images and light gospel of thomas Saying 83

Saying 83

(83) Jesus said: The images are revealed to man, and the light which is in them is hidden in the image of the light of the Father. He will reveal himself, and his image is hidden by his light.

This saying tells us that the human being is made in God’s image. Thus, the saying begins by affirming that human beings are the visible ‘images’ of God. However, this is only a type of the true image that we are to become. The image of the son of God, into which true believers are transformed, is likeness not only to heavenly body Phil 3:21 but also to the mind of Christ and Christ tells us to be holy like our heavenly Father.

Light: Light is used to denote truth and its knowledge the saving truth embodied in Christ and imparted to mankind true believers are called light having obtained saving wisdom in fellowship with Christ add ref. The word is used in connection with joy, blessing and life in contrast to sorrow, adversity and death (Gen 1:3 Job 10:22 18;5). In addition, to signify God’s presence and favour (Ps 27:1 Isa 9:2 2Cor 4:6). God’s holiness is expressed in terms of light, in 1Tim 6:16 and 1jn 1:5 where it is said that ‘God is light’. In john’s Gospel, the term light refers to God’s holiness as a revelation of his love in Christ and the penetration of that love into lives darkened by sin. So Christ refers to himself as ’the light of the world’ (Jn 8:12 9:5 12:46)

Thus the image of the Father’s light is Christ (2Cor 4:4 Col 1:15) Paul speaks of the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ (2Cor 4:4,6). Those who are still mortal cannot adequately perceive this light. When mortality is at last swallowed up by life (2Cor 5;4) he will be fully manifest (Col 3:4 1jn 3;2). Now we see only in a mirror (1Cor 13:12; 2Cor 3:18). but when Christ shall appear we shall be like him (Phi 3:20,21) Christ is the image of God so we shall be made into the true image of God for at the moment we are in the image of Adam who is only a type of the true image Christ Jesus.

83) Jesus said, "The images [lower/outward forms of worship] are manifest to man [in the worldly religious systems that to this day still cling to the Old Covenant and the traditions, rituals and ordinances of men], but the light [the higher/inward (spiritual) meaning] in them remains concealed in the image ["locked" and hidden from view in the various names, objects and rituals] of the light of the Father [these have no light of their own]. He ["the Father of lights"] will become manifest [in the flesh - in your words and deeds as was with Christ], but his image will remain concealed by his light [those who love the darkness cannot bear the light]."