Visitor Comments
The will of God is so opposed to the ways of most men that when a follower of Jesus' sayings finds himself persecuted by most men, he can be sure that he is truly doing the will of God on earth.
- John Landers
The Doresse translation seems to say that when a person is persecuted, it motivates that person to seek peace in the Kingdom. The persecutors, on the other hand, won't find the Kingdom.
- seeker
Do not seek to persecute, or seek to cast your aspersions. The hearts of many men need to be relieved of this impulse. The place where men cast stones from is perilous itself. Look around & listen, you will see how easy it is for dark clouds to gather.
Forgiveness is the key, compassionate understanding is the way. Be like Jesus, not like fellow men.
- Owl
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Scholarly Quotes
Comparing Thomas to Matthew and Luke, Koester finds that the Thomas form is more original: "The phrase 'and cast out your name as evil on account of the Son of man' is certainly Lukan; it is missing in the parallel passage Matt 5:11. Moreover, the reference to persecution has disappeared in the Lukan redaction of this saying, but is preserved in Matt 5:11." (Ancient Christian Gospels, p. 89)
Gerd Ludemann writes: "The meaning [of v. 2] is unclear. Is this talk of the lack of success of the ones who are acting? But in what sense? Perhaps it helps to note that 'place' also appears in other passages of the Gospel of Thomas (4.1; 24.1; 60.6; 64.12) and each time denotes the place of salvation. In that case v. 2 says that the persecutors have forfeited salvation." (Jesus After 2000 Years, p. 625)
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