STEPHEN J. PATTERSON.

THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS AND JESUS.

Sonoma CA: Polebridge Press. FIRST EDITION. 1993.

275 pages with Indices. Large octavo (9 by 6 inch) softcover.

Some light rubbing & minor scuffing, o/w FINE CONDITION.

When the GOSPEL OF THOMAS emerged out of the Nag Hammadi discovery many thought that it might contain the oldest and most original group of sayings by Jesus outside the Gospels themselves. Eventually, due to the strange mystical nature of many of the sayings, the Catholic Church dismissed it as Pantheism. Here the book is not at all dismissed, but seriously studied with regard to its implications and possible authority.

CONTENTS:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. * INTRODUCTION.

THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS AND THE LITERARY DEVELOPMENT OF THE JESUS TRADITION.

1.) A QUESTION OF METHOD: THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS AND THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS. * 2.) A QUESTION OF CONTENT: THE AUTONOMY OF THE THOMAS TRADITION. * 3.) A QUESTION OF FORM: THOMAS AND THE SAYINGS TRADITION.

THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS AND THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY.

4.) A TIME AND A PLACE: THE DATE AND PROVENANCE OF THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS. * 5.) THOMAS CHRISTIANITY: A SOCIAL-HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION. * 6.) BE PASSERS-BY: THOMAS CHRISTIANITY AND ITINERANT RADICALISM. * 7.) THE BEGINNINGS OF CONFLICT: ITINERANT RADICALS AND SETTLED COMMUNITIES. * 8.) KINGDOM WITHIN AND WITHOUT: ITINERANT RADICALISM AND THOMAS THEOLOGY.

THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS AND THE HISTORICAL JESUS.

9.) THOMAS AND THE HISTORICAL JESUS: WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS?

WORKS CITED. * INDEX OF AUTHORS. * INDEX OF PASSAGES.

[keywords ceremonial magic magick occult occultism metaphysics mysticism metaphysical mystical religion religious esoteric esoterica early primitive christian christianity mysticism paganism theurgy jewish judaic judaica gnosticism gnostic]

A SERIOUS LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY THOMAS.

ALWAYS PLEASED TO COMBINE SHIPPING ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES. PLEASE WAIT FOR AN INVOICE AFTER PURCHASING MULTIPLE ITEMS.