The Key Of Knowledge

This key unlocks the meaning behind the sayings of Jesus. It is the Key of Knowledge.

It is hidden in Thomas 55 where Jesus said, "Whoever does not… take up his CROSS in my way will not be worthy of me." (Thomas 55)

Jesus said, “The pharisees and the scribes have taken the keys of knowledge (gnosis) and hidden them. They themselves have not entered, nor have they allowed to enter those who wish to,” (Thomas 39).

“Woe unto you, lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you have not entered in yourselves, and them that were entering in you hindered,” (Luke 11:52).

The implications of the discovery of this key can be profound. The proper use of this key may lead the reader to a correct interpretation of the sayings of Christ both within Thomas and the New Testament.

And the living Jesus said, “Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death.” (Thomas 1)

This key is the climax of the gospel. It is the center of the text. This key is hidden in the spine of the underlying skeletal structure that provides both shape and form, and context and meaning to the sayings of Jesus.

Through the underlying skeletal structure the sayings of Jesus in Thomas are held together. Figuratively and pictorially the sayings become a “body” of text hanging on a pole or tree. To take up the cross is to carry the body even as Jesus carried his cross upon his back.

Imagine the Gospel of Thomas is a long scroll that is unraveled. The top and the bottom of the scroll are held respectively in your right and left hand. Imagine the scroll is wrapped around your back. The center of the text is stretched across your back and your spine. Bring your right hand and your left hand together in front of you, connecting the top and the bottom of the scroll together in each hand.

Jesus said, "It is not possible for anyone to enter the house of a strong man and take it by force unless he binds his hands,” (Thomas35).

“When you make the two one, and when you make …a hand in place of a hand… then will you enter the kingdom,” (Thomas 22).

The introduction of Thomas and the conclusion in saying 114 are now joined together into One as you join together your left hand into you right hand.

(Thomas Prologue) These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke.…and Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her…, so that she too may become a living spirit." (Thomas 114)

In the text these two verses are connected by a key thought “The Living Jesus / a Living Spirit”

Along your back and across your spine is Thomas 55. Jesus said, "Whoever does not… take up his cross in my way will not be worthy of me," (Thomas 55). Figuratively, look to the serpent upon the pole. (Numbers 21:9, John 3:14)

Across your spine is “the cross” in saying 55. Envision placing a fold in the body of the scroll at this location. Now the text is folded along a spine even as your body is folded along its center.

The text is folded at saying 55 so that saying 54 touches saying 56, just as the prologue is joined with saying 114. Make the left and the right of the text as one, joining each saying with its corresponding verse down through each of the sayings.

The top of the scroll is joined to the bottom of the scroll, and the right is joined to the left. Each saying is interpreted by its corresponding saying at the opposite end of the body.

THE STAUROGRAM is the key that opens the door to within the house where the treasure is hidden.

The central theme of Thomas is Christ come in the flesh. This is the treasure, hidden within. Take up this cross and carry it with you.

It is interesting to note that the Coptic cross or the even more ancient Egyptian ankh looks like a human body and also symbolizes life. To take up the cross, is to take up the body and carry it like Jesus did.

The prologue of Thomas points to the Living Jesus. The conclusion points to a Living Spirit. Bring the two together and the Climax of the Gospel points to The Living Body carried in the way of Jesus.

“Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death.” (Thomas 1)

The chart that follows binds corresponding sayings within the body of the text together into one saying for study and meditation purposes. Esoteric sayings that were obscure and difficult come into clear focus through comparison and joining together with their opposites.

Each couplet is tied together with key words. The keys have been provided, but the interpretation of the text is yours to discover.

Jesus said, "The angels and the prophets will come to you and give to you those things you (already) have. And you too, give them those things which you have, and say to yourselves, 'When will they come and take what is theirs?'" (Thomas 88)

(Prologue)

These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.

the living Jesus

(114) Simon Peter said to him, "Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life."
Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become

a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven."

a living spirit

(1) And he said, "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death."

not see death

(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 spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it."

not see it (i.e, the kingdom)

(2) Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All."

he will become troubled

(112) Jesus said, "Woe to the flesh that depends on the soul; woe to the soul that depends on the flesh."

woe to the soul

(3) Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father.

But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."

When you come to know yourselves

dwell in poverty

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

world (111)
Connects with
world (110)

(110) Jesus said, "Whoever finds the world and becomes rich, let him renounce the world."

