Your Spirits Gospel of Thomas Saying 14

Jesus said to them: If you fast, you will put a sin to your charge; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your inner spirits. And if you go into any land and walk about in the regions, if they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you; but what comes out of your mouth, that is what will defile you.

While fasting is not a religious requirement, the early Christians did fast on special occasions. When Barnabas and Paul were sent on a special missionary assignment into Asia Minor, there was fasting as well as praying. Also, there was the offering of prayer “with fasting” when elders were appointed in a new congregation. (Mr 9:29 Ac 10:30 Ac 14:23 Ac 27:33 1Co 7:5) Hence, Christians are neither under command to fast nor prohibited from doing so.—Ro 14:5, 6.
So We must fast, pray, and give to charity in secret to please God and not men this is the answer to Saying 6.

Your spirits stands for yourselves or the mind we have, if we have the wrong kind of spirit for fasting, praying, and giving to charity we will be condemned. 

But what is the wrong kind of spirit?
The wrong kind of spirit is regretting what you have give away to some one and wishing you had not done it 

 And if you go into any land and walk about in the regions,  This part of the text is about missionary work among the Jews and they should expect support from those Jews they were studying with. Alternatively, the saying may be focused at non-Jews who have seen the activities of missionaries and invited them to dinner. And this idea is supported by a Latin and Syriac text of Matt. 20:28 which adds a command by Jesus to his disciples on missionary work about where to sit when invited to diner. So we should eat any thing without question on the grounds of conscience. For what goes into the mouth can not defile us but it is what comes out of the mouth can defile us. Thus he declared all foods clean.

14) Jesus said to them, "If you fast [from the Word of God (instead of the world)], you will give rise to sin for yourselves [you will slide back into your old ways]; and if you pray [in your carnal mind while continuing in your sins], you will be condemned [by the very Word you are praying about (most pray for worldly things)]; and if you give alms [as opposed to the Keys of Knowledge - see v.38 - or to be seen of and glorified by men], you will do harm to your spirits [by focusing on physical needs instead of spiritual]. #When you go into any [far away] land [meaning later down the road in time] and walk about in the districts [denominations of Christendom], if they receive you, eat what they will set before you [whatever they use as authority to teach that you might try their spirits and determine their condition], and heal [restore what was hidden from them - the mystery] the [spiritually] sick among them. ###For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but that which issues from your mouth [if contrary to the Word] - it is that which will defile you [we are all judged by what we say and do]." 

three words Gospel of Thomas Saying 13

(13) Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to something and tell me what I resemble." Simon Peter said to him, "A just angel is what you resemble." Matthew said to him, "An intelligent philosopher is what you resemble." Thomas said to him, "Teacher, my mouth utterly will not let me say what you resemble." Jesus said, "I am not your (sing.) teacher, for you have drunk and become intoxicated from the bubbling wellspring that I have personally measured out. And he took him, withdrew, and said three words to him. Now, when Thomas came to his companions they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?" Thomas said to them, "If I say to you (plur.) one of the sayings that he said to me, you will take stones and stone me, and fire will come out of the stones and burn you up."

Jesus is compared to a righteous messenger or a sage a wise teacher but Thomas must have being confused about who Jesus is, was he son of man or son of God or maybe even both so Thomas could not answer the question add more. Jesus approves Thomas because he knows our hearts and our minds he knew what Thomas knew about him Thomas had being listing to Jesus’ words and understood them that it is his words, which are a fountain of wisdom. Even more than that, this Saying show that Jesus and Thomas are no longer in a teacher-student relationship but that they have become equivalent to each other. Both are sons of the living Father. 

"Thomas" (The Aramaic: Tau'ma) mean "Twin" and may be a title rather than a name. Some scholars speculate that he is called the "twin" of Jesus to denote a spiritual unity between the disciple and his master, as referenced here in Thomas v. 13, where Jesus says, "I am not your teacher. Because you have drank and become drunk from the very same spring from which I draw."

Now, in the GTh, the Lord Jesus comes to reveal that you and he are, twins. And what you discover as you read the GTh, which you are meant to discover, is that you and Jesus at a deep level are identical twins. And that you discover that you are the child of God just as he is. And so that at the end of the gospel Jesus speaks to Thomas and says, "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become as I am, and I will become that person, and the mysteries will be revealed to him." So it becomes clear that our goal is to be like Jesus that is to become his twin. And this is what Thomas means twin, for Thomas symbolizes the one who has become like Jesus Cp. Saying 108 we must become the twin brothers of Christ, who are the solitary or the single one the few chosen out of the many called. The [twin] brethren in Christ Col 1:2.

