October 24, 2005

Flesh and Spirit

This group is about flesh and spirit. (Some of
them may have already been dealt with, but in
another context.)

14 Jesus said to them: If you fast, you will beget
a sin for yourselves; and if you pray, you will be
condemned; and if you give alms, you will do an
evil to your spirits.
And if you go into any land and travel in its
regions, if they receive you eat what they set
before you. Heal the sick among them. For that
which goes into your mouth will not defile you,
but that which comes forth from your mouth, that
is what will defile you.

29 Jesus said: If the flesh has come into being
because of the spirit, it is a marvel; but if the
spirit (has come into being) because of the body,
it is a marvel of marvels. But as for me, I marvel
at this, how this great wealth has settled in this
poverty.

53 His disciples said to him: Is circumcision
profitable or not? He said to them: Were it
profitable, their father would beget them from
their mother circumcised. But the true
circumcision in spirit has proved entirely
profitable (lit.: has found usefulness
altogether).

112 Jesus said: Woe to the flesh which depends
upon the soul; woe to the soul which depends upon
the flesh.

114 Simon Peter said to them: Let Mary go forth
from among us, for women are not worthy of the
life. Jesus said: Behold, I shall lead her, that I
may make her male, in order that she also may
become a living spirit like you males. For every
woman who makes herself male shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

no exlanation on these scriptures?

forrest said...

Okay, these sayings are from the Gospel of Thomas, which someone had squirreled away (with a great many more problematic texts) in an Egyptian churchyard a century or so shy of 2000 years ago, probably one step ahead of the heresy-hunters.

If there are any of these sayings you particularly want to ask about... What do you think?