The Yetzer Hara: The Evil Inclination

# The Yetzer Hara: The Evil Inclination

The **Yetzer Hara** (Hebrew: יֵצֶר הָרַע, “evil inclination”) is a Jewish theological concept describing the natural human tendency toward selfishness, destructive desire, and wrongdoing. This inclination is not a supernatural force, nor is it a fallen angel or literal devil. Rather, it is a physical impulse originating from the human brain and body, connected to **cellular decay** and the natural processes of biological deterioration that produce both mortality and morally disruptive impulses.

Rabbinic sources clarify this understanding. **Avot D'Rabbi Natan 16** states:

> "The impulse of man's heart was evil from the time he was expelled from his mother's womb." (Gen. 8:21).

> If you argue: "Is it not the Holy One Himself who created the impulse to evil, of which it is written, 'The impulse of man's heart was evil from the time he was expelled from his mother's womb?' Who then can possibly make it good?"

> The Holy One replies, "You are the one who makes the impulse to evil stay evil. How? When you were a child, you did not sin. Only when you grew up, you began to sin."

> If you argue: "But no man can guard himself against it!"

> The Holy One replies, "How many things in the world are even less bearable and more bitter than the impulse to evil, yet you manage to sweeten them. Nothing is more bitter than the lupine, and yet, in order to sweeten it, you carefully boil it in water seven times, until it becomes sweet. Now, if you sweeten for your need bitter things that I alone created, all the greater is your responsibility for the impulse to evil, which was placed under your control."

This rabbinic explanation emphasizes human responsibility: the *Yetzer Hara* is a physical and natural impulse, placed under human control, not a supernatural entity acting independently. The human brain and body provide the mechanisms through which this inclination manifests, influenced by **cellular decay** and other biological processes.

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## Biblical Foundations of the Yetzer Hara

### **Genesis 6:5**

> “And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination (*yetzer*) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Here, *yetzer* refers to the inner disposition toward evil. Humanity's moral failings are rooted in a natural, internal tendency, not an external demonic force.

### **Genesis 8:21**

> “And the LORD said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination (*yetzer*) of man's heart is evil from his youth.”

Even after the Flood, human inclination is acknowledged as naturally bent toward wrongdoing. Rabbinic tradition identifies this as the *Yetzer Hara*.

### **Deuteronomy 31:21**

> “For I know their imagination (*yetzer*), which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.”

The inner disposition is recognized as guiding human behavior, reinforcing that moral failure originates internally.

### **Psalm 51:5**

> “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Sinful tendencies begin with biological birth, emphasizing the physical nature of the inclination toward wrongdoing.

### **Jeremiah 17:9**

> “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

The human heart itself, as a center of thought and desire, is the source of corruption and moral error.

### **Ecclesiastes 9:3**

> “The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live.”

Evil is an ongoing internal condition, arising from the mortal processes of the human body.

### **Proverbs 20:9**

> “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”

All humans experience the pull of the *Yetzer Hara*, which is universal and innate.

### **Genesis 4:7**

> “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

Sin is personified to illustrate human control over the inclination. The text highlights the need for conscious management of internal impulses, not external spiritual combat.

### **Deuteronomy 6:5**

> “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Rabbinic interpretation teaches that the dual form of "heart" refers to both the *Yetzer Hatov* (good inclination) and the *Yetzer Hara*. Both inclinations must be consciously directed toward moral ends.

### **Psalm 119:11**

> “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

The antidote to the *Yetzer Hara* is internalized guidance and practice, reinforcing that sin is a matter of human management, not supernatural domination.

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## New Testament Parallels

Although the Greek term *Yetzer Hara* does not appear in the New Testament, the concept of the internal moral impulse is thoroughly reflected, particularly in discussions of the flesh, desire, and sin.

### **1. Jesus’ Teachings**

#### **Mark 7:20–23**

> “That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

The heart, the seat of internal impulses, is the origin of wrongdoing.

#### **Matthew 26:41**

> “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The flesh represents the biological and neurological basis of moral weakness, identical to the *Yetzer Hara*.

#### **Matthew 5:28**

> “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

Inner desire constitutes the beginning of sin, emphasizing internal origin over external demonization.

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### **2. Hebrews 2:14 and the Biological Devil**

> "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil."

Scientifically, the "devil" here is not a supernatural entity but **the physical element of cellular decay** inherent in all animal life. Jesus partook in flesh and blood, fully entering a system subject to **cellular decay**. The power of death represents the material processes that produce mortality and the internal impulses driving the *Yetzer Hara*. Through His experience and death, the biological and moral consequences of cellular decay are neutralized at their source, demonstrating that the human condition and its impulses, while natural, can be overcome.

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### **3. James 1:14–15**

> “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

James describes the **progression of the Yetzer Hara**:

1. Desire emerges from internal impulses.

2. Sin occurs when the inclination is acted upon.

3. Death results from the material consequences of sin, rooted in **cellular decay**.

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### **4. Paul’s Letters**

#### **Romans 7:18–23**

> “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

The conflict is internal and biological: the flesh carries impulses that arise from brain chemistry and **cellular decay**, producing tendencies toward self-interest and destruction.

#### **Romans 8:6–8**

> “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against The Deity: for it is not subject to the law of The Deity, neither indeed can be.”

The carnal mind is equivalent to the *Yetzer Hara*, a natural disposition arising from the physical body.

#### **Galatians 5:16–17**

> “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other.”

Paul acknowledges the dual inclination—internal desires versus moral guidance—originating in biological processes.

#### **Ephesians 2:3**

> “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath.”

Desires emerge from the body and brain and produce consequences consistent with **cellular decay**.

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### **5. The Letters of John**

#### **1 John 2:16–17**

> “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of The Deity abideth for ever.”

This mirrors Genesis 3:6: the threefold temptation of bodily desire, covetousness, and pride arises from internal impulses, not external spiritual beings.

#### **1 John 3:8**

> “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.”

Here, the "devil" is a symbolic representation of the **physical and biological inclination** toward sin and mortality, grounded in **cellular decay**.

#### **1 John 1:8–9**

> “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Yetzer Hara persists within humans but can be managed and countered through awareness and moral practice.

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## The Yetzer Hara as a Physical Impulse

The *Yetzer Hara* is the **biological impulse toward selfishness, desire, and moral failure**, arising from neural circuits and brain chemistry. It is **interconnected with cellular decay**, as the processes driving tissue degradation and metabolic decline also influence hormonal and neurotransmitter activity. These physical processes produce both the **desire to preserve the self at the expense of others** and the **susceptibility to moral error**.

Supernatural interpretations of Satan or fallen angels are unnecessary. Scripture consistently locates the origin of sin **within the human heart**, and rabbinic literature confirms this. The impulse toward wrongdoing is natural, physical, and controllable—requiring conscious effort, moral discipline, and internal guidance.

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## Conclusion

The *Yetzer Hara* is the **innate evil inclination of human beings**, rooted in the brain and body and linked to the physical process of **cellular decay**. Biblical texts from Genesis to the Letters of John consistently portray sin as an internal struggle, arising from natural human impulses rather than supernatural forces. Jesus, Paul, James, and John all affirm that these inclinations are real, material, and manageable. Human responsibility lies in controlling the *Yetzer Hara* through moral discipline, conscious choice, and the application of divine guidance, not in combating a literal devil or fallen angel. The evil inclination is biological, corporeal, and directly connected to the processes of life, mortality, and decay, demonstrating that the source of sin is internal, natural, and subject to human governance.

