Early Christian Writings
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Nag Hammadi Coptic Text
BLATZ
(54) Jesus said: Blessed are
the poor, for yours is the
kingdom of heaven.
Visitor Comments
Cf. my Case Against Q,
Chapter 7 for a dicussion of
this beatitude in Matthew,
Luke and Thomas, arguing
that the Lucan (=Thomas)
version may well be
secondary, on redaction-
critical and narrative-critical
grounds.
- Mark Goodacre
Simple encouragement of the
"poor" as they will not be
left out. We all are of the
kingdom of heaven. The
downtrodden in this world
fear that this may not be true.
- active mystic
Technical again. Nafs again.
Be impoverished of those
lower forces tghat drive you.
Be not the driven one.
Instead be the driver. Throw
away your handcuffs &
blindfold and take control of
the runaway horse. Do not
kill the horse! Control it. Use
it. Make it your servant, not
your master.
- Thief37
Gospel of Thomas Saying 54 Previous - Gospel of Thomas Home - Next
Funk's Parallels
Luke 6:20, Matt 5:3.
LAYTON DORESSE
(54) Jesus said, "Blessed are 59 [54]. Jesus says:
the poor, for yours (plur.) is "Blessed are the poor, for
the kingdom of heavens." the Kingdom of heaven is
yours!"
Scholarly Quotes
R. McL. Wilson writes: "On logion 54: 'Blessed are the poor, for yours is the
kingdom of heaven,' Grant and Freedman say that it combines Luke vi. 20 with
Matthew v. 3, but it may, perhaps, be doubted if Matthew comes into question at all.
The only difference between Luke and Thomas lies in the use of the phrase 'kingdom
of heaven,' and Thomas, as already noted, habitually avoids the name of God. It is at
least possible that Thomas here preserves the original form, which Luke has altered
by substituting 'God' and Matthew interpreted by adding 'in spirit' after 'the poor.'
There are, however, other possibilities: deliberate alteration of Luke by Thomas, or
the transmission of the saying from Luke to Thomas through a Jewish-Christian
milieu in which the change was made." (Studies in the Gospel of Thomas, pp. 55-56)
Funk and Hoover write: "There is no question about Jesus' consorting with the poor,
the hungry, and the persecuted. He announced that God's domain belonged to the
poor, not because they wre righteous, but because they were poor. This reverses a
common view that God blesses the righteous with riches and curses the immoral with
poverty." (The Five Gospels, p. 504)
Gerd Ludemann writes: "The logion corresponds to Luke 6.20 and Matt. 5.3, but
derives from Luke 6.20, because 'yours' corresponds to Lukan redaction. This
conclusion is all the more compelling as in Luke 6.20 the Coptic translation of the
New Testament reads 'their' instead of 'yours' - no doubt an assimilation to Matt. 5.3."
(Jesus After 2000 Years, p. 617)
54

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