Seemingly hidden for many centuries, but now revealed, the recent discovery of a "key of knowledge" has yielded a practical and very useful cross reference tool to understand the epistles.
This cross shaped key is found hidden within many early manuscripts and most prominently within the controversial Gospel of Thomas. This mysterious key unlocks a treasure chest allowing the disciple to discover hidden connections both within Thomas, and within the canonical letters.
There are convincing sequential similarities in thought, word, and rhetoric between The Gospel of Thomas and several canonical writings that become plainly visible. Providing an invaluable contribution to the study of the New Testament, these connections appear to reveal the original thought processes behind the apostolic writings.
Aligning and combining the sayings of Jesus within The Gospel of Thomas together with the canonical apostolic writings, we "make the two into one." It's almost like Jesus and the apostles left us a cross reference study bible.
Take a look at these Key Word Connections:
The Gospel of Thomas - 1 Corinthian Connection
The Gospel of Thomas - Galatians Connection
The Gospel of Thomas - Ephesians Connection
The Gospel of Thomas - 1 Thessalonians Connection
The Gospel of Thomas - Hebrews Connection
The Gospel of Thomas - James Connection
The Gospel of Thomas - 1 Peter Connection
The Gospel of Thomas - 1 John Connection
The Gospel of Thomas - Revelations Connection
And
The Gospel of Thomas - The Gospel of John Connection
“Give attendance to reading… Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all,” 1 Timothy 4:13- 15.
These new insights suggest that The Gospel of Thomas squares more neatly into the framework of early Christianity than is commonly assumed. Such similarities, connections, and cross references could revolutionize our understanding of the epistles, the gospel, the tapestry of the early church, and even of Christ.
I think the implications of these revelations stretch the imagination beyond belief. What do you think? Being the only known document with simultaneously extensive, sequential, and unique connections to all these early canonical writings does not suggest a later date for Thomas, but rather a very, very early date.
If there had been only one New Testament text that aligned with the Thomas text it might be difficult to determine which text came first, but this is not the case. As can be seen in the above links, there are many New Testament writings aligning themselves with Thomas.
The reason this suggests an early date is that it becomes extremely unlikely that a later author could have fashioned Thomas using the sayings of Jesus from the canonical Gospels, while simultaneously and sequentially matching the Rhetoric of so many epistles (See the Key Word Connection links above), while also consistently maintaining both the
inner and
outer
loosely based chiasms that provide the overarching structure for the Gospel of Thomas. It is much, much easier to believe that Thomas came first, and that the other writings flowed out from Thomas.
What does all this mean?
Why are these texts interconnected in such an extensive manner?
What do these connections teach us about the meaning of the canonical letters and about Thomas?
Did Paul, James, Peter, and John construct their letters using "The Gospel of Thomas?" This does appear to be the case, (See the Key Word Connection links above). Why would the apostles do this?
Without being overly dramatic, I would like to make this next point as straightforward as possible. Perhaps the most simple explanation for these connections, and for the apparent apostolic reliance upon the Gospel of Thomas
is that Thomas was The Original Gospel Of Christ.
The Thomas prologue explains that Christ was the originator of this Gospel and that this gospel was merely written down or scribed by Thomas. Apostolic acceptance that Christ was the author of this gospel would explain the connections, and would explain why the apostles used this gospel so extensively? (See the Thomas prologue)
If we have now recovered Christ's own gospel, then this could be revolutionary. As a unique gospel, apparently intended primarily for those within the church, this key of knowledge teaches those who would follow Jesus, as one of his disciples, how to live life as a wandering radical. It then reveals to these solitary and elect the complete reunification and oneness of the all through the teachings of the bridal chamber. This gospel, if sent and received, could be a significant challenge to the current religious world.
May we be granted wisdom and grace.
URfriend,
Dean Johnson
P.S. Perhaps The Gospel of Thomas was even used by non-canonical authors:
This page is still under construction
18 comments:
Did this gospel come directly from Christ, merely being scribed by Thomas, as this gospel claims?
(See the Thomas Prologue?)
This would make Thomas Christ's own gospel.
