Saying 51: The New World Has Already Come
Asked when the rest for the dead will come and when the new world will arrive, Jesus answers that what they are waiting for has already arrived — they simply do not recognise it.
Commentary
Thomas’s realised eschatology in one line, and the strongest argument against reading it as an apocalyptic text. Nothing is coming; something is already here.
Parallels
Luke 17:20–21; John 5:25
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 111 Saying 111: The Heavens Will Roll Up The heavens and the earth will roll up in front of you, and whoever is alive from the living one will not…
- Saying 20 Saying 20: The Mustard Seed The kingdom is like a mustard seed: the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on worked ground it puts out…
- 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…
- Saying 70 Saying 70: Bring Forth What Is Within You If you bring out what is inside you, what you bring out will save you; if you do not, what you fail…
- 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.…