The Gospel of Thomas: The Enlightenment Teachings of Jesus

234 Pages·2010·2.6 MB·English

by  Robert Wolfe

The
Gospel
of Thomas
Rediscovering the Nondual
Enlightenment Teachings
of Jesus
Karina Library, Preview Version
Print Publication Release: Winter 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0-9824491-2-7
Contact: Michael Lommel, [email protected]
Karina Library
PO Box 35
Ojai, California 93024
805.500.4535
www.karinalibrary.com
[email protected]
The Gospel of Thomas: Re-discovering the Nondual Enlightenment
Teachings of Jesus
ISBN-13: 978-0-9824491-2-7
www.nondualthomas.info
Book design by Michael Lommel, [email protected]
The publication of this manuscript made possible through the assistance of
Rev. Theddius Leitho of Florida, an acquaitance of the nondual teachings for
many years.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface: Textual Guide ......................................................1
Acknowledgements: Fact-Finders All .....................................................3
Author’s Note: Looking Anew ......................................................5
Text: The “Fifth” Gospel ...............................................9
Commentary on Verses: Nondual Perspective .....................................147
Epilogue: Freeing Jesus .....................................................199
Appendix: Minds Changed ...............................................203
Coda: “The Troublemaker” Reconsidered .........217

PREFACE: TEXTUAL GUIDE
Depending upon the reader’s degree of interest in the subject, there
are varied ways in which the material in this book can be accessed.
It is intended to be read in the order in which it is presented. Some,
however, might prefer to first read the section where all of the verses of
the Gospel of Thomas have been commented on, in the context of
their teachings as representing the nondual enlightenment
perspective.
But in order to fully know the Gospel of Thomas, there are many
important elements to know about the Gospel of Thomas; and for that
purpose the material preceding the verse-commentary section needs
to be read as well.
Whatever the choice, some readers might find it useful to have as an
accompanying resource a copy of the English translation of the Gospel
of Thomas in which all the verses are given in numerical order. The
recommended translation is that of Thomas O. Lambdin, which can
be found online by searching for “The Gospel of Thomas Translation
of Thomas O. Lambdin.” This translation is also available in The Nag
Hammadi Library in English, edited by James Robinson (Harper-
Collins, San Francisco; 1990).
The reader might also find it useful to have on hand a reference copy
of the New Testament, particularly the New International Version.
These suggested references are not necessary for the reading, however,
since the text was written to stand and be understood on its own.
1
Although a number of New Testament scholars and biblical
translators are quoted, no bibliography is included here; with today’s
access to Google and Wikipedia, authors’ publications can readily be
located.
Scholars, over time, have quoted from evolving translations of the
Gospel of Thomas, so this accounts for variance in some of the
wordings they cite.
They also occasionally use different titles when referring to
apocryphal texts, since these reference titles too have evolved with
subsequent translations. The title which each particular scholar
prefers is the one which is cited here.
The quotations from the scholars, given here, are not always in the
order in which they appear in the resource material; they are
sometimes reordered so as to more directly reach the point in the
discussion. And extraneous text, in quotations, is often abridged, due
to the quantity of material included here.
Additionally, particular words are italicized for emphasis, including
some in the source quotations.
It should be understood that not all of the scholarly sources, quoted
here, agree entirely with the premises of this presentation. And
probably there is not one of them who would agree with all the
premises.
2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: FACT-FINDERS ALL
As noted in the Appendix:
In recent times, within the past fifty to a hundred years, discoveries
have begun to cast an intensifying light on the historical facts of
Jesus’ life and era. And the reason why the New Testament authors
made their varying claims—and why these particular accounts were
chosen to be represented as the “gospel truth”—has become
discomfortingly clear.
The spiritual and religious world owes an unending debt of gratitude
to the unsung scholars, across many professional disciplines and from
varied parts of the world, who have committed their careers to the
serious study and reconstruction of the scriptural reports concerning
the controversial figure known as Jesus.
Probably the majority of scholars who have undertaken the task of
discerning what Jesus really did and really taught, did so willingly at
risk that their own preconceptions—based upon their variety of
religious upbringing—might be forced to be abandoned.
But, fortunately for us who benefit from their historical discoveries,
the preponderance of these researchers have held the factual truth to
be of greater value to society at large than would the maintenance of
fabricated legends and stultifying theology.
As the inspiration for their scholarship evidently trusted in his own
life: “The truth shall set us free.”
3