say I am like?’
Simon Peter said to him, ‘You’re like a saintly angel.’
Matthew said to him, ‘You’re like a wise philosopher.’
Thomas said to him, ‘Teacher, I’m completely unable to say whom you are like.’
Jesus said, ‘I am not your teacher. Because you’ve drunk, you’ve become intoxicated by the bubbling spring I’ve measured out.’
He took him aside and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked, ‘What did Jesus say to you?’
Thomas said to them, ‘If I tell you one of the things he said to me, you will pick up stones and cast them at me, and fire will come out of the stones and burn you up.’”
In the above passage, Jesus says that he is not Thomas’s teacher. Some have interpreted this to mean that Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas is not the Messiah and not a divine figure. Of course, such an idea violates traditional Christian theology and is heretical.
But the notion that Jesus is not Thomas’s teacher is contradicted in the very next line when Jesus pulls Thomas aside and teaches him three things. Clearly, he is indeed Thomas’s teacher. So what is going on here?
Just as in Saying 52, Jesus is speaking in an exaggerated manner. When he says he is not Thomas’s teacher, what he simply means is that Thomas has said something very wise.
Saying 13 calibrates at 504.
***
Last, we will examine Saying 14:
Jesus said to them, “If you fast, you will bring guilt upon yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you make donations, you will harm your spirits.
"If they welcome you when you enter any land and go around in the countryside, heal those who are sick among them and eat whatever they give you, because it is not what goes into your mouth that will defile you. What comes out of your mouth is what will defile you.”
This is another saying that Christians often point to as evidence that the Gospel of Thomas should be disregarded as illegitimate. Jesus says that we should not fast, pray, or make donations! But Jesus is again using exaggeration here. What he really means is that these things must come from one’s deepest heart or they will be empty gestures. We will never attain salvation doing something that we resent or even hate.
The second paragraph of Saying 14 indicates that the idea of religious purity in those times was overrated, that what matters is not one’s diet but one’s words, thoughts, and actions. (Novak, 2005, pp. 112-114)
Saying 14 calibrates at 426.
Reference
Novak, Peter. Original Christianity: A New Key to Understanding the Gospel of Thomas and Other Lost Scriptures. Charlottesville, Hampton Roads Publishing Company, 2005.
The most controversial saying in Thomas is Saying 114 in which Jesus and Simon Peter have a conversation that at first glance seems very offensive to modern sensibilities.
In the passage, Simon Peter says that Mary Magdalene should leave because women aren’t worthy of life. Jesus responds by saying that he will “make her male” and that only women who turn themselves into men will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. This seemingly sexist exchange has caused many people to write off the Gospel of Thomas as illegitimate.
I would have addressed Saying 114 in my book, but I couldn’t really find a proper place to fit it in.
So what exactly is going on here? First, we must understand that Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic, a language that didn’t easily translate into other languages because it used a great deal of exaggeration in its expressions. Jesus speaks in an exaggerated manner quite often in the Gospels, and thus he isn’t always saying what he appears to be saying. And, unfortunately, it isn’t always obvious when this is the case. However, he is definitely using exaggeration here.
Second, it is important to understand the classic sexual symbolism that existed in ancient times. Men were seen to represent wholeness and unity, while women were seen to represent division. A woman and her feminine wiles were viewed as a potentially corrupting influence that could destroy a man. Of course, such a negative view of women would be highly controversial today (our popular culture pushes the idea that men are the more dangerous sex), but it was the prevailing wisdom at that time, and this symbolism of wholeness vs. division helps to provide the context for what Jesus and Peter are saying.
In Christianity 2.0, I argue that Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas reveals there is a higher form of salvation available than what traditional Christianity offers. This higher salvation can only be attained by becoming “whole” or “unified” (releasing the darkness in the unconscious that causes the “division” between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind).
When Jesus said that he would make Mary male, he meant that he would help her change from a state of “division” to a state of “wholeness.” In other words, he would help her remove the darkness in her unconscious that was causing her to be in this state of division, and this would dramatically raise her level of consciousness (LOC), allowing her to attain this higher salvation and thus making her “whole.” Given that Mary Magdalene’s LOC was at 723 when Jesus was crucified (i.e. she had reached enlightenment), it would seem that he succeeded in this endeavor.
And so when Jesus speaks of women turning themselves into men, he is using men and women as metaphors. He isn’t talking about women specifically. Jesus is instead referring to those of either sex who are able to go from a state of “division” to a state of “unity” and “wholeness.” This is how one will enter the kingdom of heaven. (Novak, 2005, pp. 217-218)
Saying 114 calibrates at 582.
