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 113 Saying 113: The Kingdom Spread Out on the Earth Asked when the kingdom will come, Jesus says it will not come by watching for it; no one will say "look, here"…
- 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 54 Saying 54: Blessed Are the Poor Blessed are the poor, for the kingdom of heaven is yours.
- Saying 3 Saying 3: The Kingdom Within and Without If your leaders say the kingdom is in the sky the birds will get there first; if in the sea, the fish.…
- 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 15 Saying 15: The One Not Born of Woman When you see the one who was not born of woman, fall on your face and worship: that one is your Father.