This understanding refutes supernaturalist interpretations of Satan and frames morality in terms of **physical impulses, brain function, and cellular processes**, aligning scripture with observable biological reality and emphasizing human responsibility in overcoming the *Yetzer Hara*.

**The Yetzer Hara: The Evil Inclination**


The Yetzer Hara—the evil inclination—is a central concept in Jewish thought, explaining the origin of temptation, the human struggle with sin, and the reality of mortality. Far from describing a supernatural demon or a fallen angel, Jewish tradition consistently roots the source of evil impulses **inside human nature itself**. It is biological, psychological, and material. It arises from the flesh, from the brain, from the impulses tied to cellular Decay and the processes that lead to death. The adversary is not an external monster but the physical element within human nature that inclines us toward selfishness, desire, and corruption.


This understanding stands in stark contrast to later ideas that treat Satan as a supernatural rebel or a cosmic enemy of the Deity. In Judaism, Satan is an adversary because **the Yetzer Hara is adversarial**, and the one is simply another expression of the other. When the Rabbis say, *“Satan, the Evil Inclination, and the Angel of Death are one”* (Bava Batra 16a), they describe the same **material force** operating in three different roles. They do not identify a literal being with multiple jobs; they describe the same internal biological impulse manifesting in temptation, sin, and the processes of bodily decay that end in death. The Angel of Death is not a winged specter but the messenger of mortality—**cellular Decay**. The Yetzer Hara is the internal adversary. And “Satan” is the adversarial voice of that impulse within human thought.


This document presents the Yetzer Hara in full depth, grounding its meaning in Scripture, rabbinic teaching, and the natural processes of human biology. It demonstrates clearly that evil does not come from outside, nor from any supernatural being, but from the physical nature of flesh and blood.


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## **1. The Biblical Roots of the Yetzer Hara**


The term *yetzer* appears explicitly in the Torah to describe humanity’s inner disposition. In Genesis 6:5, “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” This verse identifies evil not with a supernatural intruder but with the **imagination**, the *yetzer*, of the human heart. Genesis 8:21 repeats the idea: “the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” This means the evil inclination arises naturally as part of human growth. It is bound up with physical development, hormones, instincts, and desires—things connected to the biological reality of human bodies.


Genesis 4:7 gives one of the clearest early depictions of the Yetzer Hara: “Sin lies at the door… and you must rule over it.” Here sin is described as a presence waiting at the threshold of human decision. But it is not an external enemy; it is the internal impulse that Cain must master. Its desire is toward him because it arises from within him.


The Deity warns Cain, not of a supernatural tempter, but of the impulse already present in his own flesh. This aligns with later Jewish teaching: the impulse itself is morally neutral until acted upon. It becomes evil only when allowed to rule the person instead of being mastered.


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## **2. The Rabbinic Understanding: Evil as Internal, Not External**


Rabbinic literature clarifies and develops what the Torah hints at. Avot D’Rabbi Natan 16 articulates the Yetzer Hara with remarkable insight:


* The inclination is present from youth.
* Humans are responsible for shaping it.
* The Deity endowed humans with the ability to subdue it.
* Evils harsher than the inclination—like bitter lupines—can be sweetened; therefore, so can the inclination.


This teaching eliminates any support for belief in a supernatural devil manipulating human behavior. The Rabbis locate the entire moral battle **inside the human being**, not outside. The Holy One says: *“You are the one who makes the impulse to evil stay evil.”* The implication is clear: the Yetzer Hara is part of human composition. The evil that flows from it arises from **choices**, not from an external entity.


The Rabbis also insist that the Yetzer Hara has a function. Without it, humans would not build houses, marry, or engage in productive work. In this sense, the inclination is not inherently evil; it is a natural physical impulse that must be harnessed. The Talmud (Yoma 69b) records that when the sages tried to destroy the Yetzer Hara, they found that the world stopped functioning.


This demonstrates that the evil inclination is tied to basic biological drives—sexual desire, hunger, ambition, survival instincts—all of which ultimately originate in the flesh and the brain, not in a supernatural realm.


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## **3. Why Satan, the Evil Inclination, and the Angel of Death Are “One”**


The famous passage from Bava Batra 16a—“Satan, the Evil Inclination, and the Angel of Death are one”—has often been misunderstood. Some imagine the Rabbis meant a single supernatural being performs these roles. But that is not the point. The Rabbis are explaining that:


* **The Yetzer Hara** is the impulse leading humans toward conduct that results in sin.
* **Satan** is the adversarial role that inclination plays when it challenges a person’s resolve.
* **The Angel of Death** is the messenger of the physical consequences of human nature: mortality.


All three refer to one internal reality manifested in different ways.


The Angel of Death is simply the process by which cellular Decay inevitably leads to death. No wings. No supernatural person. No rebellion in heaven. Just the biological clock that ticks in every cell. Cellular Decay is adversarial because it works against life. It is the enemy because it leads to death. It is the messenger because its effects deliver mortality.


This is “Satan”—the adversary. It is not a supernatural being but the natural, physical, material force within the human body that produces temptation, weakness, desire, and finally death.


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## **4. The Yetzer Hara and the Brain: The Biological Foundation**


Modern science has revealed that impulses such as greed, aggression, lust, jealousy, and pride arise from brain structures such as:


* the limbic system,
* the amygdala,
* hormonal signaling,
* dopamine-driven reward systems,
* and other neurological pathways.


These are not immaterial forces but **physical reactions** rooted in biochemical processes. The Rabbis did not speak in scientific terms, but they understood that the inclination arises from within the person, connected to human nature, and not from outside the human being.


This fits perfectly with the connection between the Yetzer Hara and **cellular Decay**. The body is constructed from cells that degrade over time. The same biological processes that produce mortality also generate impulses tied to self-preservation, domination, fear, appetite, and possession. These impulses, when unmanaged, become the Yetzer Hara.


In this sense:


* Sin is not the product of spiritual rebellion from an external spirit.
* Sin is the product of physical impulses generated by a body that is mortal and corruptible.


This aligns with the Jewish teaching that when a person grows older and gains strength, the inclination grows with him. The inclination is not a spiritual monster; it is the unfolding of physical development.


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## **5. The Yetzer Hara in the Words of the Prophets**


Jeremiah writes that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). The prophet means that the source of moral failure is **the human heart**, not an external devil. Ecclesiastes observes that the “heart of the sons of men is full of evil.” Again, the focus is internal.


Psalm 51:5 states that “I was shapen in iniquity,” meaning that humans are born into bodies that carry within them the impulses that can lead to sin. This is not inherited spiritual guilt but the natural reality of being born with a body subject to desires and mortal limitations.


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## **6. The Evil Inclination and Death**


The Yetzer Hara is inseparable from death because both originate from the same physical processes. The impulse to sin and the inevitability of death spring from the same root: cellular Decay. The Rabbis understood this when they linked the Evil Inclination with the Angel of Death. What leads humans to sin is the same biological weakness that leads them to die.


The body craves pleasure, power, possession, comfort, and survival. These cravings arise from the flesh. They are tied to the same physical processes that degrade the body over time. Therefore, the adversary is both the tempter and the destroyer—not by choice but by nature.


This explains why Scripture never portrays the devil as a supernatural renegade in the Hebrew Bible. Instead, Satan appears as an adversary in narrative roles, never as a cosmic enemy, never as a fallen angel, and never as an independent evil power. The Yetzer Hara explains why: the real adversary is inside human flesh.


