The Gospel of Thomas

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The Gospel of Thomas
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Background

• Probably written around the time of the four
  biblical gospels (ca. 70-100)
• Circulated widely, translated into different
  languages
• Syriac (like Hebrew), Coptic (Egypt), Greek
• But, lost to us until found in 1945 in Egypt
• 13 books containing 50 texts
• Another text Second Treatise of the Great Seth
• Huge discovery for learning about early Christian
  gnosticism

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Gnosticism

• Diverse, religiously eclectic movement
• Very popular ca. 100-500 CE
• Some argue, has it ever really gone away?
• Drew on eastern religions, like Zoroastrianism
• Some Christian forms, some non-Christian
• Basic characteristics
• Salvation through gaining secret knowledge
  (gnosis)
• Inner group (the elite) receive this knowledge
• Elaborate mythology divine light scattered
  throughout world, trapped in bodies
• Must liberate the divine from these bodies
• Dualistic light vs. darkness, spirit vs. body
• World and body are not redeemable

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Christian Gnosticism

• Jesus is savior focus on how his revealed
  teachings impart new, saving knowledge
• Whats missing focus on his body birth, death,
  resurrection
• Could be very ascetic and anti-femininity or more
  libertine in rituals
• Tend to reject Jewish Bible (Christian Old
  Testament) and its depiction of God

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Gospel of Thomas

• 114 sayings Jesus teaching
• Some sound very similar to biblical gospels
• Some are more puzzling, esoteric
• Probably from oral tradition, similar to the
  traditions that shaped the biblical gospels
• No narrative!
• No passion or resurrection

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Images of Jesus in Thomas

• How is this Gnostic?
• See v. 1, 15, 28, 29, 39, 49, 56, 62, 108
• How is he similar to Lukes portrait of Jesus?
• See v. 9, 16, 26, 54, 73, 86, 99
• How is Thomas Jesus different or unusual?
• See v. 22, 114

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For next time

• Marcion and Chidester
• Marcion first great controversy and heresy in
  Christianity
• Read Marcion closely
• How does Marcion think of God as good or just?
• Why doesnt Marcion like the Old Testament?
• What sounds like it disagrees with Christianity
  today?