Who was the Apostle Thomas?

Thomas is the apostle referenced in the Gospel of John. He is described as the apostle of wavering faith refusing to accept that Christ was risen until he had touched the wounds he received on the cross.

Why isn't The Gospel Of Thomas in the Bible?

There is a wide variance of opinion regarding this. On the one hand there are academics who have made the case that it was written before the Gospel Of Mark AD70 and others who claim it was not written until the latter half of the second century.

When was The Gospel Of Thomas written?

Why is The Gospel Of Thomas named after the Apostle Thomas?

How was The Gospel Of Thomas discovered?

The only complete copy of the Gospel was discovered in a clay pot at the base of a cliff along the River Nile in Egypt in 1945.

Is the Gospel Of Thomas different to the Biblical Gospels?

About sixty of the 114 sayings have some correlation to things Jesus said in the Biblical gospels though in each instance there are differences.

Was Jesus Vegetarian?

There is extensive evidence to suggest that he was vegetarian. This is considered in detail in my forthcoming book but for now consider the following.

The Gospel of Thomas

In the Gospel of Thomas Jesus recognises everyone and everything as facets of a single underlying Unity. We are characterised by our sameness

The early Jesus movement was factionalised and chaotic. In the first few centuries after Jesus's death there were multiple groups holding different views and perspectives regarding who Jesus was, and what his message conveyed. The Gospel of Thomas introduces us to a Jesus who advocates oneness. A Jesus who tells us that the Divine lives in the All of Everything

The Apostle Thomas

History knows Thomas as the Doubter, the one who needs to feel and touch the wounds of Jesus before believing. And yet here we have a gospel that positions him as the brightest and most insightful of Jesus's followers.

A Different Jesus

Gospel of Thomas – Introduction, History & Key Themes

The Gospel of Thomas is one of the most intriguing early Christian texts. Unlike the four canonical gospels, it presents no narrative of Jesus’ birth, life, death, or resurrection. Instead, it gathers 114 sayings of Jesus – some familiar, some unique, and many deeply mystical – offering an alternative perspective on early Christian spirituality and the Kingdom of the One.

This introduction to the Gospel of Thomas explores its history, why it is not in the Bible, its key themes, and the nature of its sayings.

What Is the Gospel of Thomas?

The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of sayings attributed to Jesus, transmitted in the voice of “Didymus Judas Thomas.” It is often described as a “sayings gospel” because it contains almost no narrative. Each saying, or logion, is numbered and presented as a short, often enigmatic teaching.

Scholars generally date the core of the Gospel of Thomas to the early second century, with some material possibly going back even earlier. Because many of its sayings parallel those in Matthew, Mark and Luke, it is a major source for understanding the diversity of early Christian belief and the transmission of the sayings of Jesus.

History of the Gospel of Thomas

The text of the Gospel of Thomas was lost for well over a millennium. It was rediscovered in 1945 near Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt, when local villagers uncovered a sealed jar containing ancient manuscripts now known as the Nag Hammadi Library.

Among these manuscripts was a Coptic translation of the Gospel of Thomas, copied in the 4th century. Most scholars believe that this Coptic text is based on an earlier Greek original, fragments of which have also been found at Oxyrhynchus in Egypt. Today, the Gospel of Thomas is studied alongside other early Christian writings to reconstruct the world of the first generations of Jesus’ followers.

Key Historical Points

Discovered in 1945 as part of the Nag Hammadi Library in Egypt.
Preserved in Coptic, likely translated from a Greek original.
Dates to the early centuries of Christianity, possibly early second century.
Contains 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, some parallel to the New Testament.

Why the Gospel of Thomas Is Not in the Bible

Many readers naturally ask why the Gospel of Thomas is not included in the New Testament. The answer lies in the complex process by which the early church formed the biblical canon and selected which gospels to recognise as authoritative.

1. No narrative of Jesus’ life or resurrection

The early church favoured gospels that told the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Thomas offers almost no biographical information. Its exclusive focus on sayings and teachings made it less suitable as a foundational narrative for the developing Christian tradition.