Whoever finds himself

becomes rich

(4) Jesus said, "The man old in days will not hesitate to ask a small child seven days old about the place of life, and he will live. For many who are first will become last, and they will become one and the same."

The man

a small child

(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."

a man

his son

5) Jesus said, "Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest.”

nothing hidden which will not become manifest.

(108) Jesus said, "He who will drink from my mouth will become like me. I myself shall become he, and the things that are hidden will be revealed to him."

the things that are hidden will be revealed

(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?"
Jesus said, "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered."

nothing covered will remain without being uncovered.

(107) Jesus said, "The kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine sheep and looked for that one until he found it. When he had gone to such trouble, he said to the sheep, 'I care for you more than the ninety-nine.'"

looked for that one until he found it.

(7) Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion which becomes man when consumed by man; and cursed is the man whom the lion consumes, and the lion becomes man."

Interesting eating connection
Fast, consume (6-7)

Fast, drink (104, 108)

Blessed is the lion which becomes man

(106) Jesus said, "When you make the two one, you will become the sons of man, and when you say, 'Mountain, move away,' it will move away."

you will become the sons of man

(8) And he said, "The man 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."

chose the large fish

(105) Jesus said, "He who knows the father and the mother will be called the son of a harlot."

Interesting animal connections
Lion, fish, birds, worms (7-9)
Sheep (107)

called the son

(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 it produced good fruit: it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure."

Sower scatters seeds

(104) They said to Jesus, "Come, let us pray today and let us fast."
Jesus said, "What is the sin that I have committed, or wherein have I been defeated? But when the bridegroom leaves the bridal chamber, then let them fast and pray."

bridegroom (sows seed)

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

guarding it until

(103) Jesus said, "Fortunate is the man who knows where the brigands will enter, so that he may get up, muster his domain, and arm himself before they invade."

arm himself before

(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?"

consumed

(102) Jesus said, "Woe to the pharisees, for they are like a dog sleeping in the manger of oxen, for neither does he eat nor does he let the oxen eat."

eat

(12) The disciples said to Jesus, "We know that you will depart from us. Who is to be our leader?"
Jesus said to them, "Wherever you are, you are to go to James the righteous, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being."

Who is to be our leader?

James the righteous
(spiritual brothers)

(101) <Jesus said,> "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to me. And whoever does not love his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to me. For my mother [...], but my true mother gave me life."

hate his father and his mother

love his father and his mother

(13) Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like."
Simon Peter said to him, "You are like a righteous angel."
Matthew said to him, "You are like a wise philosopher."
Thomas 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, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out."
And he took him and withdrew and told him three things.

When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?"
Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up."

Compare me to someone.., whom I am like."

his companions

a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up

(100) They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to him, "Caesar's men demand taxes from us."
He said to them, "Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, give God what belongs to God, and give me what is mine."

(99) The disciples said to him, "Your brothers and your mother are standing outside."
He said to them, "Those here who do the will of my father are my brothers and my mother. It is they who will enter the kingdom of my father."

Also Interesting:
In the Odes of Solomon,
“The gold coin of light is the sun.” Song 16:15 translated by Willis Barnestone

The image and likeness of Caesar, (Luke 20: )

Your brothers

It is they who will enter the kingdom of my father.

(14) Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will give rise to sin for yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and walk about in the districts, if they receive you, eat what they will set before you, and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but that which issues from your mouth - it is that which will defile you."

give rise to sin for yourselves,

you will do harm to your spirits.

(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."

kill a powerful man

(15) Jesus said, "When you see one who was not born of woman, prostrate yourselves on your faces and worship him. That one is your father."

not born of woman

(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 the 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."

like a certain woman

(16) Jesus said, "Men think, perhaps, that it is peace which I have come to cast upon the world. They do not know that it is dissension which I have come to cast upon the earth: fire, sword, and war. For there will be five in a house: three will be against two, and two against three, the father against the son, and the son against the father. And they will stand solitary."

Fire upon earth

(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."

(Cooked) dough

(17) Jesus said, "I shall give you what no eye has seen and what no ear has heard and what no hand has touched and what has never occurred to the human mind."

Give you

(95) Jesus said, "If you have money, do not lend it at interest, but give it to one from whom you will not get it back."

