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 83 Saying 83: Images and the Hidden Light Images are visible to people, but the light inside them is hidden in the image of the Father's light; he will be…
- Saying 62 Saying 62: The Left Hand and the Right I tell my mysteries to those worthy of my mysteries; do not let your left hand know what your right hand is…
- Saying 108 Saying 108: Whoever Drinks From My Mouth Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me, and I will become that person, and what is hidden will be revealed…
- 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 60 Saying 60: The Samaritan and the Lamb Seeing a Samaritan carrying a lamb to Judea, Jesus observes that the man can only eat it once it is dead and…
- Saying 84 Saying 84: The Images That Came Before You When you see your own likeness you are pleased; but when you see the images of yourselves that existed before you, that…