“Three words” we are not told what these words or sayings are but I believe that the three words are Ehyah, Asheh, Ehyah, I will be who I will be, this could be the three words that Jesus may have said to Thomas. Ehyah is the root word that makes up the name of God Yahweh, meaning He who will be, and Jesus’ name in Hebrew is Yahoshua He who will be salvation, so Jesus has the name of the Father has Paul says “Phi 2:9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;” the exalted name or divine name Yahweh He will be, the Lord was in fact God manifested that is Yahweh manifested in the flesh of Jesus making him the Christ or the Anointed One by being given the spirit with out measure. After Jesus had risen from the dead He became God manifested in spirit. In the days of his flesh he was the reflection of the moral attributes of the Deity. But after his resurrection from the dead he was made consubstantial with the Deity, this makes Jesus the Alpha the first born from the dead, and when he returns the true believers will be the Omega Yahweh Elohim: He who will be (revealed in a group of ) Mighty ones by the spirit of El. It is not One God in 3 gods and 3 gods in One but one Deity in a countless multitude, One Deity one in many, and many in one by his spirit. This is the multitudinous manifestation of the one Deity. 
The 3 words could also be about faith, hope, love, or it could also be what Jesus says in Saying 14 

13) Jesus said to His disciples, "Compare me to someone and tell Me whom I am like." Simon Peter [Christianity] said to Him, "You are like a righteous angel." [miracle worker, luminous being] Matthew [Levi or Jews] said to Him, "You are like a wise philosopher [hence they called Him "Rabbi" or "Master"]." Thomas [the Elect] said to Him, "Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom You are like." Jesus said, "I am not your master. Because you have drunk [from His mouth - see V.108], you have become intoxicated by the bubbling spring [life giving Word of God] which I have measured out [in precise terminology that Thomas could not speak]." And He took him and withdrew and told him three words [three Hebrew words ehyeh asher ehyeh” when one becomes "as our Master" (a fountain of life giving words) for He is "the author of and finisher of our faith" - this is what the toil and labor is all about]. When Thomas returned to his companions [the Christians and Jews alike], they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?" Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the things [about this final testament which is the unleavened truth in the Word which bubbles up from one who is a son of God (has been converted)] which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me [use the Old and New Testaments against me (just as the Pharisees tried to use the Law against Jesus and in fact would physically stone anyone for "making themselves equal with God" because of their errant thoughts]; a fire [judgment] will come out of the stones [the two testaments] and burn you up." 

Valentinus' Vision of the Word

I saw a newborn child, and questioned it to find out who it was. And the child answered me saying, "I am the Word


Fragments From Lost Writings of Valentinus from: Bentley Layton, The Gnostic Scriptures (Doubleday, 1987), pp. 223-49.

This saying from Valentinus reminds me of the saying from the Gospel of Thomas

Saying 4 Jesus said, "A person advanced in days will not hesitate to question a little child seven days old about the place of life. And that person will live. For many that are first will be last, and they will become one."

22) Jesus saw some little ones nursing. He said to his disciples, "These little ones who are nursing resemble is those who enter the kingdom."

The Gospel of Philip Jesus Tricked Everyone

Jesus tricked everyone, for he did not appear as he was, but he appeared so that he could be seen. He appeared to everyone. He [appeared] to the great as great, he [appeared] to the small as small, he [appeared [58] to the] angels as an angel and to humans as a human. For this reason his word was hidden from everyone. Some looked at him and thought they saw themselves. But when he appeared to his disciples in glory upon the mountain, he was not small. He became great. Or rather, he made the disciples great, so they could see him in his greatness.

The Tripartite Tractate: 

Rather, he exists by himself. As for the parts in which he exists in his own manner and form and greatness, it is possible for <them> to see him and speak about that which they know of him, since they wear him while he wears them, because it is possible for them to comprehend him. He, however, is as he is, incomparable. In order that the Father might receive honor from each one and reveal himself, even in his ineffability, hidden, and invisible, they marvel at him mentally. Therefore, the greatness of his loftiness consists in the fact that they speak about him and see him. He becomes manifest, so that he may be hymned because of the abundance of his sweetness, with the grace of <...>. And just as the admirations of the silences are eternal generations and they are mental offspring, so too the dispositions of the word are spiritual emanations. Both of them admirations and dispositions, since they belong to a word, are seeds and thoughts of his offspring, and roots which live forever, appearing to be offspring which have come forth from themselves, being minds and spiritual offspring to the glory of the Father.

The New Covenant

The New Covenant

And in our hearts, we were united. We agreed to fulfill the ministry to which the Lord appointed us. And we made a covenant with each other.

The Nag Hammadi Library The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles

As the Savior was sitting in the temple in the three hundredth (year) of the covenant and the agreement of the tenth pillar, and being satisfied with the number of the living, incorruptible Majesty, he said to me, "Peter, blessed are those above belonging to the Father, who revealed life to those who are from the life, through me, since I reminded they who are built on what is strong, that they may hear my word, and distinguish words of unrighteousness and transgression of law from righteousness, as being from the height of every word of this Pleroma of truth, having been enlightened in good pleasure by him whom the principalities sought. But they did not find him, nor was he mentioned among any generation of the prophets


The Nag Hammadi Library The Apocalypse of Peter


So we can see from the two text quoted above that the Gnostic Christians used the word Covenant which is a Jewish-Christian concept

First what does covenant mean?

