GATHERCOLE, S.,
The Composition of the Gospel of Thomas. Original Language and Influences.
Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014. Reprint 1st ed.2012. XIII,322p. Paperback. ‘Simon Gathercole’s ‘The Composition of the Gospel of Thomas (….)’ makes two important arguments: the Gospel of Thomas was originally composed in the Greek language, and, at various points, Thomas shows direct knowledge of either the Gospel of Matthew or the Gospel of Luke. Gathercole presents compelling arguments for Thomas’s Greek ‘Vorlage’, and his arguments for Thomas’s dependence on the synoptic gospels are the most thorough to date. Regardless of what side of the debate one stands, Gathercole’s book must be addressed. The ‘Composition of Thomas’ is organized into three sections: the first addresses the question of Thomas’s original language (chapters 1-4); the second, Thomas’s relationship with the synoptic gospels (chapters 5-9); and the third, Thomas’s relationship with other early Christian texts (chapters 10-12). In section 1, Gathercole argues that the alleged ‘Semitisms’ in Thomas are not so numerous or indicative of a Semitic ‘Vorlage’ as they may appear, and that there is good evidence that Thomas was originally written in Greek. (…) Gathercole begins his second section (chapter 5) by critiquing the position that Thomas was independent of the synoptics, Arguments for independence have been based largely on Thomas’s lack of shared order with the synoptics, Thomas’s presumed form-critical priority Thomas’s lack of close verbal similarity, and Thomas’s absence of redactional elements. (…) Gathercole attempts to show there is indeed synoptic redaction in Thomas. To identify these redactional traces in Thomas, Gathercole examines triple tradition sayings (sayings found in Mark and taken over into Matthew and Luke) alongside their parallels in Thomas. In doing so, Gathercole is able to identify distinct Lukan and Matthean redactional traces that he argues made their way into Thomas via direct copying. (…) Section three functions more as an epilogue. Here Gathercole argues that in places Thomas shows knowledge of Paul, Hebrews, and the Two Ways tradition (…). ‘The Composition of the Gospel of Thomas’ is required reading for anyone currently working on the gospel.’ (IAN BROWN, Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto).
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