For those of you who know Stu, you know that I might have met my match in thinking theologically. Ahhhh Stu - you ask the hard questions and think so much! I thought I'd share with all of you a part of my answer to Stu this evening from a note he sent to me last week about "gnosis" (knowledge), the gospel of Thomas, and faith.

In answer to your question in the note you sent; “Is one’s faith based on someone else’s faith?” I answer a whole hearted YES! Our faith is based on someone else’s faith. My faith (and everyone else’s) is based on the faith of Jesus Christ - his faithful response to God on the cross.

Paul tells it to us eloquently in Romans 3:21-26

But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christd for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonemente by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; 26 it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus.f[1]

I’ve got the “of’s” highlighted because the Greek can be translated either “in” or “of”. Since I believe that Jesus did the work of faith for us, I prefer the “of” translation. More conservative theologians might prefer the “in” translation. As you can see, translating this passage with “of” means that our faith is based on the faith of Jesus. We might be faithful people because we learned about the faith of Jesus from our parents, Sunday School, Peter, Paul, John, ect. but the faith comes from Jesus. Another one of Christ’s marvelous gifts to us! So, I think we are on the same page (again). Perhaps we are saying the same thing with different words? And since Christ was there at the beginning of everything, (see the gospel of John, chapter 1) and will be with us at the end too and all the times in between; seems like that might be what the gospel of Thomas is saying in the portion you quote.
One more comment, I would call “liberating gnosis” “liberating grace”. What makes us free is the faith of Jesus Christ and his grace. Once we “know” grace, we can put our lives into that knowledge perspective you talked about at the end of your note.

I love this kind of stuff. I might not sleep well tonight....pondering God. What a great way to live! Thanks Stu! Keep those notes coming!

See you all soon. Peace, Kathy