Seek to See Him: Ascent and Vision Mysticism in the Gospel of Thomas - Paperback

by April D. Deconick (Author)

In Seek to See Him April DeConick argues that the Gospel of Thomas, contrary to the way Thomas is normally understood, does not originate from gnostic traditions. Instead, she proposes that Thomas is best explained by Hermetic and Second Temple Jewish mystical traditions. DeConick substantiates her proposal by first examining the developmental stages of the Gospel of Thomas, questioning the classification of Thomas as gnostic on the basis of Thomas' dualism and his speculation about original sin. DeConick carefully delineates the difference between Thomas' and gnostic views of the world and of salvation before going on to demonstrate the crucial role of purification, heavenly ascent, and visio dei--final transformation through an experience of seeing God--in this Gospel. In the end, DeConick shows that Thomas is best explained as arising from the fusion of Jewish Mysticism and Hermetic praxis and not as being shaped by gnostic traditions.

Author Biography

April D. DeConick is Chair of the Department of Religion and Isla Carroll and Percy E. Turner Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Rice University (Houston, Texas). She specializes in early Christian history and theology, noncanonical Gospels, and gnostic and mystical traditions, and she was an editor of Baylor University Press' Israel's God and Rebecca's Children: Christology and Community in Early Judaism and Christianity.