Give it

(18) The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us how our end will be."
Jesus said, "Have you discovered, then, the beginning, that you look for the end? For where the beginning is, there will the end be. Blessed is he who will take his place in the beginning; he will know the end and will not experience death."

Have you discovered

he who will take his place

(94) Jesus said, "He who seeks will find, and he who knocks will be let in."

seeks will find

he who knocks will be let in

(19) Jesus said, "Blessed is he who came into being before he came into being. If you become my disciples and listen to my words, these stones will minister to you. For there are five trees for you in Paradise which remain undisturbed summer and winter and whose leaves do not fall. Whoever becomes acquainted with them will not experience death."

these stones will minister to you

(93) <Jesus said,> "Do not give what is holy to dogs, lest they throw them on the dung-heap. Do not throw the pearls to swine, lest they [...] it [...]."

pearls to swine

(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. It is 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."

Tell us what the kingdom of heaven is like.

(92) Jesus said, "Seek and you will find. Yet, what you asked me about in former times and which I did not tell you then, now I do desire to tell, but you do not inquire after it."

what you asked me about in former times

(21) Mary said to Jesus, "Whom are your disciples like?"
He said, "They are like children who have settled in a field which is not theirs. When the owners of the field come, they will say, 'Let us have back our field.' They (will) undress in their presence in order to let them have back their field and to give it back to them. Therefore I say, if the owner of a house knows that the thief is coming, he will begin his vigil before he comes and will not let him dig through into his house of his domain to carry away his goods. You, then, be on your guard against the world. Arm yourselves with great strength lest the robbers find a way to come to you, for the difficulty which you expect will (surely) materialize. Let there be among you a man of understanding. When the grain ripened, he came quickly with his sickle in his hand and reaped it. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."

Whom are your disciples like?

(91) They said to him, "Tell us who you are so that we may believe in you."
He said to them, "You read the face of the sky and of the earth, but you have not recognized the one who is before you, and you do not know how to read this moment."

you have not recognized the one who is before you

(22) Jesus saw infants being suckled. He said to his disciples, "These infants being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom."
They said to him, "Shall we then, as children, enter the kingdom?"

These infants being suckled

enter the kingdom

(90) Jesus said, "Come unto me, for my yoke is easy and my lordship is mild, and you will find repose for yourselves."

for my yoke is easy and my lordship is mild, and you will find repose for yourselves

Come unto me

Jesus said to them, "When you make the two one, and when you make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside, and the above like the below, and when you make the male and the female one and the same, so that the male not be male nor the female female; and when you fashion eyes in the place of an eye, and a hand in place of a hand, and a foot in place of a foot, and a likeness in place of a likeness; then will you enter the kingdom."

Inside… outside

(89) Jesus said, "Why do you wash the outside of the cup? Do you not realize that he who made the inside is the same one who made the outside?"

Outside… inside

(23) Jesus said, "I shall choose you, one out of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand, and they shall stand as a single one."

one out of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand

a single one

(88) Jesus said, "The angels and the prophets will come to you and give to you those things you (already) have. And you too, give them those things which you have, and say to yourselves, 'When will they come and take what is theirs?'"

The angels and the prophets

those things

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

a man of light, and he lights up the whole world

(87) Jesus said, "Wretched is the body that is dependant upon a body, and wretched is the soul that is dependent on these two."

the body that is dependant upon a body

(25) Jesus said, "Love your brother like your soul, guard him like the pupil of your eye."

Love your brother like your soul

(86) Jesus said, "The foxes have their holes and the birds have their nests, but the son of man has no place to lay his head and rest."

the son of man has no place to lay his head and rest

(26) Jesus said, "You see the mote in your brother's eye, but you do not see the beam in your own eye. When you cast the beam out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to cast the mote from your brother's eye."

Note: Eye is single (a single eye) is also mentioned together with God and mammon and two masters in Matthew’s gospel, Matthew 6:22,23,24

your brother's eye

(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."

Is the light in the eye being darkened by love of money?

a great wealth

(27) <Jesus said,> "If you do not fast as regards the world, you will not find the kingdom. If you do not observe the Sabbath as a Sabbath, you will not see the father."

fast

observe the Sabbath

you will not see the father

(84) Jesus said, "When you see your likeness, you rejoice. But when you see your images which came into being before you, and which neither die not become manifest, how much you will have to bear!"

rejoice

see your likeness

neither… become manifest

(28) Jesus said, "I took my place in the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in flesh. I found all of them intoxicated; I found none of them thirsty. And my soul became afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts and do not have sight; for empty they came into the world, and empty too they seek to leave the world. But for the moment they are intoxicated. When they shake off their wine, then they will repent."

blind in their hearts and do not have sight

leave the world.

