Jesus Icon
This computer-enhanced detail is from the oldest known icon of Jesus at the monastery church of Saint Catharine at Mount Sinai. It is usually dated from the sixth century A.D. All later icons of Jesus are clearly based on it, as befits the tradition of iconography.
However, there is a major difference, for all the later ones have the crucifix boldly superimposed on the halo. This may be an indication that this earliest one came from the Syrian Church, in which Jesus was regarded as the Life-Giver, rather than the Saviour.
While this image is copyright, you are given permission to print it out on your computer for your own spiritual use (click on the image below). You might like to experiment with enlarging the image to show only the portrait, without the halo.
Hugh Ross
"Jesus the Life-Giver"
More about the Gospel of Thomas
- Found in Egypt
Only one ancient copy of the complete Gospel of Thomas exist, discovered
in 1945 by Egyptian peasants
- Finding the Inner Meanings
Experience shows that everyone at first finds the Gospel of Thomas difficult; no exceptions to this rule have been found. The primary reason is that Jesus is striving to take his listeners to a high level of spiritual awareness.
- The Teachings
To assimilate these Teachings requires a good deal of work—chiefly thought and contemplation, and allowing time for them to grow inwardly and mature.
- The Language of the Gospel
Working with this original text it becomes more and more apparent that these are the words of a Master. Such texts are rare. In consequence every word has to be carefully studied, and due weight given to it.
- Structure of the Sayings
One of the pioneering achievements of scholars was to identify that the sayings in the Gospel of Thomas are made up from short phrases. By following their example it can be seen that the Gospel is a record of speech, for this is a characteristic of Semitic speech that Jesus would have used.
- The Role of Thomas
How the disciple with the birth-name Judas came to be given, twice over, the spiritual name of Twin
- Signature of Thomas
It is very clear that Jesus taught his chosen disciple Thomas something that he and his colleagues considered to be blasphemous and punishable by ritual stoning
- The Thomas People
'India, and all the countries belonging to it and round it, even to the
farthest sea, received the apostles' ordination to the priesthood from
Judas Thomas'
- Presentation of Thomas
The Gospel of Thomas is definitely not a literary or narrative work. It is quite unlike the Gospels in the Bible
