Texts in Conversation
In the Gospel of Thomas, Thomas cannot find language to describe Jesus. Someone facing an angel says much the same in the Substance of the Archons, using the same failure of speech to convey how extraordinary the encounter is.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Gospel of Thomas 13
Nag Hammadi
12 The disciples said to Jesus, “We know that you will leave us. Who will be our leader?” Jesus said to them, “Wherever you are, you should go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being.” 13 Jesus said to his disciples, “Compare me and tell me whom I am like.” Simon Peter said to him, “You are like a righteous messenger.” Matthew said to him, “You are like a wise philosopher.” Thomas said to him, “Teacher, my mouth is utterly unable to say whom you are like.” Jesus said, “I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring I have measured out.” And he took him and withdrew and spoke three sayings to him. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, “What did Jesus say to you?” Thomas said to them, “If I tell you even one of the sayings he spoke to me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me, and fire will come out of the stones and burn you up.”
Substance of the Archons 7:16
Hypostasis of the Archons
Nag Hammadi
The angel said: “It is I, Eleleth, the great angel Wisdom, who stands in front of the holy Spirit. I have been sent to speak with you, and to save you from the hand of those who are lawless, and I will instruct you concerning your root.” Regarding that angel, I am unable to speak of his power. His appearance resembles fine gold, and his garment resembles snow. My mouth is truly unable to speak of his power and the appearance of his face.
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Notes and References
“... 13.4 Thomas said to him, ‘Master, my mouth is completely unable to say whom you are like.’ We will see from Jesus’ response (in 13.5) that the title ‘master’ or ‘teacher’ is not deemed appropriate, but the ineffability of Jesus’ identity seems to be the point on which Thomas is correct. Jesus is apparently not definable by existing roles within the creaturely realm, and he elsewhere gives rather oblique answers to questions of who he is (e.g. GTh 91). We can probably assume that Thomas is correct on the point of Jesus’ ineffability, but it is worth remembering that this viewpoint is not clearly endorsed. [...] There is an interesting parallel to the language here in the description of Eleleth in the Hypostasis of the Archons: ‘For my mouth will not be able to receive (it) in order to speak of his power and the appearance of his face ([...])’ (Hyp. Arch. 93,16–17). ...”
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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