Covenant means an agreement or contract between two or more parties. "My covenant shall stand fast with him" (Psalms 89:28).

Gen 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

Jer 31:31 (38:31) {1 } Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda: {1) Heb 8:8, 13 }

Jer 31:32 (38:32) not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, saith the Lord.

Jer 31:33 (38:33) For this is my covenant which I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, {1 } I will surely put my laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. {1) Gr. giving I will give }

The Gospel of Thomas Saying 53  His disciples asked him: "Is circumcision useful or not?" He replied: "If it were useful then they would be born already circumcised. On the other hand, true circumcision in the spirit is entirely beneficial.'

The Law covenant and the covenant of circumcision are useless

The new covenant of the Bible represents the principles or rules by which men are able to gain their true spiritual heritage and possess the riches of the kingdom of God.

The New covenant is not new it was from the beginning (BeReiShIT) Gen. 1:1) it is the covenant of fire (BRIT AiSh)

[The letters of the Hebrew word] BeReiShIT [meaning "In the beginning" (Gen. 1:1)] can be rearranged to form the words BRIT AiSh [meaning "covenant of fire"], the sign upon which both the higher and lower worlds exist

Jer 33:25 Thus, saith Yahweh, If, my covenant of day and night, the ordinances of the heavens and the earth, I did not appoint,

Therefore concerning creation it is written, "These are the products of the heaven and the earth when they were created (in Hebrew, BHaBaRAM)". (Gen. 2:4) The word "BHaBaRAM" has the identical letters as "B'ABRaHaM", meaning "with Abraham",

The new covenant is made operative by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

covenant, new--Jesus established a new and higher consciousness for man and taught and practiced the truth of the inner kingdom. This teaching is known as the "new covenant" (Heb. 12:24). The new covenant is to be written in the heart of each person.

In what way did Jesus Christ become the “mediator of a new covenant”? Jesus proved anew that, by loving the things of spiritual significance and seeking to express them, man enters into a vital relation with God and finds the satisfaction that is “life indeed.” This bringing of life and immortality to light gave men a new understanding of God and led them to enter into a new relation with him.


The new covenant is man’s exact agreement with the inner law of Spirit, as contrasted with the outer chaotic movement of the mind. When man’s thought begins to function from the inner light of Christ mind, his consciousness is related directly to God, and he comes under a new and higher activity of the mind and the body. In the Scripture this is called the “grace and truth” which came through Jesus Christ.

A paraphrase of the Gospel of Philip

A Master takes a disciple and helps him become another master like himself, but a disciple cannot make disciples of others. A Master maintains his power while extending it to others, but a disciple's efforts are all centered in maintaining and increasing his own power.

2. A slave centers all his desires in attaining freedom; the idea of inheriting his master's possessions when he dies never enters his mind. A child, on the other hand, expects to inherit his parents' property when they die. When you enter the Covenant, your awareness expands; you realize that you are slaves. You cannot hope, at that time, to inherit the possessions of the Ascended Masters, but you do yearn for freedom from the powers of darkness, and the Ascended Masters make you their freemen, so that the dark lords can no longer control you. If you continue to grow in the Covenant, you will become the Friends of the Ascended Masters, and eventually you can even become their children, with all the rights of their heirs in the Covenant.

3. Those who inherit from their mortal parents are as dead as they are. If there is no life in the parents, how can there be life in the children? Those who inherit from the Living Parents are alive, for they inherit Life, and everything belongs to them; spiritual things and physical things are all theirs because they are the heirs of the Creators of all things. It is true that we are all mortal, that we were all born dead, but if we are born again and grow up in principles of Truth, we will become alive through inheriting everything that our Divine Parents can give us. They will ascend to a higher sphere of existence, and we will inherit that sphere which they have occupied.

4. Anyone who has not entered the Covenant cannot die, for that person has never lived. When we perceive Truth, that is the moment we become alive. We call this rebirth, but it is truly just birth, for physical birth is a birth into death, but this birth is a birth into Life. When we have been born of water and the Spirit, we are in danger of dying, for then we really are alive. It is then that we must be careful to avoid the missiles of the dark lords, for they are the enemies of those who truly live. Before we discovered gnosis, we were orphans, for we did not know our Parents, but when we enter the Covenant, we have a Father and Mother; we discover our True Parents through the ministry of the Firstborn.

The Artificial Insemination of Mary with David's seed

The Artificial insemination of Mary

Ebionites denied Jesus' pre-existence, there was a sub-group which did not deny the virgin birth

(Artificial insemination of the natural 1000-year-old seed, miraculously preserved, by the Power of the Most High???)

Romans 1:3 - “Concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the FLESH.”

John 3:6 - “That which is born of the flesh is FLESH.”

Matthew 19:26 - “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with man this is not possible, but with God all things are possible.”

2 Samuel 7:12-13 - “12 “When your [that is David's] days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

1 Kings 8:19 - “Thy [David’s] son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.”

Psalm 132:11 - “The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; of the fruit of THY body will I set upon thy throne.”