Regarding this question, there four pages worth considering:
Considered together these 4 pages suggest that the Apostle Paul relied heavily upon on the Gospel of Thomas. Paul's reliance on the Gospel of Thomas in his creation of 1 Corinthians suggests a very early date for Thomas. This early dating together with Paul's extensive usage of Thomas suggests a pre-eminent authority present in this text. One reasonable explanation is that "The Gospel of Thomas" was "The Gospel of Christ."
1. http://www.angelfire.com/dc/universalism/Corinthian_Thomas_Parallels.html
This is a complete side by side comparison of both 1 Corinthians and The Gospel of Thomas. There appears to be extensive and entirely sequential similarities in thought, word, and rhetoric, throughout both the gospel and letter. Individually these similarities might be inconsequential, but sequentially throughout the entirety of both texts they cannot be ignored.
Then there are the 2 loose chiastic structures based on key word connections throughout Thomas:
2. The Outer Thomas Chiasmic Structure based on the Cross (Staurogram):
http://www.angelfire.com/dc/universalism/keyofknowledge.html
3. The Inner Chiasmic Structure
based on the Kingdom:
http://www.angelfire.com/dc/universalism/realizedeschatologychart.html>
Cumulatively, the evidence from these 3 web pages suggests a very early date for the Gospel of Thomas. The reason they suggest an early date is that it becomes extremely unlikely that a later author could have fashioned Thomas using the saying of Jesus, while sequentially matching the Rhetoric of 1 Corinthians, while also simultaneously maintaining both the inner and outer loosely based chiasms that provide the overarching structure for the Gospel of Thomas. It is much easier to believe that Thomas came first, and that the other gospels flowed out from Thomas.
Finally, with Paul's extensive reliance upon Thomas in mind, http://www.angelfire.com/dc/universalism/mygospel.html hesitantly considers the realistic possibility that "The Gospel of Christ" that is so often referred to in the scriptures and in Paul's writings may be an actual early text commissioned by Christ himself. The possibility is examined that the gospel commonly known as "The Gospel of Thomas" may be the actual Gospel of Christ: Christ's own message and gospel passed on to his closest disciples.
This might explain the apostle Paul's extensive use of The Gospel of Thomas in his own writings.
Today, many similarities in thought, word, and rhetoric between Thomas and Galatians were posted online for the benefit of the body of Christ.
The Gospel of Thomas Compared to Galatians
It is almost like Jesus and the Apostles gave us a cross reference Bible for our personal studies. Enjoy.
Today is posted a sequential side by side comparison of
James and The Gospel of Thomas
James was leader in the initial church in Jerusalem.
These similarities between James and the Gospel of Thomas may suggest that James also recognized the value of Thomas, perhaps also viewing it as the very gospel of Christ.
This connection to James is especially interesting as it is reminiscent of the the "Gospel to the Circumcision" mentioned by Paul.
These connections may also imply that some of the the early Jewish believers which were scattered abroad in the early dispersion could have been very familiar with this gospel known as Thomas. James 1:1
For the sake of the church, and especially for those who value the special place of Peter in Church history, today is revealed the connections between
1 Peter and The Gospel of Thomas.
May it be a blessing.
Some recent scholarship has suggested that the disciples of Thomas and John did not get along. For example, partially based on John's gospel portrayal of Thomas as the doubting Thomas Elaine Pagels in Beyond Belief portrays Thomas and John as rival factions within the early church.
This posting of the Thomas - 1 John Connection may provide further insights and perhaps even challenge this train of thought.
The Gospel of Thomas - Gospel of Mary Connection is posted today.
Though not a canonical gospel this posting is significant as Mary was the first to see Christ in his resurrection glory.
Here is a gift for the prophets and all those who look for the Revelation of Christ from within.
Today is posted a side by side comparison between The Gospel of Christ and The Revelation of Jesus Christ
May we see him as he is.
Jesus chastised the scribes of his day for hiding the key of knowledge within their scribblings. This key was necessary for those who would enter the kingdom.
Jesus said, "The scribes have taken the keys of knowledge (gnosis) and hidden them. They themselves have not entered, nor have they allowed to enter those who wish to,” (Thomas 39, Luke 11:52).
