Gospel of Thomas Saying 38

This Gospel of Thomas Commentary is part of the Gospel of Thomas page at Early Christian Writings.

Nag Hammadi Coptic Text

BLATZ

(38) Jesus said: Many times have you desired to hear these words which I speak to you, and you have no other from whom to hear them. Days will come when you will seek me (and) you will not find me.

LAYTON

(38) Jesus said, "On many occasions you (plur.) have wanted to hear these sayings that I am saying unto you. And you have no one else to hear them from. Days will come when you will seek me, and you will not find me."

DORESSE

43 [38]. Jesus says: "You have desired many times to hear these words which I say to you, but you could not find anyone else from whom to hear them. The days will come when you will seek me, and when you will not find me."

Oxyrhynchus Greek Fragment

DORESSE - Oxyrhynchus

"(only a few letters of this passage remain)."

ATTRIDGE - Oxyrhynchus

(38) [Jesus] said, "[Many times have you desired to hear these words of mine], 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]."

Funk's Parallels

POxy655 38, Luke 10:23-24, Luke 17:22, Matt 13:10-17, John 7:32-36, Iren. Adv. Haer. 1.20.2.

Visitor Comments

At times the inner voice is still and no guidance is available. (Be patient.)
- Rodney

You have waited, I am here, hear me.
- Ardele

He is saying that people yearn to hear the Truth and He is delivering it but He will not be with them in physical form forever.
- the seeker

Par for the course. What any teacher of these things says to his students.
- Thief37

Scholarly Quotes

Robert M. Grant and David Noel Freedman write: "The second-century Marcosians, according to Irenaeus (Adv. haer., 1, 20, 2), quoted this saying in a slightly different form. 'Many times they desired to hear on of these words, and they had no one to tell them.' The saying may be based on Luke 17:22: 'The days will come when you desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see.' As usual, Thomas - or a predecessor - changes what is future in the gospels to present and past. 'The days will come' (Luke) when 'you will seek me and will not find me' (John 7:34). Here the gospel picture of something future is retained, perhaps because to Gnosticism the eschatological emphasis of Christianity could not be entirely dropped." (The Secret Sayings of Jesus, p. 153-154)

Manichaean Psalm Book 187:28-29 states: "I have something to say, I have no one to whom to say it."

Acts of John 98 states: "John, there must be one person to hear these things from me, for I need one who is going to hear."

Cyprian in Three Books of Testimonies to Quirinius 3.29 states: "For a time will come and you will seek me, both you and those who will come after, to hear a word of wisdom and understanding, and you will not find (me)."

Funk and Hoover write: "In v. 1, Jesus speaks as the redeemer who has descended to earth and ascended to heaven, a scenario central to gnostic myth and speculative wisdom theology. This saying indicates that at a very early date followers of Jesus began to think of him in higly developed mythological terms. The judgment of the Fellows about Thom 38:1 was a unanimous black designation." (The Five Gospels, p. 494)

Gerd Ludemann writes: "Verse 1 has an approximate parallel in Matt. 13.16-17/Luke 10.23-24 (=Q). For v. 2 cf. John 7.34. The logion triest to cope with the absence of Jesus (v. 2) and the disciples' wish to hear the words of the living Jesus (cf. Prologue; 2; 92.1). It fits the situation of the Thomas community well." (Jesus After 2000 Years, p. 609)

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