The Fifth Gospel: The Gospel of Thomas Comes of Age
Overview
In December 1945, at the base of cliffs that run along the Nile River near the modern-day town of Nag Hammadi, an Egyptian farmer discovered a sealed jar containing the ancient text of the Gospel of Thomas. At the time, this discovery represented arguably the most significant manuscript discovery of the twentieth century for the study of the New Testament and Christian origins. The Gospel of Thomas is among the most controversial writings related to early Christianity. Some scholars argue that it attests to a lost Christianity, while others argue that it is a later Gnostic offshoot. This debate directly impacts the doctrine of inspiration, canon formation, and the very essence of the message of Jesus. This classic book presents the best text and the best translation of Thomas in user-friendly form. Additional chapters provide a general introduction to the Gospel of Thomas and tell the fascinating story of that discovery itself by one who was directly involved in bringing this new text to light. This new edition features updated material which takes account of recent research on the Gospel of Thomas. The translation has been refined at points, and the bibliographical material updated. This new edition also includes an annotated bibliography for further reading to provide readers with a guide to the most important current research on this important document.
Top Highlights
“Nag Hammadi library is a collection of ancient books discovered in Egypt in 1945” (Page 1)
“in the second century and later, where the lion had come to symbolize the human passions those ascetics fought to resist” (Pages 43–44)
“itinerant lifestyle, imitating the itinerant life of Jesus himself” (Page 46)
“no accounts of his birth, life, death, or resurrection” (Page 2)
- Title: The Fifth Gospel: The Gospel of Thomas Comes of Age
- Authors: Stephen J. Patterson, James Robinson
- Publisher: Trinity Press
- Print Publication Date: 1998
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Gospel of Thomas › Criticism, interpretation, etc; Nag Hammadi codices
- ISBNs: 1563382490, 9781563382499
- Resource ID: LLS:FFTHGSPL
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T23:57:53Z