What is the Gospel of Thomas?

A collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, discovered among the Nag Hammadi texts in 1945. It has no narrative, no miracles, no cross, and no resurrection, only sayings whose 'interpretation' is said to bring life. Most scholars date the collection to the second century, though this is debated.

Is the Gospel of Thomas in the Bible?

No. It was never part of the New Testament canon. The early church received the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), which give a public account centered on Jesus' death and resurrection, rather than a collection of secret sayings that saves by hidden knowledge.

Does the Gospel of Thomas agree with the four Gospels?

In part. A number of its sayings parallel teaching in the canonical Gospels, which is why scholars study it. But its overall picture of Jesus, a revealer of secret knowledge with no cross or resurrection, differs sharply from the crucified and risen Jesus of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Christianity & Gnosticism

The Gospel of Thomas and the Jesus of the Gospels

The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, found among the Nag Hammadi texts in 1945. It has no narrative, no miracles, no cross, and no resurrection, only secret sayings whose interpretation is said to bring life. Some of its sayings echo the Jesus of the canonical Gospels; others present a very different figure who saves by hidden knowledge. Here is a fair look at what Thomas is, and how its Jesus compares with the Jesus of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Living Bread is a Christian platform centered on Jesus Christ. Gnosticism was a family of movements in the first centuries that offered salvation through secret knowledge. Some forms grew up alongside and in rivalry with the early church, which rejected them as heresy. We try to describe Gnostic teaching accurately from its own texts (the Nag Hammadi library and the Gospel of Thomas) before we say what the apostolic church believed, and we tell that history honestly rather than as caricature. Come and see.

What the Gospel of Thomas is

Thomas is a 'sayings gospel': 114 short teachings introduced by 'Jesus said,' with almost no story around them. Most scholars date the collection as we have it to the mid-second century, though some argue parts draw on earlier tradition; its dating is genuinely debated. It contains no account of Jesus' birth, death, or resurrection. Its Jesus reveals mysteries for those able to understand, and some sayings lean toward the Gnostic outlook.

“It is I who am the light which is above them all. It is I who am the all. From me did the all come forth, and unto me did the all extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.”

Gospel of Thomas, saying 77 (trans. Thomas O. Lambdin)

It is only fair to add that a number of Thomas's sayings closely parallel teaching found in the canonical Gospels (the mustard seed, the sower, 'love your brother'), which is part of why scholars study it so closely.

What the canonical Gospels give

The four Gospels the church received, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are not secret sayings but public accounts, written so that anyone might believe. Their center is not a hidden interpretation but a death and a resurrection offered openly to the world.

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

John 20:31 (KJV)

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV)

Where we agree

Thomas is a real and interesting ancient text, and some of its sayings genuinely overlap with the Jesus of the canonical Gospels. Christians need not fear it or pretend it says nothing true; where it echoes the fourfold Gospel, it echoes something good.

Where we differ

The Jesus of Thomas saves by secret knowledge and has no cross and no empty tomb. The Jesus of the canonical Gospels dies for sins and rises bodily, in public, for everyone. These are two different pictures of salvation, and the church received the four, not Thomas, because they hold to the crucified and risen Lord preached from the beginning.

Gnostic sources: the Nag Hammadi library (discovered in Egypt in 1945) and the Gospel of Thomas, quoted from Thomas O. Lambdin’s translation and other standard editions. Early Christian responses are cited from Irenaeus of Lyons (Against Heresies, c. 180) and the New Testament. We aim to represent Gnostic teaching accurately and in its own terms. Bible: King James Version.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Gospel of Thomas?: A collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, discovered among the Nag Hammadi texts in 1945. It has no narrative, no miracles, no cross, and no resurrection, only sayings whose 'interpretation' is said to bring life. Most scholars date the collection to the second century, though this is debated.
Is the Gospel of Thomas in the Bible?: No. It was never part of the New Testament canon. The early church received the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), which give a public account centered on Jesus' death and resurrection, rather than a collection of secret sayings that saves by hidden knowledge.
Does the Gospel of Thomas agree with the four Gospels?: In part. A number of its sayings parallel teaching in the canonical Gospels, which is why scholars study it. But its overall picture of Jesus, a revealer of secret knowledge with no cross or resurrection, differs sharply from the crucified and risen Jesus of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Come and see

The Gnostics prized a Jesus of hidden sayings for a few. The canonical Gospels give a Jesus who dies and rises in public, for the whole world. The most honest way to weigh the two is to read the Gospel for yourself. No belief is required to read it.

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