Introductory Verse (Rubric)

It seems likely that some scribe wrote the introduction some time after the sayings which follow had circulated individually or in groups. It is apparent that the very words of Jesus were held in special regard. One of the central tenets among the Gnostics was the real power that particular utterances might have, as found in spells and incantations. The word that I translate as holy is usually translated as secret. I feel that the word secret points to the esoteric nature of Jesus’ teachings, which was indeed a prominent Gnostic trait, but that holy is more suited to convey the reverence in which they were undoubtedly held, even before the Gnostic tradition had established itself.

Recall that Jesus himself apparently did not write anything down (except possibly in the sand). This heading might well lead us to infer that Judas the twin may have acted as His scribe. The fact that the scribe has chosen to write both the Aramaic “Thomas” and the Greek “Didymus” versions of Judas’ cognomen (meaning twin) makes it seem rather unlikely that Thomas himself penned the introduction.

We have used the phrase “while in the flesh” to translate what is usually translated as “the living.” Perhaps this phrase was to emphasize the reality of Jesus after His resurrection. On the other hand, it may have been meant to directly contrast this collection of sayings with presumptive collections of words spoken by the resurrected Jesus. The Coptics, who preserved the Egyptian version of this work wrote many of the teachings presumably given by Jesus during a period of forty days after his return from the dead. Yet received doctrine as explained by St. Matthew has Jesus “in the flesh” after the resurrection. The first chapter of St. John describes Jesus as the “word made flesh.” My position is that these expressions emphasize the intent to present the gospel as “living” and active.