(83) Jesus said, "The images are manifest to man, but the light in them remains concealed in the image of the light of the father. He will become manifest, but his image will remain concealed by his light."

the light (83)
connects with
the fire (82)

(82) Jesus said, "He who is near me is near the fire, and he who is far from me is far from the kingdom."

the light in them remains concealed …

near me

(29) Jesus said, "If the flesh came into being because of spirit, it is a wonder. But if spirit came into being because of the body, it is a wonder of wonders. Indeed, I am amazed at how this great wealth has made its home in this poverty."

great wealth…

this poverty

(81) Jesus said, "Let him who has grown rich be king, and let him who possesses power renounce it."

grown rich…

renounce it

(30) Jesus said, "Where there are three gods, they are gods. Where there are two or one, I am with him."

(From a Greek text):

Split (open) a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there."

[This phrase ending the Greek text of verse 30 is moved to the end of the Coptic text of verse 77 by an ancient scribe perhaps trying to connect these two verses by using the word for “split open”. See verse 77.]

I am with him…

you will find me there

(80) Jesus said, "He who has recognized the world has found the body, but he who has found the body is superior to the world."

he …has found the body

(31) Jesus said, "No prophet is accepted in his own village; no physician heals those who know him."

No prophet is accepted

(79) A woman from the crowd said to him, "Blessed are the womb which bore you and the breasts which nourished you."
He said to her, "Blessed are those who have heard the word of the father and have truly kept it. For there will be days when you will say, 'Blessed are the womb which has not conceived and the breasts which have not given milk.'"

heard the word… and have truly kept it

(32) Jesus said, "A city being built on a high mountain and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden."

A city

nor can it be hidden

(78) Jesus said, "Why have you come out into the desert? To see a reed shaken by the wind? And to see a man clothed in fine garments like your kings and your great men? Upon them are the fine garments, and they are unable to discern the truth."

the desert

unable to discern the truth

(33) Jesus said, "Preach from your housetops that which you will hear in your ear. For no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, nor does he put it in a hidden place, but rather he sets it on a lampstand so that everyone who enters and leaves will see its light."

[ Note: (39) The scribes take the keys of knowledge (gnosis) and hide them.

The word and idea connections between subsequent sayings within Thomas may be another useful clue in identifying and matching the left hand text to the text on the right.

For example:

The end of verse 30 in the Greek is moved to the end of verse 77 in the Coptic text by an ancient scribe. These two verses are linked perhaps by the word connection “split open”. Is this a clue? See also verses 110-111, 74-75, 82-83, 36-37.

For no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel... sets it on a lampstand

(77) Jesus said, "It is I who am the light which is above them all. It is I who am the all. From me did the all come forth, and unto me did the all extend (split open).

split open ( 77)
Connects with
Split open (33 and 77)

(From the Coptic text:)
Split (open) a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there."

The above phrase is
found in Greek verse 30 and Coptic verse 77

It is I who am the light which is above them all

(34) Jesus said, "If a blind man leads a blind man, they will both fall into a pit."

a blind man

fall into a pit

(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 shrewd. 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."

a merchant

where… worm destroys

(35) Jesus said, "It is not possible for anyone to enter the house of a strong man and take it by force unless he binds his hands; then he will (be able to) ransack his house."

enter the house

binds his hands

ransack his house

(75) Jesus said, "Many are standing at the door, but it is the solitary who will enter the bridal chamber."

standing at the door

it is the solitary

enter the bridal chamber

(36) Jesus said, "Do not be concerned from morning until evening and from evening until morning about what you will wear."

Concerned
(about lack)

Many (74)
connects with
Many (75)

(74) He said, "O Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the cistern."

nothing in the cistern

Wear (36) connects with Clothes(37)

(37) His disciples said, "When will you become revealed to us and when shall we see you?"
Jesus said, "When you disrobe without being ashamed and take up your garments and place them under your feet like little children and tread on them, then will you see the son of the living one, and you will not be afraid"

When will you become revealed to us and when shall we see you?

like little children and tread on them

(73) Jesus said, "The harvest is great but the laborers are few. Beseech the Lord, therefore, to send out laborers to the harvest."