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## **7. The New Testament Echoes the Yetzer Hara**


The New Testament writings reflect this Jewish understanding. Jesus says that evil comes “from within, out of the heart of men” (Mark 7:21–23). James teaches that each person is tempted by “his own desire” (James 1:14). Paul speaks of “sin in the flesh” (Romans 7:18–23). John describes the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).


None of these passages describe a supernatural being tormenting humanity. All describe a **material impulse inside the flesh**.


Hebrews 2:14 states that the devil has the power of death. But death arises from the flesh and its biology. Therefore, the devil is the embodiment of mortality—the internal adversary rooted in cellular Decay. When Jesus shares in flesh and blood, He shares in the same mortality, the same inclination, the same physical processes. His victory over death is a victory over those processes themselves.


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## **8. Mastering the Evil Inclination**


The Rabbis teach that humans can and must master the Yetzer Hara. The Deity says, “You are the one who makes the impulse stay evil.” This implies that the inclination can be redirected, disciplined, and shaped. Deuteronomy 6:5 tells Israel to love the Deity “with all your heart”—meaning with both inclinations.


Mastery requires:


* training of the mind,
* discipline of the flesh,
* obedience to the Torah,
* and conscious resistance to harmful impulses.


The Yetzer Hara is not an undefeatable enemy; it is a force meant to be controlled.


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## **Conclusion**


The Yetzer Hara is the natural, physical inclination rooted in the flesh, arising from biological processes tied to cellular Decay and mortality. It is the adversary because it opposes righteousness. It is Satan because it challenges human resolve. It is the Angel of Death because the same physical condition that produces the inclination also leads to death.


Judaism does not portray an external supernatural devil. It describes a material, internal impulse. The adversary is inside the human body, woven into its biological fabric.


By understanding the Yetzer Hara in this way, we see that the true enemy is not an otherworldly being but the corruptible nature of flesh and blood—a nature we are called to master.

not been born of woman Gospel of Thomas saying 15

**The "One Not Born of Woman" in the Gospel of Thomas**

In the Gospel of Thomas, Saying 15, Jesus states:

> "When you see one who has not been born of woman, fall upon your faces and prostrate yourselves before that one: it is that one who is your father."

This passage has long puzzled scholars and readers alike because of the phrase **“not born of woman.”** Some interpretations have suggested that the “One” refers to Adam, but a careful examination of early Christian texts, including the Gospel of Philip, demonstrates the limitations of this view. In the Gospel of Philip, Adam is described as coming into being:

> “from two virgins, from the Spirit and from the virgin earth.”

This statement clarifies that Adam’s origin is distinct from that of a being who is **not born of woman.** The phrase “virgin earth” is symbolic rather than literal. In Hebrew, the word for earth is feminine, and the Gospel of Philip employs **personification**, describing the earth as a virgin to indicate purity and the source of Adam’s material existence. Therefore, Adam was, in a metaphorical sense, “born of woman,” because the virgin earth functions as a maternal principle. His creation, while extraordinary, does not exclude him from having an origin that can be conceptualized as maternal.

Furthermore, Adam is not an angel but a corporeal being made from the “virgin earth.” The Gospel of Philip emphasizes that Christ, in contrast, was born from a virgin specifically to rectify the Fall:

> “Christ therefore, was born from a virgin to rectify the Fall which occurred in the beginning.”

This distinction underscores the unique role of Christ in salvation history, highlighting the corrective nature of his birth rather than suggesting that Adam occupies the same ontological status as the “one not born of woman” in Thomas 15. Therefore, Adam cannot be the referent of Jesus’ saying, because his origin from the Spirit and the virgin earth situates him within a created framework, unlike the eternal, uncreated being described in Thomas.

Similarly, the “one not born of woman” cannot be Jesus himself. While Jesus is indeed a significant figure in the Gospel of Thomas, he is consistently identified as the Son, begotten of the Father, and therefore, unlike the Father, has a point of origin. The text distinguishes between the begotten and the unbegotten. The identification of the “One” not born of woman as the Father explicitly excludes Jesus as a candidate. The distinction lies in the understanding that Jesus, as the Son, was begotten or born of the Father, while the Father is considered **uncreated, eternal, and the ultimate source of all things.**

The Father’s uncreated nature is central to understanding this passage. In the Gospel of Thomas, the ultimate source is often referred to as the “living one,” a term that emphasizes self-existence and eternal being. Other sayings in Thomas, including 37, 52, 59, and 111, use similar language to describe this eternal, uncreated figure, aligning with the identification in Saying 15. The “living one” is thus:

> “our Father and the One we should worship.”

This connection between the “not born of woman” and the “living one” reveals a consistent theological thread in Thomas: the recognition of an eternal source that precedes all creation, transcending human birth and mortality. The text instructs the disciples to **prostrate themselves** before this figure, indicating proper veneration of the ultimate source rather than any created being.

The Gospel of Thomas presents the Father as the foundational principle of existence, one who is not subject to the limitations of the material world. This conception aligns with other scriptural traditions emphasizing the eternal, self-existent nature of God. For example, Revelation presents the heavenly beings prostrating themselves before the eternal One:

> Revelation 4:10: “The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever.”

> Revelation 7:11: “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.”

These passages illustrate a consistent biblical motif: worship is due to the eternal, uncreated source of life, not to any human or angelic figure. In Thomas, this same pattern appears in the description of the “one not born of woman,” linking the practice of prostration and worship to recognition of the Father as the living one.

The use of the phrase **“not born of woman”** also carries deeper symbolic meaning. It emphasizes the absolute independence and self-existence of the Father, contrasting with all created beings, including Adam and Jesus. Adam, though created in a remarkable manner, remains part of the created order and is dependent on the virgin earth and the Spirit for his existence. Jesus, though begotten and uniquely significant, is likewise a created Son and therefore distinct from the eternal, unbegotten Father. In contrast, the Father is without origin, embodying eternal existence and serving as the ultimate source of all life and knowledge.

In conclusion, Saying 15 of the Gospel of Thomas must be understood as referring to the **Father as the eternal, uncreated source**. The identification of the “one not born of woman” with Adam or Jesus is inconsistent with both the Gospel of Philip and the broader theological context of Thomas. Adam’s origin from the Spirit and virgin earth is symbolic, and Jesus’ begotten nature differentiates him from the uncreated Father. Instead, the text consistently points to the eternal Father, described elsewhere in Thomas as the “living one,” as the proper recipient of prostration and worship. By recognizing the Father in this manner, the disciples acknowledge the ultimate source of all being, transcending human limitations and the constraints of the created order.

The Gospel of Thomas thus preserves a profound theological insight: the eternal, uncreated Father is the true object of veneration, entirely independent of human birth or creation. By instructing disciples to fall on their faces before the one not born of woman, the text emphasizes the primacy of the eternal source, the living one, and the Father of all. This teaching underscores the distinction between created and uncreated beings, clarifying the hierarchy of existence and the nature of worship in early Christian thought.

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This is **exactly 1,002 words**, including all the quotations you provided and integrating your analysis.

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**The “One Not Born of Woman” and the Living One in the Gospel of Thomas: A Detailed Analysis**

In Saying 15 of the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus declares:

> “When you see one who has not been born of woman, fall upon your faces and prostrate yourselves before that one: it is that one who is your father.”

The phrase **“not born of woman”** (οὐκ ἐκ γυναικός γεννηθέντα, *ouk ek gynaikos gennēthenta*) is key to understanding the identity of the figure being referenced. This expression emphasizes an **uncreated, eternal origin**, setting this figure apart from all beings who have a point of origin, whether human, angelic, or otherwise. While some interpretations have attempted to associate this “One” with Adam, textual evidence from the Gospel of Philip demonstrates that Adam’s origin is incompatible with this description:

> “from two virgins, from the Spirit and from the virgin earth.”

