Drew Williams

5/31/2016

REL 317

Gospel of Thomas

In the Gospel of Thomas, the image of Jesus is shifted from a suffering servant taught is machinated by Mark, to a philosophic Prophet. Jesus is seen professing teachings and wisdom that “what has not arisen in the human heart.” These teachings go along with a older and more original motif that the earliest communities of messianic Jews most likely adhered to. The Teachings and sayings of Jesus are for the most part, significantly different from those created in Mark and the later gospels. This along with the fact that Q and Thomas overlap significantly,  tells us that the Gospel of Thomas is a old and quite authentic source. The composition of this gospel and of q  shows us that the sayings of Jesus were the central part of devotional life for early Christians.The fact that Jesus is quoted multiple times in both of these sources stating the importance of the knowledge and sayings he is professing to his disciples, shows us that the early community of  Jesus’s followers were more concerned with right action and teachings rather that sacrificial redemption.

Throughout the Gospel, Jesus is stating the importance of his teachings and how through the understanding and adhering to those teachings, one will attain sovereignty over oneself and the life that they are provided. Jesus continually states that his teachings will uncover the true logic and reason of his father’s commandments. He then continually extols his disciples to head his words and take action in this life. The statements in 80 and 87 show the intent  and reassurance of Jesus to his disciples that to follow his words, man will attain mastery over himself. After one attains mastery of himself he can inherit the kingdom. This deep rooted instruction to attain mastery over oneself is inherently a sign of the early messianic movements theology. The early movement must relied on the self discipline and religious adherence to the laws and commandments of God. Through this they were seeking to submit their will to God as Jesus taught. The Importance of internal knowledge leading to worldly sovereignty is a teaching throughout the Gospel that leads the reader to understand the importance of adhering to God’s commandments as presented through Jesus. The earthly world is one of little sustenance and Jesus sought to guide us to the understanding that would bring eternal life. The worldly attainments one could possess in this life were considered to have no value at all in the eyes of God and through his teachings Jesus sought to bring to light the importance of God’s commandments.
The teachings Jesus is professing would most likely be attractive to the lower classes of Jewish society. The oppressed and subjugated peoples of Palestine as well as poor Gentiles may have been compelled to seek understanding and salvation through righteous deeds. The multiple references to good works and  knowledge as the catalyst for salvation would most attract those average Jewish citizens who were left on the fringes of temple Judaism and under the yoke of oppressive roman rule. The lowest classes would see these teachings as the pathway to divine retribution, something temple Judaism would not allow. The pharisees were seen as corrupt and unholy inheritors of the Jewish faith and  did little for the wider Jewish community in the eyes of most Jews. Jesus’ teachings about divine guidance that’s found in knowledge professed by him through his prophet, is something anyone would surely adhere to. The pharisaic classes were surely opposed to this rhetoric as it undermined their authority altogether. The teachings about the power of intellectual understanding of God’s path by the individual is something that removes the need for suddusaic Temple priests or pharisees. One can attain salvation through understanding. This was a theology that would attract those who were unable to attain justice in this life and wish to inherit  eternal Justice in the Kingdom of God.