John 7:42 - “Hath not the scriptures said, that Christ cometh of the seed of David?”

Acts 2:30 - “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the FLESH, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.”

Acts 13:23 - “Of this man’s [David’s] seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.”

Revelation 22:16 - “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the OFFSPRING of David, and the bright and morning star.”


Some said, "Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit." They are in error. They do not know what they are saying. When did a woman ever conceive by a woman? Mary is the virgin whom no power defiled.... And the Lord would not have said "My Father who is in Heaven" (Mt 16:17), unless he had had another father, but he would have said simply "My father". The Gospel of Philip


But remember this: The unbroken of lineage is reckoned through the seed of the father (male). The lineage of Jesus in Matthew and Luke give Mary and her husband, Joseph, as descendants of David. But Joseph was not the natural father of Jesus.

Now, "That which is born of the FLESH is FLESH; and that which is born of the SPIRIT is SPIRIT" (John 3:6). This indicates that FLESH does not bring forth SPIRIT, nor does SPIRIT bring forth FLESH. Therefore, the seed that was planted in Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit was a natural seed and not a spiritual seed. Whose natural seed did the Holy Spirit use? It plainly tells us it was the SEED OF DAVID, in the following testimonies:

2 Sam. 7:12-13 and I.. Chron. 17:1.1-1.1, quoting from Lesser’s translation:

"When thou [David] sleep with thy fathers I will set up THY SEED ... which shall proceed OUT OF THY BODY ... and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever ... I, TOO, will be to him AS a father and he shall INDEED [by his deeds] be to me AS a son."

Gabriel's statement to Mary about Jesus' FATHER: Luke 1:32 - "...he [Jesus] shall be CALLED (not born] the son of the Highest ... and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of HIS FATHER DAVID."

Jesus was David’s NATURAL son (not a remote descendant). "This is the Lord's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes" (Psa. 118:23). Since Jesus was not a descendant of David through the normal. MALE channel, then the NATURAL seed of David, OUT OF HIS LOINS, had to be miraculously preserved to be FERTILE and had to be ARTIFICIALLY implanted in Mary, since David had been DUST for 1000 years.

Luke's record of the birth of Jesus discloses that:

1. He was actually born of FLESH - the son of man, i. e., the son of David.
2. He was born the son of God, that is he would become the son of God INDEED, or by behaviour.
3. He was born the Saviour of the world.
4. He was born the King of the Jews.

It was necessary for Jesus to first QUALIFY for the last three TITLES, ordained of God, by a perfect obedience in the FLESH.

He qualified as the son of God at his baptism and resurrection.
He qualified as the saviour of the world at his crucifixion.
He qualified as the eternal King at his resurrection.

fire upon the world Gospel of Thomas Saying 10

Gospel of Thomas Saying 10 Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I am watching over it until it blazes."

In saying 16 Jesus does not bring peace upon the world but fire war and the sword so in saying 10 Jesus is speaking about the trouble in his day and that of 70 CE and also in our own time

In Saying 82 fire and the kingdom are equivalent terms just as Jesus is equivalent with the 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. 

This is a refiner’s fire, to refine the heart of men for the day of judgement. The knowledge that makes us responsible to the truth comes by faith and faith by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Thus it can make us wise unto salvation by faith in Christ Jesus, for the word of God is beneficial for teaching, for reproving for correction, for disciplining in righteousness. This is the fire of the knowledge of the kingdom of God that saves us 1Cor 3:13-15 for our faith is tried with fire 1pe 1:7vso the forgiveness of sins is to purify the sins of the world with fire. 

The fire is also the fire of judgment 

Therefore, after we are refined we shall be made like fire just like Jesus is now for Yahweh makes his ministers a flame of fire (God manifestation). (Cp. Saying 82) So by listening to Jesus’ words and abide by them we will overcome our passions. Cp. Saying 7, 8, 9

10)# Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world [by showing us the Way, the Truth and the Life which is the fire that sears our individual spirit consciousness (soul) when we are doing anything that we know to be in opposition to the will of the Father - this fire is our inward trial and judgment], and see, I am guarding it until it blazes [for it will either refine (the Elect) or burn up (as chaff) the faithless]." 

Good Soil Gospel of Thomas Saying 9

Gospel of Thomas Saying 9 Jesus said, "Listen, a sower came forth, took a handful, and cast. Now, some fell upon the path, and the birds came and picked them out. Others fell upon rock, and they did not take root in the soil, and did not send up ears. And others fell upon the thorns, and they choked the seed; and the grubs devoured them. And others fell upon good soil, and it sent up good crops and yielded sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure.

The comparison of this spoken word of God to seed is a very happy comparison. Viewing the mind of man as soil, there is a strict analogy between the one and the other. Just as soil—the very best—has no power to yield garden flowers without seed or its equivalent, so the human brain has no power to evolve knowledge or wisdom without the impartation of ideas from without. Ideas are not innate in the human mind. The mind of a new-born babe is an absolute blank: and the mind of a grown man would be the same, if from his babyhood he were kept away from all contact with idea-acquiring agencies and sources. The kind of ideas he forms depends upon the class of ideas implanted by these external agencies. His mind will develop according to the influences acting upon it from without.