2. Emphasis on inner knowledge and mystical language

The Gospel of Thomas stresses inner spiritual knowledge, self-knowledge and the discovery of the Kingdom within. Some early church leaders regarded this emphasis as too mystical or too close to currents of thought they considered unorthodox.

3. Association with communities outside emerging orthodoxy

Although the Gospel of Thomas is not straightforwardly “Gnostic,” it appears to have been used in circles that later church authorities considered heterodox. As the church moved towards a more unified doctrine, texts associated with marginal groups were less likely to be canonised.

4. The canon was effectively closed

By the time the New Testament canon was becoming fixed, the Gospel of Thomas was not widely recognised across the major Christian centres. As a result, it was never included among the officially accepted books of the Bible.

Main Themes in the Gospel of Thomas

Despite its exclusion from the Bible, the Gospel of Thomas remains a powerful and thought-provoking text. Several recurring themes run through its 114 sayings.

The Kingdom of God is within and among you

One of the most famous sayings from Thomas teaches that the Kingdom is not a distant, external place, but something already present within and among people. The Gospel of Thomas invites the reader to discover this inner reality through spiritual insight.

Self-knowledge as the path to life

The text often links self-knowledge with salvation. To know oneself is to awaken to one’s true nature and relationship with the divine. Many sayings encourage readers to look within rather than relying solely on external authorities.

Paradox, symbols and the unity of opposites

The sayings frequently use paradoxical language – speaking of the first becoming last, the inside being like the outside, and light hidden in darkness. This symbolic style points to a deeper unity behind apparent opposites and invites contemplation rather than simple literal interpretation.

Jesus as revealer of hidden knowledge

In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus appears primarily as a teacher and guide who unveils what is hidden. The sayings often begin with “Jesus said…”, emphasising his role as a revealer of the hidden Kingdom and the mystery of the One.

The 114 Sayings (Logia) of Jesus

The heart of the Gospel of Thomas is its collection of 114 sayings. These sayings, or logia, vary widely in tone and content. Some are brief and simple; others are highly symbolic and challenging.

Sayings parallel to the New Testament

Many sayings in Thomas resemble those found in Matthew, Mark and Luke. These parallels help scholars compare different streams of tradition and explore how Jesus’ words were remembered, adapted and interpreted in the early church.

Unique and enigmatic sayings

Other sayings appear only in the Gospel of Thomas. These unique sayings often have a strongly mystical character, speaking of inner light, the hiddenness of the Kingdom, and the need to “become a single one.” They continue to provoke reflection and debate among readers and scholars alike.

On this site you can explore the full list of 114 sayings from the Gospel of Thomas, along with commentary, background information and reflections on their meaning.

Why the Gospel of Thomas Matters Today

The Gospel of Thomas remains important for both historical and spiritual reasons. Historically, it offers a window into the diversity of early Christianity, showing that followers of Jesus preserved and interpreted his words in more than one way.

Spiritually, the Gospel of Thomas attracts readers who are drawn to themes of inner transformation, self-knowledge and direct experience of the divine. Its focus on seeking, questioning and discovering the Kingdom within resonates strongly with many people today.

It preserves early traditions about the sayings of Jesus.
It highlights inner spiritual knowledge and personal discovery.
It shows the variety of early Christian thought and practice.
It invites ongoing reflection, contemplation and dialogue.

Explore the Gospel of Thomas Further

This website is dedicated to exploring and understanding the Gospel of Thomas in depth. Here you can:

Read and study all 114 sayings from the Gospel of Thomas.
Learn more about its history and discovery at Nag Hammadi.
Explore major themes, including the Kingdom within, self-knowledge and the unity of opposites.
Discover why the Gospel of Thomas was not included in the Bible.
Reflect on its meaning for contemporary spirituality and the Kingdom of the One.

Whether you come as a student of early Christian history, a seeker of spiritual wisdom or a curious reader, the Gospel of Thomas offers a rich and challenging invitation: to seek, to question and to discover the light that is already within.