Early Christian Writings Gospel of Thomas Saying 62 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
BLATZ LAYTON
(62) Jesus said: I speak my (62) Jesus said, "it is to
mysteries to those [who are those [worthy] of [my]
worthy of my] mysteries. secrets that I am telling my
What your right hand does, secrets. Do not let your
let not your left hand know (sing.) left hand understand
what it does. what your right hand is
doing.
Funk's Parallels
Luke 8:9-10, Matt 13:10-
17, Matt 6:2-4, Mark
4:10-12, Pseudo-
Clementine Homilies
19.20.1, Clem. Alex.
DORESSE Strom. 5.10.63.7.
66 [62]. Jesus says: "When I
tell my mysteries to [. . .]
mystery: [what] your right
hand does, let your left hand
not know <that> it does it."

Visitor Comments Scholarly Quotes

The one who knows these F. F. Bruce writes: "The first sentence is similar to the canonical saying about the
mysteries, will be able to disciples receiving the mystery of the kingdom of God which remains a riddle to
give the world precious gifts. outsiders (Mark 4.11 f.; cf. Matthew 13.11 ff.; Luke 8.10); but here the esoteric
- Peter T. doctrine of the Gnostics is meant. The second sentence in the canonical tradition
Reserve discussion of the (Matthew 6.3) enjoins secrecy in generous giving; here it forbids the spreading of the
mysteries for those of a like esoteric doctrine beyond the privileged circle." (Jesus and Christian Origins Outside
persuasion and who sit at the New Testament, p. 137-138)
table at one hand and for
those who sit at the other
hand speak to them only of
the things of the mundane
world --- to express it
poetically. It is a conduct
requirement, don't mix things
up
- Thief37
"Left and right hands" are so
called KAV SMOL and KAV
YAMIN - parts of the soul
and one of biggest mysteries
in the Bible, similar to
Bridegroom & Bride. The
soul, who feels own left &
right, will understand this
half-word/metaphor.
- Fivetrees
Note: there are no words
mentioning any "hands" in
the Coptic text. Left and
right are inner parts.
- Tomer
Left & Right are essential
universal powers in our souls
and Cosmos. These powers
are the same as Bridegroom
& Bride in NT/OT. Saying
62 explains specific,
astonishing and secret aspect
of L&R. For an advanced
soul it shows difference of
L&R qualities and feeling
(sensation). There is no way
to see as a whole and control
L&R together without
knowledge of this aspect.
The subject of L&R is an
essential secret of the Bible-
Torah and universal secret of
the Soul in all religions and
cultures (see Greek
Caduceus, Indian Nadis etc.).
Ophis (serpent) of gnostic
Ophites is a personification
of power (inside of the soul),
which balances and controls
L&R, and is the only "being"
able to go through paradoxes
and conflicts of "two cosmic
powers in heaven". The one
who knows, understands,
feels and controls L&R - is
"above the all". And he is in
an end of search. L&R is a
connection between
concrete, acute praxis of
everyday life and abstract
theory of mysterious
knowledge. Aspects of L&R
are very important (example:
Mt 9:14-17) for whole
understanding of logia. More
on L&R "lines" see book of
Baruh Ashlag "Shamati".
- thomas@ryterna.com
62

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