But in the Gospel of Thomas the “kingdom of God” is not an event expected to happen in history, nor is it a “place.” The author of Thomas seems to ridicule such views: Jesus said, “If those who lead you say to you, ‘Lord, the kingdom is in the sky,’ then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, ‘It is in the sea,’ then the fish will precede you” (NHC II.32.19–24).
