Early Christian Writings Gospel of Thomas Saying 59 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
John 7:33-34, John 8:21,
John 13:33, John 14:8-11.

BLATZ LAYTON DORESSE

(59) Jesus said: Look upon
the Living One so long as
you live, that you may not
die and seek to see him, and
be unable to see him.
(59) Jesus said, "Consider
the one who is alive while
you (plur.) are alive, lest
you die and then seek to
behold that one - and you
will not be able to behold."
64 [59]. Jesus says: "Seek to
see Him who is living,
while you are living; rather
than to die and to seek to
see Him <only> when you
can no longer see Him!"

Visitor Comments Scholarly Quotes

Or perhaps the "living one" Funk and Hoover write: "The 'living one' in this saying can refer only to Jesus
is not self-referential at all. . himself (compare Thom 52:2 and the prologue). Here Jesus speaks of himself as the
. . Pay proper respect to revealer who has the power to save from death those who seek him (Thomas 49-50
those around you in life; to reflect this same notion). This language is that of Thomean Christianity, not Jesus."
dwell only on what is to (The Five Gospels, p. 506)
come is to reject the value of Gerd Ludemann writes: "The key word 'living' links the present logion with the
those who live now. previous one ('found life'). Jesus is speaking of himself as the living one (cf.
- en passant Prologue; 52.2) and emphasizing the either-or between (spiritual) life and (spiritual)
In the highest state of death." (Jesus After 2000 Years, p. 619)
consciousness (perception of
reality) man can reach, Life
exists in Unity. With the
spiritual eye open, one can
percieve beneath the duality
of life, the Oneness of all life
- that is the Divine life itself;
the Creator who stepped into
his own creation. This state
of consciousness is available
to all man and is the goal of
life. "If Thine eye be single,
Thy whole body will be
filled with light." This is the
Living One(ness), which is
the goal of life. Evolution of
the Soul will continue until
That Oneness is seen as God
Itself, within myself and
outside myself, both. No two
are present, only One.
- Vidya
The living is a state of mind.
Death is a state of mind.
When you are living you can
see the living one. When you
are dead, you cannot. Stay in
the living state of mind.
- anonymous
Hmm... to me it mirrors the
overtones of all the works in
that the end goal should not
be to meet your maker, but to
appreciate that makers
creations, all around you,
your entire life. That that
respect and appreciation is
your key in the end?
- Jewelz
You might die and go to hell.
Then what? Learn now, and
do not taste death.
- Random
This is similar to what in
Buddhism is referred to as
the 5th Bardo. After death,
there is a period that one can
become fully enlightened if
only one will recognize it for
what it is.
- pm
This is one of the greatest
sayings that I have read. It
refers to the fact that Now is
the time to find God in our
hearts, for that's where he is
fully alive. It's not something
to leave for after death
because we may never have
this opportunity again.
- Unknown
59
Alias:

Post the Note

Discuss it now at AMC

forums!
If you like the site, please purchase the Early Christian Writings CD.
Maintained by Peter Kirby. See the Gospel of Thomas Bibliography & Credits.
Early Christian Writings Gospel of Thomas Saying 59 Previous - Gospel of Thomas Home - Next