Gospel of Thomas · 107 of 114 · tr. Thomas O. Lambdin
Logion 107
Jesus said, "The kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine sheep and looked for that one until he found it. When he had gone to such trouble, he said to the sheep, 'I care for you more than the ninety-nine.'"
Themes
◆Living Godtheology
The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.
The divine figure is depicted as an active, caring shepherd who personally seeks out the lost rather than remaining abstract or distant.
All passages →◆Return To Sourcesoteriology
The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.
The shepherd's active search until he finds the lost sheep illustrates the theme of restoration and return to the divine community.
All passages →◆Separation From Sourcesoteriology
The felt condition of exile from one's divine origin — Rumi's reed flute torn from its bed, Plotinus's 'we have forgotten,' the Gnostic forgetfulness; the affective wound that complements return_to_source and gives the return its motive.
The passage explicitly describes one sheep going astray, representing the condition of exile or separation from the divine flock.
All passages →Related passages · 7 parallels
◆jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXIX (part 2)
“And a sheep which had been saved from the wolves fled and escaped to the wild asses; and I saw the sheep how they lamented and cried, and besought their Lord with all their might, till that Lord of the sheep descended at the voice of the sh…”
Both passages use the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep to convey spiritual insights. In Passage A, the shepherd (Lord of the sheep) protects and guides the sheep, while in Passage B, Jesus (the shepherd) cares deeply for his sheep. Both highlight the relationship between a divine figure and his followers, emphasizing protection, guidance, and care.
◆jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXIX (part 3)
“And that sheep took other sheep with it, and came to those sheep which had fallen away, and began to slay them; and the sheep feared its presence, and thus that sheep brought back those sheep that had fallen away, and they returned to their…”
Both passages use the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep to convey spiritual or religious insights. They share themes of leadership, protection, and the relationship between a divine figure and followers, though they come from different traditions.
◆jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXIX (part 4)
“And again I saw those sheep that they again erred and went many ways, and forsook that their house, and the Lord of the sheep called some from amongst the sheep and sent them to the sheep, but the sheep began to slay them.
52.
And one of…”
Both passages use the metaphor of sheep and a shepherd to convey spiritual insights. The Gospel of Thomas emphasizes the care and love of the shepherd for the lost sheep, while the passage from Chapter LXXXIX focuses on the judgment and consequences faced by the sheep who stray. Despite different themes, both use the same metaphorical framework to discuss spiritual concepts.
◆jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXIX (part 5)
“123 and afterwards I was unable to see if those sheep entered that house.
LXXXIX.
68-71.
First Period of the Angelic Rulers--from the Destruction of Jerusalem to the Return from the Captivity .
68.
And the shepherds and their associate…”
Both passages use the metaphor of sheep and shepherds to convey spiritual insights. The Gospel of Thomas emphasizes the care and love of the shepherd for the lost sheep, while the passage from the Book of Enoch focuses on the shepherds' failures and the consequences for the sheep. Despite different themes, both use the metaphor to explore the relationship between the divine and the faithful.
◆jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XC (part 2)
“And I saw till that man, who wrote down the names of the shepherds [ and ] carried up into the presence of the Lord of the sheep [ came and helped it and showed it everything: he had come down for the help of that ram ] .
17.
And I saw th…”
Both passages use the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep to convey spiritual or religious insights. Passage A describes a divine judgment and the establishment of a new order, while Passage B illustrates the value and care of the kingdom through the parable of a shepherd seeking a lost sheep. Both emphasize the importance of the shepherd's role and the fate of the sheep.
◆mandaean|Gnostic John the Baptizer — Some Typical Extracts|Section 10
“When then * * * * * *, I entered the house, 4 I mounted up to the
highest place [in it], and I call to my sheep. To the sheep in my care do I
call. I pipe to them; I get them to hear, so that they come unto me. To them
I pipe on my pipe, an…”
Both passages use the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep to illustrate a spiritual concept. In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus emphasizes the care for the lost sheep, symbolizing divine care and attention to the individual. The second passage also uses the shepherd metaphor to describe the care and guidance of the spiritual leader, emphasizing the responsibility and love for the flock.
◆mandaean|Gnostic John the Baptizer — Some Typical Extracts|Section 11
“"Come, be for me a loving shepherd and watch me a thousand p. 84 out of ten thousand. I will
bring thee then sandals of glory, with them canst thou tread down the thorns
and the thistles. Earth and heaven decay, but the sandals of glory dec…”
Both passages use the metaphor of a shepherd to illustrate a spiritual concept. In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus emphasizes the value of the individual soul, while in the second passage, the shepherd metaphor is used to discuss the protection and fate of the flock, with a focus on divine intervention and the consequences of wandering from the path.