The Gospel of Thomas: New Perspectives on Jesus' Message by Elaine Pagels | Goodreads
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The Gospel of Thomas: New Perspectives on Jesus' Message (W/18-Page Supplement)
by
Elaine Pagels
4.01 · Rating details · 181 ratings · 13 reviews
Millions of readers have turned to Elaine Pagels for her clear and insightful books about the Gnostic Gospels, the teachings of Jesus that have been lost for centuries. Sounds True is proud to present the first widely available audio recording of this extraordinary scholar as she explores the text that has changed the way many of us think about the message of Christ: The Gospel of Thomas. The stunning archaeological discovery of these lost scriptures of early Christianity in 1945 has revealed exciting new dimensions to the wisdom passed on from Jesus to his disciples. In her analysis of this revived gospel, Dr. Pagels reveals that Thomas was not a doubter of Christ rather, his thoughtful inquiries reflected and brought out the deepest truths that Jesus had to offer. Thomas' account depicts a Jesus who taught us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not a separate realm, but a state of divinity that we all can reach. He is even called the twin of Jesus a metaphor for the possibility that all of us can achieve the same state of divine grace embodied by Jesus. Elaine Pagels has riveted readers and audiences everywhere with her clear and provocative explorations of the testaments of early Christianity. The Gospel of Thomas gives listeners a first opportunity to join her in charting a wider horizon of Christian spirituality. (less)
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Published March 1st 2006 by Sounds True, Incorporated
Original Title
The Gospel of Thomas: New Perspectives on Jesus' Message
ISBN
1591794129 (ISBN13: 9781591794127)
Edition Language
English
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Pagels
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Jun 17, 2018David rated it liked it
Shelves: read-2018
Nice for what it is, which is a couple talks, plus Q&A. If you’re interested in a really quick intro to what Pagels is up to, this is good. (less)
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Nov 15, 2017B. rated it it was amazing
Professor Pagels is a fascinating woman...her work is incredibly well researched and very readable. This book, or lecture, is a bit more stream of consciousness than many of her other works, but I enjoyed it because it allowed for her to just speak without worrying about punctuation, etiquette, etc....this is Elaine speaking as Elaine. With this book we get a more personal touch than one that is purely academic.
I recommend listening to this one on Audio.
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Dec 30, 2018Karen Potts rated it liked it
Shelves: christian
A short volume describing how the Gospel of Thomas fit into that period of history following Jesus' death when a number of gospels were circulating. The book set the writing in its historical context & touched on tenets presented that agreed with or differed from those contained in other gospels.
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Sep 10, 2019Will Thorpe rated it really liked it
So this wasn't a book but is sold as an audio book. It's actually just a two hour lecture loaded with good info.
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Mar 17, 2019Michael Brennan rated it it was amazing
This was my favorite by Pagles so far. This was the most comprehensive and eloquent study of any of the gnostic writers.
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Sep 15, 2018Ed rated it liked it
This is a short lecture by Pagels about the gospel and one of her upcoming books. If it was a book (it's an audio book) it would be a pamphlet with questions and brisk answers.
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Nov 20, 2014David rated it really liked it
A delightful discussion of one of the gnostic gospels. This is my first venture in to the works of Prof Pagels, and I'm impressed. She is very fluent in the gospels, and has a very nuanced view of the modern cannons as well as the gnostics. She is careful when she points out various discontinuities within the existing cannon. This is really a public lecture with questions and answers following. I found the questioners and questions to be interesting. Certainly has me more interesting in both Thomas and John. This is a very quick book, so it can be worth your time. I'm also reminded that we've seen a lot of theological and liturgical change in the last 150 years or so. It's good to back to the early roots. I appreciate the comments on when ideas may have entered Christian thought. (less)
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Jul 15, 2008Andrea rated it liked it
Elaine Pagels is an amazing scholar and author. She's an MacArthur Fellow and it's clear by her comments on the Gospel of Thomas and it's place in ancient christian texts that she has an amazing grasp on history and linguistics. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is interested in objectively learning more about the early christian texts and their implications.
