New Testament History and Literature with Dale B. Martin — Season 1, Episode 8: The Gospel of Thomas

Episode synopsis

We have known of the existence of the Gospel of Thomas from ancient writers, but it was only after the discovery of the Nag Hammadi Codices that the actual text became available. The Gospel of Thomas is basically a collection of sayings, or logia, that sometimes seem similar, perhaps more primitive than sayings found in the canonical Gospels. Sometimes, however, the sayings seem better explained as reflecting a "Gnostic" understanding of the world. This involves a rejection of the material world and a desire for gnosis, a secret knowledge, in order to escape the world and return to the divine being.

About New Testament History and Literature with Dale B. Martin

Yale Courses - This course approaches the New Testament not as scripture, or a piece of authoritative holy writing, but as a collection of historical documents. Therefore, students are urged to leave behind their pre-conceived notions of the New Testament and read it as if they had never heard of it before. This involves understanding the historical context of the New Testament and imagining how it might appear to an ancient person.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Introduction: Why Study the New Testament?
• E2From Stories to Canon
• E3The Greco-Roman World
• E4Judaism in the First Century
• E5The New Testament as History
• E6The Gospel of Mark
• E7The Gospel of Matthew
• E9The Gospel of Luke
• E10The Acts of the Apostles
• E11Johannine Christianity: The Gospel 92,407 views
• E12Johannine Christianity: The Letters
• E13The Historical Jesus