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 neither die nor become visible, how much will you have to bear?
Commentary
The pre-existent self is a gift and a burden at once. Thomas does not promise that self-knowledge will be pleasant — see the disturbance built into saying 2.
Parallels
Gospel of Thomas 19; Gospel of Thomas 83
Sayings on the same themes
- 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 2 Saying 2: Seek and Do Not Stop Seeking Seek until you find; when you find you will be disturbed; when you are disturbed you will marvel, and you will reign…
- Saying 60 Saying 60: The Samaritan and the Lamb Seeing a Samaritan carrying a lamb to Judea, Jesus observes that the man can only eat it once it is dead and…
- 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 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.
- 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"…