Early Christian Writings Gospel of Thomas Saying 29 Previous - Gospel of Thomas Home - Next

You can view this web page along with Grondin's Coptic/English Interlinear in frames.
Nag Hammadi Coptic Text Funk's Parallels
POxy1 29, GThom 87,
GThom 112, Rom 8:1-8,
Gal 5:16-26.

BLATZ LAYTON DORESSE

(29) Jesus said: If the flesh
came into existence because
of the spirit, it is a marvel.
But if the spirit (came into
existence) because of the
body, it is a marvel of
marvels. But as for me, I
wonder at this, how this
great wealth made its home
in this poverty.
(29) Jesus said, "It is
amazing if it was for the
spirit that flesh came into
existence. And it is amazing
indeed if spirit (came into
existence) for the sake of
the body. But as for me, I
am amazed at how this great
wealth has come to dwell in
this poverty."
Oxyrhynchus Greek Fragment
34 [29]. Jesus says: "If the
flesh was produced for the
sake of the spirit, it is a
miracle. But if the spirit
<was produced> for the
sake of the body, it is a
miracle of a miracle." But
for myself (?), I marvel at
that because the [ . . . of]
this (?) great wealth has
dwelt in this poverty."

DORESSE - Oxyrhynchus ATTRIDGE - Oxyrhynchus

[". . .] the poverty." (29) [. . . makes its home in this] poverty.

Visitor Comments Scholarly Quotes

Jesus expresses amazement
at the fact that our true
nature, our soul, is enhanced
by its attachment to and
association with a physical
body. And even greater
amazement that this was not
a one way street and souls
are just as readily viewed as
created to benefit physical
bodies. This is a true
symbiosis with the existence
of both necessary to the
expression of the Glory of
God as it is unfolding in the
Universe.
- active-mystic
Gerd Ludemann writes: "'Flesh' is a link by key word to 28.1. The whole is a praise
of the spirit which has taken up its abode in human bodies or in the flesh. For 'spirit'
as an element of light in human beings cf. 24.3." (Jesus After 2000 Years, p. 605)
F. F. Bruce writes: "Flesh and spirit are antithetical: spirit does not need flesh as its
vehicle, and it is unthinkable that spirit exists to aid flesh. In the conditions of earthly
life, spirit is the 'great wealth' that resides in the 'poverty' of a mortal body (cf.
Sayings 85, 87, 112)." (Jesus and Christian Origens Outside the New Testament, p.
126)
Helmut Koester writes: "Jesus even marvels over how it is that something so glorious
as the spirit has become mired in the flesh" (Ancient Christian Gospels, p. 126).
Funk and Hoover write: "This group of sayings has a strongly ascetic tone. The
depreciation of the body is a frequent theme in Thomas (note especially sayings 87
and 112, but also see the remarks on Thom 28:1-4). Such ideas are not confined to
Thomas, but appear elsewhere in early Christian literature (John 3:6; Gal 5:16-18;
Rom 8:3-11). However, the profile of Jesus as one who willingly associates with
outsiders and the unclean and is remembered as a drunkard and a glutton (Matt
Here Jesus approaches the 11:19//Luke 7:34) does not square with these remarks that belittle the body and
limits of his cognitive recommend asceticism." (The Five Gospels, p. 489)
understanding. There is Marvin Meyer writes: "This saying expresses surprise at the close relationship
nothing to marvel at. As Zen between the spirit, the immortal dimension of human beings, and the flesh or body.
Buddhists say it is "nothing Inasmuch as the saying intimates that the spirit within may actually exist for the
special". benefit and salvation of the body, it resembles saying 7." (The Gospel of Thomas:
- Rodney The Hidden Sayings of Jesus, p. 82)
Jesus might have been
alluding to the fact that Man
exists above other animals in
creation in that he has a soul;
he was not simply granted a
body and grew a soul to fit it,
the soul was a gift from the
Creator.
- Captain Munky
Others have said the same
[e.g. Silver Birch]. Matter is
inferior, spirit is superior.
Quantum thoery agrees. See
Ibn el-Arabi's statement on
this in his 700-year-old book
Bezel of Wisdom
- Thief37
We have been born into this
corrupt flesh. Blessed is he
who wins the war with this
flesh and gains
understanding.
- Random
Doresse is correct. Your soul
is perfect and godly. The
mind and physical bodies
(gross, astral, causal) can be
likened to layers over a
shining light bulb. The outer
layers block the brilliance of
the soul's true light. Jesus is
amazed that such depravity
covers such a wealth of God.
- Petrus
29

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