Rating: 
Summary: Such Confusion
Review: Having studied the bible, both old and new testaments, this book seems like dribble. How can one scroll written by "someone" named Thomas refute all the other books of the bible that show a risen Christ? For non believers who reject a need for a Savior, this is the book for them. Unfortunately, they are already lost and this book would only confirm their "beliefs". A sad situation when those who read this book forget all the other books of the bible that prove this writing to have been done by someone who had no hint of the "Real" Jesus of scriptures. If you read 15 manuals on how to repair something on your car and they all give the same directions, then you find one obscure one that says something exactly opposite, which do you believe? That is a no-brainer, judge for yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: I wanted more commentary
Review: I debated whether or not to give this 3 or 4 stars. Although, I appreciated the lack of opinions, I simultaneously wanted the passages to be placed in some sort of context. Perhaps showing more direct confirmation or contradiction of passages in the approved Bible. On the other hand, this is a valuable tool for biblical scholars. I think my lack of enthusiasm probably is the result of my unrealistic hopes for greater spiritual insights.
Rating: 
Summary: political correctness attacks ancient texts
Review: I do not dislike any of the content of this book . For that any who are interested should read it . It is rather pathetic though for current writers to try to make ancient texts gender neutral . You will not find the words mankind or him except where it couldn't be substituted for humankind or person. The whole idea behind translating the text was to be exact which means it should be spoken in as near to the original text as possible and not with the modern day politically correct ( gender neutral ) editing . It is truly astounding that the author on one hand wants to get as close to the original words of Jesus as possible but must edit His sayings by making all gender issues neutral . I bought the book to hear the original not the modified for those who think that saying man or mankind or he is a problem.
Rating: 
Summary: No Context....less meaning
Review: I found the book to be an excellent translation, but in general a disappointment. Purhaps I was expecting a true up lifting experience that seems to be promised in the sayings of Jesus. However with out the story and therefore the full picture of what the sayings specificly relate to... the book falls very short on the list of must have information. For the student of history this may be a must. For this interested christain reader it was a disappointment
Rating:
Summary: The book is fine
Review: I have used this book as a study with my congregation and the members of the class found it both engaging and helpful. While not a 'traditional' gospel in the manner of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, it is a unique, though not entirely foreign, look at the sayings of Jesus. There are several translations of the Gospel of Thomas available and I have found this particular one to be very straightforward, no nonsense, with little of the editorializing that sometimes slips into other translations. It has a brief but informative introduction and would serve the 'average' reader well. As to the comment in a previous review that this book was written by the 'doubting Thomas'of the Gospel of John, I would hope that most people realize such an assertion is hog wash.Read the introduction to the book and get a more informative perspective on authorship.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable introduction to controversial material
Review: I wish I knew more about this curious manuscript. I'm still not sure I understand the 'discovery story'. As best I can tell, the text was found in an ancient urn with 50+ other manuscripts. The contents of the urn are now called a library, based on the assumption someone hid their library in the urn and buried it. The actual 'gospel' is easier to read than I expected. It reminded me of Zen koans and I enjoy a good riddle. But, puzzled I remain. The various interpretations offered by the book leave me wondering and feeling a need to read more. In particular, I'd like to know how to place these documents in the context of other 2nd century manuscripts.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable introduction to controversial material
Review: I wish I knew more about this curious manuscript. I'm still not sure I understand the 'discovery story'. As best I can tell, the text was found in an ancient urn with 50+ other manuscripts. The contents of the urn are now called a library, based on the assumption someone hid their library in the urn and buried it. The actual 'gospel' is easier to read than I expected. It reminded me of Zen koans and I enjoy a good riddle. But, puzzled I remain. The various interpretations offered by the book leave me wondering and feeling a need to read more. In particular, I'd like to know how to place these documents in the context of other 2nd century manuscripts.
Rating:
Summary: A Politically Correct Translation?
Review: If you are thinking about purchasing this book, you are probably searching for a closer look at the words of Jesus while attempting to find the oldest manuscripts. That being said, you should expect an unbiased translation. This translation is gender neutral! I can't believe this author mixed modern day politically correct views with an attempt to translate an original document. This translation is obviously not exact, and can be dismissed as heresy. I'm beginning to believe that I need to learn Hebrew, Greek, and Arabic just to get a true translation of Bible manuscripts.
Rating:
Summary: 114 Sayings attributed by the Gnostic Christians to Jesus
Review: In 1945 a couple of Egyptians digging in the Nile River valley found a sealed storage jar that contained a collection of fifty-two ancient manuscripts, most of which were devoted to the teachings of Gnosticism, early Christians who believed that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through "gnosis" (the Greek word for "knowledge"). The Gnostic inner quest for spiritual understanding put them at odds with the authority of the Church in the first, formative centuries of Christianity. It is not surprising that the Gnostic writings were suppressed by the early Church and were really only known to us through the writings of their opponents. The discovery of these manuscripts allows us to read what these early Christians were thinking and to judge for ourselves the value of their beliefs. Marvin W. Meyer has provided new English translations of several of the most important and revealing of these early Christian texts. Of these, the Gospel of Thomas is the most interesting. Biblical scholars have long maintained that one of the source documents for the Gospels was a collection of sayings that was integrated with the Gospel of Mark to produce the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Gospel of Thomas is an example of such a collection, providing dozens of sayings attributed to Jesus. For example, Saying 75: "I am the light that is over all things. I am all: all came forth from me, and all attained to me. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Pick up a stone, and you will find me there." The words might be different, but certainly the idea is recognizable, which is true of the vast majority of 144 Sayings collected in the Gospel of Thomas. These sayings are not a radical depature from what we have in Scripture and at the very least we can accept them as being accurate representations of early Christian beliefs. Certainly they are more familiar than the other Gnostic writings Meyer has translated. You will have to judge for yourself how compatable they are with the New Testament. But I think they are definitely worth thinging about.
Rating: 
Summary: The finest translation of my words in English yet written
Review: In his translation of my hidden sayings, Marvin Meyer has heeded my Father's words at the mount of transfiguration: "This is my son--listen to him!" He has recorded my true words, which have been obscured over the millennia by the obfuscating hand of theologizing. Now let my words ring forth! Well done, my good and faithful servant!
| 
