Why is the gospel of Thomas not in the bible, is a question that may have crossed your mind. The absence of the Gospel of Thomas from the pages of the Bible prompts curiosity. One key reason is its format and content significantly differ from those Gospels that did make the cut.
The Gospel of Thomas, unlike Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, does not tell a story. Instead, it lists sayings attributed to Jesus without providing context through his life events or teachings in a narrative form.
This article aims to shed light on the intriguing case of the Gospel of Thomas and explore the reasons behind its exclusion from the Bible. We will delve into topics such as its discovery, historical context, and how it compares with other New Testament writings.
By understanding these aspects surrounding Thomas’ Gospel’s absence from canonical scripture can clarify many questions about what criteria guided early church leaders in assembling biblical text collections.
Get ready for an interesting read!
Key Takeaways
- The Gospel of Thomas lists 114 sayings of Jesus but doesn’t share stories about his life, death, or resurrection like the other Gospels do. This format and its Gnostic views made early Christians decide it didn’t fit in the Bible.
- A farmer found the Gospel of Thomas in Egypt in 1945. It was part of a collection called the Nag Hammadi Library. Scholars think this gospel was written way after Jesus’ time by people with different beliefs.
- The text includes unique teachings from Jesus that aren’t in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Despite this, its late writing date and Gnostic influence led to questions about its authenticity and relevance to Jesus’ real teachings.
Brief Overview of The Gospel of Thomas
The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, discovered in the Nag Hammadi library in 1945. It offers insights into the teachings and beliefs surrounding the historical Jesus.
Summary
Thomas contains 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, unlike the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This book doesn’t follow a story about Jesus’ life, death, or resurrection like the four gospels.
It skips major events like his birth and focuses only on his sayings. Scholars think Thomas was written by someone in a gnostic group, not the apostle Thomas.
People did not include Thomas in the Bible because it seemed very different from other books about Jesus. It lacks a plot and does not match the early Christians’ beliefs about Jesus’ life and teachings.
The Gospel of Thomas teaches us unique things but does not offer a complete picture of Jesus as seen in the New Testament.
Discovery
A farmer found the Gospel of Thomas in 1945 near Nag Hammadi, Egypt. This discovery was a group of ancient texts known as the Nag Hammadi Library. The book includes sayings attributed to Jesus and is written in Coptic.
Scholars believe Didymos Judas Thomas wrote it in the second century.
This text sparked interest because it contains many sayings not found in the canonical gospels. Researchers debate its date and origins, considering its connections to Gnosticism and early Christian beliefs.
Despite controversies, this find offers insights into diverse early Christian teachings about Jesus’ words and the kingdom of God.
Attestation and Date of Composition
Experts believe the Gospel of Thomas was written in the early second century, not by Jesus’ disciple Thomas, but by someone within a Gnostic group. This timing is much later than the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The text’s style and content suggest it does not come from the same period as these biblical gospels. It contains sayings attributed to Jesus but lacks a connected story about his life or teachings.
Its composition date makes scholars argue that Thomas doesn’t offer firsthand accounts of Jesus’ words or actions. Instead, it reflects beliefs and interpretations from a time after the earliest Christian texts were written.
Moving forward, its relationship with other New Testament writings provides further insight into why Thomas remains outside the traditional Biblical canon.
Relation to the New Testament Canon
The Gospel of Thomas is debated by early and late camps. Importance, authorship, and relevance to the New Testament canon are focal points of discussion.
Early and late camps
Scholars are divided into two camps regarding the dating of the Gospel of Thomas. The early camp suggests that it was composed in the 1st century, around the same time as the canonical gospels.
In contrast, scholars in the late camp argue that it was developed later, possibly in the 2nd century, and may have borrowed from or been influenced by other writings. This debate about its origin and composition contributes to differing views on its historical reliability and relevance to understanding Jesus’ teachings.
The significance of these divergent viewpoints lies in their implications for interpreting the sayings attributed to Jesus in this gospel. Proponents of an earlier date contend that it provides insight into the authentic words of Jesus, shedding light on early Christian beliefs.
Importance and authorship
The authorship and significance of the Gospel of Thomas have been subjects of debate among scholars. While some attribute its authorship to the Apostle Thomas, others believe it was composed by a member of a Gnostic sect.
