When an ancient jar containing the Gospel of Thomas was found in Egypt, no one realized the magnitude of the discovery. The story of the discovery and the annotated translation are presented here for the first time.

The year is 1945 and along Egypt's Upper Nile River the al-Samman clan discover the greatest collection of early Christian documents ever found. Now for the first time, the entire story of this discovery, from the effort to protect the priceless documents during Egypt's war with Israel, to the United Nations' struggle to release the text to the public, is combined with an annotated translation of the text. The image of Jesus that emerges from this intriguing document is strikingly different from the figure portrayed in the New Testament.

From pre-New Testament texts comes a true picture of Jesus as savior, sage, and common man--allowing readers to see an image of Jesus unadulterated by 2,000 years of myth and interpretation. Photos & maps.

This book offers a detailed analysis of the Gospel of Thomas in its historic and literary context, providing a new understanding of the genesis of the Jesus tradition. Discovered in the twentieth century, the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas is an important early text whose origins and place in the history of Christianity continue to be subjects of debate. Aiming to relocate the Thomasine community in the wider context of early Christianity, this study considers the Gospel of Thomas as a bridge between the oral and literary phases of the Christian movement. It will therefore, be useful for Religion scholars working on Biblical studies, Coptic codices, gnosticism and early Christianity.

Presents the original teachings of Jesus written by his contemporaries and early followers

Side-by-side examples that let you discover the teachings of Jesus and Buddha—and the striking similarities between them. This stunning collection is perfect for those curious about the influential teachers Jesus and Buddha, and their lessons of peace, love, patience, and kindness. Witness as two of the most holy beings meet in a thought-provoking encounter of the spirit. Compare the Bible verse: “Jesus knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone” (John 2.24-25) to the Buddhist scripture: “He was expert in knowing the thoughts and actions of living beings” (Vimalakirtinirdesha Sutra 2). Written by a renowned New Testament scholar and national bestselling author, and with an introduction by Jack Kornfield, Jesus and Buddha is a timeless testament to what makes us similar rather than different. With over 100 examples presented side by side, this is a perfect book for anyone interested in Christianity, Buddhism, mindfulness, meditation, and all ways of seeking enlightenment.

"Appreciative exploration of the Jewish Bible, the New testament, and the Qur'an, and how their consonant attributes can be utilized for a global renaissance of peace and prosperity."--t. p. verso.