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Scholarly Quotes

Gerd Ludemann writes: “This verse [2] does not occur in the New Testament. However, the mode of expression does have parallels in the Old Testament: Deut. 32.10; Ps. 17.8; Prov. 7.2.” (Jesus After 2000 Years, p. 603)

Marvin Meyer writes: “Gospel of the Hebrews 5 has the savior say, ‘And never rejoice except when you look upon your brother with love,’ and Didache 2:7 commands that ’some you shall love more than your soul.’” (The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus, p. 81)

R. McL. Wilson writes: “As Grant and Freedman say, this is ‘purely jewish,’ and Leipoldt and Guillaumont had already drawn attention to the Semitism involved in the use of ‘as thy soul’ for ‘as thyself.’ Quispel finds a parallel in the Person Diatessaron. All the biblical passages have ‘they neighbor,’ but ‘brother’ occurs in Leviticus xix. 17; the one ground for hesitation over ascribing this saying to early and good tradition is that for Thomas ‘thy brother,’ in the words of Grand and Freedman, ‘means not an Israelite or another human being, but another Gnostic.’ It is difficult to avoid the suspicion that the scope of the saying has been deliberately narrowed. By an orthodox Christian it would, of course, be understood in the New Testament sense, but if Jesus were known to have quoted Leviticus it is difficult to account for the change. This may serve to remind us that the same words might be very differently interpreted in orthodox and in Gnostic circles.” (Studies in the Gospel of Thomas, pp. 113-114)