The Gospel of Thomas: The Gnostic Wisdom of Jesus
By Jean-Yves Leloup and Jacob Needleman
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A new translation and analysis of the gospel that records the actual words of Jesus
• Explores the gnostic significance of Jesus's teachings recorded in this gospel
• Explains the true nature of the new man whose coming Jesus envisioned
• Translated and interpreted by the author of the bestselling The Gospel of Mary Magdalene and The Gospel of Philip
One of the cache of codices and manuscripts discovered in Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas, unlike the canonical gospels, does not contain a narrative recording Christ's life and prophecies. Instead it is a collection of his teachings--what he actually said. These 114 logia, or sayings, were collected by Judas Didymus Thomas, whom some claim to be Jesus's closest disciple. No sooner was this gospel uncovered from the sands of Upper Egypt than scholars and theologians began to bury it anew in a host of conflicting interpretations and polemics. While some say it is a hodgepodge from the canonical gospels, for others it is the source text from which all the gospel writers drew their material and inspiration.
In this new translation of the Gospel of Thomas, Jean-Yves Leloup shows that the Jesus recorded by the "infinitely skeptical and infinitely believing" Thomas has much in common with gnostics of non-dualistic schools. Like them, Jesus preaches the coming of a new man, the genesis of the man of knowledge. In this gospel, Jesus describes a journey from limited to unlimited consciousness. The Jesus of Thomas invites us to drink deeply from the well of knowledge that lies within, not so that we may become good Christians but so we may attain the self-knowledge that will make each of us, too, a Christ.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherInner Traditions
Release dateFeb 16, 2005
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The Gospel of Thomas: The Gnostic Wisdom of Jesus Paperback – 16 February 2005
by Jean-Yves Leloup (Author), Jacob Needleman (Foreword)
4.7 out of 5 stars 1,018 ratings
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A new translation and analysis of the gospel that records the actual words of Jesus
• Explores the gnostic significance of Jesus's teachings recorded in this gospel
• Explains the true nature of the new man whose coming Jesus envisioned
• Translated and interpreted by the author of the bestselling The Gospel of Mary Magdalene and The Gospel of Philip
One of the cache of codices and manuscripts discovered in Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas, unlike the canonical gospels, does not contain a narrative recording Christ's life and prophecies. Instead it is a collection of his teachings--what he actually said. These 114 logia, or sayings, were collected by Judas Didymus Thomas, whom some claim to be Jesus's closest disciple. No sooner was this gospel uncovered from the sands of Upper Egypt than scholars and theologians began to bury it anew in a host of conflicting interpretations and polemics. While some say it is a hodgepodge from the canonical gospels, for others it is the source text from which all the gospel writers drew their material and inspiration.
In this new translation of the Gospel of Thomas, Jean-Yves Leloup shows that the Jesus recorded by the "infinitely skeptical and infinitely believing" Thomas has much in common with gnostics of non-dualistic schools. Like them, Jesus preaches the coming of a new man, the genesis of the man of knowledge. In this gospel, Jesus describes a journey from limited to unlimited consciousness. The Jesus of Thomas invites us to drink deeply from the well of knowledge that lies within, not so that we may become good Christians but so we may attain the self-knowledge that will make each of us, too, a Christ.
