Infancy Gospel of Thomas 7

1Now when Zacchaeus the teacher heard such and so many allegories of the first letter spoken by the young child, he was perplexed at his answer and his instruction being so great, and said to them that were there: Woe is me, wretch that I am, I am confounded: I have brought shame to myself by drawing to me this young child.

Ὡς δὲ ἤκουσεν ὁ διδάσκαλος Ζακχαῖος τὰς τοσαύτας καὶ τοιαύτας ἀλληγορίας τοῦ πρώτου γράμματος εἰρηκότος τοῦ παιδός, ἠπόρησεν ἐπὶ τοσαύτην ἀπολογίαν καὶ διδασκαλίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπεν τοῖς παροῦσιν· οἴμοι, ἠπορήθην ὁ τάλας ἐγώ, ἐμαυτῷ αἰσχύνην παρέχων ἐπισπασάμενος τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο. (26799)

2Take him away, therefore I beseech thee, my brother Joseph: I cannot endure the severity of his look, I cannot once make clear my (or his) word. This young child is not earthly born: this is one that can tame even fire: be like this is one begotten before the making of the world. What belly bare this, what womb nurtured it? I know not. Woe is me, O my friend, he putteth me from my sense, I cannot follow his understanding. I have deceived myself, thrice wretched man that I am: I strove to get me a disciple and I am found to have a master.

Ἆρον οὖν αὐτό, παρακαλῶ σε, ἀδελφὲ Ἰωσήφ· οὐ φέρω τὸ αὐστηρὸν τοῦ βλέμματος αὐτοῦ, οὐ τρανῶ τὸν λόγον ἅπαξ. τοῦτο τὸ παιδίον γηγενής οὐκ ἔστι, τοῦτο δύναται καὶ πῦρ δαμάσαι· τάχα τοῦτο πρὸ τῆς κοσμοποιίας ἐστὶν γεγεννημένον. ποία γαστὴρ τοῦτο ἐβάστασεν, ποία δὲ μήτρα τοῦτο ἐξέθρεψεν, ἐγὼ ἀγνοῶ. οἴμοι φίλε, ἐξηχεῖ με, οὐ παρακολουθήσω τῇ διανοίᾳ αὐτοῦ· ἠπάτησα ἑαυτόν, ὁ τρισάθλιος ἐγώ· ἠγωνιζόμην ἔχειν μαθητήν, καὶ εὑρέθην ἔχειν διδάσκαλον. (43089)

3I think, O my friends, upon my shame, for that being old I have been overcome by a young child;- and I am even ready to faint and to die because of the boy, for I am not able at this present hour to look him in the face. And when all men say that I have been overcome by a little child, what have I to say? and what can I tell concerning the lines of the first letter whereof he spake to me? I am ignorant, O my friends, for neither beginning nor end of it (or him) do I know.

Ἐνθυμοῦμαι φίλοι τὴν αἰσχύνην, ὅτι γέρων ὑπάρχων ὑπὸ παιδίου ἐνικήθην. καὶ ἔχω ἐκκακῆσαι καὶ ἀποθανεῖν διὰ τούτου τοῦ παιδός· οὐ δύναμαι γὰρ ἐν τῇ ὥρᾳ ταύτῃ ἐμβλέψαι εἰς τὴν ὄψιν αὐτοῦ. καὶ πάντων εἰπόντων ὅτι ἐνικήθην ὑπὸ παιδίου μικροῦ, τί ἔχω εἰπεῖν; καὶ τί διηγήσασθαι περὶ ὧν μοι εἶπε κανόνων τοῦ πρώτου στοιχείου; ἀγνοῶ, ὦ φίλοι· οὐ γὰρ ἀρχὴν καὶ τέλος αὐτοῦ γινώσκω. (40924)

4Wherefore I beseech thee, my brother Joseph, take him away unto thine house: for he is somewhat great, whether god or angel or what I should call him, I know not.

Τοιγαροῦν ἀξιῶ σε, ἀδελφὲ Ἰωσήφ, ἀπάγαγε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. οὗτος τί ποτε μέγα ἐστίν, ἢ θεὸς ἢ ἄγγελος, ἢ τί εἴπω οὐκ οἶδα. (11402)