The phrase: ”bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure." this may refer to each of the twelve disciples receiving FIVE measures, five is the number of Grace  12 x 5 = 60
If they each doubled what they were given, as in the parable of the “talents” in Matthew 25:14-29, that would be TEN measures each. 12 x 10 = 120

 Jesus said, "Now the sower [anyone who is truly commissioned to sow the word] went out, took a handful (of seeds) [the Words of life], and scattered them [again He "enlightens every man that comes into the world"]. Some fell on the road [the broad way - the Judean\Christo-pagan systems of worship who are full of believers but none with sufficient faith to obey and keep the Word]; the birds [sinful minded religious leaders (Pharisees and Scribes who followed Mosaic/Talmudic Law back then and still do today through the Triple Crown Power) whose road leads to death (the whole world follows after this beast now)] came and gathered them up [they cleverly hid the Keys of Knowledge and the hidden Word from people everywhere by imprisoning and killing anyone who spoke of it (they kept the scrolls and the Keys to themselves allowing no laity access to them]. Others fell on the rock [those who gleefully received the Word but with hardened hearts], did not take root in the soil [having a lack of moisture (faith in the Word) these yearned for the "traditions" of their forefathers and were not able to endure the obedience test], and did not produce ears [first-fruit - sons of the Kingdom who carry the seeds of life within them]. And others fell on thorns [those who although believing, are already established in their worldly ways]; they choked the seed(s) ["quenched the spirit" (of the Word) due to their lusting after the world and its riches] and worms ate them [serpentine (errant) thoughts made them into food for their belly that they might use the Word for their own benefit]. And others fell on the good soil [those of a pure heart full of moisture (faith)] and produced good fruit [spiritual food and more faithful believers]: it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure."

lion becomes a man Gospel of Thomas Saying 7

Jesus says: "Blessed is the lion which a man eats so that the lion becomes a man. But cursed is the man whom a lion eats so that the man becomes a lion!"

Jesus is the lion of Judea (#Ge 49:9,10 Nu 24:9 Heb 7:14 Rev 5:5) The lion was often the symbol of royalty. Thus, the lion is a symbol of the King. And here are the symbolism of that which is good and desirable characteristic or quality: Majesty, courage, destructiveness to enemies symbolism Justice, attribute of “living creature” near the throne (Re 4:7) Jesus as royal majesty, King, executor of justice (Ge 49:9; Re 5:5) Yahweh (Isa 31:4; Ho 11:10) Israel (Mic 5:8)


Eating: From other sayings in Thomas, we may infer that the lion can be eaten only if it is killed and becomes a corpse compare Saying 11, 60. The lord Jesus tells us to eat his flesh. Thus his follower can only do this after his death

Thus “the lion will become man.” after Christ being formed within you after eating the meat of the word the lion (the king) will become a (new) man (in you) I must ask whether the conclusion of this logion ought not to read: [‘and the man will become lion’]. Anyway, they both make sense with this meaning

The Lion also represents the savage thoughts that arise within us
The lion was also used to symbolize human passions. Wicked men (e.g., Psa. 22:12, 13; 57:4; Prov. 28:15 1Pe 5:8).

As I have said above the lion can be eaten only if it is killed and becomes a corpse or the lion can only eat or devour the man if he is dead compare Saying 11, 60 For the lion to devour you first you must be dead that is spiritually dead.  eat or devour One's character, property, life, etc. See Mat 23:14; Hab 1:13; Psa 37:12

The lion will become a man this speaks of ignorance and evil taking over a man and turning a man into something less than a man. Therefore, we need to control our passions in order to transform us in to the image of Christ who is now the true image of God. 

7) Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion [the individual spirit consciousness who has been moved by the "spirit of the world" (sin 1Jo 2:16 ) exhibiting carnal (fleshly) nature] which becomes man [becomes enlightened by the "spirit of truth" one of the "Elect "] when consumed by man [when the spirit of truth in man gets mastery over the flesh and the world i.e. "kills the old man" i.e. devours the lion (beast) within]; and cursed is the man ["one who once tasted the free gifts of the spirit" (enlightenment)] whom the lion consumes [sin once again gets mastery over this one], and the lion becomes man [created in his own image i.e. the spirit of "anti-Christ" - "who went out from among us" (the Elect)]." 

Do Not Do What You Hate Gospel of Thomas Saying 6

Gospel of Thomas saying 6  [His disciples] questioned him [and said], "How [shall we] fast? [How shall we pray]? How [shall we give alms]? What [diet] shall [we] observe?" Jesus said, "[Do not tell lies, and] do not do what you [hate, for all things are plain in the sight] of truth. [For nothing] hidden [will not become manifest]."