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English
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Inner Traditions
Publication date
16 February 2005
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"Among all the astonishing documents unearthed in 1945 near the desert village of Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas has made the greatest impact on our understanding of Christianity. . . . The words in this text have the power to touch an unknown part of ourselves that brings with it an undeniable recognition of truth and hope." ― Jacob Needleman, author of Lost Christianity and The American Soul
"In this remarkable book, scholar-mystic Jean-Yves Leloup invites us to meditate on the ‘eternal jewel,’ the revelation of Jesus, and on the reign of God spread all around us, within and without. May these logia of Jesus translated from the Gospel of Thomas fall on good soil and yield a bountiful harvest of peace, justice, and enlightenment." ― Margaret Starbird, author of The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail
"Leloup (The Gospel of Mary Magdalene; The Gospel of Philip), founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists, reminds readers early in his introduction that 'whether we like it or not, Yeshua of Nazareth was not a writer. It is therefore impossible to speak of 'the authentic words of Jesus'.' Because spoken words, later recorded, bear the indelible imprint of the listener, Leloup emphasizes that they represent only part of the truth; he invites us to consider the Gospels as a whole as '[d]ifferent points of view that exist both within us and outside of us, in historical and meta-historical dimensions.' Thus he humbly offers his translation as one among many. Following the complete text of the Gospel of Thomas, presented in both Coptic and an elegantly translated English (by Joseph Rowe, from the French) Leloup delicately unfolds its petals of meaning, logion (saying) by logion. Simultaneously inspiring and enlightening, his interpretation far surpasses mere exegesis, instead intricately melding the now with the then, the self with the Christ. Paraphrases from Meister Eckhart intermingle with quotations from Kafka and Dostoyevski, which coincide with wide-ranging religious references--from Judaism and Greek Orthodoxy to Krishnamurti and Shankara. If ever a translation of Thomas's gospel merited a place in a reader's back pocket, this is it." ― Publisher's Weekly, March 14, 2005
"I'm very impressed with this new book on the Gospel of Thomas, and even the Forward offers much insight and depth. In his Forward, Jacob Needleman suggests that the proper work of the mind is to function at two levels: the level of silence and the level of expression, with the former being superior to the latter, and that the wisdom borne out of the depths of contemplative silence is what's dangerously lacking in the world today, what he calls 'the tragedy of our modern era.' 'What our modern world has suffered from most of all is runaway ideology, the agitated attachment to ideas that thereby become the playthings of infrahuman energies. This is the great danger of all ideologies, whether political, religious, or academic.' He observes that the energy that must guide us can only come from another, higher level within the human psyche, 'a level that is experienced as silence.'
"The Format: The first section of Jean-Yves Leloup's latest book presents the text of the Gospel of Thomas in the Coptic language on the left-hand pages, and the English translations on the pages to the right. Even if you have other versions of Thomas, it would be quite useful to also have this one, as there are some important differences. The rest of the book consists of the commentary on each of the one hundred fourteen proverbs and parables of 'Yeshua the Living One,' many of which seem as terse and enigmatic as Zen koans, the mystic-wisdom of an Eastern Sage. The collection begins with this mysterious statement: 'Whoever lives the interpretation of these words will no longer taste death.'
"At last! someone who is a contemplative soul has published some valuable reflections on this Gnostic Gospel found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt. In The Gospel of Thomas, Jean-Yves Leloup presents not so much a commentary on these ancient sayings of Yeshua, but a meditation 'that arises from the tilled earth of our silence.' He says that 'it is from this ground of inner silence, rather than from mental agitation, that these words of Yeshua can bear their fruit of Light.' He writes, 'Pope Gregory I said that only a prophet could understand the prophets. And it is said that only a poet can understand a poet. Who, then, must we be in order to understand Yeshua?' Perhaps only a lover of Gnosis can truly appreciate the wisdom of a Gnostic Gospel. Leloup is the founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists. His other books include the bestselling, The Gospel of Mary Magdalene and The Gospel of Philip." ― James Bean, Spiritual Awakening Radio Productions
"If you're looking for a coherent translation and commentary of The Gospel of Thomas I think this is it." ― Blue Flame Magick Blog at Word Press, October 2010
From the Back Cover
CHRISTIAN STUDIES / GNOSTICISM "Among all the astonishing documents unearthed in 1945 near the desert village of Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas has made the greatest impact on our understanding of Christianity. . . . The words in this text have the power to touch an unknown part of ourselves that brings with it an undeniable recognition of truth and hope." --Jacob Needleman, author of Lost Christianity and The American Soul "In this remarkable book, scholar-mystic Jean-Yves Leloup invites us to meditate on the 'eternal jewel, ' the revelation of Jesus, and on the reign of God spread all around us, within and without. May these logia of Jesus translated from the Gospel of Thomas fall on good soil and yield a bountiful harvest of peace, justice, and enlightenment." --Margaret Starbird, author of The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail One of the cache of codices and manuscripts discovered in Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas, unlike the canonical gospels, does not contain a narrative recording Christ's life and prophecies. Instead, it is a collection of his teachings in 114 logia, or sayings, that were gathered by Judas Didymus Thomas, whom some claim was Jesus' closest disciple. No sooner was this gospel uncovered from the sands of Upper Egypt than scholars and theologians began to bury it anew in a host of conflicting interpretations and polemics. While some say it is a hodgepodge from the canonical gospels, for others it is the source text from which all the gospel writers drew their material and inspiration. In this new translation of the Gospel of Thomas, Jean-Yves Leloup shows that the Jesus recorded by the "infinitely skeptical and infinitely believing" Thomas has much in common with gnostics of nondualistic schools. Like them, Jesus preaches the coming of a new man, the genesis of the man of knowledge. In this gospel, Jesus describes a journey from limited to unlimited consciousness. The Jesus of Thomas invites us to drink deeply from the well of knowledge that lies within, not so that we may become good Christians, but so that we may attain the self-knowledge that will make each of us, too, a Christ. JEAN-YVES LELOUP is the founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists. His other books include the bestselling The Gospel of Mary Magdalene and The Gospel of Philip. He lives in France.