The prevailing view is that it likely originated from Gnostic circles rather than being written by the apostle. This attribution affects its importance, as it raises questions about its authenticity as an accurate representation of Jesus’ teachings and life.
The book’s exclusion from the biblical canon also underscores its perceived lack of authority in early Christian communities. As a result, it is not regarded as a genuine portrayal of Jesus’ words and deeds compared to the canonical Gospels.
The Historical Jesus and Representation of Women
The Gospel of Thomas includes sayings attributed to Jesus and reflects the representation of women disciples. It presents an interesting perspective on gender roles within the teachings of Jesus.
Women disciples
The Gospel of Thomas includes sayings attributed to Jesus but does not mention any women disciples. In contrast, the canonical Gospels like Matthew and Luke feature various instances of female disciples who played significant roles in Jesus’ ministry and crucifixion.
This aspect highlights a notable difference between the Gospel of Thomas and the major gospels, reflecting varied representations of women within early Christian texts.
Logion 114
Logion 114 in the Gospel of Thomas emphasizes that women can enter the kingdom of heaven by transforming themselves. It portrays a more inclusive view of women, which differs from the traditional societal norms of that time.
This logion challenges gender roles and presents a progressive perspective on women’s spiritual equality, reflecting an alternative portrayal compared to the major Gospels.
Considering its divergence from traditional views on women at the time, this logion exemplifies how The Gospel of Thomas offered distinctive teachings that challenged social norms prevalent during Jesus’ era.
Comparison to the major gospels
Moving from the intriguing discourse on Logion 114, let’s delve into how the Gospel of Thomas contrasts with the four major Gospels in the New Testament. This comparison showcases the distinct features and thematic focuses of the Gospel of Thomas compared to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
| Feature | Gospel of Thomas | Canonical Gospels |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Lacks a narrative structure; composed of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. | Follow a narrative structure detailing the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. |
| Key Events | Does not mention Jesus’ birth, death, or resurrection. | Central focus on the birth, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. |
| Theological Themes | Emphasizes gnosis (knowledge) as the path to salvation. | Highlight themes of faith, love, forgiveness, and salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice. |
| Authorship and Origin | Attributed to a Gnostic sect, not directly to the apostle Thomas. | Attributed to the apostles or their close associates, reflecting eyewitness accounts. |
| Historicity | It is considered spurious by many scholars, with questions surrounding its authenticity. | Regarded as more historically reliable accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings. |
| Canonical Acceptance | Excluded from the New Testament canon due to its Gnostic elements and lack of alignment with early Christian doctrine. | Included in the New Testament canon, considered genuine and authoritative texts of Christian faith. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Gospel of Thomas isn’t in the Bible because it lacks a narrative structure seen in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Unlike these Gospels, it doesn’t cover crucial aspects of Jesus’ life such as his birth and resurrection.
This text also aligns more with Gnostic beliefs than mainstream Christian doctrines, leading to its exclusion from the New Testament canon. Despite this omission, it remains an essential piece for scholars exploring early Christian beliefs beyond canonical texts.
FAQs
1. What is the Gospel of Thomas?
The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of sayings attributed to Jesus, known as a gnostic gospel because it presents ideas different from those in the New Testament.
2. Why isn’t the Gospel of Thomas in the Bible?
The Gospel of Thomas isn’t included in the Bible because early Christian leaders believed its teachings did not match those found in the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—which they saw as true accounts of Jesus’ life.
3. Who wrote the Gospel of Thomas?
It’s said that Didymos Judas Thomas, also known as Doubting Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, likely wrote down these sayings but scholars debate this claim due to its late discovery and differing views.
4. How does the content differ from other Gospels?
Unlike Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John which tell stories about Jesus’ life and death; The Gospel according to Thomas contains mainly sayings and doesn’t discuss his crucifixion or resurrection.
5. Is there any truth to what’s written in the Gospel of Thomas?
Some people find value in its spiritual insights but others see it as heretical for straying too far from traditional Christian beliefs established by books included in the Bible.
6. Can reading it change how we see Jesus’ teachings?
Reading The Gospel of Thomas might offer new perspectives on familiar teachings by presenting them through different sayings that emphasize personal spiritual discovery over established doctrine.
