The Lost Scriptures – books that did not make it into the New Testament.

The Coptic Gospel of Thomas

“Jesus said, “If those who lead you say to you, ‘See, the kingdom is in the sky,’ then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, ‘It is in the sea,’ then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty.” 

“Jesus said, “The Father’s kingdom is like a merchant who had a supply of merchandise and found a pearl. That merchant was prudent; he sold the merchandise and bought the single pearl for himself. So also with you, seek his treasure that is unfailing, that is enduring, where no moth comes to eat and no worm destroys.” 

The Coptic Thomas forms part of the Nag Hammadi Library, a collection of scrolls found at a site by that name near Chenoboskion, Egypt, just after World War II. This “library” contains primarily, though not exclusively, Gnostic works written in Coptic, the language of ancient Egypt and parts of Ethiopia.

The Gospel of Thomas was one of the most sensational discoveries of the twentieth century. This collection of writings is a collection of sayings of Jesus written by Didymus Judas Thomas – according to some early Christian legends, he was the twin brother of Jesus. The Gospel of Thomas records 114 secret teachings of Jesus. There are no stories, no miracles, no passion narrative. Those aspects of the life of Jesus do not matter to the author of The Gospel of Thomas. What he is concerned with are the mysterious teachings of Jesus.

Those familiar with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke will read familiar passages in the Gospel of Thomas – passages like the parables of the sower and the mustard seed.

Some biblical scholars have suggested that the sayings and teachings of Jesus recorded in The Gospel of Thomas may be closer to what Jesus actually taught his disciples – that is closer to what is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. Of course we will never know for sure until manuscripts dated to the first century are discovered and verified – both canonical Gospels and non-canonical writings. Until then, we have a lot of material to read, learn, and discern.

Pastor Dave