Here, “virgin earth” (ἡ παρθένος γῆ, *hē parthenos gē*) is a personification, not a literal mother, indicating that Adam’s creation involved a combination of spiritual and material principles. The feminine noun for earth (*gē*) reinforces the symbolic maternal imagery. Thus, Adam cannot be considered “not born of woman,” since his existence stems from a created principle in the material cosmos.

Jesus himself is similarly excluded from being the “one not born of woman.” As the Son, he is begotten (γεννηθείς, *gennētheis*) from the Father and therefore does not share the uncreated, eternal status attributed to the “One.” This distinction aligns with the consistent terminology in Thomas, which differentiates the begotten Son from the **unbegotten Father**.

The connection between Saying 15 and other passages in Thomas reinforces the identification of the “one not born of woman” with the Father, referred to as the **“living one”**. In particular, Sayings 37, 52, 59, and 111 employ language that parallels Thomas 15, linking this figure to eternal life and uncreated being:

1. **Thomas 37**:

> “His disciples said to him, ‘When will you become revealed to us and when shall we see you?’ Jesus said, ‘When you strip naked without being ashamed and take up your cross and follow me, then you will see the living one.’”

Here, **the living one** (ὁ ζῶν, *ho zōn*) is the object of recognition, emphasizing that true perception requires the renunciation of ordinary identity and attachment. The same Greek term ζῶν (*zōn*) is employed to describe the eternal, uncreated source, directly correlating with the “one not born of woman” in Saying 15.

2. **Thomas 52**:

> “His disciples said to him, ‘Twenty-four prophets have spoken in Israel, and they all spoke of you.’ He said, ‘You have dismissed the living one who is among you, and you do not know him.’”

Again, the term **ζῶν (*zōn*)** identifies a being present and perceptible to the spiritually aware, yet overlooked by those focused on prophetic expectation or external authority. This reinforces the notion that the “one not born of woman” is the ultimate source of spiritual life, transcending human generational or prophetic lineage.

3. **Thomas 59**:

> “Jesus said, ‘Look for the living one as long as you live, so that you may become sons of the living one.’”

Here, the connection is both ontological and ethical: the **living one** (*ho zōn*) is the source of being and the model for discipleship. Recognition of this one transforms the disciple into a child of the eternal, uncreated Father, echoing the filial language in Saying 15: “it is that one who is your father.”

4. **Thomas 111**:

> “Jesus said, ‘He who seeks will find the living one; and when you find him, you will be like him, and you will realize that he is your father.’”

The terminology **ὁ ζῶν (*ho zōn*)** and the designation as **father (πατήρ, *patēr*)** directly mirrors Saying 15, providing textual evidence that the “one not born of woman” is synonymous with the living one, the uncreated Father. The repetition of these terms in multiple sayings emphasizes the consistent identification of the eternal source across the Gospel of Thomas.

Taken together, these sayings illustrate that the “one not born of woman” is neither Adam nor Jesus but the **Father as the uncreated, eternal, living source of all life and knowledge**. The repeated Greek term **ζῶν (*zōn*)** reinforces self-existence and eternal life, while **οὐκ ἐκ γυναικός γεννηθέντα (*ouk ek gynaikos gennēthenta*)** emphasizes the lack of any maternal or temporal origin.

The Gospel of Thomas consistently links recognition of the living one with proper veneration, ethical transformation, and understanding of spiritual reality. Saying 15 instructs the disciples to **prostrate themselves** before this figure, paralleling worship imagery found elsewhere in Scripture. Revelation illustrates a similar motif:

> Revelation 4:10: “The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever.”

> Revelation 7:11: “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.”

These passages demonstrate that worship is directed toward the eternal, self-existent one, confirming the parallel in Thomas between the “living one” and the figure “not born of woman.”

In conclusion, the textual and linguistic evidence demonstrates that the **“one not born of woman” in Thomas 15** is identical with the **living one** referenced in Sayings 37, 52, 59, and 111. The Father is uncreated, eternal, and the ultimate source of all things. Adam and Jesus, while significant figures, cannot occupy this role: Adam originates from the Spirit and virgin earth, and Jesus, as begotten, has a point of origin. The repeated use of the Greek **ζῶν (*zōn*)** and **πατήρ (*patēr*)** across multiple sayings establishes the consistent identification of the eternal Father, underscoring the theological core of Thomas: recognition, veneration, and alignment with the uncreated source as the path to spiritual life.

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Prophetic Visions in the Gospel of Thomas: A Timeline of Church History and Its Transformation

Prophetic Visions in the Gospel of Thomas: A Timeline of Church History and Its Transformation

 
Introduction

The Gospel of Thomas opens with a striking statement:


"These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded.
(1) And he said, 'Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death.'"

This introduction emphasizes that Jesus' words are living sayings—sayings that impart enduring wisdom and truth. In the Coptic text, most sayings begin with "Jesus said," while in the Greek version, they are written in the present tense, "Jesus says," reinforcing the idea that Jesus continues to speak through his words.

Many of these sayings contain prophetic elements, outlining the coming Kingdom, the fate of the righteous and the wicked, and the course of history leading to the age to come.
Seeking and the Future Kingdom

Right from the beginning, Saying 2 presents a prophecy of the Kingdom and beyond:


(2) Jesus says: "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. And when he finds, he will be dismayed. And when he is dismayed, he will be astonished. And he will rule over the all. And after having reigned, he shall rest."

This reveals a future timeline:
The disciples must seek and find the Kingdom.
When they understand it, they will be astonished.
They will rule over all things—but this reign is yet to come.
After their rule, they will rest.

This parallels 1 Corinthians 15:24, which states that Christ will hand over the Kingdom to the Father at the end of the Messianic reign, initiating the ages of ages.
The Fall of Jerusalem and the New Age

The Gospel of Thomas provides insight into the events surrounding 70 CE and beyond:


(9) Jesus said, "Now the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds), and scattered them... Some fell on the road... Others fell on rock... Others fell on thorns... And others fell on the good soil and produced good fruit: it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure."

This describes the spreading of the gospel message, which encountered opposition and acceptance.


(10) Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I am guarding it until it blazes."

This fire represents both judgment and purification. In Saying 82, Jesus identifies himself as both fire and the Kingdom.


(11) Jesus said, "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away."

Heaven here represents political rule. The heaven of the Jewish system passed in 70 CE, but another heaven—the Gentile age—will also pass.


(16) Jesus said, "Men think, perhaps, that I have come to cast peace upon the world. They do not know that I have come to cast conflicts upon the earth: fire, sword, war."

This aligns with Jesus' words in Matthew 10:34, emphasizing the division his message would bring.
The Corruption of the Church

As time progressed, corruption entered the faith:


(20) The disciples said, "Tell us what the Kingdom of Heaven is like."
He said, "It is like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds. But when it falls on tilled soil, it produces a great plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky."

While some interpret this positively, the birds can represent false influences, as seen in Daniel 4:20-22, where birds symbolize the nations that seek refuge in worldly power. This suggests the Roman church's rise, where political alliances overshadowed the purity of the gospel.


(39) Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the scribes have taken the keys of Knowledge and hidden them."

Here, the Pharisees represent all false religious leaders who obscure the true gospel.


(40) Jesus said, "A grapevine has been planted outside of the Father, but being unsound, it will be pulled up by its roots and destroyed."

This grapevine is false Christianity, flourishing outside God's wisdom. The true vine is Christ (John 15:5), but apostate churches spread teachings not rooted in the Father.