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Jan 11, 2016Kristine rated it really liked it
Shelves: mine
Informative lecture and Q & A.
Pagels has been at the forefront of Gospel of Thomas research and Gnostic research. While I am not currently researching the Gospel of Thomas, I still admire the drive and passion she has for it as well as other documents/codices found at the Nag Hammadi sight.
Pagels passion and knowledge allow her to explain this ancient codex with ease and grace.
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Jul 16, 2017Kat Robey rated it it was amazing
Fascinating discussion-my first steps into the history of Christianity, the Gnostic Gospels, and the politics that molded Christianity by editing those texts out. Knowing self to know the great I Am--and we are all from the light...powerful messages.
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May 21, 2010Susan rated it it was ok
It was ok; couldn't understand what her position was on the readings of st thomas.
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Editorial Reviews
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“Pagels has accomplished a very rare thing, an examination of early religious writings that is a good read, accessible, and at times even dramatic and poignant.” —The Columbus Dispatch
“This remarkable book will stir and provoke thought. It offers rewards to any reader concerned with the promise and power of faith, and the hunger for spiritual discovery.” —The Christian Science Monitor
“Lucid . . . a spiritual as well as an intellectual exercise. . . . [Pagels] seems to rejoice that in the earliest years of Christianity there existed these strange, dissident doctrines.” —Frank Kermode, The New York Times Book Review
"With the winning combination of sound scholarship, deep insight and a crystal clear prose style . . . [Beyond Belief] portrays the rich and beautiful heritage that was lost when champions of religious orthodoxy turned on many of their fellow Christians and declared them 'heretics'." —Los Angeles Times
“Brilliantly lucid, elegantly written . . . [Pagels’] book is so readable you can’t put it down.” — Providence Journal-Bulletin
“Just as topical today as it was nearly two thousand years ago. . . . Pagels is great at pulling together the details that allow us to understand not only what people were arguing about but why.” –San Jose Mercury News
“Majestic. . . . Exhilarating reading, Pagel’s book offers a model of careful and thoughtful scholarship in the lively and exciting prose of a mystery writer.” –Publishers Weekly
“This luminous and accessible history of early Christian thought offers profound and crucial insights on the nature of God, revelation, and what we mean by religious truth.” –Karen Armstong
“As relevant as today's front page.” –The Washington Post Book World
From the Inside Flap
In Beyond Belief, renowned religion scholar Elaine Pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest Christian texts, arguing for an ongoing assessment of faith and a questioning of religious orthodoxy.
Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, Pagels returns to her investigation of the "secret" Gospel of Thomas, and breathes new life into writings once thought heretical. As she arrives at an ever-deeper conviction in her own faith, Pagels reveals how faith allows for a diversity of interpretations, and that the "rogue" voices of Christianity encourage and sustain "the recognition of the light within us all."
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Product details
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (May 4, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375703160
ISBN-13: 978-0375703164
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Customer Reviews: 4.3 out of 5 stars372 customer ratings
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#51 in Christian Historical Theology (Books)
#204 in Christian Church History (Books)
#62 in New Testament Criticism & Interpretation
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Biography
After receiving her doctorate from Harvard University in 1970, Elaine Pagels taught at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she chaired the department of religion. She is now the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University. Professor Pagels is the author of several books on religious subjects and was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 1981. She lives and teaches in Princeton, New Jersey.
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gospel of thomas beyond belief elaine pagels nag hammadi gnostic gospels new testament early church early christian secret gospel early christianity mark and luke emperor constantine matthew mark fourth century nicene creed early christians second century synoptic gospels heavenly rest son of man
Top Reviews
Jackie Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars Christianity is Personal
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2015
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Only half way through, but love it so far. The historical info on the Gnostic Christians is excellent. I never really agreed with the churches I attended and their demands for money and adherence to a certain dogma. This book explains my true feelings and that my personal relationship with God and Jesus is exactly that - personal. I do not need the instructions of a church to establish my beliefs in Jesus and God. Wonderfully eye opening. Definitely worth a read if you question established religious dogma.
