Why Is The Book Of Thomas Not In The Bible?
The Book of Thomas, a collection of teachings of Jesus, is absent from the Bible. This is because it was not included in any of the early Christian canonical collections, including the 27 books of the New Testament, although it is present in ancient manuscripts. It is widely accepted by modern scholars that the book, which is also known as the Gospel of Thomas, was authored around 170 A.D. Although widely attested to in early Christian manuscripts, the Gospel of Thomas is widely assumed to be a gnostic composition, and it is not accepted as canonical by any of the major branches of Christianity.
In order to come to a better understanding of why the Book of Thomas is not included in the Bible, it is important to understand the concept of canonicity, as well as its development within Christianity. Canonicity is a process by which books are considered to be divinely inspired and thus worthy of being included in the Bible. This process dates back to the fourth century and the formation of the councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon, which established the New Testament canon.
It is believed that the Book of Thomas was written by an unknown author or authors in an effort to create an alternate version of the teachings of Jesus. This alternate version includes sayings that are not found in the other gospels, such as the Gospel of Mark, The Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke. As such, it was seen as a competing source to the accepted gospels, and not one that could be seen as part of the divinely inspired canon. It is also worth noting that many of the sayings in the Book of Thomas are not found elsewhere in the New Testament and are not consistent with the message of the other canonical gospels.
It is likely that the book was not accepted as inspired scripture largely because its authorship is unknown, and its teachings do not match with those of the other gospels. It is believed by some scholars that the book was written in response to the growing popularity of Christianity in the early second century, and as such, might have been seen as an attempt to undermine its teachings. It is also worth noting that the gospel does not appear in any of the major Christian collections of codices, or collections of early Christian manuscripts.
The Book of Thomas has been the subject of debate in different areas, not the least in literary studies, as well as in church history, theology and even sociology. It has been the focus of many scholarly works, and has been used to highlight the diversity of early Christianity and its different interpretations. However, despite its importance to scholarship, the Book of Thomas still remains absent from any of the established canons of scripture.
In conclusion, the Book of Thomas is not included in the Bible because it was not accepted as canonically inspired by the early Church, and included in any of the collections of early Christian manuscripts. While it is an important source of research into early Christian thought and diversity, it is not accepted as scripture by any of the major branches of Christianity today.
The Influence of Gnosticism
Gnosticism is a term used to describe specific religious beliefs which some scholars believe were first developed in late antiquity. One of the distinguishing aspects of Gnostic belief systems is the idea that knowledge and enlightenment are available to certain individuals through special spiritual insights, which is different from the view of many mainstream Christian denominations. It is believed by some scholars that the Book of Thomas may have been written in response to the growth of Gnosticism in the early Christian church, and may reflect a particular Gnostic worldview.
In addition, some of the teachings found in the Book of Thomas are consistent with basic Gnostic beliefs, and the book does contain a number of sayings that appear to contrast with some of the teachings of the other gospels. This, combined with the anonymous nature of its authorship, is likely why it was not accepted as canonically inspired scripture by the church fathers.
It is also interesting to note that some of the core teachings of the Book of Thomas have become popular in recent years. One such teaching is the idea of the kingdom of God being “within” the individual and not something beyond, as it is in the other gospels. This idea has become popular among modern seekers, although it is not officially accepted as divinely inspired scripture by any major Christian denomination.
Theological Implications
The absence of the Book of Thomas from the Bible has implications in terms of Christian theology and doctrine. The book offers insights into the beliefs of early Christians, and by not accepting it as canonical scripture, the church Fathers essentially denied its message. This has had the effect of stifling the growth of certain lines of thinking that may have challenged some traditional orthodox teachings.
It is also worth noting that, even though the book has been excluded from the Bible, it has not been completely forgotten in terms of Christian theology. In fact, some of its teachings, such as the idea of the kingdom of God being within, have become popular in certain streams of Christianity. While not accepted by all, these teachings still have implications for how Christians think about the message of the Bible and how it relates to the modern world.
In addition, the absence of the Book of Thomas from the Bible has had an effect on how scholars interpret the diversity of opinion in the early church. By leaving out a book written around the same time as the other canonical gospels, scholars have been forced to look elsewhere for evidence of the variety of belief systems present in the early church. This has led scholars to look at other documents, such as the Gospel of Judas, which are not accepted as part of the canon but still provide valuable insights into the diversity of early Christian thought.
Catholic and Orthodox Perspectives
The Catholic and Orthodox churches have differing views on why the Book of Thomas is not included in the Bible. The Catholic church holds that the book is not part of the canon because it was not included in the councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon, which established the New Testament canon. The Orthodox church also holds that the book is not part of the canon, although they also suggest that its teachings are not consistent with those of the other gospels.
Despite their differences in opinion, both churches agree that the book is not part of the canon and should not be considered as divinely inspired scripture. This is mainly due to the fact that its authorship is unknown and the teachings that it does contain are not consistent with the message of the other gospels.
It is also worth noting that some branches of Christianity, such as the Coptic Church, accept the book as part of their canon. However, this is not the case with the mainstream denominations of Christianity, which all reject the book. This is likely due to its form and content, which do not align with the accepted gospels.
Interpretation and Significance
The Book of Thomas has many implications for how we interpret and understand the scriptures. As the book is not included in the Bible, it has largely been overlooked in terms of Christian scholarship, despite its potential to provide important insights into the development of early Christianity.
Furthermore, the book has provided a source of inspiration for those seeking a different perspective on the teachings of Jesus. Its teachings of a kingdom of God within the individual have become popular among modern seekers, even though they are not accepted as part of the canon of scripture.
The Book of Thomas also serves as an important reminder of the diversity of opinion within early Christianity. By leaving out a book written around the same time as the other gospels, scholars have been forced to look elsewhere for evidence of the various beliefs present in the early church. This has led scholars to look at other documents, such as the Gospel of Judas, which provide valuable insights into the diversity of the early church.
In conclusion, while the Book of Thomas is not accepted as canonical scripture by any of the major branches of Christianity, it still has a lot to offer in terms of theological and scholarly debate. Its absence from the Bible has also provided an opportunity for modern seekers to explore different interpretations of the teachings of Jesus, and to reflect on the diversity of thought in the early church.
