Editing Gospel of Thomas (section)

==Comparison of the major gospels==
The material in the comparison chart is from ''Gospel Parallels'' by B. H. Throckmorton,{{sfnp|Throckmorton|1979}} ''The Five Gospels'' by R. W. Funk,{{sfnp|Funk|Hoover|1993}} ''The Gospel According to the Hebrews'' by E. B. Nicholson{{sfnp|Nicholson|1879}} and ''The Hebrew Gospel and the'' ''Development of the Synoptic Tradition'' by J. R. Edwards.{{sfnp|Edwards|2009}}

{|class="wikitable"
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! Concept !! Matthew, Mark, Luke !! John !! Thomas !! Nicholson/Edwards Hebrew Gospel
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| New Covenant || To love God with all one's being and love one's neighbor as oneself || Love is the New Commandment given by Jesus<ref>{{bibleverse|John|13:34}}</ref> || Secret knowledge, love one's friends<ref>Logion 25</ref> || Love one another<ref group=quote>{{cite book |author=Jerome |title=Commentary on Ephesians |quote=The Lord says to his disciples: 'And never be you joyful, except when you behold one another with love.'}}</ref>
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| Forgiveness || Very important – particularly in Matthew and Luke<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|18:21}}, {{bibleverse|Luke|17:4}}</ref> || Assumed to be important<ref>{{bibleverse|John|20:23}}</ref> || Mention of being forgiven in relation to blasphemy against the Father and Son, but no forgiveness to those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit<ref>Logion 44</ref>|| Very important – forgiveness is a central theme and the Nicholson/Edwards Hebrew Gospel goes into the greatest detail<ref group=quote>{{cite book |author=Jerome
|title=Against Pelagius ''3.2'' |quote=In ''the Gospel of the Hebrews'', written in the Chaldee and Syriac language but in Hebrew script, and used by the Nazarenes to this day (I mean the ''Gospel of the Apostles'', or, as it is generally maintained, ''the Gospel of Matthew'', a copy of which is in the library at Caesarea), we find, "Behold the mother of the Lord and his brothers said to him, 'John the Baptist baptizes for the forgiveness of sins. Let us go and be baptized by him.' But Jesus said to them, 'in what way have I sinned that I should go and be baptized by him? Unless perhaps, what I have just said is a sin of ignorance.{{'"}} And in the same volume, "'If your brother sins against you in word, and makes amends, forgive him seven times a day.' Simon, His disciple, said to Him, 'Seven times in a day!' The Lord answered and said to him, 'I say to you, Seventy times seven.{{'"}}}}</ref>
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| The Lord's Prayer || Present in Matthew and Luke, but not Mark<ref name="Trite">Trite</ref> || Not mentioned || Not mentioned || Important – {{transliteration|hbo|mahar}} or {{gloss|tomorrow}}<ref group=quote>{{cite book |author=Jerome |title=Commentary on Matthew ''1'' |quote=In the so-called ''Gospel of the Hebrews'', for "bread essential to existence", I found ''mahar'', which means 'of tomorrow'; so the sense is: our bread for tomorrow, that is, of the future, give us this day.}}</ref><ref group=quote>{{cite book |author=Jerome |title=On Psalm ''135'' |quote=In Matthew's [[Hebrew Gospel of Matthew|Hebrew Gospel]] it states, 'Give us this day our bread for tomorrow.'}}</ref>
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| Love and the poor || Very important{{snd}}the [[Jesus and the rich young man|rich young man]] is present in all three gospels<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|19:16}}, {{bibleverse|Mark|10:17}} and {{bibleverse|Luke|8:18}}</ref>|| Assumed to be important<ref>{{bibleverse|John|12:8}}</ref> || Important<ref group=quote>{{cite book |title=Gospel of Thomas, ''Logion 54'' |quote=Jesus said "Blessed are the poor, for to you belongs the Kingdom of Heaven"}}</ref> || Very important{{snd}}the rich young man is present<ref group=quote>{{cite book |author=Origen |title=Commentary to Matthew ''15:14'' |quote=The second rich youth said to him, "Rabbi, what good thing can I do and live?" Jesus replied, "Fulfill the law and the prophets." "I have," was the response. Jesus said, "Go, sell all that you have and distribute to the poor; and come, follow me." The youth became uncomfortable, for it did not please him. And the Lord said, "How can you say, I have fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, when it is written in the Law: You shall love your neighbor as yourself and many of your brothers, sons of Abraham, are covered with filth, dying of hunger, and your house is full of many good things, none of which goes out to them?" And he turned and said to Simon, his disciple, who was sitting by Him, "Simon, son of Jonah, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven."}}</ref>