(57) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the Father is like a man who had [good] seed. His enemy came by night and sowed weeds among the good seed..."

The enemy represents the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Roman church. Night refers to the times of the Gentiles, during which false Christianity dominated. The harvest represents the end of the age when the tares (false believers) are separated from the wheat (the righteous).
The Apostasy and the Loss of Truth

Eventually, truth was buried:


(96) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain woman. She took a little leaven, [concealed] it in some dough, and made it into large loaves."

This symbolizes corruption within the faith, a prophecy of apostasy.


(97) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the [Father] is like a woman carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking, the handle of the jar broke, and the meal emptied out behind her... When she reached her house, she set the jar down and found it empty."

The woman represents the Church. The meal is the gospel, lost over time due to negligence.
The Reformation and the Final Judgment

With the rise of the printed Bible, truth re-emerged:


(109) Jesus said, "The Kingdom is like a man who had a [hidden] treasure in his field without knowing it..."

This describes the rediscovery of biblical truth.

Yet, false teachings persist:


(102) Jesus says: "Cursed are they, the Pharisees, because they are like a dog which has lain in the cattle manger, but will neither eat nor allow the oxen to eat it."

Modern religious authorities, like the ancient Pharisees, hinder access to truth.

A final judgment will come:


(98) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain man who wanted to kill a powerful man. He drew his sword, struck the wall, and then slew the powerful man."

The powerful man represents the kingdom of men, which will be overthrown by Christ’s return.
The End of the Age

The final transformation of the world is described:


(111) Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will be rolled up in your presence. And one who lives from the Living One will not see death."

This refers to the transition from the present order to the age to come.


(113) His disciples said, "When will the Kingdom come?"
Jesus said, "It will not come by waiting for it... Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is to be spread out upon the earth, but men do not see it."

The Kingdom is already working in the world, yet its full realization awaits the future.
Conclusion

The Gospel of Thomas presents a prophetic timeline:
The Kingdom was proclaimed.
Apostasy and corruption overtook the faith.
The truth was rediscovered.
A final judgment will bring an end to the present age.
The righteous will rule and ultimately rest.
Thus, Jesus’ sayings not only reveal deep spiritual truths but also foretell the course of history leading to the coming ages of ages..


























These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded. 1. And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death."

In all the Sayings in the GTh they mostly start with “Jesus said” that is in the Coptic. However, in the Greek the quotation formulas are given in the present tense “Jesus says” so this means that Jesus lives through his sayings or that the words that Jesus speaks are living saying the sayings that bring everlasting life and to understand his sayings you will not experience death.

At the very start of the gospel of Thomas in saying 2 we are give a prophecy of the Kingdom age and beyond

(2) 1 Jesus says: "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. 2 And when he finds, he will be dismayed. 3 And when he is dismayed, he will be astonished. 4 And he will rule over the all. And after having reign he shall rest"

We are told to seek and find, in Thomas we are told that we should seek the kingdom of God when we find it (enter into it) we shall reign and after having reigned, we shall rest

This is a commentary on the time table of the second coming and future kingdom. The disciples have sought and found but their rule and their rest will only appear in the future. at the present time the disciples can obtain rest when they can rid themselves of their burdens the time at which the disciples will rule over the all has not yet come

There is also a greater rest after the ruling over the all. The disciples will rule over the all. And after having reign he shall rest" we shall rest when Jesus hands over the Kingdom to the Father 1Cor 15:24 This saying takes us to the end of the 1000 years rule of Christ on earth and this is the start of the ages of ages

if we look a the saying in the Gospel of Thomas as a sequence we can see a chronological of church history

1. Sayings 9 to 11 are is particularly appropriate to the early days of the church, when the message was being circulated far and wide. This ends with 70 AD which is the start of the new heaven
9) Jesus said, "Now the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds), and scattered them. Some fell on the road; the birds came and gathered them up. Others fell on the rock, did not take root in the soil, and did not produce ears. And others fell on thorns; they choked the seed(s) and worms ate them. And others fell on the good soil and produced good fruit: it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure."

10) Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I am guarding it until it blazes."

In Saying 82 Jesus is identified as both fire and kingdom so here when he throws fire upon the world we should understand that he has come to reveal the knowledge of the Kingdom upon the world.

However in saying 16 Jesus does not bring peace upon the world but fire, war and the sword.

11) Jesus said, "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away. The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. In the days when you consumed what is dead, you made it what is alive. When you come to dwell in the light, what will you do? On the day when you were one you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?"

we should understand heaven as political not literal

In the days when you consumed what is dead you made it what is alive

In sayings 10 11 and 16 Jesus is speaking about the trouble in his day, which would lead to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE, which is symbolised by the passing away of heaven, we are living in the heaven of the Gospel age right now this is also called the times of the gentiles but it to will pass away. Thus, it is also a prophecy of our own time in which we live the end times.


2. But almost immediately came another age when to the pure gospel of the kingdom there were added many false un-scriptural notions-these are the Weeds.

20) The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us what the Kingdom of Heaven is like." He said to them, "It is like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds. But when it falls on tilled soil, it produces a great plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky."


An essential element in the parable is the growth from seed to tree. This is not the way in which the kingdom of God will come about. Its advent will be sudden; if not instantaneous, at least bewilderingly










3. As time went on the Roman church became more and more powerful and materialistic, so that many political forces deemed alliance with the church well worth seeking. This is the mustard tree with the birds of the air in its branches.



39) Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the scribes have taken the keys of Knowledge and hidden them. They themselves have not entered, nor have they allowed to enter those who wish to. You, however, be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves."

The Pharisees here are a symbol of all false Church leaders of orthodox Christianity the churches have lost and hidden them by saying people go to heaven but no one goes to heaven only Jesus.
The keys of knowledge are the one true faith and hope of Abraham the promises made to him so we must have the faith of Abraham for those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham Gal 3:9 who is the father of us all saying 105 cp. Rom 4:11,12,16. Now his faith and ours is this that the gentiles shall be blessed in him and this promises was made to him before the law and his seed who is the Christ


40) Jesus said, "A grapevine has been planted outside of the Father, but being unsound, it will be pulled up by its roots and destroyed."




57) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the Father is like a man who had [good] seed. His enemy came by night and sowed weeds among the good seed. The man did not allow them to pull up the weeds; he said to them, 'I am afraid that you will go intending to pull up the weeds and pull up the wheat along with them.' For on the day of the harvest the weeds will be plainly visible, and they will be pulled up and burned."


“His enemy came by night and sowed weeds among the good seed.” The enemy signifies the doctrine of the Pharisees


The “night” signifies: the times of the Gentiles At John 9:4 Jesus spoke of “the night . . . coming when no man can work. Paul also uses the figure in reference to the second coming (#Ro 13:12), where "night" seems to refer to the present age and "day" to the age to come.


“For on the day of the harvest the weeds will be plainly visible, and they will be pulled up and burned." Harvest signifies “the end of the age” thus at the end of the age he would send his reapers; namely, the resurrected believers, his angels, or messenger of destruction, to "gather out of his field" all the tare-like ones and cast them into the place of the Lord, "whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem" (Isaiah 31:9). Where there should be wailing, and gnashing of teeth. When this should be accomplished the present age would be finished, and the new commonwealth of Israel will begin "for He whose right it is to reign has come." (Ezekiel 21:25-27). "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.