Like all devout Jews, the disciples knew their religion, but Jesus knew the Truth. They were focused on following rules and laws, but Jesus simply followed God. They had been taught what was right and proper, but Jesus knew in his spirit what was holy and perfect. Jesus gave them a basic lesson for any interested in finding the Truth. Do not lie! He also adds that we should not do what we hate.

true fasting is abstinence from evil words and actions, not from indifferent things like food Sayings 14, 27, 104

It is apparent from Jesus’s answers that He was making it a point to inform us that the questions asked of Him were born of the flesh and not of the spirit.  Everything we do is in plain sight of Heaven and since heaven is both inside and outside, our acts will be exposed not only to ourselves but others.  Most people think that no one sees them in their little lies, their silly justifications and their (in their mind) covert actions but the reality is that they are always discovered by a son of the Most High no matter how hard they try to cover them.

6)# His disciples questioned Him and said to Him, "Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?" [all of these questions demonstrate a lack of understanding at the time by the disciples] Jesus said, "Do not tell lies [do not try to cover up (justify) your sins], and do not do what you hate [for this is the epitome of hypocrisy - we should "do unto others as we would have done unto us"], for all things are plain in the sight [spiritual eyes] of Heaven [those who have these eyes]. For nothing hidden [in the hearts of man or in the scriptures] will not become manifest [to those who "have eyes to see" and ears to "hear what the spirit is saying"], and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered [One with two eyes and two ears is able to discern both the lower/outward (fleshly) forms and the higher/inward (spiritual) substance of the Word for these have discovered these "keys of Knowledge" and are able to "uncover" the hidden things in man and in the Word]."

Adam in the Gospel of Thomas

Adam in the Gospel of Thomas

The Gospel of Thomas Saying (46) Jesus said, "Among those born of women, from Adam until John the Baptist, there is no one so superior to John the Baptist that his eyes should not be lowered (before him). Yet I have said, whichever one of you comes to be a child will be acquainted with the kingdom and will become superior to John."

The Gospel of Thomas Saying Saying (85) Jesus said, "Adam came into being from a great power and a great wealth, but he did not become worthy of you. For had he been worthy, he would not have experienced death."

There are Numerous commentaries on the gospel of Thomas which assume that it is teaching that we have to regain our primordial image which Adam lost.

However the Gospel of Thomas does not speak positively about Adam (Sayings 46, 85) nor does the Gth say any thing about us becoming like Adam was before the fall we are to become greater than Adam was we are to become like Christ (Sayings 13, 61 108)

Some commentaries use many saying from the Gth to prove that we have to regain our primordial image however I am not going to look into these sayings only the ones that clearly speak about Adam

Saying 46. Jesus said, "From Adam to John the Baptist, among those born of women, no one is so much greater than John the Baptist. But for fear that the eyes of such a one should be lost I have said: He who among you shall be the smallest shall know the Kingdom will become greater than John!"

Adam was born through the spirit of the Deity and mother earth thus he is born from below or born of a woman (mother earth).

Here Jesus is not speaking very highly of Adam but of John, it is John the Baptist, here who is the greatest not Adam. To know the Kingdom is find your real self the son of Man inside you

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Saying 85. Jesus said, "Adam came from great power and great wealth, but he was not worthy of you. For had he been worthy, [he would] not [have tasted] death."

One commentary has mistakenly said this passage is referring recovering our primordial image which Adam. Yet, this passage is clearly speaking of a MAN that fell from grace "but he was not worthy of you". Adam was certainly one who fell from grace. He was the Son of God, yet his fateful decision shook the earth and brought humanity down to the grave. (Sheol, pit, hell, Hades).

“Adam came from great power and great wealth“. the great power and the great wealth is the Spirit of God: Heb "ruach Elohim": "The spirit (wealth) of the Powers". "Spirit" = the "wisdom" of Pro 8:22-26. Was Hovering: "Moved" (AV). Like a mother bird brooding over her young: Deu 32:11 (cp Exo 19:4 the Spirit is described as a dove in Matt. 3:16).
Powers said (The Elohim), "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the living creatures." Gen 1:26,27 So Powers (the Elohim) created man in His image; male and female created He them.

“and he did not become worthy of you. For, had he been worthy he would not have tasted death."

Adam was found unworthy! Paul makes a comparison between the first and the second Adam.  (Rom 5:12-15,17,19; [cp. Job 31:33; Pr 28:13; Ho 6:7;] 1 Cor 15:21-22, 42-50; 1Ti 2:14 ): in contrast to Adam, whose sin led to death, stands Jesus, whose obedience leads to life. The outcome of Adam‘s sin, according to saying 85:2, was death; the effect of those who find the meaning of Jesus' words will be not to taste death, according to Saying 1 The phrase 'not taste death' is a favourite of in the gospel of Thomas (Saying 1; 18:3; 19:4; 111:2), although it was also known to the Gospel of John (8:51-52)."