Product details
Publisher : Inner Traditions (16 February 2005)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
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Reeja
4.0 out of 5 stars Good readReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 28 June 2021
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Some interpretations may not be clear but many are good. I might have to read this book again to get a better understanding. It opens up a different view in Christianity.
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MDY
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 16 March 2015
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Easy to read with interpretation included at end of book
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HeyFattyBum
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful interpretationReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 22 February 2015
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I've always looked at religion as little more than a method of brainwashing and for creating narrow minded, non-critical thinkers. However, I have always been fascinated by the major personalities of these religions as I've always believed that if they saw what their teachings had become, how they've been twisted and wrought terror all over the world they'd surely be eternally sorrowful. I love 'spirituality', and have always been a seeker for 'truth' - whatever that may be.
Jean-Yves Leloup I believe has captured something marvellous here. When I read this book every fibre of my soul cried YES!!! This is what Jesus was trying to teach us. It was as if the man Jesus was right there with me, speaking these words directly to me.
If ever such a man existed and was the great, loving man that I believe him to be, then these are surely his words. Thank you jean for such a wonderful interpretation that really goes deep and makes you think.
34 people found this helpfulReport
GJDS
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book, from the best teacher that ever walked this world. Jesus ChristReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 20 April 2020
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This book made me realize that everything the church teaches about the Bible are just superficial and that is why not many people are being saved. The spiritual interpretation is what opens the curtain of ignorance and gives people the hidden knowledge. This book decoded many of Jesus teachings using comprehensive language that anyone can understand and apply in their life.
8 people found this helpfulReport
E. L. Wisty
4.0 out of 5 stars Meditations on the logiaReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 22 September 2008
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Although Leloup regards Thomas as "gnostic", though not in a dualistic sense, he invites us to read Thomas alongside the canonical gospels to see another facet of Yeshua (as he somewhat pedantically calls Jesus). This comes as a refeshing change to those who will either reject Thomas totally or regard it as completely undermining the authenticity of the canonical gospels.
After the introduction comes the complete Coptic text with opposing translation. The Coptic text contains editing marks (lacunae, corrections, reconstructions from the Oxyrhynchus papyri etc.) without any explanation, and has presumably just been lifted from some more scholarly source. The translation is somewhat loose and makes certain changes to the manuscript text without comment (for example in the logion of the lion eating the man and vice versa, the meaning has been modified for what is presumed to be a scribal error).
Following this Leloup provides not a commentary as such but more like a meditation around each logion in turn. In each meditation he may bring in other sources, from Tanakh and New Testmament, patristic writings, mediaeval mystics, other gnostic sources, even other religions - Leloup is clearly quite erudite. (Sometimes one wonders whether Leloup might be of the "all religions are equally valid" school of thought. I tried to find out more info about Leloup and his "Institute of Other Civilization Studies" without success. His photo on the back cover with thick bushy beard makes him look every bit the self-styled holy man.)
This is certainly worth having for anyone interested in the Gospel of Thomas, though perhaps should not be the only translation/commentary to get. I would recommend reading it alongside others.
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30 people found this helpfulReport
Neil Tighe
5.0 out of 5 stars It explains the biblical teachings in a metaphysical formatReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 18 June 2020
Verified Purchase
I like the gospel of Thomas, he has a lot to offer with a better gnostic understanding that allows the mind to reason what has been set down. Or you can just read what he reports in it's original form, I like it.