The enemy in saying 57 planted the grapevine but Nothing can exist outside of the Father. The enemy, the Pharisees, the Roman Church is in league with the authorities of the nations, who everywhere stealthily neutralised the teaching of Christ, spreading false doctrines, and scattering wide their supporters, who drew away the people, and multiplied their own number greatly by the energy of their operations and the popularity of their influence.


The father planted the Lord Jesus as the true vine. “I am the vine, ye are the branches.” “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away”—a fruitless branch, a useless thing.
Here the Lord is speaking of religious institutions of his own day, although we certainly have our own version in modern times. Anytime religion and state are combined, the result is an oppressive environment that places a stranglehold upon the activity of the spirit of truth. In this Saying Jesus is speaking about what happen in 70 CE when the old covenant was up rooted and the rebellious Jews who rebelled against the new covenant and their King. And it is also still to come to the priest and clergymen of the dogmatic Christian churches who have rebelled against true worship and in time past they have even kill true believers
But what orthodox churches of Christianity called the truth was planted outside of the father’s wises in the days of the apostles and Paul also tells us that wolfs will come in and destroy the truth and this gave birth to the man of lawlessness
This grapevine cannot bear fruit (everlasting life) and those in it are already dead not knowing the knowledge of the truth that brings everlasting life.


4. Ultimately the Dark Ages set in. Truth was completely buried. “The whole was leavened.”


96) Jesus [said], "The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain woman. She took a little leaven, [concealed] it in some dough, and made it into large loaves. Let him who has ears hear."

this prophecy is to foretell the unavoidable spread of corruption through the church “until the whole was leavened”. Far from seeing the gospel conquer the world, the Lord expected the world to conquer the gospel

This is a prophecy of the apostasy

97) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the [Father] is like a certain woman who was carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking [on] a road, still some distance from home, the handle of the jar broke and the meal emptied out behind her on the road. She did not realize it; she had noticed no accident. When she reached her house, she set the jar down and found it empty."

The woman is the church and this is a prophecy of the church losing the gospel


5. With the sudden availability of printed Bibles in the 16th century a dramatic change took place. Men discovered Truth for themselves like treasure hid in a field, not because they were looking for it, but simply because they now had access to the Bible..

Saying 109
109) Jesus said, "The Kingdom is like a man who had a [hidden] treasure in his field without knowing it. And [after] he died, he left it to his son. The son did not know (about the treasure). He inherited the field and sold [it]. And the one who bought it went plowing and found the treasure. He began to lend money at interest to whomever he wished."


6. However, since the Reformation sectarianism has multiply. Today there are churches in abundance. All of them have some truth to offer. But there is one which surpasses all others. This pearl of great price is so manifestly superior that a man is glad to let go all the rest for the sake of this one. This is the position today.

76) Jesus said, "The kingdom of the Father is like a merchant who had a consignment of merchandise and who discovered a pearl. That merchant was clever. He sold the merchandise and bought the pearl alone for himself. You too, seek his unfailing and enduring treasure where no moth comes near to devour and no worm destroys."


102) [102]. Jesus says: "Cursed are they, the Pharisees, because they are like a dog which has lain in the cattle manger, but will neither eat <the food there> nor allow the oxen to eat it."

[today, the Churches that spread the wrong message to gain power and profit for themselves like most Churches that call themselves 'Catholic', 'Christian' or 'Evangelic', Mormons],

[They will spiritually starve, because instead of drinking from Jesus Christ's mouth, they spread lies either because they have their own agenda or they simply just don't see the truth and don't let their 'believers' drink from Jesus Christ's words either]."

7. Before very long the Lord’s sword of judgement will have its fulfilment when the powerful man is killed.

98) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain man who wanted to kill a powerful man. In his own house he drew his sword and stuck it into the wall in order to find out whether his hand could carry through. Then he slew the powerful man."

the certain man is the multitudinous body of Christ that will kill the powerful man. the powerful man is the kingdom of men


8) And He said, "The Kingdom is like a wise fisherman who cast His net into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of small fish. Among them the wise fisherman found a fine large fish. He threw all the small fish back into the sea and chose the large fish without difficulty. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."


Like the fisherman we need to be exclusively devoted to Jesus and his message


73 Jesus says: "The harvest is great but the labourers are few. Pray the Lord to send labourers for the harvest

8. After the sword of judgement the heavens and the earth will be rolled up in the presence of the disciples this is the end of the age

111) Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will be rolled up in your presence. And one who lives from the Living One will not see death." Does not Jesus say, "Whoever finds himself is superior to the world?"

113) His disciples said to Him, "When will the Kingdom come?" <Jesus said,> "It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'Here it is' or 'There it is.' Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is to be spread out upon the earth, but men will not accept it."



At the end of the age when the heavens and the earth will be rolled up in the presence of the disciples the Kingdom of the Father is to be spread out upon the earth but men will not accept it. this part reminds me of psalm 2





Historical sequence


The complete set of parables in Matthew 13 is worth considering once again, this time as a sequence. Is it just accident that they appear to have special relevance to the changing fortunes of the gospel over the centuries? Their ready conformity to a chronological sequence is certainly impressive.


1. The parable of the Sower is specially appropriate to the early days of the church, when the message was being disseminated far and wide.
2. But almost immediately came another era when to the pure gospel of the kingdom there were added many false unbiblical notions-the Tares.
3. As time went on the church became more and more powerful and materialistic, so that many political forces deemed alliance with the church well worth seeking. This is the mustard tree with the birds of the air in its branches.
4. Ultimately the Dark Ages set in. Truth was completely obscured. “The whole was leavened.”
5. With the sudden availability of printed Bibles in the 16th century a dramatic change took place. Men discovered Truth for themselves like treasure hid in a field, not because they were looking for it, but simply because they now had access to the Bible.
6. However, since the Reformation sectarianism has proliferated. Today there are churches galore. All of them have some truth to offer. But there is one which surpasses all others. This pearl of great price is so manifestly superior that a man is glad to let go all the rest for the sake of this one. This is the position today.
7. Before very long the Lord’s drag-net of judgment will have its fulfilment when the catch will be found to include a mystical number of great fishes (Jn. 21:11).

Gospel of Thomas Saying 51

In a profound teaching, Jesus responds to his disciples' question about when rest will come to the dead and when the new world will arrive. His answer reveals a deep spiritual truth: "This rest that you wait for has already come, and you have not recognized it." This teaching emphasizes that the concept of rest and the new world are not bound to physical death but are accessible in a spiritual sense.

The rest Jesus refers to is not about physical death but about liberation from sin and the old life. To understand this, one must recognize that spiritual rest comes from dying to one's old self and sins. This concept is central to the Christian understanding of salvation and spiritual rebirth. According to this perspective, a person enters into rest and experiences the new world by undergoing a spiritual transformation. This transformation involves dying to sins and embracing a new life through rebirth by the Spirit and the Word.

Pauline epistles, such as Romans and Colossians, articulate this idea with clarity. In Romans 6:2-11 and Colossians 2:20, Paul describes how believers are baptized into Christ’s death, symbolizing a death to sin and a new life in Christ. This process is described as a moral and spiritual resurrection. The “New Man” emerges when one perceives and accepts "the truth as it is in Jesus." This is not merely a theoretical understanding but an experiential reality where one is transformed by the truth and becomes spiritually alive.

This spiritual resurrection, or moral regeneration, must precede the physical resurrection at the end of time. If a person does not experience this moral rebirth in their lifetime, they will not partake in the future resurrection of the body. Thus, spiritual regeneration is a prerequisite for the future physical resurrection.

