What The Acts of Thomas tell us about Jesus in India
Most people who are aware of The Acts of Thomas are aware that it deals with Thomas' mission to India. Some are also aware that it deals as well with several appearances of ____Jesus of Nazareth in India. Some also believe that it is evidence that Jesus survived the crucifixion and went to India.
This document will gather everything The Acts of Thomas says regarding Jesus with the related context. At the end, I will give my summation of what I see.
My source is
http://www.gnosis.org/library/actththenom.htm
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The following sums up everything (relevant) said about Jesus in The Acts of Thomas:
11 The groom saw the Lord Jesus bearing the likeness of Judas Thomas and speaking with the bride
13 the Lord departed from before them (the bride and bridegroom), saying thus: The grace of the Lord shall be with you.
27
the Lord was revealed unto them by a voice, saying: Peace be unto you
brethren. And they heard his voice only, but his likeness they saw not,
for they had not yet received the added sealing of the seal (Syr. had
not been baptized).
29 when night fell and he (Thomas) slept, the
Lord came and stood at his head, saying: Thomas, rise early, and having
blessed them all, after the prayer and the ministry go by the eastern
road two miles and there will I show thee my glory: for by thy going
shall many take refuge with me, and thou shalt bring to light the nature
and power of the enemy.
47 (Prayer of Thomas): ...Jesu, man that wast slain, dead buried!
59
he himself ceased not preaching and speaking to them and showing that
this is Jesus Christ whom the scriptures proclaimed, who is come and was
crucified, and raised the third day from the dead.
72 (Prayer of
Thomas): ...thou, Lord, art he that gavest thyself for us, and with thy
blood hast purchased us and gained us as a possession of great price:
and what have we to give thee, Lord, in exchange for thy life which thou
gavest for us?
...
80 ...the apostle said: What I shall think
concerning thy beauty, O Jesu, and what I shall tell of thee, I know
not, or rather I am not able, for I have no power to declare it, O
Christ that art in rest, and only wise that only knowest the inward of
the heart and understandest the thought. Glory be to thee, merciful and
tranquil. Glory to thee, wise word. Glory to thy compassion that was
born unto us. Glory to thy mercy that was spread out over us. Glory to
thy greatness that was made small for us. Glory to thy most high
kingship that was humbled for us. Glory to thy might which was enfeebled
for us. Glory to thy Godhead that for us was seen in likeness of men.
Glory to thy manhood that died for us that it might make us live. Glory
to thy resurrection from the dead; for thereby rising and rest cometh
unto our souls. Glory and praise (good report) to thine ascending into
the heavens; for thereby thou hast shewed us the path of the height, and
promised that we shall sit with thee on thy right hand and with thee
judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Thou art the heavenly word of the
Father: thou art the hidden light of the understanding, shewer of the
way of truth, driver away of darkness, and blotter-out of error.
...
156
And then Judas began to pray and to speak thus: O companion and
defender (ally) and hope of the weak and confidence of the poor: refuge
and lodging of the weary: voice that came forth of the height (sleep,
Gr.): comforter dwelling in the midst: port and harbour of them that
pass through the regions of the rulers: physician that healest without
payment: who among men wast crucified for many: who didst go down into
hell with great might: the sight of whom the princes of death endured
not; and thou camest up with great glory, and gathering all them that
fled unto thee didst prepare a way, and in thy footsteps all they
journeyed whom thou didst redeem; and thou broughtest them into thine
own fold and didst join them with thy sheep:
...
158 And when they
were come up, he took bread and a cup, and blessed it and said: Thine
holy body w}lich was crucified for us do we eat, and thy blood that was
shed for us unto salvation do we drink; let therefore thy body be unto
us salvation and thy blood for remission of sins. And for the gall which
thou didst drink for our sakes let the gall of the devil be removed
from us: and for the vinegar which thou hast drunk for us, let our
weakness be made strong: and for the spitting which thou didst receive
for us, let us receive the dew of thy goodness: and by (or for) the reed
wherewith they smote thee for us, let us receive the perfect house: and
whereas thou receivedst a crown of thorns for our sake, let us that
have loved thee put on a crown that fadeth not away; and for the linen
cloth wherein thou wast Wrapped, let us also be girt about with thy
power that is not vanquished and for the new tomb and the burial let us
receive renewing of soul and body: and for that thou didst rise up and
revive, let us revive and live and stand before thee in righteous
judgement. And he brake and gave the eucharist unto Iuzanes and Tertia
and Mnesara and the wife and daughter of Siphor and said: Let this
eucharist be unto you for salvation and joy and health of your souls.
And they said: Amen. And a voice was heard, saying: Amen: fear ye not,
but only believe.
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