Ancient text excluded from the Bible reveals secret ‘Jesus’ teachings that would change his message
The Gospel of Thomas, a controversial religious text containing 114 secret sayings attributed to Jesus, was excluded from the Bible for several key reasons. Unlike canonical Gospels, it lacks narrative structure and was likely written in the 2nd century – long after Jesus’ apostles had died, making its claimed authorship by Apostle Thomas doubtful. Early church leaders also rejected its Gnostic emphasis on personal spiritual knowledge over Jesus’ resurrection, and its teachings significantly diverged from established biblical texts.
The text presents unconventional ideas, suggesting salvation comes through self-knowledge rather than Jesus’ sacrifice, and locates God’s kingdom within individuals rather than external realms. While some view its teachings as contradictory to mainstream Christianity, others see them as complementary perspectives on faith. Though not officially “banned,” its exclusion reflects early Christianity’s efforts to maintain doctrinal consistency amid competing theological views.
