The Canonical Controversy of the Gospel of Thomas
Apostle Thomas's Gospel is traditionally not recognized as part of the canonical New Testament and is regarded as an apocryphal work. In a religious context, the sacredness of the text is questioned both in terms of its origin and its content. According to one source, "Most of the non-canonical Gospels are of a later and unreliable character, although there are some that provide important additional details. The most valuable among these non-canonical works is the Gospel of Thomas..." (source: link txt). This indicates that although the text contains certain historical data, it does not possess an authoritative status due to its late appearance and questionable origin.Another important point is highlighted in an analysis which states, "The text known as 'The Gospel of Thomas' does not belong to one of the 12 apostles. The GT undoubtedly arose in one of the Gnostic sects..." (source: link txt). Here, the absence of a direct connection with the apostolic tradition is emphasized, along with the presence of elements characteristic of Gnostic teachings, which further diminish its authority in the classical canonical context.Furthermore, an analysis of the classification of apocryphal texts concludes that the "Gospel of Thomas" is included in a group of works that church authorities deemed "absurd and ungodly books" (source: link txt). This reflects the early church authorities' attitude toward the text, which also contributed to its exclusion from the canon.Thus, the sacred status of the Gospel of Thomas is determined by its non-recognition as an authoritative source within the canonical assembly of the New Testament, a status linked both to its Gnostic origins and to the absence of key narrative elements inherent in the canonical Gospels.Supporting citation(s):"Most of the non-canonical Gospels are of a later and unreliable character, although there are some that provide important additional details. The most valuable among these non-canonical works is the Gospel of Thomas..." (source: link txt)"The text known as 'The Gospel of Thomas' does not belong to one of the 12 apostles. The GT undoubtedly arose in one of the Gnostic sects..." (source: link txt)"The third category comprises what we now consider apocrypha, and according to Eusebius, [they are] 'absurd and ungodly books'..." (source: link txt)