Deep within the Hymn of the Pearl, itself deep within the Acts of
Thomas, some very interesting lines of poetry are found. These words are
translated, and understood, many ways. This is but one interpretation, one
reflection, one point of view interpolated from different translations and
analyses:
TWO IMAGE
- Within the Hymn
of the Pearl -
Suddenly,
I saw my image on my [burial a] garment
like in
a mirror
Myself and myself through
myself
[or myself facing outward and inward b]
As though divided, yet one likeness
Two images
but one likeness of the King[ of kings c]
Pondering a connection to the Shroud
Biblical scholar Albert Dreisbach poses
asks us . . .
to ponder what these seemingly strange expressions might mean, if
they do NOT have reference to the Turin Shroud . . .
The images on
the garment described, which by historical
circumstance seems to be the Shroud of Turin, are said to be "like
in a mirror." The images on the Shroud of Turin, while ghostly and
negative are also presumably mirror images.
There are two images on
the garment. Are they the head to head positioned ventral and
dorsal images we see on the Shroud of Turin?
We need not
be concerned, for our purposes here, with shades of Gnosticism of the
Act of Thomas; for in all Christian traditions there are kernels of
history. It is history that is our concern.
We need not
join the debate among scholars about when the Act of Thomas were
written or how much if the epic story is allegorical. The Hymn of the
Pearl is our concern. It doesn't matter if the Hymn,
specifically, was first written in Syriac or Greek, or if the version in
Acts is an evolved version. Many scholar think that the Hymn
of the Pearl might be early 1st Century. When is not our concern.
What it says is.
There is
little question that the Hymn of the Pearl, at least as it was
written down, originates in the Mesopotamian city of Edessa. And it was
in Edessa, in 544 AD, that the Edessa Cloth
was discovered -- the cloth that we now know, from solid historical
records, was a full burial cloth in which . . .
You can see [not only] the figure of a face, but [also] the figure of
the whole body.
- The Codex Vossianus Latinus
Note on this interpretation:
justifiably, burial garment from other prior
references to burial garment. And this phrase is pregnant with
meaning: "And when I had put it on, I was lifted up unto the place
of peace (sahltation) and homage."
possibly, myself facing out and facing in as in
frontal and dorsal views.
possibly, the "King of king" as in Hans Jonas
translation.
Translation by Hans Jonas:
(The Two Images Segment)
it seemed to me suddenly
to become a mirror-image of myself: myself entire I saw in it,
and it entire I saw in myself, that we were two in separateness,
and yet again one in the sameness of our formsÂ…And the image of
the King of kings was depicted all over it.
Translation by M. R. James:
(The Two Images Segment)
but suddenly, [when] I saw the
garment made like unto me as it had been in a mirror.
And I beheld upon it all myself (or saw it wholly in myself)
and I knew and saw myself through it,
that we were divided asunder, being of one; and again were
one in one shape.
Yea, the treasurers also which brought me the garment
I beheld, that they were two, yet one shape was upon both,
one royal sign was set upon both of them.
Translation by
William Wright:
(The Two
Images Segment)
on a sudden, when I
received it,
the garment seemed to me to become like a mirror of myself.
I saw it all in all,
and I to received all in it,
for we were two in
distinction
and yet gain one in one likeness.
And the treasurers
too,
who brought it to me, I saw in like manner
to be two (and yet)
one likeness,
for one sign of the king was written on them (both),
From a
version edited by Quaker scholar Hugh McGregor Ross:
(The Two Images Segment)
But suddenly when I saw my garment reflected as in a mirror,
I perceived it was my whole Self as well,
and through it I recognized and saw myself.
For, though we derived from one and the same we were partially
divided;
and then again we were One, with a single form.
Unknown Popular
Translation:
(The Two
Images Segment)
But all in the
moment I faced it
This robe seemed to me like a mirror,
And in it I saw my
whole self
Moreover I faced myself facing into it.
For we were two
together divided
Yet in one we stood in one likeness.
There are two images on
the garment. Are they the head to head positioned ventral and
dorsal images we see on the Shroud of Turin?