108. Jesus said, "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him."

In this saying and 13 and 61 those who meditate on the words of Jesus are drinking from wisdom’s fountain and become like or equal with Jesus and this saying explicitly states that the true believer who drinks from Jesus‘ mouth becomes Jesus. Drinking is done by means of investigating and finding the symbolic meanings of the parables and proverbs Jesus’ words. As is discussed in Thomas’s introductory saying and in saying 1.

What is the difference between Esoteric Christianity and Exoteric Christianity?

What is the difference between Esoteric Christianity and Exoteric Christianity?

One is hidden knowledge -one is public knowledge for all.

One comes through self study and exploration -the other comes from tradition and instruction by others.

Surah 4, the Cross and the The Apocalypse of Peter

Title: A Comparative Exploration of Crucifixion Narratives: Quranic, Gnostic, and Apocryphal Perspectives

Introduction:

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is a pivotal event in Christian theology, but various religious texts offer distinct perspectives on the nature of this event. This discussion delves into the Quranic narrative, the Gnostic teachings found in "The Second Treatise of the Great Seth," and the apocryphal account in "The Apocalypse of Peter." While the Quran rejects the crucifixion as a historical event, Gnostic texts and apocryphal writings present nuanced interpretations that challenge traditional Christian beliefs.

Quranic Perspective:

In the Quranic verses (4:157-158), it is explicitly stated that Jesus (known as 'Iesa in Arabic) was not crucified or killed by the Jews. Instead, it is asserted that someone else was made to resemble him, and Allah raised the real Jesus to Himself. The Quranic narrative emphasizes the illusion created in the minds of Jesus's enemies and dismisses conjectures about his crucifixion. The ambiguity in the interpretation of whether Jesus died a natural human death or was taken up to heaven without experiencing death is acknowledged in varying Islamic traditions.

Gnostic Perspective - "The Second Treatise of the Great Seth":

The Gnostic text "The Second Treatise of the Great Seth" provides an alternative perspective on the crucifixion. In this narrative, Jesus claims that the crucifixion is an illusion perceived by those who are blind and deaf to the truth. The text suggests that another, Simon of Cyrene, was thought to be crucified in Jesus's place, while Jesus rejoiced in the realm above. The Gnostic teaching challenges the conventional Christian understanding of the crucifixion as a sacrificial act and emphasizes the spiritual dimension of Jesus's existence.

Apocryphal Perspective - "The Apocalypse of Peter":

"The Apocalypse of Peter" offers a unique account of the crucifixion, presenting a dialogue between the narrator and Jesus. In this narrative, Jesus explains that the one being crucified is the fleshly part of him, a substitute put to shame, while the living Jesus stands apart, laughing at the ignorance of those who think they harm him. The text introduces the concept of an incorporeal body of Jesus, highlighting the duality between the suffering flesh and the immortal, intellectual spirit.

Comparative Analysis:

In comparing these perspectives, it becomes evident that the Quranic narrative rejects the crucifixion altogether, emphasizing the illusion created by the enemies of Jesus. On the other hand, Gnostic teachings and apocryphal writings present a more nuanced view, challenging the traditional Christian understanding of the crucifixion as a redemptive act and focusing on the spiritual and intellectual aspects of Jesus's being.

Conclusion:

The crucifixion narratives in the Quran, Gnostic texts, and apocryphal writings provide diverse insights into the nature of Jesus's final moments. While the Quran dismisses the crucifixion as a historical event, Gnostic and apocryphal perspectives introduce complex theological concepts, emphasizing the spiritual, intellectual, and symbolic dimensions of the crucifixion. Exploring these diverse viewpoints encourages a broader understanding of the significance of Jesus's life and death across different religious traditions.

The Quran the Cross and the The Apocalypse of Peter

[Quran 4:157] And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah," - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of 'Iesa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)]:

And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah ." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali 663 The end of the life of Jesus on earth is as much involved in mystery as his birth, and indeed the greater part of his private life, except the three main years of his ministry. It is not profitable to discuss the many doubts and conjectures among the early Christian sects and among Muslim theologians.The Orthodox-Christian Churches make it a cardinal point of their doctrine that his life was taken on the Cross, that he died and was buried, that on the third day he rose in the body with his wounds intact, and walked about and conversed, and ate with his disciples, and was afterwards taken up bodily to heaven. 

This is necessary for the theological doctrine of blood sacrifice and vicarious atonement for sins, which is rejected by Islam. But some of the early Christian sects did not believe that Christ was killed on the Cross. The Basilidans believed that someone else was substituted for him. The Docetae held that Christ never had a real physical or natural body, but only an apparent or phantom body, and that his Crucifixion was only apparent, not real. The Marcionite Gospel (about A.C. 138) denied that Jesus was born, and merely said that he appeared in human form. The Gospel of St. Barnabas supported the theory of substitution on the Cross. The Qur'anic teaching is that Christ was not crucified nor killed by the Jews, notwithstanding certain apparent circumstances which produced that illusion in the minds of some of his enemies; that disputatious, doubts, and conjectures on such matters are vain; and that he was taken up to Allah (see 4:158 and 3:55).  

