How to Fast From the World
The Gospel of Thomas appears to contradict itself about fasting, and the contradiction is worth the price of the book. In saying 14, Jesus tells his disciples, “If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves.” Thirteen sayings later he warns, “If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the kingdom.” So fasting is spiritually dangerous, and fasting is spiritually mandatory. Texts this compressed rarely blunder into contradiction, which suggests the two sayings are a single teaching delivered in two strokes. The first knocks the practice out of your hands. The second hands it back aimed at a different target, and the difference between the targets is everything this post is about. ...