Early Christian Writings Commentary
Title: Gospel of Thomas Commentary: Saying 66
Subheading: This page explores modern interpretations of the Gospel according to Thomas, an ancient text preserved in a Coptic translation at Nag Hammadi and Greek fragments at Oxyrhynchus. With no particular slant, this commentary gathers together quotations from various scholars in order to elucidate the meaning of the sayings, many of which are rightly described as “obscure.”
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From: Early Christian Writings
Related Link:
By:
Horst Balz. (T87)
Bentley Layton. (T68)
Harold W Attridge. (T34)
Jean Doresse. (T81)
Robert Funk. (T71)
Our Ref:
ECST: 014.10.000.T34
ECST: 014.10.000.T68
ECST: 014.10.000.T71
ECST: 014.10.000.T81
ECST: 014.10.000.T87
Nag Hammadi Coptic Text
BLATZ[1]4CM Translator ID: T87
(66) Jesus said: Show me the stone which the builders rejected; it is the cornerstone.
LAYTON[2]4CM Translator ID: T68
(66) Jesus said, “Show me the stone that the builders rejected: that is the building stone.”
DORESSE[3]4CM Translator ID: T81
70 [66]. Jesus says: “Would that thou couldst tell me about the stone which the builders have rejected! It is that one, the cornerstone.”
Funk’s Parallels[4]4CM Translator ID: T71
• Ps 118:22 KJV
• Luke 20:9-19 KJV
• Matt 21:33-46 KJV
• Mark 12:1-12 KJV
• Acts 4:11 KJV
• 1 Pet 2:4 KJV
• 1 Pet 2:7 KJV
Scholarly Quotes
Robert M. Grant and David Noel Freedman write: “Just as in the synoptic gospels (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17), the saying about the stone which the builders rejected is appended to the parable of the vineyard. (The Naassenes too were impressed by this mysterious saying; cf., Hippolytus, Ref., 5, 7, 35.) But Thomas deletes the synoptic reference to ‘reading’ this saying (Matthew, Mark) or to the fact that it is ‘written’ (Luke) – actually in Psalm 118 (117):22-23 – because he is avoiding mention of the Old Testament. See Sayings 53 and 66 and Commentaries.”
F. F. Bruce writes: “In all three Synoptic Gospels the parable of the vineyard is followed by the quotation of Psalm 118.22: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner’ (i.e. top of the pediment). The point is that Christ, rejected by the leaders of Israel, is exalted by God (cf. Acts 4.11). Here no reference is made to its being an Old Testament quotation. Hippolytus tells us that the Naassenes spoke of the archetypal heavenly Man (whom they called Adamas) as ‘the chief corner stone’. [Refutation v.7.35.]”
Funk and Hoover write: “The fact that the allusion to Ps 118:22 follows on the parable of the leased vineyard in Thomas as it does in the synoptics, even though Thomas lacks the allegorical overlay of the synoptic edition, indicates that the connection may have been the first step in reading the parable as an allegory, since the rejected stone was probably understood to refer to Jesus in Christian circles: the rejected stone that has become the keystone stands for the rejected Jesus, who has become the centrepiece of the new movement.”
Gerd Ludemann writes: “This piece also appears in Mark 12.10-11 par. and fits in well there, because the verses give the reason for the rejection of Israel. But as they do not fit with Thomas here, it follows that they have been taken over, together with Mark 12.1-9, from the Synoptics.”
References
