The recently discovered mystical sayings of
Jesus, with facing-page
commentary that brings the text to
life for you.
"The Gospel of Thomas really is, I
believe, the clearest guide we have to the vision of the
world’s supreme mystical revolutionary, the teacher known
as Jesus. To those who learn to unpack its sometimes cryptic
sayings, the Gospel of Thomas offers a naked and dazzlingly
subversive representation of Jesus’ defining and most
radical discovery: that the living Kingdom of God burns in us
and surrounds us at all moments."
—from
the Foreword by Andrew Harvey
This ancient text can become a companion
for your own spiritual journey. In 1945, twelve ancient
books were found inside a sealed jar at the base of an Egyptian
cliff. One of those texts was the Gospel
of Thomas, one of the most
important religious archaeological discoveries of the twentieth
century. While illuminating the origins of Christianity, it
raises the question whether the New Testament’s version
of Jesus’ teachings is entirely accurate and complete.
Written at the same time as the canonical
Gospels, the Gospel of Thomas portrays Jesus as a wisdom-loving sage.
The aphoristic sayings emphasize the value of the present,
teaching that the Kingdom of God is here and now, rather than a
future promise or future threat. It presents a new way of
looking at the challenging and intriguing figure of Jesus, and
reminds us that the Divine can be found right here on earth.
Now you can experience the Gospel of Thomas with
understanding even if you have no previous knowledge of early
Christian history or thought. This SkyLight Illuminations
edition offers insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that
explains references and philosophical terms, shares the
inspiring interpretations of famous spiritual teachers, and
gives you deeper understanding of Thomas’s innovative
message: that self-knowledge and contemplation of the nature of
this world are the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
"Professor Davies has taken the
Gospel of Thomas to the next level of intelligibility and
accessibility. The commentary stretches the mind, while the
comprehensible and accessible translation make Jesus’
(and Thomas’s) voice clear. A masterful resource for both
spiritual and intellectual seekers!"
—Richard
Valantasis, Professor of New
Testament and Christian Origins, Iliff School of Theology
Words of Jesus from The Gospel of Thomas:
Jesus said: If your leaders say to you
"Look! The Kingdom is in the sky!" then the birds
will be there before you are. If they say that the Kingdom is
in the sea, then the fish will be there before you are. Rather,
the Kingdom is within you and it is outside of you. (Page 5)
His disciples asked him: When will the
dead rest? When will the new world arrive? He replied: That
which you are waiting for has come, but you don’t
recognize it. (Page 67)
