Article
The Lost Gospels: Thomas, Peter, Judas, and Mary
Irenaeus argues for four Gospels. He names a Gospel of Judas. Hippolytus and Eusebius name Thomas. Serapion stopped the Gospel of Peter. Saying 114 of Thomas speaks of making Mary male.
On This Page
The four Gospels are the ones the early church received. Irenaeus says the Gospels cannot be more or fewer than four. (1) He names a Gospel of Judas used by heretics. (2) Hippolytus names a Gospel inscribed according to Thomas. (3) Eusebius classes the Gospels of Peter, Thomas, and Matthias with heretical books. (4) The Mary in this title is the Mary of Thomas saying 114. A separate book called the Gospel of Mary was not among the texts checked for this page.
Key Points
- Irenaeus, about 180, writes that it is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in number than they are. (1)
- The same writer says the heretics “produce a fictitious history of this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas.” (2)
- Hippolytus quotes a saying “occurring in the Gospel inscribed according to Thomas,” among the Naassenes. (3)
- Eusebius lists the Gospels of Peter, Thomas, and Matthias among books put forward by heretics. (4)
- Serapion of Antioch, about 200, found the Gospel of Peter mostly in line with the Savior’s teaching and then found additions he traced to the Docetae, and he stopped its use. (5)
- Thomas survives complete in Coptic Nag Hammadi Codex II, a 4th-century book found in 1945, and in Greek fragments P.Oxy. 1, 654, and 655, about AD 130–250, covering about twenty of 114 sayings. (6)
The Gospel of Thomas
The Coptic copy is Nag Hammadi Codex II. The Greek pieces are three Oxyrhynchus papyri. The page that reports them dates those fragments about AD 130–250 and says they cover about twenty of the 114 sayings. (6) That page is a secondary report. The book is a collection of sayings. It does not narrate the passion.
Hippolytus is an early named witness. He cites the Gospel inscribed according to Thomas as a book the Naassenes used. (3) Eusebius later places that Gospel with books no church writer treated as Scripture. (4)
Saying 114, in Thomas O. Lambdin’s translation, has Jesus say he will make Mary “male.” (7) The translation is copyrighted, so that is the phrase this page prints. The saying is the Mary of the title.
The Gospel of Peter
Eusebius reports Serapion’s letter. Serapion had allowed the Gospel of Peter to be read, then examined it, found most of it in accordance with the right word of the Savior, and found some things added which he traced to the Docetae. He wrote to stop its use. (5) The book was known by about 200. Eusebius also lists it among the heretical gospels. (4)
The Gospel of Judas
Irenaeus does not describe a 20th-century find. He says the group “produce a fictitious history of this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas.” (2) That sentence is about 180. He does not treat the book as a fifth Gospel beside the four.
Four Gospels
Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.11.8:
It is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in number than they are.
(1) The four tell a public crucifixion, a burial, and a resurrection. Matthew 28:6Matthew 28:6 · King James VersionHe is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew 28:6 · King James VersionOpen source (9) says he is not in the tomb, for he is risen. John 20:28John 20:28 · King James VersionAnd Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
John 20:28 · King James VersionOpen source (8) is Thomas’s confession, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus is God. The sayings books named above do not replace that narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were These Books as Early as the Four Gospels and Then Hidden?
Thomas, Peter, and Judas are named by writers of about 180–250. (2) (3) (5) Those writers name them in order to refuse them. Eusebius’s class is heretical books, not a secret list of equals. (4)
What Does Saying 114 Say About Mary?
Lambdin’s translation has Jesus say he will make Mary “male” so that she may enter the kingdom. (7) This page did not check a separate Gospel of Mary, and it does not describe one.
Where Does This Site Put 1 Enoch?
1 Enoch is not a gospel. It is on Non-Canonical, in Charles’s 1917 translation, with the reason it is not in the Bible. The canon lists are on How Was the Bible Canon Decided?.
References
- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.11.8
- Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 1.31.1
- Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies, 5.7
- Eusebius, Church History, 3.25Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New Advent
Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.
Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New AdventOpen source - Eusebius, Church History, 6.12 (Serapion on the Gospel of Peter is in this chapter.)
- Gospel of Thomas, Greek fragments, P.Oxy. 1, 654, 655 (A secondary page. It reports Nag Hammadi Codex II and the Oxyrhynchus fragments.)
- Gospel of Thomas, Saying 114 (Thomas O. Lambdin’s translation is copyrighted. This page uses a short phrase only.)
- Gospel of John, 20:28John 20:28 · King James Version
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
John 20:28 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version - Gospel of Matthew, 28:6Matthew 28:6 · King James Version
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew 28:6 · King James VersionOpen source. King James Version
See Also
- When Were the Gospels Written? — Irenaeus places Matthew in the lifetime of Peter and Paul at Rome, Mark after their departure, Luke with Paul, and John later at Ephesus. He gives no year. A copy of John was already in the second century.
- Who Started the Catholic Church? — The Catechism says Jesus inaugurated the Church and made Peter its rock. Westminster says Christ is the only head and the pope cannot be head. The fetched texts do not say Constantine founded it.
- Who Was the First Pope? — The Catechism says Jesus made Peter the rock and that the pope succeeds him. An Orthodox clergy answer says first among equals is not supremacy of jurisdiction. Westminster says Christ is the only head. This page does not decide.
- Who Wrote Matthew, Mark, and Luke? — Papias and Irenaeus name Mark as Peter’s interpreter, Matthew as the writer of a Gospel in Hebrew, and Luke as Paul’s companion. The books themselves do not open with those names.
- 3 Enoch (Hebrew Enoch) — 3 Enoch is a later Hebrew mystical book. Rabbi Ishmael ascends to the Merkabah, and Metatron says he is Enoch. It is not the Jewish Bible or the New Testament. This site prints no full text.