Saying 49: Blessed Are the Solitary
Blessed are the solitary and the chosen, for you will find the kingdom; you came from it, and you will go back there.
Commentary
The Coptic word is *monachos*, “single one” — the term that would later give us “monk”. Origin and destination are identical, as in saying 18.
Parallels
This saying has no close parallel in the canonical gospels. Roughly half of the Gospel of Thomas is material of this kind, found nowhere else in the early Christian record.
Sayings on the same themes
- Saying 30 Saying 30: Where There Are Three Where there are three deities they are divine; where there are two or one, I am with that one.
- Saying 75 Saying 75: Only the Solitary Enter Many are standing at the door, but it is the solitary who will enter the bridal chamber.
- 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 55 Saying 55: Hating Father and Mother Whoever does not hate father and mother cannot be my disciple; whoever does not hate brothers and sisters and carry the cross…
- Saying 42 Saying 42: Be Passers-By Be passers-by.
- Saying 54 Saying 54: Blessed Are the Poor Blessed are the poor, for the kingdom of heaven is yours.