Gospels of Thomas and Philip and Truth - Syriac Christian Church

than humble, respectful and obedient— toward those who preceded him in the
Discipleship: the ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΙ.
• 22. Mt 5:43-48, 7:1-5, 9:10-13, 18:21-35, Jn 8:2-11 || I-Cor 5, Gal 5:12, Tit
3:10-11
The Gospel attitude toward wrongdoers is merciful, yet Paul's is frankly
inquisitional. Is ‘turning someone over to Satan for the extermination of the flesh’
intended to mean delivering him to the secular authorities for execution (as in Jn
19:17-18)? Are we to love our enemies or condemn and castigate them?
• 23. Mt 23:8-12 || Ac 20:28, Gal 4:19, Phlp 2:22, I-Tim 1:2 3:1-13
Paul introduces the terms ‘father’ and ‘deacon’ and ‘bishop’ to designate
religious leaders— the very sort of title (along with ‘pastor’, ‘minister’, etc.) which
Christ had explicitly prohibited. Indeed, the passage in Matthew would seem to
preclude any kind of hierarchy in the Discipleship other than simple seniority (thus
ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΣ, ‘elder [in the faith]’, in Ac 21:18, Jas 5:14, I-Pet 5:1, IIJn 1)— by
which criterion Paul was obliged to submit to the original Apostles, quite contrary to
II-Cor 11:5 + Gal 2:6.
• 24. Gen 17:10, Lk 2:21 || Ac 16:3?!, Gal 5:2, Phlp 3:2, Tit 1:10-11
Saying that it is necessary ‘to gag (ΕΠΙΣΤΟΜΙΖΕΙΝ) circumcisionist dogs’ is
conceptually inappropriate in an Apostolic context. In any event, even if Christ
referred to circumcision parabolically— as in Th 53— he certainly did not forbid its
physical practice.
• 25. Lk 11:27-28, Jn 4:1-30, 11:20-35, 20:11-18, Th 21 || I-Cor 14:34-35, I-Tim
2:11-15
Various women speak up boldly to the Savior. Later, Mariam Magdalene as first
witness (!) of the resurrection is sent by Christ to ‘angel’ (ΑΓΓΕΛΛΩ: p66* )* A B)
his rising to the Apostles themselves. This is not a teaching of mere female
submissiveness or keeping quiet in the Convocation!
• 26. Lk 7:36-8:3, 10:38-42, 23:55-24:11, Jn 12:1-3, Th 61b, 114, Ph 59 || I-Cor
7:1-2, Eph 5:22-24
The Gospels represent women as an intimate part of Christ's entourage— thus
rescinding the punishment of husband-domination in Gen 3:16. Paul emphatically
opposes any liberated role for females.
• 27. Mt 3:11-17, 28:19-20, Ph 73, 96, 115! || Rom 6:3-4, Col 2:12
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