Seeking immortality? The Gospel of Thomas presents a path that relies not on science, but on the truth within oneself.
Immortality: The Eternal Obsession
Everyone’s obsessed with immortality. No one wants to die, right? People try everything from freezing their heads to taking experimental pills, all in the name of living forever. But immortality is more than just dodging death—it’s about finding purpose, meaning, and not fading into oblivion like a forgotten tweet. The big question is: where do you find immortality? Science isn’t much help—they still can’t cure the common cold. But religion? There’s some potential there. The Gospel of Thomas might just hold the clues—if you dare to dig deeper.
The Gospel of Thomas
The Gospel of Thomas is like the rebellious cousin of the Bible that never made it into the official canon, probably because it was too “truthful” for church leaders. Discovered in the Nag Hammadi Library in 1945, it contains 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, but they are radically different from what you hear in church. This text doesn’t care about rules, rituals, or watered-down theology.
Scholars like Elaine Pagels and Marvin Meyer suggest the Gospel of Thomas may have preceded most of the canonical Gospels, hinting at an earlier, mystical version of Jesus’ teachings focused on inner transformation rather than miracles or apocalyptic prophecies. Others date it later, attributing the text to the second century or beyond.
In essence, Thomas isn’t about Jesus dying for your sins or rising from the dead. It’s about awakening, finding the truth within yourself, and realizing you are already immortal.
Finding Immortality in Thomas’ Words
In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus says:
“If you extract what is inside you, what you have will save you. If you do not extract what is within you, what you do not have will destroy you.”
In simpler terms, stop looking for salvation outside yourself; the treasure has always been within you.
This idea aligns with Gnostic traditions of the time, emphasizing direct knowledge of the divine over reliance on external authorities. Thomas’ Jesus claims you don’t need priests, temples, or rituals to connect with God. You need to awaken to the truth already inside you.
Another saying, “The kingdom of God is within you and around you,” echoes this idea. It parallels the Bible verse Luke 17:21, “The kingdom of God is among you,” but goes further, suggesting that paradise isn’t a distant post-death destination. It’s here and now, if you can see it.
Despite clear parallels between the Gospel of Thomas and Gnostic thought, especially in emphasizing inner knowledge and the divine spark within every human, the exact connection between this Gospel and Gnosticism remains debated.
Immortality Isn’t What You Think
From Thomas’ perspective, immortality isn’t about avoiding death but realizing you are already eternal. Your body might be temporary, but your soul is a timeless part of you. However, this realization requires inner work—self-awareness, honesty, and the courage to overcome the ego that holds you back.
In her book Beyond Belief, Elaine Pagels argues that the Gospel of Thomas challenges the institutional church by promoting a direct and personal connection to the divine. It’s not about living forever in a city of gold; it’s about realizing your true nature and transcending the limitations of your ego.
Why the Gospel of Thomas Stands Out
Whether you’re a Christian or not, most religious texts are brimming with rules and dogmas, dictating what to do, believe, and how to behave. Thomas doesn’t play these games. It presents the truth, leaving you the choice to accept or reject it.
This is its strength. Thomas isn’t asking you to believe in a distant heaven. It calls you to wake up here and now, to see the divine in yourself and the world around you. This is raw, unfiltered spirituality—not for the faint of heart.
The Upside-Down World of Thomas
One of the most striking features of the Gospel of Thomas is how it flips everything on its head. The first will be last. The rich are poor. The strong are weak.
Take this quote: “Blessed is he who was before he was.” What does this even mean? It’s like a Zen koan designed to expand your consciousness. Scholar Stephen Davis suggests this dictum points to the soul’s eternal nature—it exists before and beyond physical birth.
Another quote: “If the flesh came from the spirit, that’s amazing. But if the spirit came from the body, it is doubly surprising.” This line challenges materialism, reminding us that the spirit isn’t secondary; it’s the source of everything.
Church’s View on Thomas
The Church considered this gospel dangerous, and for good reason. From the beginning, the Church sought to mediate between God and His followers, asserting that one cannot be a Christian without it. Remember, without the Church, even original sin cannot be cleansed. If you realize you don’t need priests, rituals, or rules to connect with the divine, the entire system collapses. Thus, the Church didn’t actively suppress the Gospel of Thomas as it did with some other writings. Instead, it allowed it to fade into obscurity until its rediscovery in the 20th century.