Saying 112: Woe to the Flesh and the Soul
How wretched is the flesh that depends on the soul; how wretched is the soul that depends on the flesh.
Commentary
A tighter restatement of saying 87, and notably even-handed: both directions of dependence are condemned, which is not quite the body-hating dualism Thomas is often accused of.
Parallels
Gospel of Thomas 87
Sayings on the same themes
- Saying 87 Saying 87: The Body That Depends on a Body How wretched is the body that depends on a body, and how wretched is the soul that depends on the two of…
- Saying 86 Saying 86: Nowhere to Lay His Head Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head and rest.
- Saying 14 Saying 14: Fasting Brings Sin Fasting brings sin, prayer brings condemnation, almsgiving harms the spirit; go into any land, eat what is put before you, heal the…
- Saying 80 Saying 80: Whoever Has Found the Body Whoever has come to know the world has found the body, and whoever has found the body is worth more than the…
- Saying 72 Saying 72: Who Made Me a Divider? A man asks Jesus to make his brothers share their inheritance with him; Jesus asks who made him a divider, and turns…
- Saying 27 Saying 27: Fasting From the World If you do not fast from the world you will not find the kingdom; if you do not keep the sabbath as…