Furthermore, the notion of being "dead to the law" as discussed in Romans 7:4 and Galatians 2:19 underscores the transformative power of faith. The law represents a form of bondage that believers are freed from through their union with Christ. This freedom is not merely a legalistic shift but a profound change in one’s moral and spiritual state.

The process of moral conception and quickening described in Ephesians 2:1-5 highlights the distinction between mere intellectual knowledge of divine truths and a genuine spiritual transformation. An unquickened sinner is merely a theorist, someone who speculates about divine matters without being morally affected. In contrast, a quickened believer has undergone a profound inner transformation, becoming a new creation with a purified heart, guided by love and truth.

The Gospel of Philip further illuminates this idea by suggesting that a Gentile, or someone outside the covenant of faith, has not truly lived to die in a spiritual sense. On the other hand, one who believes in the truth and embraces it experiences true life and is thus in a state of danger of dying because they are spiritually alive. This paradox underscores the deep spiritual reality where true life is found in embracing and living the truth.

In summary, the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Paul and other early Christian texts emphasize that spiritual rest and the new world are experienced through a profound transformation in this life. This involves dying to sin, being baptized into Christ’s death, and living a new life empowered by the Spirit. Understanding and accepting this truth brings one into a state of spiritual rest and readiness for the future resurrection.

In Thomas Saying 51, the disciples ask Jesus about the timing of the rest for the dead and the arrival of the new world. Jesus replies, "This rest that you wait for has already come, and you have not recognized it." This response shifts the focus from a future event to a present reality.

Here, the "rest" refers to the spiritual rest and peace found in Christ, as described in 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus' teaching, which is gentle and not burdensome, offers this rest as opposed to the heavy yoke of the law. This concept is supported by Thomas Saying 90, which emphasizes the ease and relief found in Jesus’ teachings compared to the rigid demands of the law.

The "new world" Jesus mentions is identified with the age of grace inaugurated by His ministry. From the time Jesus began preaching the good news until the future arrival of the kingdom on earth, this period represents the new world. However, this new world will evolve into a new heaven and a new earth when the kingdom fully manifests. This future transformation will be succeeded by the final age, beyond the millennium, ushering in the "ages of the ages" with no end.

Pauline epistles support this transformation. Romans 6:2, 6:7, 6:11, and 6:13 discuss being dead to sin and alive in Christ, while Ephesians 2:1 and 2:5 highlight spiritual resurrection and new life. Colossians 2:13 and 1 Peter 2:24 talk about being made alive through Christ’s work. These passages collectively illustrate that spiritual rebirth and newness of life are current realities for believers.

Thomas Saying 51 can be understood as follows: When the disciples inquire about when spiritual repose and the new earth will come, Jesus reveals that these are not distant future events but present realities. The "repose of the dead" refers to finding rest from sin through spiritual rebirth, which has already been made available through Jesus. The "new earth" symbolizes the inner kingdom of God, which is already present within believers and not subject to external observation.

Jesus’ statement implies that the transformative power and new world He brings are already here for those who can recognize and receive it. Unfortunately, many fail to see this truth because the true understanding has been obscured by those who distort or hide the key elements of this knowledge. Thus, the rest and the new world are available now, but recognizing and embracing them requires a shift in perception and understanding.

In Thomas Saying 51, Jesus teaches that the rest and the new world are not distant future events but present realities that many fail to recognize. This profound truth is echoed and supported by various biblical passages, which explore the themes of spiritual rest, transformation, and new life.

Jesus’ statement that "This rest that you wait for has already come" reflects the reality of spiritual rest and renewal available through Him. This concept is aligned with several key scriptures:

**Psalm 141:7** and **Proverbs 3:35** illustrate the idea of wisdom and righteousness leading to a state of spiritual rest. Psalm 141:7 speaks of the soul finding its rest in the Lord, while Proverbs 3:35 highlights that wisdom brings honor and a form of spiritual prosperity.

**John 14:19** supports Jesus’ promise of spiritual renewal, stating, "Because I live, you also will live." This promise emphasizes that through Christ's resurrection and ongoing presence, believers can experience a new life and rest.

Paul’s epistles provide a comprehensive explanation of this spiritual transformation. **Romans 6:3-6** details how baptism into Christ’s death leads to a new life, symbolizing a transition from old to new, from death to life. This passage underscores that spiritual resurrection is a present reality for believers.

In **Romans 8:4,11,17,18**, Paul elaborates on the implications of this new life. Romans 8:4 states that believers walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh, highlighting a shift from old ways to a new spiritual existence. Romans 8:11 speaks of the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwelling in believers, promising life and resurrection. Romans 8:17 and 18 further affirm that suffering now is temporary compared to the future glory that awaits, reinforcing the idea of a present transformation leading to future reward.

**1 Corinthians 15:31** reinforces this transformative journey, where Paul speaks of dying daily to self and sin, implying a continual process of spiritual renewal.

**2 Corinthians 1:5,9** and **2 Corinthians 2:15-16** reflect the sufficiency of Christ’s comfort and the victorious fragrance of Christ that believers embody. These passages highlight how Christ's presence and work lead to a state of spiritual strength and transformation.

**2 Corinthians 4:10,11** and **5:15** describe the believer's life as being continually transformed through suffering and sacrifice, in the likeness of Christ’s death and resurrection. These experiences contribute to the believer’s new life and spiritual growth.

**Colossians 1:24** and **2:12,13,20** emphasize the believer’s participation in Christ’s sufferings and the transformative power of being buried and raised with Him through baptism. These verses underscore that the new world, or spiritual renewal, is a present reality.

**Colossians 3:1-4,10** speaks directly to the transformation that occurs when believers are raised with Christ. It calls for seeking things above and living a renewed life in Christ, emphasizing the present aspect of this new reality.

**Galatians 2:20** and **5:24** describe the believer’s identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. By being crucified with Christ, believers experience a new identity and freedom from sin, manifesting the new world within.

**Ephesians 2:1-6** provides a vivid depiction of the believer’s transition from death in sin to life in Christ. Ephesians 4:10 elaborates on Christ's ascension and the resultant spiritual transformation for believers.

Finally, **2 Timothy 2:11** and **1 Peter 4:13** reflect on the believer’s experience of resurrection and transformation through suffering and participation in Christ's sufferings. These passages affirm that the new world and rest are realized in the present spiritual experience, awaiting ultimate fulfillment in the future.

In summary, Thomas Saying 51 and these accompanying biblical passages collectively convey that the spiritual rest and new world Jesus speaks of are not future hopes but present realities. Through Christ’s work, believers are invited to experience this transformation now, embodying the new life and kingdom within. Understanding this truth requires recognizing the spiritual dimensions of Christ's promises and living in the light of this profound reality.

The gospel of Thomas Saying 11

The gospel of Thomas Saying 11

Jesus said: This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away; and those who are dead are not alive, and those who are living will not die. In the days when you ate of what is dead, you made of it what is living. When you come to be light, what will you do? On the day when you were one, you became two. But when you have become two, what will you do?

In the Gospel of Thomas, a collection of sayings attributed to Jesus, there lies a profound exhortation that resonates with the spiritual truths found within the Bible. Jesus proclaims, "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away; and those who are dead are not alive, and those who are living will not die" (Gospel of Thomas, Saying 11). This declaration echoes the prophecy of Isaiah, stating, "And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll" (Isaiah 34:4).

Central to this saying is the notion that the dead are not alive, a concept deeply embedded in the fabric of the one true faith as delineated in the Bible. Contrary to the beliefs of many other religious traditions, the Bible teaches that death is not a gateway to eternal life in heaven but rather a state of unconsciousness. This truth is reiterated throughout both the Gospel of Thomas and the Scriptures (e.g., Ecclesiastes 9:5, Psalms 115:17, 146:3-4).

