Recovering Jewish-Christian Sects and Gospels (Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae)

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 chapter five


but the second half (Matt :b) is regarded as a Matthean addition.^92
If this is correct, then also the latter part of Thomas’ saying shows
knowledge of Matthew’s redaction.


Thomas’ Relation to the Diatessaron and Pseudo-Clementine
Recognitions
No Jewish-Christian gospel parallel has survived for the first part of
Thomas’sayingbut,aswasnotedabove,QuispelhaspointedoutaJewish-
Christian parallel in thePseudo-Clementine Recognitions.^93 The parallel
shares withThomasthe expressions “scribes and Pharisees,” “receiving,”
“keys” and “hiding.” A closer look atThomas’ relation to Luke also reveals
thatThomas’ readings agree especially with the variants in Old Latin,
Old Syriac and Diatessaronic textual traditions. Thus, we are dealing here
with a classic example ofThomas’ relationship to Tatian’sDiatessaron.^94
Quispel has explained the similarities by assuming that bothThomasand
theDiatessarondepend on a Jewish-Christian gospel.
ThomasandPs.-Clem. Hom. (..) refer to the “those who wish to”^95
enter in contrast to “those who were entering” (τς ε/σερ6μ νυς)of
Matthew and Luke.^96 The reading is also to be found in some Diatessa-
ronic witnesses (Persian, Tuscan and Venetian harmonies).Thomas’plu-
ral “keys” is also attested in Diatessaronic witnesses (Persian harmony,
Ephrem and Aphrahat). However, the plural is used by Justin as well
(Dial..).
The reading “have hidden” instead of Luke’s canonical “have taken
away” is attested in D and several Old Latin (abcdeqr^2 )andOldSyriac
(Sys.c) manuscripts as well as in Ephrem’s commentary on theDiatessaron
and in the Arabic version of theDiatessaron.^97 As such, the agreement
of these Eastern and Western witnesses to theDiatessarondoes indicate


(^92) See Robinson, et al. , –; Uro , –. Luz ,  assumes an
addition in QMt.
(^93) Quispel , –. For the summary and assessment of Quispel’s arguments, see
Petersen , –.
(^94) See Baarda , .
(^95) For an overview of the connections of logion  toHomiliesandRecognitions,see
Baarda , . The connections were already pointed out by Quispel , .
(^96) The Greek reconstruction of logion  here follows the wording of Matthew and
Luke but because the fragment is so badly damaged, the reconstruction remains hypo-
thetical.
(^97) See Petersen , .

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