There can be no doubt that the Gospel of Thomas is the most well-known and controversial extra-canonical gospel, much discussed in scholarly, student and popular circles. Dr Simon Gathercole's fourth monograph with the title The Composition of the Gospel of Thomas: Original Language and Influences, answers important questions about the origins of this gospel, exploring whether it was written in Aramaic or if it was influenced by the canonical gospels.
At present, theories of Thomas as a Semitic work abound. Simon 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), Simon 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.
Congratulations Simon! For those interested in other books of Simon, check out the interview I had with him on surviving critical biblical scholarship as a Christian in January 2012.
To order the book click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Composition-Gospel-Thomas-Influences-Testament/dp/1107009049/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330638000&sr=8-1
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