• 20.03.2025

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: 291_1451.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.

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  • 20.03.2025

Reexamining the Reliability of Hagiographical Narratives

The claim that many hagiographies are merely inventions of priests can be interpreted as follows: the authors of these texts often did not aim to document historically verified facts but rather to create works capable of reinforcing faith and conveying spiritual and moral ideas. Thus, the recounting of saints' lives sometimes incorporates elements borrowed from popular folklore or enhanced through creative imagination, which allows for the inclusion of apocryphal details in these works.

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  • 20.03.2025

Self-Knowledge: The Journey to Spiritual Transformation

The teachings on self-knowledge in the apocryphal gospels, such as those of Thomas and John, take center stage in their theological framework. These texts view self-knowledge as the key to discovering the true “self,” which is connected to divine nature and the source of light. In their view, understanding one’s inner origin and true destiny enables a return to the original, pure state of being, free from the decay of the material world. For example, the introduction to the Gospel of Thomas states:

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The Canonical Controversy of the Gospel of Thomas

Reexamining the Reliability of Hagiographical Narratives

Self-Knowledge: The Journey to Spiritual Transformation