Course Description for Nag Hammadi Series: The Gospel of Thomas

This thought-provoking course unlocks religious and historical mysteries about the ancient text, the Gospel of Thomas, and its relationship to the Bible. Discovered near the caves of Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1945, this gospel continues to inspire and surprise, provoking its readers with many questions for us to discuss.

Learn to Interpret the Gospel of Thomas for Yourself and Address Some Controversial Issues

· Why does the Gospel of Thomas have parables so similar to those in the Bible?

· Is it considered Wisdom literature?

· Why isn’t it in the Bible?

· Is it heretical or gnostic?

· How does the study of gender explain the meaning of the text?

· What does it teach about healing?

· Is this the same Jesus as in the Bible?

It’s time for the Gospel of Thomas to go public!

When the (only extant) full text of the Gospel of Thomas was discovered for the first time since antiquity in 1945, scholars and religious leaders hardly knew what to make of it. Now that it has been translated and studied by scholars, Dr. Hal Taussig and Dr. Shirley Paulson answer questions for the public.

As we explore such topics as why the Gospel of Thomas is not in the Bible, we end up discussing how the Bible came together in the first place. When we struggle with some of the controversial Sayings of Jesus, we end up discussing ancient concepts of gender that differ from today’s understanding.

This course offers a special advantage of being taught by two scholars. Mostly we agree, but sometimes we do not. This gives students a chance to think for themselves and discover how this ancient text can be viewed from different points of view.