Early Christian Writings
Gospel of Thomas Saying 53
Nag Hammadi Coptic Text BLATZ
(53) His disciples said tohim: Is circumcision usefulor not? He said to them: If itwere useful, their father would beget him from their mothers (already)circumcised. But the truecircumcision in the Spirithas proved useful in everyway.
LAYTON
(53) His disciples said tohim, "Does circumcisionhelp or does it not?" He saidto them, "If it helped, people's fathers would begetthem from their mothersalready circumcized. Buttrue circumcision in spirithas become very profitable."
DORESSE
58 [53]. His disciples saidto him: "Is circumcisionuseful or not?" He said tothem: "If it was useful, their father would beget themfrom their mother <already> circumcised. But<only> the truecircumcision in the spiritgives all profit!"
Funk's Parallels
Visitor Comments
How can it that those who purport to be the chosen onesdeface the magnificence of God's creation? Is it their ignorance or arrogance?Would God choose theignorant or arrogant?- AngusHere Jesus understands theinnate self as pure.- RodneyThe rejection of circumcision of the body isclear. The true question iswhat is the nature of thespiritual circumcision that isreferred to? Perhaps it is the paring away of ignorance,false belief, socially basedconventions and unsuitableand unuseful actions and
Scholarly Quotes
Marvin Meyer writes: "According to a Jewish tradition, a governor of Judea oncecommented to Rabbi Akiba, 'If he (that is, God) takes such pleasure in circumcision,why then does not a child come circumcised from his mother's womb?'" (
The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus
, pp. 90-91)Robert M. Grant and David Noel Freedman write: "Along with fasting, prayer,almsgiving, and dietary regulations, Thomas rejects circumcision, as most earlyChristians did. A singular argument perhaps from radical Hellenstic-Jewish sources,is advanced against it; it is unnatural (elsewhere Thomas does not appeal to the lawof nature). What counts is true, spiritual circumcision (cf., Philippians 3:3)." (
TheSecret Sayings of Jesus
, pp. 162-163)R. McL. Wilson writes: "Grant and Freedman plausibly suggest that the argument inthe reply may be drawn from radical Hellenistic-Jewish sources. Perhaps moreimportant is the point made by Bauer, that if no such an authoritative word as thishad been known Paul would never have had to contend against the Judaisers. AsBauer observes, the saying was probably understood by the Gnostics on the basis of Colossians ii. 11, where the true circumcision is linked with the stripping off of the body of flesh. A circumcision 'in Spirit not in letter' is mentioned in Romans ii. 29,and the question here assigned to the disciples is asked by Paul himself in Romansiii. 1 - but with a very different answer. Other passages to which reference may bemade include Romans ii. 25, 1 Corinthians vii. 19, and Galatians vi. 15. This sayingaccordingly would appear to reflect the conditions of a period later than the time of
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