The harvest is great (now)

send out laborers to the harvest

(38) Jesus said, "Many times have you desired to hear these words which I am saying to you, and you have no one else to hear them from. There will be days when you will look for me and will not find me."

you desired to hear

these words which I am saying to you

you will look for me and will not find me."

(72) A man said to him, "Tell my brothers to divide my father's possessions with me."
He said to him, "O man, who has made me a divider?"
He turned to his disciples and said to them, "I am not a divider, am I?"

Tell my brothers

I am not a divider

(39) Jesus said, "The pharisees and the scribes have taken the keys of knowledge (gnosis) 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."

have taken the keys of knowledge (gnosis) and hidden them

They themselves have not entered

(71) Jesus said, "I shall destroy this house, and

no one will be able to build it [...]."

I shall destroy this house

no one will be able to build it

(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."

A grapevine has been planted outside of the father

(70) Jesus said, "That which you have will save you if you bring it forth from yourselves. That which you do not have within you will kill you if you do not have it within you."

That which you do not have within you will kill you if you do not have it within you.

(41) Jesus said, "Whoever has something in his hand will receive more, and whoever has nothing will be deprived of even the little he has."

Whoever has something in his hand will receive more

deprived of even the little he has

(69) Jesus said, "Blessed are they who have been persecuted within themselves. It is they who have truly come to know the father. Blessed are the hungry, for the belly of him who desires will be filled."

persecuted within themselves

him who desires will be filled

(42) Jesus said, "Become passers-by."

(alternate translation)
Passing away – come into being

(68) Jesus said, "Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted. Wherever you have been persecuted they will find no place."

Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted

(43) His disciples said to him, "Who are you, that you should say these things to us?"
<Jesus said to them,> "You do not realize who I am from what I say to you, but you have become like the Jews, for they (either) love the tree and hate its fruit (or) love the fruit and hate the tree."

You do not realize who I am

you have become like the Jews

(67) Jesus said, "If one who knows the all still feels a personal deficiency, he is completely deficient."

If one who knows the all

he is completely deficient

(44) Jesus said, "Whoever blasphemes against the father will be forgiven, and whoever blasphemes against the son will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven either on earth or in heaven."

whoever blasphemes against the son

(66) Jesus said, "Show me the stone which the builders have rejected. That one is the cornerstone."

the stone which the builders have rejected

(45) Jesus said, "Grapes are not harvested from thorns, nor are figs gathered from thistles, for they do not produce fruit.

A good man brings forth good from his storehouse; an evil man brings forth evil things from his evil storehouse, which is in his heart, and says evil things. For out of the abundance of the heart he brings forth evil things."

Grapes are not harvested

A good man brings forth good from his storehouse

an evil man

brings forth evil

(65) He said, "There was a good man who owned a vineyard. He leased it to tenant farmers so that they might work it and he might collect the produce from them. He sent his servant so that the tenants might give him the produce of the vineyard. They seized his servant and beat him, all but killing him. The servant went back and told his master. The master said, 'Perhaps he did not recognize them.' He sent another servant.

The tenants beat this one as well. Then the owner sent his son and said, 'Perhaps they will show respect to my son.' Because the tenants knew that it was he who was the heir to the vineyard, they seized him and killed him. Let him who has ears hear.

a vineyard

There was a good man who owned a vineyard

the tenants

killed him

(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."

John the Baptist

whichever one of you comes to be a child will be acquainted with the kingdom

(64) Jesus said, "A man had received visitors. And when he had prepared the dinner, he sent his servant to invite the guests.
He went to the first one and said to him, 'My master invites you.' He said, 'I have claims against some merchants. They are coming to me this evening. I must go and give them my orders. I ask to be excused from the dinner.'
He went to another and said to him, 'My master has invited you.' He said to him, 'I have just bought a house and am required for the day. I shall not have any spare time.'
He went to another and said to him, 'My master invites you.' He said to him, 'My friend is going to get married, and I am to prepare the banquet. I shall not be able to come. I ask to be excused from the dinner.'
He went to another and said to him, 'My master invites you.' He said to him, 'I have just bought a farm, and I am on my way to collect the rent. I shall not be able to come. I ask to be excused.'
The servant returned and said to his master, 'Those whom you invited to the dinner have asked to be excused.' The master said to his servant, 'Go outside to the streets and bring back those whom you happen to meet, so that they may dine.' Businessmen and merchants will not enter the places of my father."