2 people found this helpfulReport
K. J. Faulkner
5.0 out of 5 stars The Wisdom of LeloupReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 16 October 2015
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Jean-Yves Leloup is exactly the right man to be walking you through this. As much as I love the stand-alone gospels (esp. Mary), they only make up a mere fraction of the book. I'm always dubious about the accompanying hack-job analyses and interpretations one tends to find in these kinds of publications, but trust me, Leloup is the man and I even fail to see how the original source texts would carry the same kind of strength without his insights, which somehow remain as accessible as they are genuinely profound.
9 people found this helpfulReport
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====
The Gospel of Thomas: The Gnostic Wisdom of Jesus Paperback – 16 February 2005
by Jean-Yves Leloup (Author), Jacob Needleman (Foreword)
4.7 out of 5 stars 1,018 ratings
Kindle
$9.99Read with Our Free App
Audiobook$14.95
Paperback
$22.99
A new translation and analysis of the gospel that records the actual words of Jesus
• Explores the gnostic significance of Jesus's teachings recorded in this gospel
• Explains the true nature of the new man whose coming Jesus envisioned
• Translated and interpreted by the author of the bestselling The Gospel of Mary Magdalene and The Gospel of Philip
One of the cache of codices and manuscripts discovered in Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas, unlike the canonical gospels, does not contain a narrative recording Christ's life and prophecies. Instead it is a collection of his teachings--what he actually said. These 114 logia, or sayings, were collected by Judas Didymus Thomas, whom some claim to be Jesus's closest disciple. No sooner was this gospel uncovered from the sands of Upper Egypt than scholars and theologians began to bury it anew in a host of conflicting interpretations and polemics. While some say it is a hodgepodge from the canonical gospels, for others it is the source text from which all the gospel writers drew their material and inspiration.
In this new translation of the Gospel of Thomas, Jean-Yves Leloup shows that the Jesus recorded by the "infinitely skeptical and infinitely believing" Thomas has much in common with gnostics of non-dualistic schools. Like them, Jesus preaches the coming of a new man, the genesis of the man of knowledge. In this gospel, Jesus describes a journey from limited to unlimited consciousness. The Jesus of Thomas invites us to drink deeply from the well of knowledge that lies within, not so that we may become good Christians but so we may attain the self-knowledge that will make each of us, too, a Christ.
Read less
Report incorrect product information.
Print length
240 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Inner Traditions
Publication date
16 February 2005
Dimensions
Product description
Review
"Among all the astonishing documents unearthed in 1945 near the desert village of Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas has made the greatest impact on our understanding of Christianity. . . . The words in this text have the power to touch an unknown part of ourselves that brings with it an undeniable recognition of truth and hope." ― Jacob Needleman, author of Lost Christianity and The American Soul
"In this remarkable book, scholar-mystic Jean-Yves Leloup invites us to meditate on the ‘eternal jewel,’ the revelation of Jesus, and on the reign of God spread all around us, within and without. May these logia of Jesus translated from the Gospel of Thomas fall on good soil and yield a bountiful harvest of peace, justice, and enlightenment." ― Margaret Starbird, author of The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail
"Leloup (The Gospel of Mary Magdalene; The Gospel of Philip), founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists, reminds readers early in his introduction that 'whether we like it or not, Yeshua of Nazareth was not a writer. It is therefore impossible to speak of 'the authentic words of Jesus'.' Because spoken words, later recorded, bear the indelible imprint of the listener, Leloup emphasizes that they represent only part of the truth; he invites us to consider the Gospels as a whole as '[d]ifferent points of view that exist both within us and outside of us, in historical and meta-historical dimensions.' Thus he humbly offers his translation as one among many. Following the complete text of the Gospel of Thomas, presented in both Coptic and an elegantly translated English (by Joseph Rowe, from the French) Leloup delicately unfolds its petals of meaning, logion (saying) by logion. Simultaneously inspiring and enlightening, his interpretation far surpasses mere exegesis, instead intricately melding the now with the then, the self with the Christ. Paraphrases from Meister Eckhart intermingle with quotations from Kafka and Dostoyevski, which coincide with wide-ranging religious references--from Judaism and Greek Orthodoxy to Krishnamurti and Shankara. If ever a translation of Thomas's gospel merited a place in a reader's back pocket, this is it." ― Publisher's Weekly, March 14, 2005
"I'm very impressed with this new book on the Gospel of Thomas, and even the Forward offers much insight and depth. In his Forward, Jacob Needleman suggests that the proper work of the mind is to function at two levels: the level of silence and the level of expression, with the former being superior to the latter, and that the wisdom borne out of the depths of contemplative silence is what's dangerously lacking in the world today, what he calls 'the tragedy of our modern era.' 'What our modern world has suffered from most of all is runaway ideology, the agitated attachment to ideas that thereby become the playthings of infrahuman energies. This is the great danger of all ideologies, whether political, religious, or academic.' He observes that the energy that must guide us can only come from another, higher level within the human psyche, 'a level that is experienced as silence.'