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| Jesus starts his ministry || Jesus meets John the Baptist and is baptized in the 15th year of [[Tiberius Caesar]]<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|3:1}}, {{bibleverse|Mark|1:9}}, {{bibleverse|Mark|3:21}}, {{bibleverse|Luke|3:1}}</ref>|| Jesus meets John the Baptist, 46 years after [[Herod's Temple]] is built (John 2:20)<ref>{{bibleverse|John|1:29}}</ref> ||Only speaks of John the Baptist<ref group=quote>{{cite book |title=Gospel of Thomas, ''Logion 46'' |quote=Jesus said, "From Adam to John the Baptist, among those born to women, no one is greater than John the Baptist that his eyes should not be averted. But I have said that whoever among you becomes a child will recognize the (Father's) kingdom and will become greater than John."}}</ref> || Jesus meets John the Baptist and is baptized. This gospel goes into the greatest detail.<ref name="Epiphanius, Panarion 30:13">Epiphanius, Panarion 30:13</ref>
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| Number of disciples || Twelve<ref name="Matt 10:1, Mk 6:8, Lk 9:3">{{bibleverse|Matthew|10:1}}, {{bibleverse|Mark|6:8}}, {{bibleverse|Luke|9:3}}</ref> ||Twelve<ref name="Jn 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20">{{bibleverse|John|13:23}}, {{bibleverse|John|19:26}}, {{bibleverse|John|20:2}}, {{bibleverse|John|21:7}}, {{bibleverse|John|21:20}}</ref>|| Not mentioned<ref name="Logion 13">Logion 13</ref> || Twelve<ref group=quote>{{cite book |author=Epiphanius |title=Panarion ''30:13'' |quote=There was a certain man named Jesus, about thirty years old, who chose us. Coming to Capernaum, He entered the house of Simon, who is called Peter, and said, "As I passed by the Sea of Galilee, I chose John and James, sons of Zebedee, and Simon, and Andrew, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot; and you Matthew, sitting at the tax office, I called and you followed me. You therefore, I want to be the Twelve, to symbolize Israel."}}</ref>
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| Inner circle of disciples || [[Saint Peter|Peter]], [[Andrew the Apostle|Andrew]], [[James, son of Zebedee|James]] and [[John the Apostle|John]]<ref name="Matt 10:1, Mk 6:8, Lk 9:3"/> ||Peter, Andrew, James and [[the Beloved Disciple]]<ref name="Jn 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20"/>|| [[Thomas the Apostle|Thomas]],<ref name="Logion 13"/> [[James the Just]]<ref>Logion 12</ref> || Peter, Andrew, James, and John<ref name="Epiphanius, Panarion 30:13"/>
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| Other [[Disciples of Jesus|disciples]] ||Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Simon the Zealot, Judas Thaddaeus and Judas Iscariot<ref name="Jn 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20"/> || Philip, [[Nathanael (disciple of Jesus)|Nathanael]], Thomas, Judas (not Iscariot) and Judas Iscariot<ref name="Jn 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20"/> || Peter,<ref name="Logion 13"/><ref name="Logion 114">Logion 114</ref> Matthew,<ref name="Logion 13"/> Mariam,<ref name="Logion 114"/><ref>Logion 21</ref> and [[Salome (disciple)|Salome]]<ref>Logion 61</ref> || Matthew, James the Just (brother of Jesus), Simon the Zealot, Thaddaeus, Judas Iscariot<ref>Epiphanius, ''Panarion'' 30:13, Jerome, ''On Illustrious Men'', 2</ref>
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| Possible authors || Unknown;<ref group=note>Although several Fathers say Matthew wrote the Gospel of the Hebrews they are silent about Greek Matthew found in the Bible. Modern scholars are in agreement that Matthew did not write Greek Matthew, which is 300 lines longer than the [[Hebrew Gospel of Matthew|Hebrew Gospel]] (See {{harvnb|Edwards|2009}})</ref> [[Mark the Evangelist]] and [[Luke the Evangelist]] || The Beloved Disciple<ref group=note>Suggested by [[Irenaeus]] first</ref> || Unknown|| [[Matthew the Evangelist]] (or otherwise unknown)<ref group=quote>{{cite book |author=Epiphanius |title=Panarion ''30:3'' |quote=They too accept Matthew's gospel, and like the followers of Cerinthus and Merinthus, they use it alone. They call it the ''Gospel of the Hebrews'', for in truth Matthew alone in the New Testament expounded and declared the ''Gospel in Hebrew'' using Hebrew script}}</ref>