Businessmen and merchants

Businessmen and merchants will not enter the places of my father

(47) Jesus said, "It is impossible for a man to mount two horses or to stretch two bows. And it is impossible for a servant to serve two masters; otherwise, he will honor the one and treat the other contemptuously.

No man drinks old wine and immediately desires to drink new wine. And new wine is not put into old wineskins, lest they burst; nor is old wine put into a new wineskin, lest it spoil it. An old patch is not sewn onto a new garment, because a tear would result."

it is impossible for a servant to serve two masters

Old wine, new wine lest burst,
Old patch, new garment lest tear

(63) Jesus said, "There was a rich man who had much money. He said, 'I shall put my money to use so that I may sow, reap, plant, and fill my storehouse with produce, with the result that I shall lack nothing.' Such were his intentions, but that same night he died. Let him who has ears hear."

(62) Jesus said, "It is to those who are worthy of my mysteries that I tell my mysteries. Do not let your left (hand) know what your right (hand) is doing."

There was a rich man who had much money

Do not let your left (hand) know what your right (hand) is doing

(48) Jesus said, "If two make peace with each other in this one house, they will say to the mountain, 'Move Away,' and it will move away."

If two make peace with each other in this one house

mountain, 'Move Away’

(61) Jesus said, "Two will rest on a bed: the one will die, and the other will live."
Salome said, "Who are you, man, that you ... have come up on my couch and eaten from my table?"
Jesus said to her, "I am he who exists from the undivided. I was given some of the things of my father."
<...> "I am your disciple."
<...> "Therefore I say, if he is destroyed, he will be filled with light, but if he is divided, he will be filled with darkness."

Two will rest on a bed

filled with light

(49) Jesus said, "Blessed are the solitary and elect, for you will find the kingdom. For you are from it, and to it you will return."

Blessed are the solitary

(60) <They saw> a Samaritan carrying a lamb on his way to Judea. He said to his disciples, "That man is round about the lamb."
They said to him, "So that he may kill it and eat it."
He said to them, "While it is alive, he will not eat it, but only when he has killed it and it has become a corpse."
They said to him, "He cannot do so otherwise."
He said to them, "You too, look for a place for yourself within repose, lest you become a corpse and be eaten."

You too, look for a place for yourself within repose

(50) Jesus said, "If they say to you, 'Where did you come from?', say to them, 'We came from the light, the place where the light came into being on its own accord and established itself and became manifest through their image.' If they say to you, 'Is it you?', say, 'We are its children, we are the elect of the living father.' If they ask you, 'What is the sign of your father in you?', say to them, 'It is movement and repose.'"

repose (50)
connects diagonally with repose (60)

repose

(59) Jesus said, "Take heed of the living one while you are alive, lest you die and seek to see him and be unable to do so."

If these two verses are both about seeking to see and return to the living one in death, then they are connected (49).

die

(51) His disciples said to him, "When will the repose of the dead come about, and when will the new world come?"
He said to them, "What you look forward to has already come, but you do not recognize it."

When will the repose of the dead come about

dead (51)
connects diagonally with die (59)

(58) Jesus said, "Blessed is the man who has suffered and found life."

Blessed is the man who has suffered and found life

(52) His disciples said to him, "Twenty-four prophets spoke in Israel, and all of them spoke in you."
He said to them, "You have omitted the one living in your presence and have spoken (only) of the dead."

Twenty-four prophets spoke

in Israel

spoke in you

spoken (only) of the dead.

(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."

good seed

sowed weeds

the wheat

the weeds

(53) His disciples said to him, "Is circumcision beneficial or not?"
He said to them, "If it were beneficial, their father would beget them already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become completely profitable."

Profitable (53)
Connects with
Poor (54)

(54) Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven

Circumcision

(Destruction of the flesh)

the true circumcision in spirit

become completely profitable

(56) Jesus said, "Whoever has come to understand the world has found (only) a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world."

(Alternate translation)

“Is not worthy of him”

has found (only) a corpse

superior to the world

Is not worthy of him

(55) Jesus said, "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother cannot become a disciple to me. And whoever does not hate his brothers and sisters and take up his CROSS in my way will not be worthy of me."

This Cross is the center and climax of the Gospel of Thomas.

It is the key.

THE STAUROGRAM

CROSS