"The Format: The first section of Jean-Yves Leloup's latest book presents the text of the Gospel of Thomas in the Coptic language on the left-hand pages, and the English translations on the pages to the right. Even if you have other versions of Thomas, it would be quite useful to also have this one, as there are some important differences. The rest of the book consists of the commentary on each of the one hundred fourteen proverbs and parables of 'Yeshua the Living One,' many of which seem as terse and enigmatic as Zen koans, the mystic-wisdom of an Eastern Sage. The collection begins with this mysterious statement: 'Whoever lives the interpretation of these words will no longer taste death.'
"At last! someone who is a contemplative soul has published some valuable reflections on this Gnostic Gospel found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt. In The Gospel of Thomas, Jean-Yves Leloup presents not so much a commentary on these ancient sayings of Yeshua, but a meditation 'that arises from the tilled earth of our silence.' He says that 'it is from this ground of inner silence, rather than from mental agitation, that these words of Yeshua can bear their fruit of Light.' He writes, 'Pope Gregory I said that only a prophet could understand the prophets. And it is said that only a poet can understand a poet. Who, then, must we be in order to understand Yeshua?' Perhaps only a lover of Gnosis can truly appreciate the wisdom of a Gnostic Gospel. Leloup is the founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists. His other books include the bestselling, The Gospel of Mary Magdalene and The Gospel of Philip." ― James Bean, Spiritual Awakening Radio Productions
"If you're looking for a coherent translation and commentary of The Gospel of Thomas I think this is it." ― Blue Flame Magick Blog at Word Press, October 2010
From the Back Cover
CHRISTIAN STUDIES / GNOSTICISM "Among all the astonishing documents unearthed in 1945 near the desert village of Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas has made the greatest impact on our understanding of Christianity. . . . The words in this text have the power to touch an unknown part of ourselves that brings with it an undeniable recognition of truth and hope." --Jacob Needleman, author of Lost Christianity and The American Soul "In this remarkable book, scholar-mystic Jean-Yves Leloup invites us to meditate on the 'eternal jewel, ' the revelation of Jesus, and on the reign of God spread all around us, within and without. May these logia of Jesus translated from the Gospel of Thomas fall on good soil and yield a bountiful harvest of peace, justice, and enlightenment." --Margaret Starbird, author of The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail One of the cache of codices and manuscripts discovered in Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas, unlike the canonical gospels, does not contain a narrative recording Christ's life and prophecies. Instead, it is a collection of his teachings in 114 logia, or sayings, that were gathered by Judas Didymus Thomas, whom some claim was Jesus' closest disciple. No sooner was this gospel uncovered from the sands of Upper Egypt than scholars and theologians began to bury it anew in a host of conflicting interpretations and polemics. While some say it is a hodgepodge from the canonical gospels, for others it is the source text from which all the gospel writers drew their material and inspiration. In this new translation of the Gospel of Thomas, Jean-Yves Leloup shows that the Jesus recorded by the "infinitely skeptical and infinitely believing" Thomas has much in common with gnostics of nondualistic schools. Like them, Jesus preaches the coming of a new man, the genesis of the man of knowledge. In this gospel, Jesus describes a journey from limited to unlimited consciousness. The Jesus of Thomas invites us to drink deeply from the well of knowledge that lies within, not so that we may become good Christians, but so that we may attain the self-knowledge that will make each of us, too, a Christ. JEAN-YVES LELOUP is the founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists. His other books include the bestselling The Gospel of Mary Magdalene and The Gospel of Philip. He lives in France.
Product details
Publisher : Inner Traditions (16 February 2005)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
Top reviews
Top reviews from Australia
Reeja
4.0 out of 5 stars Good readReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 28 June 2021
Verified Purchase
Some interpretations may not be clear but many are good. I might have to read this book again to get a better understanding. It opens up a different view in Christianity.
HelpfulReport
MDY
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on 16 March 2015
Verified Purchase
Easy to read with interpretation included at end of book
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HeyFattyBum
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful interpretationReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 22 February 2015
Verified Purchase
I've always looked at religion as little more than a method of brainwashing and for creating narrow minded, non-critical thinkers. However, I have always been fascinated by the major personalities of these religions as I've always believed that if they saw what their teachings had become, how they've been twisted and wrought terror all over the world they'd surely be eternally sorrowful. I love 'spirituality', and have always been a seeker for 'truth' - whatever that may be.
Jean-Yves Leloup I believe has captured something marvellous here. When I read this book every fibre of my soul cried YES!!! This is what Jesus was trying to teach us. It was as if the man Jesus was right there with me, speaking these words directly to me.
If ever such a man existed and was the great, loving man that I believe him to be, then these are surely his words. Thank you jean for such a wonderful interpretation that really goes deep and makes you think.
34 people found this helpfulReport
GJDS
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book, from the best teacher that ever walked this world. Jesus ChristReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 20 April 2020
Verified Purchase
This book made me realize that everything the church teaches about the Bible are just superficial and that is why not many people are being saved. The spiritual interpretation is what opens the curtain of ignorance and gives people the hidden knowledge. This book decoded many of Jesus teachings using comprehensive language that anyone can understand and apply in their life.
8 people found this helpfulReport
E. L. Wisty
4.0 out of 5 stars Meditations on the logiaReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 22 September 2008
Verified Purchase
Although Leloup regards Thomas as "gnostic", though not in a dualistic sense, he invites us to read Thomas alongside the canonical gospels to see another facet of Yeshua (as he somewhat pedantically calls Jesus). This comes as a refeshing change to those who will either reject Thomas totally or regard it as completely undermining the authenticity of the canonical gospels.
After the introduction comes the complete Coptic text with opposing translation. The Coptic text contains editing marks (lacunae, corrections, reconstructions from the Oxyrhynchus papyri etc.) without any explanation, and has presumably just been lifted from some more scholarly source. The translation is somewhat loose and makes certain changes to the manuscript text without comment (for example in the logion of the lion eating the man and vice versa, the meaning has been modified for what is presumed to be a scribal error).
Following this Leloup provides not a commentary as such but more like a meditation around each logion in turn. In each meditation he may bring in other sources, from Tanakh and New Testmament, patristic writings, mediaeval mystics, other gnostic sources, even other religions - Leloup is clearly quite erudite. (Sometimes one wonders whether Leloup might be of the "all religions are equally valid" school of thought. I tried to find out more info about Leloup and his "Institute of Other Civilization Studies" without success. His photo on the back cover with thick bushy beard makes him look every bit the self-styled holy man.)
This is certainly worth having for anyone interested in the Gospel of Thomas, though perhaps should not be the only translation/commentary to get. I would recommend reading it alongside others.
Read less
30 people found this helpfulReport
Neil Tighe
5.0 out of 5 stars It explains the biblical teachings in a metaphysical formatReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 18 June 2020
Verified Purchase
I like the gospel of Thomas, he has a lot to offer with a better gnostic understanding that allows the mind to reason what has been set down. Or you can just read what he reports in it's original form, I like it.
2 people found this helpfulReport
K. J. Faulkner
5.0 out of 5 stars The Wisdom of LeloupReviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 16 October 2015
Verified Purchase
Jean-Yves Leloup is exactly the right man to be walking you through this. As much as I love the stand-alone gospels (esp. Mary), they only make up a mere fraction of the book. I'm always dubious about the accompanying hack-job analyses and interpretations one tends to find in these kinds of publications, but trust me, Leloup is the man and I even fail to see how the original source texts would carry the same kind of strength without his insights, which somehow remain as accessible as they are genuinely profound.
9 people found this helpfulReport
See all reviews
====
