Saying 88: The Messengers and the Prophets
The messengers and the prophets will come and give you what is already yours; you should give them what you have, and ask yourselves when they will come and collect what belongs to them.
Commentary
An exchange in which nothing new arrives: the prophets deliver what the hearer already owns. The last question, put back to the reader, is characteristically unanswered.
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 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…
- Saying 103 Saying 103: Knowing Where the Robbers Will Enter Blessed is the one who knows where the robbers are going to break in: he can get up, gather his forces and…
- Saying 37 Saying 37: When You Strip Without Shame Asked when he will appear to them, Jesus answers: when you undress without being ashamed, and trample your clothes underfoot like little…
- Saying 25 Saying 25: Love Your Brother as Your Soul Love your brother as your own soul; protect him as you would the pupil of your eye.
- 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 6 Saying 6: On Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving The disciples ask how to fast, pray, give alms and eat; the answer is to stop lying and to stop doing what…