False GospelsFalse Gospels

The FamousThe Famous

The Gospel of ThomasThe Gospel of Thomas

The Gospel ItselfThe Gospel Itself

1. What is the Gospel?1. What is the Gospel?

There are no narrativesThere are no narratives The gospel consists of 114 sayings of JesusThe gospel consists of 114 sayings of Jesus The gospel was found, with many other The gospel was found, with many other

ancient documents in the Nag Hammadi ancient documents in the Nag Hammadi library by a man named Mohammad Alilibrary by a man named Mohammad Ali

The gospel is written in Coptic, though many The gospel is written in Coptic, though many scholars believe that it was originally in scholars believe that it was originally in Greek.Greek.

Nag Hammadi MaterialsNag Hammadi Materials

2. Who Wrote the Gospel?2. Who Wrote the Gospel?

in the first verse, the author calls himself Didymus Judas Thomas. Who was this person?

The word didymus means twin in Greek; the The word didymus means twin in Greek; the word Thomas means twin in Aramaic. The word Thomas means twin in Aramaic. The person’s name was Jude.person’s name was Jude.

Jesus had a brother named Jude and Some Jesus had a brother named Jude and Some Syriac preserve an idea that Jesus had a Syriac preserve an idea that Jesus had a twin.twin.

3. Other Questions3. Other Questions

When was Thomas written?When was Thomas written? Did Thomas make use of the Synoptic Did Thomas make use of the Synoptic

gospels or vice versa?gospels or vice versa? Do any of these sayings actually go back to Do any of these sayings actually go back to

Jesus?Jesus? Does the gospel have Gnostic pre-Does the gospel have Gnostic pre-

understanding?understanding?

Short Excurses on GnosticismShort Excurses on Gnosticism

Gnosticism was a cult that originated in the Gnosticism was a cult that originated in the 200 A. D.200 A. D.

It had a great deal to say about “secret It had a great deal to say about “secret knowledge” and mysteries.knowledge” and mysteries.

There was, at least in some strains of There was, at least in some strains of Gnosticism, a devaluation of the body.Gnosticism, a devaluation of the body.

Thus the spirit is saved, the body is Thus the spirit is saved, the body is worthless.worthless.

4. Opening Sayings from Thomas4. Opening Sayings from Thomas

These are the secret sayings which the living These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus Jesus || spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down.wrote down.

(1) And he said, | “Whoever finds the interpretation (1) And he said, | “Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will | not experience death.”of these sayings will | not experience death.”

(2) Jesus said, 15 “Let him who seeks continue (2) Jesus said, 15 “Let him who seeks continue seeking until he | finds. When he finds, he will | seeking until he | finds. When he finds, he will | become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will | be astonished, and he will | rule over the all.”will | be astonished, and he will | rule over the all.”

What Do the Sayings Teach?What Do the Sayings Teach?

The sayings are said to be secret.The sayings are said to be secret. The key to eternal life is in correctly The key to eternal life is in correctly

interpreting them.interpreting them. Contrast the NT where in the Gospels and in Contrast the NT where in the Gospels and in

Paul the death and resurrection are the keys Paul the death and resurrection are the keys for eternal life.for eternal life.

5. Sayings that are Like the NT5. Sayings that are Like the NT Thomas 20- The disciples said to Jesus, “Tell us Thomas 20- The disciples said to Jesus, “Tell us

what the kingdom of heaven is | like.” He said to what the kingdom of heaven is | like.” He said to them, “it is like | a mustard seed. It is the smallest them, “it is like | a mustard seed. It is the smallest of 30 all seeds. But when it | falls on tilled soil, it | of 30 all seeds. But when it | falls on tilled soil, it | produces a great plant and becomes | a shelter for produces a great plant and becomes | a shelter for birds of the sky.”birds of the sky.”

Mark 4:30-31 Mark 4:30-31 Mark 4:31-32 31 "It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE."

SayingsSayings Thomas 26 - Jesus said, “You (sg.) see the mote Thomas 26 - Jesus said, “You (sg.) see the mote ||

in your brother’s eye, | but you do not see the in your brother’s eye, | but you do not see the beam in your own eye. When 15 you cast the beam in your own eye. When 15 you cast the beam out of your own | eye, then you will see beam out of your own | eye, then you will see clearly to cast the mote | from your brother’s eye.”clearly to cast the mote | from your brother’s eye.”

Matt. 7:3-5 Matt. 7:3-5 Matthew 7:3-4 3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?

SayingsSayings Thomas (34) Jesus said, “If a blind man Thomas (34) Jesus said, “If a blind man

leads | a blind man, they will both fall 20 into leads | a blind man, they will both fall 20 into a pit.”a pit.”