***
I will also discuss three other controversial sayings from the Gospel of Thomas.
His disciples said to him, "Twenty-four prophets have spoken in Israel, and they all spoke of you."
He said to them, "You have ignored the Living One right in front of you, and you have talked about those who are dead." (Gospel of Thomas 52)
Jesus here seems to be refuting the Old Testament prophets, denying their validity by calling them “dead.” This statement appears to be in direct conflict with the canonical Gospels in which Jesus says that the prophets were correct (Matthew 5:17). So what is going on here? It’s been often said that you have to meet people where they are at. If Jesus had said that many or most of the prophets were wrong, the people would have likely rejected him. So he could not have said this, at least not publicly. But given that Jesus often spoke in an exaggerated manner, we should not interpret Saying 52 as an outright rejection of the prophets and scriptures. Rather, Jesus is making three points:
First, Jesus is emphasizing the importance of “the Living One” (i.e. himself), suggesting that he is more important than any prophet or scripture. This is because Jesus is a high-level teacher and adopting him as a savior is necessary for true salvation to even be possible.
Second, Jesus is also suggesting that the Old Testament is not quite as sacred as is believed. This has to do with its depiction of God as having human qualities such as anger, jealousy, favoritism, and vengefulness. While there are many individual verses in the Old Testament that have a high level of truth, most of its books are more negative than positive due to their negative depiction of God.
Third, truth must ultimately be found within oneself. Progressive Christianity would have us believe this means we can make up our own truth, but this is incorrect. What it actually means is that doing inner spiritual work (releasing the darkness in our unconscious) will take us to a higher level of consciousness and thus a higher level of truth. As you go up the Map of Consciousness, each level represents a higher level of truth (For example, it is true that we should forgive others who have wronged us, but at a higher level, one realizes there is nothing to forgive). In other words, the only truly infallible way to discover truth is to raise your level of consciousness. (Novak, 2005, pp. 153-155)
Many Christians focus on studying scripture, and there is nothing wrong with this. It is usually beneficial to do so as it can help prevent error. However, the potential drawback of doing this is that many interpretations of scripture are incorrect. This is why it is better to focus on being rather than knowing. As you raise your level of consciousness, you will be less susceptible to error. You will be less likely to be swayed by falsehood.
Saying 52 calibrates at 483.
***
Another controversial passage is Saying 13:
“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If you were to compare me to someone, who would you say I am like?’
Simon Peter said to him, ‘You’re like a saintly angel.’
Matthew said to him, ‘You’re like a wise philosopher.’
Thomas said to him, ‘Teacher, I’m completely unable to say whom you are like.’
Jesus said, ‘I am not your teacher. Because you’ve drunk, you’ve become intoxicated by the bubbling spring I’ve measured out.’
He took him aside and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked, ‘What did Jesus say to you?’
Thomas said to them, ‘If I tell you one of the things he said to me, you will pick up stones and cast them at me, and fire will come out of the stones and burn you up.’”
In the above passage, Jesus says that he is not Thomas’s teacher. Some have interpreted this to mean that Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas is not the Messiah and not a divine figure. Of course, such an idea violates traditional Christian theology and is heretical.
But the notion that Jesus is not Thomas’s teacher is contradicted in the very next line when Jesus pulls Thomas aside and teaches him three things. Clearly, he is indeed Thomas’s teacher. So what is going on here?
Just as in Saying 52, Jesus is speaking in an exaggerated manner. When he says he is not Thomas’s teacher, what he simply means is that Thomas has said something very wise.
Saying 13 calibrates at 504.
***
Last, we will examine Saying 14:
Jesus said to them, “If you fast, you will bring guilt upon yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you make donations, you will harm your spirits.
"If they welcome you when you enter any land and go around in the countryside, heal those who are sick among them and eat whatever they give you, because it is not what goes into your mouth that will defile you. What comes out of your mouth is what will defile you.”
This is another saying that Christians often point to as evidence that the Gospel of Thomas should be disregarded as illegitimate. Jesus says that we should not fast, pray, or make donations! But Jesus is again using exaggeration here. What he really means is that these things must come from one’s deepest heart or they will be empty gestures. We will never attain salvation doing something that we resent or even hate.
The second paragraph of Saying 14 indicates that the idea of religious purity in those times was overrated, that what matters is not one’s diet but one’s words, thoughts, and actions. (Novak, 2005, pp. 112-114)
Saying 14 calibrates at 426.
Reference
Novak, Peter. Original Christianity: A New Key to Understanding the Gospel of Thomas and Other Lost Scriptures. Charlottesville, Hampton Roads Publishing Company, 2005.