The dominant ligature is the two letter abbreviation IS. This occurs 102 times. The second ligature is the three letters abbreviation IHS. And this occurs only 3 times. [1] Both of these "nomina sacra" are being interpreted and translated with the name "Jesus" in all the contemporary scholarship on Thomas.
What's hidden by the two runes of Jesus (IS & IHS) hidden in the Gospel of Thomas?
QUESTION (1): Are the existence of the two ligatures deliberate?
What is the explanation for the two separate ligatures IS and IHS - both translated as Jesus - in the Gospel of Thomas? What was the intention (if any) of the author of Thomas to use two separate ligatures for Jesus? Why bother if IS = IHS and Jesus is Jesus? Was it simply a scribal error. These things happen in almost all manuscripts. Is this some coincidence or is the author being purposeful? How can this question be answered?
QUESTION (2): If the two ligatures are deliberate what then?
If the separate use of IHS is deliberate and purposeful then what was the purpose? How is IHS Jesus to be differentiated from the IS Jesus and what are the implications to Thomas as a whole? What does the IHS Jesus do or say in logia 13, 22 and 90 which would alert a reader or an analyst that the IHS Jesus is different from the IS Jesus?
The details are are available below. Translation used is from Martijn Linssen. (Logion 90 in draft). Alternative translations and notes from ECW are linked if required by others. [2]
I will offer some ideas related to these two questions in a separate post. I hope to have explained the situation accurately. In the interim this is open for any answers to these two questions, or ideas, or comments, or criticism, or more questions.
(0) PROLOGUE to Thomas: (Linssen translation)
These ones are the words which are hiding, the living IS has said them, and Didymos Judas Thomas wrote them
(1) Logion 13 (Linssen translation)
IS said to his Disciples: compare me, and say it to me: I resemble whom? Simon Peter said to him: you resemble a Righteous Messenger. Matthew said to him: you resemble a human Philosopher, man of heart/mind. Thomas said to him: oh writer (teacher, master), Wholly my mouth will receive him not that says it: you resemble who?
IHS said: myself; your writer not. Since you drank, you became drunk from the Fountain which boils; this one I myself have measured her. And he took him, he Withdrew; he said to him three words.
After that Thomas However came to his friends, they questioned him: what has IS said to you?
Thomas said to them: if I should say to you one in the words he has said to me, you will carry stone and you cast to me, and a fire comes from the stones, and she* burns you.
(2) Logion 22 (Linssen translation)
IS beheld some little persons that take milk; he said to his Disciples:
these little persons who take milk, they are comparable to they
who are going inward to the reign of king;
they said to him: well then, we been made little persons,
we will go inward to the reign of king.
IHS said to them:
Whenever if you should make be the two one,
and if you should make the inside part in the manner of the outside part,
and the outside part in the manner of the inside part,
and the part of the heaven in the manner of the part of the ground;
So-that you will make be the male with the woman to that one single,
in order that will not the male make be male and the woman make be woman,
Whenever if you should make be some eyes to the place of an eye,
and a hand to the place of their hands,
and feet to the place of feet,
an Image to the place of an Image;
Then you will go inward to the reign-of king.
(3) Logion 90 (translation draft only)
said IHS : Come to me! My yoke is Chrestos, servitude is gentle(?), you will fall asleep.
[1] For a comprehensive summary of all Christian related ligatures and more explicit references to "Chrestos" and "Christos", "Chrestian" and "Christian" see:
https://www.academia.edu/84288595/Jesus ... di_Library
[2] Early Christian Writings Website links:
Logion 13: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/t ... mas13.html
Logion 22: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/t ... mas22.html
Logion 90: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/t ... mas90.html