Matthew 15:14 14 "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

When was the Gospel Written?When was the Gospel Written?

Some scholars argue for a date in the 50’s Some scholars argue for a date in the 50’s or early 60’s thus making Thomas the or early 60’s thus making Thomas the earliest gospel.earliest gospel.

Many scholars today will date the book at Many scholars today will date the book at around 150-200around 150-200

The reasons for this late date are Thomas’s The reasons for this late date are Thomas’s familiarity with the Synoptics; Thomas familiarity with the Synoptics; Thomas seeming knowledge of other NT writings; seeming knowledge of other NT writings; and Thomas Gnosticismand Thomas Gnosticism

6. The Use of Thomas Today6. The Use of Thomas Today

Is it possible that Thomas contains genuine Is it possible that Thomas contains genuine sayings of Jesus that do not appear in the sayings of Jesus that do not appear in the NT?NT?

If so, what should the Christian do with If so, what should the Christian do with these sayings?these sayings?

7. Thomas Gnosticism7. Thomas Gnosticism

Saying one seems to clearly foreshadow the Saying one seems to clearly foreshadow the Gnostic character of the book.Gnostic character of the book.

It is secretIt is secret They bring eternal life to those who They bring eternal life to those who

understand them.understand them. Thus salvation is not through the redeeming Thus salvation is not through the redeeming

death of Christ, but through the secret death of Christ, but through the secret knowledge.knowledge.

GnosticismGnosticism

Thomas 3b But if you will not know Thomas 3b But if you will not know yourselves, you | dwell in poverty and it is yourselves, you | dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty.”you who are that poverty.”

This seems to tell us that we are spiritual This seems to tell us that we are spiritual beings trapped in an impoverished body.beings trapped in an impoverished body.

This entrapment is shown in several ways:This entrapment is shown in several ways:– One who is drunkOne who is drunk– One who is draped with unneeded clothes.One who is draped with unneeded clothes.

GnosticismGnosticism Bodies are Evil-Bodies are Evil- Thomas 36 His disciples Thomas 36 His disciples

said, “When | will you become revealed to said, “When | will you become revealed to us and when | shall we see you?”us and when | shall we see you?”

Jesus said, “When 30 you disrobe without Jesus said, “When 30 you disrobe without being | ashamed and take up your garments being | ashamed and take up your garments | and place them under your feet | like little | and place them under your feet | like little children and | tread on them, then children and | tread on them, then [[will you will you see] see] 4040 the son of the living one, and you the son of the living one, and you will not be | afraid.”will not be | afraid.”

GnosticismGnosticism Material world with the body is evil-Material world with the body is evil- (29) (29)

Jesus said, “If the flesh | came into being Jesus said, “If the flesh | came into being because of spirit, it is a wonder. | But if spirit because of spirit, it is a wonder. | But if spirit came into being because of the body, | it is came into being because of the body, | it is a wonder of wonders. Indeed, I am amazed a wonder of wonders. Indeed, I am amazed 3939 at how this great wealth | has made its at how this great wealth | has made its home in this poverty.”home in this poverty.”

GnosticismGnosticism Salvation is becoming one with the divine entity from which Salvation is becoming one with the divine entity from which

you have been divided. you have been divided. This comes not to everyone- Thomas 23 Jesus said, “I This comes not to everyone- Thomas 23 Jesus said, “I

shall choose you, one out | of a thousand, and two out of shall choose you, one out | of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand, and | they shall stand as a single one.”ten thousand, and | they shall stand as a single one.”

Thomas 114- Simon Peter said | to them, “Let Mary leave Thomas 114- Simon Peter said | to them, “Let Mary leave us, 20 for women are not worthy of life.”us, 20 for women are not worthy of life.”

Jesus said, | “I myself shall lead her | in order to make her Jesus said, | “I myself shall lead her | in order to make her male, so that | she too may become a living spirit male, so that | she too may become a living spirit resembling | you males. For every woman who will make resembling | you males. For every woman who will make herself 25 male will enter the kingdom | of heaven.”herself 25 male will enter the kingdom | of heaven.”

8. Final Analysis8. Final Analysis

Thomas is late for a New Testament Thomas is late for a New Testament Document. (A.D. 150-200 at the earliest)Document. (A.D. 150-200 at the earliest)

Thomas is Gnostic rather than “mainstream Thomas is Gnostic rather than “mainstream Christian.”Christian.”

Thomas was likely originally written in Syriac Thomas was likely originally written in Syriac (see N. Perrin’s recent work).(see N. Perrin’s recent work).

For more work see C. Evans For more work see C. Evans Fabricating Fabricating Jesus Jesus (IVP, 2006)