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Library›Infancy Gospel of Thomas

Infancy Gospel of Thomas

Also called Childhood Deeds of Jesus, Paidika

Jesus makes clay sparrows fly, confronts teachers and helps Joseph in a childhood narrative that also includes disturbing acts of punishment.11 sources11 sources1. (tr.)2. (tr.)3. (tr.)4. (tr.)5. (tr.)6. (tr.)7. (tr.)8. (tr.)9. (tr.)10. (tr.)11. (tr.)

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At a glance

Written
Late second or early third century AD (Christopher Frilingos).12 13
Language
Originally Greek (Frilingos).12 13
Author
Unattributed in the earliest form reconstructed by Tony Burke; Thomas's name is a later addition in Frilingos's account.14 12
Setting
Jesus' childhood, from five to twelve.14 12
Forms
Greek A, Greek B and a Latin form survive; Greek A has nineteen chapters.13

Summary

The child Jesus heals and punishes in these stories: he curses children and blinds complaining villagers, as well as bringing clay birds alive and helping Joseph. Teachers find themselves unable to instruct him. The ending retells Luke's account of Jesus among the Temple teachers at twelve. Academic writer Christopher Frilingos suggests reading the book as a story about family struggles. Greek A differs from the other surviving forms.15 sources15 sources1. (tr.)2. (tr.)3. (tr.)4. (tr.)5. (tr.)6. (tr.)7. (tr.)8. (tr.)9. (tr.)10. (tr.)11. (tr.)15. (tr.)16. Luke 2:41–5212. Frilingos13. notice)

Contents

  1. Sparrows, children and angry neighbors

    Greek A, chapters 2–5

    Five-year-old Jesus gives life to clay sparrows on the sabbath. He also makes one child wither, curses another who dies, and blinds villagers who complain to Joseph.4 sources4 sources1. (tr.)9. (tr.)10. (tr.)11. (tr.)

  2. Zacchaeus cannot teach his pupil

    Greek A, chapters 6–8

    Zacchaeus tries to teach Jesus his letters, but Jesus silences him over the meaning of Alpha. Those under Jesus’ curse are then made whole.6 sources6 sources2. (tr.)3. (tr.)4. (tr.)9. (tr.)10. (tr.)11. (tr.)

  3. Help at home and more teachers

    Greek A, chapters 9–18

    Jesus raises Zeno after a fall, carries water in his cloak, lengthens Joseph's beam and heals James's snakebite. Two more teachers meet him; one falls after a curse, while the other praises him.7 sources7 sources5. (tr.)6. (tr.)7. (tr.)8. (tr.)2. (tr.)3. (tr.)4. (tr.)

  4. At twelve in the Temple

    Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) 19:1–5

    Jesus is found among the teachers. The ending returns to Luke's account of his wisdom and growth.15 16

Stories

  • The clay sparrows fly

    Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) 2:2–4

    Joseph rebukes Jesus for making sparrows on the sabbath. Jesus claps, and the twelve clay birds take flight.1

  • Zeno returns to life

    Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) 9:3

    Jesus raises the child Zeno, who has fallen from a roof.4 sources4 sources5. (tr.)6. (tr.)7. (tr.)8. (tr.)

  • A snakebite is healed

    Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) 16:1–2

    Jesus heals his brother James after a viper bites him; the passage identifies James as Joseph's son.4 sources4 sources5. (tr.)6. (tr.)7. (tr.)8. (tr.)

Connections to the Bible

Retellings

Shared figures

Contrasts

  • John 2:11 · Childhood miracles

    John Chrysostom, an early Greek Christian writer, argues from John 2:11 against stories of childhood miracles. He does not name this book.17 18 19

Where each church stands

BookProt.Cath.GreekSlav.Eth.
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A)Full table →Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Protestant: Not includedArticle VI receives the NT books 'as they are commonly received'.22 23Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Catholic: Not included24Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Greek Orthodox: Not includedThe OSB contents list only the 27 NT books.Confidence: medium25Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Not includedNo Russian NT source was read beyond the azbyka contents, which list the 27 books.Confidence: medium26Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text A) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedNot in either of Cowley's NT lists (27 books, or 35 with the church-order books).27
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B)Full table →Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Protestant: Not includedArticle VI receives the NT books 'as they are commonly received'.22 23Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Catholic: Not included24Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Greek Orthodox: Not includedThe OSB contents list only the 27 NT books.Confidence: medium25Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Not includedNo Russian NT source was read beyond the azbyka contents, which list the 27 books.Confidence: medium26Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Greek text B) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedNot in either of Cowley's NT lists (27 books, or 35 with the church-order books).27
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text)Full table →Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Protestant: Not includedArticle VI receives the NT books 'as they are commonly received'.22 23Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Catholic: Not included24Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Greek Orthodox: Not includedThe OSB contents list only the 27 NT books.Confidence: medium25Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Russian (Slavonic) Orthodox: Not includedNo Russian NT source was read beyond the azbyka contents, which list the 27 books.Confidence: medium26Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Latin text) · Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo: Not includedNot in either of Cowley's NT lists (27 books, or 35 with the church-order books).27

Why was it copied but kept outside Scripture?

Irenaeus, an early Greek Christian writer, attacks a related alphabet story around AD 180 without naming this book. Later, John Chrysostom rejects childhood miracle stories by appealing to John. Athanasius's separate categories for Scripture, other recommended reading and rejected writings show why circulation and canonical authority are different questions. Burke notes that this book continued to be copied heavily.7 sources7 sources2. (tr.)28. Irenaeus17. John 2:1118. Chrysostom19. Chrysostom29. Payne-Smith) 189230. Burke

Why readers valued it

Academic (critical)

Frilingos proposes valuing the book as a family gospel that explores the difficulties of family life.12

Objections to its authority

Early church: Greek

Chrysostom argues that childhood miracles would conflict with John's presentation of Jesus' first sign and public manifestation. His criticism is of such stories, not a named verdict on this book.17 18 19

Academic (critical)

Tony Burke points to Jesus withering and killing children as an explanation for the book's exclusion.30

Misconceptions

  • Myth This is the Gospel of Thomas sayings collection.

    Actually: Frilingos distinguishes this childhood narrative from the Coptic Gospel of Thomas; the title Childhood Deeds helps avoid the confusion.12 31

Further reading

Sources

31 sources from 19 works

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