Saying 1: Whoever Finds the Meaning
Whoever discovers what these sayings mean will not taste death.
Commentary
Salvation here is an act of interpretation. Nothing is asked of the reader except understanding — no creed, no sacrament, no atoning death. This single sentence is the clearest statement of what makes Thomas a “gnostic-flavoured” text in the eyes of many scholars.
Parallels
John 8:51–52
Sayings on the same themes
- Saying 18 Saying 18: Tell Us How Our End Will Be Asked about the end, Jesus asks whether they have found the beginning: whoever stands at the beginning will know the end and…
- Saying 85 Saying 85: Adam Was Not Worthy of You Adam came from great power and great wealth, but he was not worthy of you; had he been worthy, he would not…
- Saying 13 Saying 13: Compare Me to Something Peter says Jesus is like a righteous messenger, Matthew like a wise philosopher; Thomas says his mouth cannot say what Jesus is…
- Saying 39 Saying 39: The Keys of Knowledge The Pharisees and scholars have taken the keys of knowledge and hidden them; they did not go in themselves and did not…
- Saying 5 Saying 5: Know What Is in Front of You Know what is in front of your face and what is hidden from you will be revealed; nothing hidden will fail to…
- Saying 111 Saying 111: The Heavens Will Roll Up The heavens and the earth will roll up in front of you, and whoever is alive from the living one will not…