Why isn't the Gospel of Thomas included in the bible? Isn't any gospel God's word?

Answer 1

The Four Gospels we normally consider "canon" (accepted in the New Testament) are all agreed upon by very early sources (i.e. understood by the next generation) to be authentic writings of the claimed authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). The Gospel of Thomas is a gnostic text, written considerably later than the 4 gospels, and if you read it, is not a flowing text but partly cut and past of the other Gospels, with gnostic doctirne interspersed. No one credited its authoriship to the apostle Thomas, as it claims.

Answer 2

First, it was too late. By the time the Gospel of Thomas was written, Christians had already established the 4-Gospel lectionary, as well as the 4-Gospel catechism. Second, the Gospel of Thomas was decidedly Gnostic in content, and did not contain any of the traditional elements of the Gospel narrative. Third, the Gospel of Thomas was not read publicly in any Christian Church, and to all intents and purposes, was virtually unknown outside of a few fringe communities in Africa.

Answer 3

It is recorded in John 14:15-17 that Jesus told the Apostles that he would send a helper, the Holy Spirit, to guide them in their ministries. He says that this helper will reveal the truth and stay with them forever. He says the world cannot receive him because it cannot see him or know him, but the Apostles know him. In John 16:13, Jesus said the this Spirit would lead the Apostles into all truth, and would give Jesus glory because he will take what Jesus says and tell it to them.

The Catholic Church, under this guidance of the Holy Spirit, determined which books were truly inspired works in the 4th century. The Church was adminstered then and is administered today by bishops who come from an unbroken line of succession from the Apostles. The Holy Spirit remains with the Church as Jesus promised.

To deny the teaching authority of the Church is to deny either 1) that Jesus keeps his promises or 2) that the Holy Spirit is capable of leading the Church into all truth and remaining with it forever.

So, yes, the Church had the authority to determine which books were the truth. There were many writings by many people at the time. Anyone could write their opinion of what Jesus did and what it means, and they could call it the Gospel of Fred if they want to. But the guidance of the Holy Spirit allowed the Church to discern which books are truly inspired.

Answer 4

Which Gospel of Thomas, now there is two? Most theologians agree that the Gospel of Thomas is not inspired writing, it has been contaminated. Suddenly but true.

Answer 5

Not necessarily. There were false gospels out there. The Church decided for whatever reasons that the gospel of Thomas was one of them.

Answer 6

Various writings have been excluded from the canon for a variety of reasons. The two main reasons were:if they could not be verified as having been written by one of the Apostles; and if their substances was not in accord with Jesus' teaching and the message of salvation.