Gospel of Thomas Facts for Kids

The Gospel of Thomas is an ancient text from around the time the New Testament was written. It's considered an apocryphal text, which means it's a religious writing that is not accepted as part of the official Bible by most major Christian groups. This important document was discovered in 1945 in Nag Hammadi, Egypt.

The Gospel of Thomas is written in the form of a codex, which is like an early book. It was put together using a method called Coptic binding. The text is almost complete, which is rare for such old documents.

Unlike the four main Gospels in the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), the Gospel of Thomas doesn't tell a story about Jesus's life. Instead, it's a collection of 114 short sayings and conversations believed to be from Jesus.

What is the Gospel of Thomas?
- A Book of Sayings
  - Unique Teachings
- Why Is It Not in the Bible?
  - A Gnostic Connection
Where Was the Gospel of Thomas Found?
- The Nag Hammadi Library
  - How It Was Preserved
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What is the Gospel of Thomas?

The Gospel of Thomas is a unique ancient writing. It's different from the Gospels you might know, like Matthew or John. It doesn't tell a story about Jesus's life, his miracles, or his death. Instead, it's a list of things Jesus supposedly said.

A Book of Sayings

This ancient book contains 114 different sayings. Some of these sayings are very similar to ones found in the New Testament. For example, you might find a saying in the Gospel of Thomas that is also in the Gospel of Luke. This shows a connection between these old texts.

Unique Teachings

However, some sayings in the Gospel of Thomas were completely new to scholars when the book was found. These sayings were not known from any other ancient Christian writings. They offer a different look at what Jesus might have taught.

Why Is It Not in the Bible?

Most large Christian groups do not include the Gospel of Thomas in their official Bible. This is because it was not seen as a reliable or inspired text by early church leaders. It also doesn't fit the narrative style of the other Gospels.

A Gnostic Connection

The Gospel of Thomas is often linked to a group of beliefs called Gnosticism. Gnostics believed that special secret knowledge (gnosis) was the key to salvation. Some of the sayings in the Gospel of Thomas seem to fit with these Gnostic ideas.

Where Was the Gospel of Thomas Found?

The discovery of the Gospel of Thomas was a big moment for historians. It was found in 1945 near the town of Nag Hammadi in Egypt. This discovery was part of a larger collection of ancient texts.

The Nag Hammadi Library

The Gospel of Thomas was one of many ancient books found together. This collection is now known as the Nag Hammadi library. These books were hidden in a jar and buried long ago. They give us a peek into early Christian thought.

How It Was Preserved

The dry climate of Egypt helped to preserve these ancient texts. They were written on papyrus, a material made from reeds. Finding them in such good condition was very exciting for scholars.