Many ancient texts, including much of the New Testament, appear to have a chiastic structure: an ABCDCBA organizational pattern.
Chiastic structures in Thomas can be used by the seeker to connect the corresponding sayings of Jesus so that they can be properly interpreted. The implications of these structures within the Gospel of Thomas are astonishing. "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death," Thomas 1.
This article suggests a chiastic structure built around Saying 55. "Whoever does not... take up his cross in my way will not be worthy of me."
This arrangement suggests that the message of “the cross” can be the center and climax of the gospel of Thomas.
This gospel structure may be like a progessive catechism for an early church encouraging the carnal believers to a deeper walk. Uniting the two sides of this palindrome together into one bodily structure may uncover the meaning of many of the more obscure sayings of Jesus.
Also presented is an alternate chiastic pattern built around Saying 51: "What you look forward to has already come, but you do not recognize it." Perhaps, this chiasm may have been adapted for a more spiritually minded audience. In this pattern a Realized Eschatology of the Kingdom would be emphasized as the heart of Jesus' message.
These two patterns do not have to be mutually exclusive, but perhaps mutually supportive.
For personal devotionals and scriptural meditations I offer the charts found at the bottom of the article. They focus on the cross and the words of Christ.
Blessings on your Journey,
URfriend,
Dean Johnson
The first step is to recognize the Key Of Knowledge and to study the Chiasm it reveals.
After studying this initial chiastic structure it may be interesting to examine the kingdom now chiasm revealing Christ's message of Realized Eschatology.
Then combining the two Chiasm's into into One Body, the Joint Body structure can be the next step in unravelling the mystery as revealed in this amazing gospel.
The next step can be "Renunciation and Ministry:
The Eye, Hand, Foot and Likeness Teachings." This page discusses the path toward ministry and the deeper walk of a Wandering Radical .
The next step is "The Bridal Chamber" This page introduces the 26 alignments of the Bridal Chamber preparing the reader for the joining of heaven and earth.
Next is "A Closer Look At The Bridal Chamber" This page considers the teaching of those alignments that specifically mention the Bridal Chamber.
Then it may be interesting to view "The Holy Grail Mystery And The Gospel Of Thomas Chiastic Pyramid Structure." This page uses popular religious imagery to illustrate the great mystery as it is revealed within Thomas.
"Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All," Thomas 2.