The recognition of the scribal use of the "Staurogram" or the "Tau-Rho Cross" as this "key of knowledge" may be useful in locating other texts that are based on the Gospel of Thomas.
Just as the Staurogram is located in saying 55 at the center of the Thomas text, so also, other ancient texts constructed using Thomas also have the concepts of Thomas 55 and the cross located centrally within their texts. Seek and you will find.
Last weekend was posted a comparison between The Gospel of Thomas and Hebrews
Those who are enjoying this study may also enjoy comparing key phrases in Thomas with several different canonical writers simultaneously to gain deeper insight into how the apostles as a group viewed the words of Jesus. For example the gospel phrase in Thomas "make the two into one" seems to correspond with the phrase "the word of God" in several of the apostolic epistles. (Thomas 22, 106, James 22, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 John 2:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:8).
Seek and you will find.
Today is posted
The Thomas - 1 Thessalonians Connection
Once again it is worth mentioning that the the key phrase in Thomas "make the two one" seems to connect with the phrase "the gospel" in 1 Thessalonians.
"Make the two One" (Thomas 106) /
"The very gospel of God" (1 Thes. 5:23)
"If two make peace" (Thomas 48) /
"The gospel of Christ" (1 Thes. 3:2)
"Make the two One" (Thomas 22) /
"The gospel of God" (1 Thes. 2:8)
Now is posted
The Thomas - Ephesians Connection
I particularly enjoyed the comparison of Thomas 17 with Ephesians 1:17
I liked the thought that what Jesus gives us, which no natural eye has seen, is the spirit of wisdom and revelation. May he open our spiritual eyes
Interesting thoughts.
The parallels and similarities between Thomas 17 and 1 Corinthians 2:9 have long been acknowledged by scholars.
What is most interesting is that these two verses naturally align themselves when these two books are compared side by side. This can be seen in The Gospel of Thomas – 1 Corinthians Key Word Connections page. Perhaps, this may lend some support and credibility to the validity of the other connections that are presented.
Last night was posted a web site that is still under construction. The potential connection between these two books is still being considered.
The Gospel of Thomas - The Quran Connection
Both books are composed of 114 divisions. Matching Sayings to corresponding Suras may yield interesting results.
I especially love the climax of Thomas in Saying 55: "take up his cross" which is expanded by Matthew, Mark and Luke to include "let him deny himself, and take up his cross."
This may be significant since the phrase "will you deny Allah?" (the God) is repeated to the point of extreme emphasis in Suras 55 in the Quran.
Does this suggest that if we refuse to deny ourselves that we deny God?
Very Interesting.
So much history has passed since the Original Gospel of Christ was hidden from humanity. Now that it may have been recovered big questions may need to be asked.
I wonder if Muhammad gave more credibility to this Original Gospel of Christ than is commonly acknowledged by many of us in the west.
Suras 3:84
"Say: "We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma`il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord; we make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam)." Yusuf Ali Translation
What do we now do if we have recovered the Original Gospel text given to Christ, recognized to be holy scripture within Islam, and demonstrably the basis of the apostolic writings within the canon?
Tonight is posted the first comparison between The Gospel of Thomas and one of the Canonical Gospels.
The Gospel of Thomas - The Gospel of John Connection
A Key Word Comparison
Enjoy.
I started working again on the Injeel - Quran connection about a week ago, just hours before the big Superstorm hit New York.
The water flowing into Ground Zero like a new Niagara Falls illustrated the need many feel for a new understanding in the earth.
Perhaps, a new day is at hand.
Jesus said, "I have come to cast upon the earth: fire, sword, and war," Thomas 16.
Together as One as Jesus in the earth, we declare war on war. We pierce through the divisions with the Sword of the Spirit and the word of God. The fire within the bridal chamber burns away every high thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, making the two into one, declaring once again that God is ONE, and so are We.
Tearing down the middle wall of partition, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, and spiritual. Every division will be cast down, and we will gather together in One all that was scattered abroad, for there is nothing hidden that will not be made known.
Shaking heaven and earth,
URfriend, Dean Johnson
Work Continues on the Injeel - Quran Connection.
Posted today is the proposal that The She-Camel of Allah is an Allegorical Allusion to the Suffering Soul of Jesus.
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