The Light Within The Gospel of Thomas Saying 24

The Light Within The Gospel of Thomas Saying 24

Saying 24 His disciples said to him, "Show us the place where you are, since it is necessary for us to seek it." He said to them, "Whoever has ears, let him hear. There is light within a man of light, and he lights up the whole world. If he does not shine, he is darkness."

Saying 70 Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." Gospel of Thomas.

This saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas does not teach that there is light within everyone only within "a man of light". there is no indication from this saying of a doctrine of immortal souls or a divine spark trapped within us which needs re-awakening. Only that there is light is within "a man of light". 

Therefore the light is exclusively within "a man of light". Next we would assume that the "man of light" would be the disciples of the Lord as Jesus himself says that his disciples are "the light of the world". For all true believers are called light having obtained saving wisdom with faith and good works in communion with Christ and God Eph 5:8

70. Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you. If you do not have that within you, what you do not have within you [will] kill you."

This Saying refers to the light of knowledge, which is the salvation of those who possess it but the destruction of those who lack it. Knowledge must always precede Faith; for a man cannot believe that of which he has not previously been informed. Hence, the first inquiry on the part of man or woman anxious to be saved will be, WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? Until they know this, they cannot go on to the second stage of believing unto salvation. The gospel is styled "the one faith,


This saying is about faith and the knowledge of the truth. The knowledge about God and Christ Jesus and the kingdom when this knowledge comes from the outside and is written on the heart (the inside) it is “that certain thing within you that will save you”.

it's all about being given knowledge from without, or the idea that if you don't accept some sort of "approved" knowledge from outside yourself, and take it within, than THAT is what will destroy you.

The answer is faith. If you give birth to Faith within yourself. So, "If you bring forth what is within you (faith), then what you bring forth (your faith) will save you. And if you do not bring forth what is within you, what you don't bring forth will destroy you (your lack of faith).

The true believer 'begets' within himself the kingdom or Jesus who is the light of the world. The believer will be saved by what he begets;

First there could be no light within unless it came from the outside for as Paul says “within me that is within my flesh dwells no good thing” it is SIN that dwells within us all Rom 7:17,18 so the light within is the word of God both the spirit word and Christ Jesus, the son of God.

The scriptures must be written upon our hearts and Christ must dwell in us this is the light within a man of light and “that certain thing within you that will save you”.

For light is used in the scriptures as doctrine, teaching Isa 49:6 for the commandment of God is like a luminary, and the law is as a light Pr 6:23. the light by which the true life is gained jn 8:12 Jesus the Messiah is called the light of the world Lk 2:32 Jn 1:7 12:35 8:12 9:5 true believers are called light having obtained saving wisdom with faith and good works in communion with Christ and God Eph 5:8

Now, the scriptures says, "The commandment of God is a lamp; and his law is light" (Prov. 6:23); so that the prophet says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psa. 119:105).

Now, the enlightening of every believer is thus explained by Paul: "God", says he, "who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, is he who hath shined into our hearts (the believes'), with the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Cor 4:6). But "every man" is not enlightened by this glorious knowledge; for to some it is hidden.

Light will not shine in blind minds. Hence, says the apostle, "If our gospel be hidden, it is hidden to them that are lost: in whom the God of the world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ should shine into them" (2Cor 4:3,4). He darkens the tablets of their hearts by "the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches" (Matt 13:22); and thus prevents them from opening their ears to hear the words of eternal life.

24 His disciples said to Him, "Show us the place where You are, since it is necessary for us to seek it [again showing their dullness]." He said to them, "Whoever has [spiritual] ears, let him hear. #There is light [where Jesus (the light of the world) is] within a man of light [he who has Christ within him], and he (or "it") lights up the whole world [with the Keys of Knowledge he is given (true enlightenment)]. If he (or "it") [the light in you] does not shine, he (or "it") is darkness

70 Jesus said, "If you bring forth [give birth to] what is within you [the spirit of Christ "who enlightens the true believers who come into the world" - the Keys that unlock the mystery which causes you to become a bubbling fountain of Life], what you bring forth [from the scriptures and the Word within that He gives you] will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you [if you quench the spirit (like an abortion)], what you do not bring forth will destroy you [being stuck in the letter you will die in your sins]."



What is within you is the kingdom of heaven
What will save you is the way
What is within you is the light
What will destroy you is darkness