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| Virgin birth account || Described in Matthew and Luke; Mark only makes reference to a "Mother"<ref>Matthew 1:16, 18–25, 2:11, 13:53–55, Mark 6:2–3, Luke 1:30–35, 2:4–21, 34</ref>|| Not mentioned, although the "Word becomes flesh" in John 1:14 || N/A as this is a gospel of Jesus's sayings || Not mentioned

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| Jesus's baptism || Described<ref name="Trite"/> || Seen in flashback (John 1:32–34)<ref name="Trite"/>|| N/A ||Described great detail<ref group=quote>{{cite book |author=Epiphanius |title=Panarion ''30:13'' |quote=After the people were baptized, Jesus also came and was baptized by John. As Jesus came up from the water, Heaven was opened, and He saw the Holy Spirit descend in the form of a dove and enter into him. And a voice from Heaven said, "You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased." And again, "Today I have begotten you." Immediately a great light shone around the place; and John, seeing it, said to him, "Who are you, Lord?" And again a voice from Heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Then John, falling down before Him, said, "I beseech You, Lord, baptize me!" But Jesus forbade him saying, "Let it be so as it is fitting that all things be fulfilled."}}</ref>
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| Preaching style || Brief one-liners; parables<ref name="Trite"/> || Essay format, [[midrash]]<ref name="Trite"/> ||  Sayings, parables<ref group=quote>{{cite book |title=Gospel of Thomas, ''Logion 107'' |quote=Jesus said, "The [Father's] kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine and looked for the one until he found it. After he had toiled, he said to the sheep, 'I love you more than the ninety-nine.{{'"}}}}</ref> || Brief one-liners; parables<ref name="Trite"/>
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|  Storytelling || Parables{{sfnp|Mills|Bullard|McKnight|1990}} || Figurative language and metaphor{{sfnp|Van der Watt|2000}} || Hidden meanings in sayings, parables<ref>Logion 109</ref> ||Parables{{sfnp|Scott|1989}}
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| Jesus's theology || 1st-century populist Judaism<ref name="Hillel" group=note>Similar to beliefs taught by [[Hillel the Elder]]. (e.g. "golden rule") [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Quote/hillel.html Hillel]</ref> || Critical of Jewish authorities<ref>{{bibleverse|John|7:45}} and {{bibleverse|John|3:1}}</ref> || Disputed, possibly proto-Gnostic || 1st-century Judaism<ref name="Hillel" group=note/>
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| Miracles || Many miracles || [[Seven Signs]] || N/A  || Fewer miracles<ref>Jerome, ''Commentary on Matthew''  2</ref>
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| Duration of ministry || Not mentioned, possibly 3 years according to the [[Parable of the barren fig tree]] (Luke 13) || 3 years (four Passovers are mentioned)<ref>John 2:13, 4:35, 5:1, 6:4, 19:14</ref> || N/A || 1 year<ref name="Events leading up to Passover" group=note>Events leading up to Passover</ref>
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| Location of ministry || Mainly Galilee || Mainly Judea, near Jerusalem || N/A || Mainly Galilee
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| Passover meal|| Body and Blood = bread and wine || Interrupts meal for foot washing || N/A || Hebrew Passover is celebrated but details are N/A<ref>Epiphanius, Panarion 30:22</ref>
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| Burial shroud || A single piece of cloth || Multiple pieces of cloth<ref group=note>As was the Jewish practice at the time. (John 20:5–7)</ref> || N/A || Given to the High Priest<ref>Jerome, ''On Illustrious Men'', 2</ref>
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|Resurrection|| [[Mary Magdalene|Mary]] and [[Female disciples of Jesus|the women]] are the first to learn that Jesus has arisen<ref>Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:1</ref>|| John adds detailed account of Mary's experience of the Resurrection<ref>John 20:11</ref>|| N/A || In the Gospel of the Hebrews is the unique account of Jesus appearing to his brother, [[James the Just]].<ref>Jerome, On Illustrious Men, 2</ref>
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