The Composition of the Gospel of Thomas

Original Language and Influences

Bibliographic Data

ID19897330
AuthorsSimon Gathercole (0000-0001-7618-0309, University of Cambridge, corresponding author)
Year2012
Publication date2012-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeBOOK
VenueComposition of the Gospel of Thomas (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherCambridge University Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1017/cbo9780511920561
OpenAlexW4256327820
Open LibraryOL34470072M
ISBN9780511920561
LanguageEN
Citations received3

This book addresses two central questions in current research on the Gospel of Thomas: what was its original language and which early Christian works influenced it? At present, theories of Thomas as a Semitic work abound. Simon Gathercole dismantles these approaches, arguing instead that Thomas is Greek literature and that the matter of Thomas's original language is connected with an even more controverted question: that of the relationship between Thomas and the canonical New Testament. Rather than being independent of Matthew, Mark and Luke (as in most Western Aramaic theories of Thomas) or thoroughly dependent on the four gospels (as in most Syriac approaches), Gathercole develops a newly refined approach to how Thomas is influenced by the Synoptic Gospels. Thomas can be seen to refer to Matthew as a gospel writer, and evidence is discussed showing that Thomas incorporates phraseology distinctive to Luke, while also extending that special Lukan language

Arabic · Art · Composition (language) · Gospel · Linguistics · Literature · New Testament · Phraseology · Semitic languages · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Historical and Linguistic Studies · History · Philosophy · History and criticism · Religious literature · Religious literature, history and criticism

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