Metalogos The Gospels of Thomas & Philip & Truth

until the sky and earth pass away, then the Mosaic
Law is not an obsolete curse from which believers
are absolved. This was the very topic at issue
when, after Paul had completed his three
missionary journeys, ‘all of the Elders’ (!) in
Jerusalem required him to take the Nazirite vow—
to prove his continuing adherence to the Law of
Moses. (¹‘The works of the Torah ... will be
reckoned to you as righteousness’; from the Dead
Sea Scroll, Miqsat Ma‘ase ha-Torah)
• 31. Mt 7:21, 11:2-6!, 19:16-19, 25:31-46, Jn
13:34!, 14:21, 15:10, Jas 2:14-26 || Rom 3:28,
10:9, I-Cor 15:35-44
Christ says that one's calling him ‘Lord’ is not
enough, but rather that the Disciple's total
obedience is demanded; both the OT and the
Gospels require adherence to a plenitude of divine
commandments, with resultant fruitful deeds.
Indeed, it was precisely by his works— and not
merely by his faith— that Christ proved his own
authority to John the Baptist! Paul on the other
hand states that a simple confession of faith, along
with a belief in Christ's (merely spiritual, not
corporeal) resurrection, suffices— a thoroughly
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