4:158

Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali There is difference of opinion as to the exact interpretation of this verse. The words are: The Jews did not kill Jesus, but Allah raised him up (rafa'ahu) to Himself. One school holds that Jesus did not die the usual human death, but still lives in the body in heaven, which is the generally accepted Muslim view. Another holds that he did die (5:117) but not when he was supposed to be crucified, and that his being "raised up" unto Allah means that instead of being disgraced as a malefactor, as the Jews intended, he was on the contrary honoured by Allah as His Messenger: (see 4:159). The same word rafa'a is used in association with honour in connection with al Mustafa in 94:4. (R)

https://quran.com/4/157-167?translations=20

The Second Treatise of the Great Seth

 For my death, which they think happened, happened to them in their error and blindness, since they nailed their man unto their death.  Their thoughts did not see me, for they were deaf and blind. But in doing these things, they condemn themselves. Yes, they saw me; they punished me. It was another, their father, who drank the gall and the vinegar; it was not I. They struck me with the reed; it was another, Simon, who bore the cross on his shoulder. It was another upon whom they placed the crown of thorns.  But I was rejoicing in the height over all the wealth of the rulers and the offspring of their error, of their empty glory. And I was laughing at their ignorance.

It was my cross that the world did not accept, my apparent exaltation, my third baptism in a revealed image.  When they had fled from the fire of the seven authorities, and the sun of the powers of the rulers set, darkness overtook them. And the world became poor. After they bound him with many restraints, they nailed him to the cross, and they fastened him with four nails of brass.  The veil of his temple he tore with his hands. There was a trembling that overcame the chaos of the earth, for the souls that were in the sleep below were released, and they arose. They walked about boldly, having shed jealousy of ignorance and unlearnedness beside the dead tombs; having put on the new human; having come to know that perfect blessed one of the eternal and incomprehensible father and the infinite light, which is I.  When I came to my own and united them with myself, there was no need for many words, for our thought was with their thought. Therefore they knew what I was saying, for we took counsel about the destruction of the rulers. And therefore I did the will of the father, who is I.



it was The Gnostic teacher Basilides who claimed that Simon of Cyrene was crucified in place of jesus. yet in the The Second Treatise of the Great Seth Simon of Cyrene is never actually crucified and jesus says that it is their man that the world rulers put to death

The Apocalypse of Peter

When he had said those things, I saw him seemingly being seized by them. And I said "What do I see, O Lord? That it is you yourself whom they take, and that you are grasping me? Or who is this one, glad and laughing on the tree? And is it another one whose feet and hands they are striking?"
The Savior said to me, "He whom you saw on the tree, glad and laughing, this is the living Jesus. But this one into whose hands and feet they drive the nails is his fleshly part, which is the substitute being put to shame, the one who came into being in his likeness. But look at him and me."
But I, when I had looked, said "Lord, no one is looking at you. Let us flee this place."

But he said to me, "I have told you, 'Leave the blind alone!'. And you, see how they do not know what they are saying. For the son of their glory instead of my servant, they have put to shame."
And I saw someone about to approach us resembling him, even him who was laughing on the tree. And he was <filled> with a Holy Spirit, and he is the Savior. And there was a great, ineffable light around them, and the multitude of ineffable and invisible angels blessing them. And when I looked at him, the one who gives praise was revealed.

And he said to me, "Be strong, for you are the one to whom these mysteries have been given, to know them through revelation, that he whom they crucified is the first-born, and the home of demons, and the stony vessel in which they dwell, of Elohim, of the cross, which is under the Law. But he who stands near him is the living Savior, the first in him, whom they seized and released, who stands joyfully looking at those who did him violence, while they are divided among themselves. Therefore he laughs at their lack of perception, knowing that they are born blind. So then the one susceptible to suffering shall come, since the body is the substitute. But what they released was my incorporeal body. But I am the intellectual Spirit filled with radiant light. He whom you saw coming to me is our intellectual Pleroma, which unites the perfect light with my Holy Spirit."

"These things, then, which you saw you shall present to those of another race who are not of this age. For there will be no honor in any man who is not immortal, but only (in) those who were chosen from an immortal substance, which has shown that it is able to contain him who gives his abundance. Therefore I said, 'Every one who has, it will be given to him, and he will have plenty.' But he who does not have, that is, the man of this place, who is completely dead, who is removed from the planting of the creation of what is begotten, whom, if one of the immortal essence appears, they think that they possess him - it will be taken from him and be added to the one who is. You, therefore, be courageous and do not fear at all. For I shall be with you in order that none of your enemies may prevail unto you. Peace be to you, Be strong!"

the one  who is above or beside the cross who is smiling and laughing is the living Jesus. and the one actually being crucified is the man of flesh later called man of Elohim man of the cross who is under the law 
the fleshly body of jesus was crucified but the living jesus is an immortal being who  does not suffer and die

Jesus suffered on cross but not Christ

The Spirit left Jesus On The Cross The Gospel of Philip