The Gospel of Thomas

How old is the Gospel of Thomas?

The question of when the Gospel of Thomas was written is under debate, but most scholarly and religious figures agree that it was written no later than the second century A.D.

Some place the date of composition earlier—even as early as 60 A.D., which would mean that this gospel could be older than the canonical Gospels of the New Testament.

This dating creates the intriguing possibility that the contents of this Gospel are an older and even more accurate depiction of the teachings of Jesus than any other text currently available.

What’s inside the Gospel of Thomas?

Although it’s commonly known as a "Gospel," the Gospel of Thomas isn’t a narrative of the life of Jesus as the traditional four gospels are. Instead, it’s a series of parables, sayings, discussions, proverbs, and other statements that together form a remarkable spiritual teaching.   

Many of the sayings found in the Gospel of Thomas are also included in the New Testament Gospels. But there are also a large number of sayings that are not found in the New Testament or (in some cases) anywhere else.

Many of the statements, although enigmatic, also seem remarkably practical—they emphasize what the reader must do to achieve spiritual salvation or enlightenment.

For example, Jesus states,

Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. 

Whoever finds the world and becomes rich, let him renounce the world.

Although these statements offer guidance and direction, their surface or literal meaning can be obscure. This too is part of the Gospel’s design, for these sayings are proclaimed to be “secret,” and the hidden meaning behind them is reserved for those who “have ears to hear”—meaning, those who already have a certain level of spiritual understanding. This emphasis on the need for a special kind of knowledge is repeated throughout the Gospel. At one point, Jesus separates Thomas and gives him a teaching which he can’t even share with the other disciples.