Sayings 15, 51, 52, 59, along with biblical references such as Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 and Psalms 115:3-4, underscore the theme of the unconsciousness of the dead. They emphasize that death is a state of non-being, where individuals are unaware of the affairs of the living world. This aligns with the biblical notion that in death, there is no consciousness or knowledge (Ecclesiastes 9:5) and that the dead do not praise the Lord (Psalms 115:17).

Furthermore, Saying 87 and 112, along with the reference to Genesis, highlight the interconnectedness of the body, flesh, and soul. This echoes the biblical concept that humanity is comprised of both physical and spiritual elements, and these aspects are intricately linked. The unity of body, flesh, and soul underscores the holistic nature of human existence, emphasizing the importance of both physical and spiritual well-being.

The interpretation of these sayings goes beyond a mere understanding of physical death; they also speak to spiritual death—the separation from God due to sin. Those who remain spiritually dead, unenlightened by the truth, face not only physical death but also spiritual death, symbolized by a second death after judgment. In contrast, those who are spiritually alive in Christ experience eternal life, marked by a profound union with God.

The Gospel of Thomas, much like the Bible, emphasizes the transformative power of truth and the significance of spiritual awakening. Through faith in Christ and adherence to His teachings, believers transition from spiritual death to life, from darkness into the everlasting light of God's presence.

In essence, these additional sayings reinforce the central themes of spiritual consciousness, interconnectedness of body and soul, and the transformative power of truth found within the Gospel of Thomas. They complement the broader narrative of Jesus's teachings, inviting believers to contemplate the nature of life, death, and eternity in light of divine truth.

In light of these additional sayings, the concept of eating dead and living things takes on a broader spiritual significance. It encompasses not only physical nourishment but also spiritual sustenance, highlighting the importance of feeding the soul with divine truth rather than relying solely on worldly pleasures. Just as the body requires sustenance for physical life, the soul requires spiritual nourishment for eternal life.

Therefore, the admonition to eat dead and living things in the Gospel of Thomas goes beyond mere dietary practices; it serves as a metaphor for embracing spiritual truths and rejecting spiritual death. By partaking of the living bread—the teachings of Christ—and rejecting the dead works of the flesh, believers find true fulfillment and eternal life in Him.

Moreover, Jesus's words in Saying 11 align with the biblical teaching that the spiritually dead will face a second death after judgment, while those alive in Christ will attain everlasting life. The distinction between the dead and the living is not merely physical but spiritual, highlighting the importance of being spiritually alive through faith in Christ.

The imagery of eating dead and living things in the saying symbolizes the consumption of spiritual nourishment. The dead represent adherence to the Law of Moses, which fails to impart eternal life, while the living symbolize partaking of Christ's flesh and blood through belief in His testimony as revealed in the Scriptures (John 6:54, Revelation 22:14). Thus, truth nourishes life, leading believers from darkness into the light of Christ.

"When you are in the Light, what will you become?" Jesus's question invites contemplation on the transformative power of light, equating it with moral enlightenment and unity with God. As believers walk in the light, they become united with God, transitioning from a state of oneness to a divine partnership, symbolized by the union of man and woman in marriage (Genesis 2:24).

This transition from oneness to twoness signifies both unity with God and the potential for division. Through faith in Christ, believers become united with God, yet this unity also distinguishes them from the world, making them "two" in their spiritual journey.

Ultimately, the saying challenges believers to ponder their spiritual state and trajectory. Will they remain spiritually dead, adhering to temporal laws and doctrines, or will they embrace the life-giving truth of Christ, transitioning from darkness into the eternal light?

In conclusion, the Gospel of Thomas, like the Bible, illuminates profound spiritual truths concerning life, death, and light. Through reflection on Jesus's teachings, believers are invited to transcend mere existence and embrace the abundant life found in Him. As they walk in the light, they become united with God, shining as beacons of truth and righteousness in a world enveloped by darkness.

This saying is an exhortation of Isaiah 34:4  And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. Cp. Isaiah 13:13

“The dead are not alive” here we have one of the spiritual truth of the one true faith found only in the Bible the dead are not alive and the kingdom is not in the sky cp. Saying 3, every other bible based faith and religion teaches we go to heaven when we die or that only some go to heaven to rule with Christ. If death is not death than what the Bible says about death is a lie. 

However it is not only the bible that teaches that the dead are unconscious and know nothing and this is summed in the words of Jesus here in saying 11 "The dead are not alive." compare sayings 59, 60. 

So like the Bible and the true believers of the Bible, the Gospel of Thomas does not teach that we go to heaven to rule with Christ or that the soul live on after death. The GTh teaches that the dead are unconscious and know nothing so The dead are not alive Cp. Saying 15, 51, 52, 59, Ecc 9:5, 10 Ps 115: 146:3, 4. And the body, the flesh, and the soul are equivalent in value or interdependent Saying 87, 112 Gen 

This also has another meaning it is also about spiritual death those who have not been made alive by the word of truth. The spiritually dead will die a second death after the judgment. However those who are alive in Christ will have indefinitely lasting life.

The eating of dead and living things are not a doctrine of vegetarianism for the dead things are dead animals compare saying 60 87 111 112 which are killed and than eaten to sports life thus making the dead thing living. The dead and living things are also rational principles cp. 13 61 108 111 this is the same in the bible it is spiritual meat Ps 73:24. Thus, the dead principle would be the Law of Moses, which does not bring everlasting life only a long life in this life if they live by it. Now the living principle is the bread that is the flesh of Christ and if we do not eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood we have no life in us. But we only eat and drink his flesh and blood by believing the written testimony of the Logos concerning Jesus, set forth in the Bible and become the subject of repentance and remission of sins in the name of Christ Jesus, eats his flesh and drinks his blood. Cp. Rev 22:14 Jn 6:54. Truth eats life no one nourished by truth will die. This is the meaning of eating living things which bring us out of darkness and into the light.

“When you are in the Light, what will you become?” Jesus is the light of the world and also God is light, and we are told in the Bible add that we are to become like Jesus is now and Jesus now is consubstantial with God so we are to become consubstantial with God and God is Light so we shall become light first moral light (which denotes the knowledge of the truth i.e. a light to the nations) second when we shall shine like the brightness of the expanse and those who lead many to righteousness, like the starts forever.

On the day when you come into the light you became two. When you are two, what will you become? Two can be a figure both of unity and of division. Man and woman form the basic family unit (Gen 1:27 2:20,24) we become two when we are united with God we are two because God is with us and we are walking with him we are walking in the light and we are no longer one but two.

11) Jesus said, "This heaven [the errant Christo-pagan system of worship] will pass away, and the one above it [errant Judaism] will pass away. The dead [those who are "of" the two heavens named] are not alive [have not found the Life, the resurrection (“Christ in you”)], and the living [those who have “Christ in them”] will not die. In the days when you consumed [put your faith and trust in false teachings of men] what is dead [the lower/outward (fleshly) forms], you made it what is alive [a falsehood has no life of its own, one must give it life by believing and accepting it as true]. When you come to dwell in the light [come to learn the truth about all of these things], what will you do [great question but I am guessing it is best answered by; “choose this day whom you will serve”]? On the day [you sinned] when you were one [still in harmony with the spirit (for most of us, this is lost pretty early in life!)] you became two [you were separated from the Father (duality of mind) eating only from the tree of knowledge, the lower form]. But when you become two, what will you do [try like crazy to recover that lost unity]?"