The Gospel of Thomas: Lost or Later Imitation?

Was the Gospel of Thomas really a lost Gospel suppressed by the early Church-or is the truth far more interesting?Discovered among the ancient manuscripts near Nag Hammadi, Egypt, the Gospel of Thomas contains 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. Some sound remarkably familiar. Others are mysterious, troubling, or unlike anything found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.But where did Thomas come from?Did the Apostle Thomas actually write it?Could some of its sayings be older than the New Testament Gospels?Was it rejected because church leaders wanted to suppress a competing version of Christianity?And what are we to make of strange statements such as "make the two one" and the controversial final saying that Mary must "become male"?The Gospel of Thomas: Lost Gospel or Later Imitation? investigates these questions without sensationalism and without simply dismissing Thomas because it was not included in the Bible.Instead, Adam Phelps examines the historical evidence.Inside you'll explore: - The discovery of the Gospel of Thomas at Nag Hammadi - What the surviving manuscripts actually tell us - Whether the Apostle Thomas could have written it - How scholars attempt to date the text - Thomas's similarities to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - Its teachings about secret knowledge, self-discovery, light, unity, and the kingdom - What Thomas says-and does not say-about the Cross and Resurrection - The controversial saying about Mary "becoming male" in its ancient context - What early Christians actually said about writings attributed to Thomas - How the four canonical Gospels came to be widely received - Whether Constantine or the Council of Nicaea had anything to do with excluding Thomas - A plain-English examination of all 114 sayings of the Gospel of ThomasThomas does not need to be dismissed as worthless.Nor does it need to be turned into a suppressed fifth Gospel.It deserves to be examined historically.Ancient? Yes.Important? Absolutely.Written by the Apostle Thomas and removed from the Bible?The evidence tells a much more complicated story.Whether you are a Christian wanting to understand the history behind the Bible, a student of early Christianity, or simply curious about the so-called "lost Gospels," this book provides an accessible guide to one of the most fascinating Christian writings discovered in modern times.