Saying 46: Greater Than John the Baptist
From Adam to John the Baptist no one born of women is so far above John that his eyes should not be lowered; yet whichever of you becomes a child will know the kingdom and be greater than John.
Commentary
The canonical version says the least in the kingdom is greater than John. Thomas substitutes becoming a child — the state of undividedness from sayings 4, 21 and 22 — as the qualification.
Parallels
Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28
Sayings on the same themes
- Saying 57 Saying 57: The Wheat and the Weeds A man sowed good seed; his enemy sowed weeds among it at night. He would not let his workers pull the weeds…
- Saying 82 Saying 82: Whoever Is Near Me Is Near the Fire Whoever is close to me is close to the fire, and whoever is far from me is far from the kingdom.
- Saying 94 Saying 94: The One Who Knocks Whoever seeks will find; whoever knocks will have it opened for them.
- Saying 12 Saying 12: James the Just Asked who will lead them after he goes, Jesus sends the disciples to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth…
- Saying 92 Saying 92: Now I Am Willing to Tell You Seek and you will find. In the past I did not tell you the things you asked about; now I am willing…
- Prologue Prologue: The Hidden Sayings These are the hidden sayings that the living Jesus spoke and that Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.