396 LITERATURE OF GNOSTIC WISDOM
desires of the flesh, and on wisdom and foolishness. In the middle of the text,
and at the very end, Jesus states that one should seek (or pray) and find and
rest, as in Gospel of Thomas 2. Like the Book of Thomas in general, the ser-
mon of Jesus recommends an ascetic way of life, and as such it is profoundly
concerned about the life and the sins of the flesh. In its presentation the ser-
mon echoes ancient descriptions of the underworld and punishments for the
wicked and anticipates later portrayals of judgment in Dante's Inferno and
even Jonathan Edwards's sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
The Book of Thomas survives in Coptic in the Nag Hammadi library. Like
the Gospel of Thomas, the Book of Thomas probably was composed in Greek,
in Syria, where Thomas was revered. John Turner proposes that at least part of
the Book of Thomas should be dated to the first part of the third century, that
is, after the Gospel of Thomas and before the Acts of Thomas.
THE BOOK OF THOMAS'
The hidden sayings that the savior spoke to Judas Thomas, which I, Mathaias,
in turn recorded.^2 1 was walking, listening to them speak with each other.
JESUS TALKS TO HIS BROTHER THOMAS
The savior said, "Brother Thomas, while you are still in the world, listen to me
and I shall reveal to you what you have thought about in your heart.
"Now, since it is said that you are my twin and my true friend, examine
yourself and understand who you are, how you exist, and how you will come
to be.^3 Since you are to be called my brother, it is not fitting for you to be ig-
norant of yourself. And I know that you have understood, for already you
have understood that I am the knowledge of truth. So while you are walking
with me, though you are ignorant, already you have obtained knowledge, and- The Book of Thomas: Nag Hammadi library, Codex 11,7, PP-138,1 to 145,19; translated by
Marvin Meyer. Several passages are partially restored; see Hans-Martin Schenke and Einar
Thomassen, "The Book of Thomas," in Schneemelcher, ed., New Testament Apocrypha, 1.232-47. - In the opening of the Gospel of Thomas, Judas Thomas is thought to be the twin brother of
Jesus; the name of Mathaias resembles that of the original messenger Matthew and the replace-
ment messenger Matthias, but his identity is unclear. - Similar lists of questions may be found in the Secret Book of John, the Letter of Peter to
Philip, and the Gospel of Truth.