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Rating: 
Summary: Challenges a great many religious preconceptions
Review: In 1945, twelve ancient texts were found in a sealed jar at the base of an Egyptian cliff. One of these, The Gospel of Thomas, is presented an expert translation accompanied with extensive interpretation in this impressive edition of The Gospel Of Thomas Annotated & Explained by Stevan Davies (a learned professor who has intensively studied the Gospel of Thomas for over twenty years). This is a seminal work that challenges a great many religious preconceptions within Christian literature and Biblical Studies. The Gospel Of Thomas offers a unique and sometimes contradictory perspective on the Kingdom of God (claiming that it is here and now rather than a future promise or threat), and sheds new light on the perception of Jesus Christ. The Gospel Of Thomas Annotated & Explained is very highly recommended reading for anyone seeking to better understand the these long-hidden aphoristic words attributed as the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Commentary
Review: Prof. Stevan Davies was one of the first scholars to take the Gospel of Thomas seriously as a first century text. An acknowledged expert in his field, he is fascinated by early Christianity, has few preconceptions as to its earliest form, and is always willing to try out new ideas. This book contains a solid translation of the Gospel of Thomas, a good introduction, plus a new age preface by Andrew Harvey. The great strength of the book is the saying by saying commentary. Davies does not try to give a unified interpretation of the Gospel of Thomas, but to "offer suggestions, share observations, and participate in a reader's seeking..." Prof Davies has a way of wheedling out the system of thought that lurks beneath the text, and he looks at the sayings as clearly as he can, disregarding religious or scholarly commonplaces. This is one of the three or four best books on the Gospel of Thomas.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Commentary
Review: Prof. Stevan Davies was one of the first scholars to take the Gospel of Thomas seriously as a first century text. An acknowledged expert in his field, he is fascinated by early Christianity, has few preconceptions as to its earliest form, and is always willing to try out new ideas. This book contains a solid translation of the Gospel of Thomas, a good introduction, plus a new age preface by Andrew Harvey. The great strength of the book is the saying by saying commentary. Davies does not try to give a unified interpretation of the Gospel of Thomas, but to "offer suggestions, share observations, and participate in a reader's seeking..." Prof Davies has a way of wheedling out the system of thought that lurks beneath the text, and he looks at the sayings as clearly as he can, disregarding religious or scholarly commonplaces. This is one of the three or four best books on the Gospel of Thomas.
Rating:
Summary: Best commentary on the Gospel of Thomas out there
Review: Stevan Davies maintains the online Gospel of Thomas Homepage and is the author of the 1983 book The Gospel of Thomas and Christian Wisdom, distinguishing himself as one of the leading scholars on the Gospel of Thomas. The chief virtue of Davies is that he stays close to what the Gospel of Thomas is saying rather than attempting to read into the text an over-arching gnostic, ascetic, or mystical motif. The result is a commentary filled with fresh insights, such as the humor of saying 72, the sexual innuendo of saying 22, the vegetarian doctrine of sayings 11&87, and the incompetent sower of saying 9. Davies is concise in his commentary, providing the text of Thomas in large type on the right side, with comments by Davies (and the occasional quote) on the left side. I have read most of the books in English on the Gospel of Thomas, and I can say confidently that this is the best commentary available to date and a must-read for anyone who is interested in this fascinating text.
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