“... 14.2 And if you pray, you will be condemned. This is a similarly stark, and remarkable, statement. The mentions of prayer in Thomas are more mixed than is the case with fasting, however: in addition to the relativising in GTh 6 and ambiguity of 104, GTh 73 is quite different: ‘Ask the lord to send workers out into the harvest’ (cf. Matt. 9.38/ Lk. 10.2). It seems likely, however, that GTh 14.2 marks a departure from this traditional stance. Loader notes the possibility that it is only particular forms of prayer which are rejected, but Thomas appears to be saying something stronger than this. There are parallels to such a negative view, as in Prodicus and the Gospel of Philip; the latter radically redefines prayer, by saying that it is not something appropriate in this world, but belongs instead—presumably in a completely reconceptualised form—to ‘the other aeon’. It may well be that Thomas shares a similar view. This will be explored further later under GTh 104 (and see Introduction, § 10.3, above), but at the moment it is sufficient to note the uncompromising stand against prayer in anything like its traditional form. ...”