The Gospel of Thomas Explained: 114 Sayings, the Nag Hammadi Discovery, & the Forgotten World of Early Christianity - Couverture souple

Arven, Cassian

Couverture souple

ISBN 13 : 9798172793691

Editeur : Independently published, 2026

Synopsis

The Gospel of Thomas Explained

114 Sayings, the Nag Hammadi Discovery, & the Forgotten World of Early Christianity

What if one of the most intriguing early Christian texts did not tell the story of Jesus's life—but preserved his teachings in a collection of mysterious sayings?

Discovered among the ancient Nag Hammadi codices in Egypt, the Gospel of Thomas contains 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. Unlike Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, it offers little narrative, no extended account of Jesus's ministry, and no conventional passion or resurrection story. Instead, it presents a striking collection of teachings centered on seeking, finding, knowledge, perception, the kingdom, light, transformation, and the meaning of discipleship.

But what exactly is this ancient text?

Who wrote it?
When was it composed?
Why does it resemble some sayings found in the New Testament while presenting them in such different ways?
Was Thomas a Gnostic Gospel?
Why was it not included in the New Testament?
And can it actually tell us anything about the historical Jesus?

The Gospel of Thomas Explained takes readers into these questions without sensationalism or easy answers.

Inside, you will explore:

• The origins and structure of the Gospel of Thomas
• The story of the Nag Hammadi discovery
• The surviving Coptic manuscript and earlier Greek fragments
• Thomas the Apostle and the question of authorship
• The ongoing debate over when Thomas was written
• The diverse world of early Christianity
• Thomas alongside Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
• The debate over whether Thomas should be called “Gnostic”
• The kingdom, self-knowledge, light, unity, and hidden wisdom
• All 114 sayings, explored and explained in context
• Why Thomas did not become part of the New Testament
• What historians can—and cannot—learn from Thomas about Jesus
• What this ancient collection reveals about the diversity of early Christianity

Rather than treating Thomas as a secret replacement for the Bible or dismissing it as an insignificant curiosity, this book approaches it as an important ancient witness whose survival opens a window into the complicated religious landscape of the early Christian centuries.

Whether you are a Christian curious about non-canonical writings, a student of biblical history, an enthusiast of ancient manuscripts, or simply fascinated by forgotten religious texts, The Gospel of Thomas Explained offers an accessible way to encounter one of antiquity's most debated Christian writings.

Read the sayings. Examine the evidence. Explore the questions. Discover the world behind the Gospel of Thomas.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Independently published
• Date d'édition: 2026
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 13: 9798172793691
• Reliure: Paperback
• Nombre de pages: 434
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible