Ancient Christians wrote hundreds of gospels in the first four centuries, but the Church only accepted four of these for inclusion in the New Testament. Of those that were rejected none has received so much attention, and sparked so much controversy, as the Gospel of Thomas. Why was it repudiated by the orthodox Church Fathers to begin with, and why does it continue to fascinate, baffle, and polarize Christians around the world to this day, some 2,000 years later?

Award-winning historian and Bible authority Lochlainn Seabrook answers these questions and more in his one-of-a-kind work, Jesus and the Gospel of Thomas: A Christian Mystic's View of Christianity's Most Important Ancient Text.

Mr. Seabrook's study of Thomas' famous forbidden Gospel, actually a collection of 114 of Jesus' Sayings, covers its accidental discovery and mysterious history, along with current theories (both positive and negative) concerning its meaning, intentions, audience, and author. He devotes many pages, of course, to the figure of Jesus, the main focus of the book, with emphasis on how Thomas' depiction of the Master as a mortal but superlative human teacher, healer, and philosopher, corresponds exactly with the manner in which Jesus' earliest followers viewed Him. While probing these complex topics, the book remains accessible to both scholars and laymen alike, making it an ideal introduction to this absorbing and rewarding early Gnostic-Christian work-one heavily tinged with both Jewish and Pagan elements. And, according to the author, herein lies the probable reason for its universal suppression: The Gospel of Thomas' syncretism may reveal too much about both the real Jesus and the real origins of Christianity.

Just as significant, Mr. Seabrook's captivating guide includes not only the complete original text of Thomas, but a second version with his own esoteric interpretations paired alongside, giving the modern reader insight into the possible inner meanings intended by its ancient mystical author. This small but information-packed volume includes illustrations, endnotes, a detailed index, and an in-depth bibliography. Jesus and the Gospel of Thomas: A Christian Mystic's View of Christianity's Most Important Ancient Text is available in paperback and hardcover. (All text copyright