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samantha
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most important books I have ever read.
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2018
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A veil has been lifted from my eyes! I read passages that I felt I already knew in my heart. Hopefully, you will experience that feeling of truthfulness when you read from ancient writings that SHOULD have been included in the bible, or at least been kept available for seekers to read. Thank you, Elaine Pagels! I would surmise that God is well pleased.
13 people found this helpful
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applewoodTop Contributor: Blues Music
3.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to history of early Christianity
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2019
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This book gives a good overview of early Christian history, but not so deep coverage of the actual Gospel of Thomas or gnostic/esoteric approaches within Christianity in general. It is especially good at telling us why, and how and when the orthodox development and presentation of The New Testament happened, leading up to its 4th century canonical formulation under Emperor Constantine. However, I was hoping for more on the alternate (heterodox/heretical) views of Thomas (especially in relationship to other gnostic gospels) and not on how the mainstream followers of Christ reacted to them. As another reviewer here succinctly put it, Pagels is a historian and not a mystic (or gnostic herself), so if you're here primarily for the history you won't be disappointed...
One unexpected plus though was the introduction where the author gave us a glimpse of her personal relationship to the church. It was literally one of the most moving things I have ever read, but again there was nothing gnostic/esoteric about it.
(Ps. the translation of the actual gospel is NOT included at the end of the hardback edition like it apparently is at the end of the paperback one - published a year later).
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Thom Tex
5.0 out of 5 stars A Revealing Look at What Could have been in the New Testament
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2019
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This book is an eye opener, and takes on the Apostle Paul with a vengeance, pointing out the number of times (for example) that Christ "doubts" Thomas in the book of John, thereby casting doubt on his legitimate inclusion for the New Testament. The Book of Thomas would have cast a much more lenient view of Christianity.
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William Zeitler
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb scholarship sympathetic to 'both sides'
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2020
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I just love this scholar/author. Her treatment of the first few centuries of Christianity (in this and her other books) is in depth and also sympathetic, understanding and respectful of both sides. Imagine, both the 'orthodox' and the 'gnostics' were for the most part just trying to muddle through living a life of faith in very troubled times. (Actually, as she discusses in depth, 'gnostic' has become an ungainly catch-all for anyone that wasn't 'orthodox'.) Whatever your Christian beliefs, you will understand them better for reading this author.
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Joyce Metzger
5.0 out of 5 stars Intense Conviction
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2013
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Elaine Pagels is an intense investigative scholar who minutely examines early Christian texts, searching for an ongoing assessment of faith, while able to question religious orthodoxy. Pagels reveals the various diversity of many interpretations. She believed that the "rogue" voices of Christianity encouraged "the recognition of the light within us all.
Pagels struggled with her own faith after her two and one half old son was diagnosed with a rare lung disease.
She believed that Thomas taught that all human beings had divine light. Thomas believed that Jesus was an exemplar of God, not God himself, that the individual can access the divine through deep reflection, prayer, and staying close to God through Christian Community rituals. The trust here is a 're-interpretation of the Gospel of John. The doctrinal squabbles provided thought stricture, and effectively squashed writings that might have been included within orthodox teaching.
Those who are sincerely interested, and want to understand what Jesus taught, and what happened in the early centuries, within the church, following his death would benefit from this book. Those who share an intuitive grasp of transcendence that taught in many religious traditions, will certainly discover verification for their beliefs. The desire for knowledge of the experience of, an individualized Oneness with God, is desire for benevolent propitiousness and therefore, overwhelming.
Untangling some of the complex strands of the divine conflict has practical and intellectual consequences. One must unlearn previous teachings, and open the mind, to see, to understand, previously hidden precepts. No one can ban the imagination, but too often, the imagination has been herded toward supporting and expressing already established beliefs. Interpretation is manifold. Controversy arises when only one side can speak "the truth," while others are deemed, or branded, as speaking lies. This is a powerful book written carefully and thoughtfully. The researcher has been tested by the fire. Excellent.
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