“Hidden” Gospel Reveals Mysterious Message from Jesus

For centuries, the Bible has served as the central sacred text of Christianity.

But some ancient writings left out of the official canon continue to raise eyebrows and intrigue scholars.

One of the most famous being the Gospel of Thomas.

Although not included in the New Testament, this ancient text claims to preserve 114 “secret sayings” of Jesus, recorded by a man named Didymos Judas Thomas.

According to an article in Newsner, it presents a version of Jesus’ teachings that’s strikingly different from what’s found in the four canonical gospels, focusing not on miracles or crucifixion, but on inner truth and spiritual awareness.

“Recognize What Is in Your Sight”

Unlike the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Gospel of Thomas doesn’t follow a narrative structure.

Instead, it reads more like a collection of mystical proverbs, meant to be meditated on.

One passage reads:

Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you. For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest.

Another saying likens the seeker of truth to a wise fisherman:

The wise fisherman found a fine large fish. He threw all the small fish back into the sea and chose the large fish without difficulty.

And in a redefinition of spiritual geography, Jesus is quoted as saying:

If those who lead you say to you, ‘See, the kingdom is in the sky,’ then the birds of the sky will precede you… Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you.

Why It Wasn’t Included in the Bible

The Gospel of Thomas wasn’t “banned” per se, but it was consciously left out when early church leaders were deciding which texts belonged in the official Bible.

Scholars and church historians point to three main reasons for its exclusion.

First, the question of apostolic eyewitness.

Although the text is attributed to the Apostle Thomas, most scholars agree it was likely written in the second century, well after the deaths of all known apostles. The early church placed a high value on first-hand testimony, considering it essential for inclusion in the canon.

Second, the theological content of the Gospel of Thomas diverged from the developing doctrines of early Christianity.

It leans heavily into Gnostic themes, emphasizing spiritual enlightenment and secret knowledge over core Christian teachings such as sin, redemption, and the resurrection. This theological disconnect made it difficult for church leaders to view the text as compatible with the rest of scripture.

Finally, by the time the New Testament canon was being solidified, the church had already embraced four gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

These texts were seen as a complete and cohesive account of Jesus’s life and message.

Introducing a fifth gospel, especially one so different in tone and content, was seen as unnecessary and potentially disruptive to the theological unity the church was striving to establish.

Ancient or Authentic?

While scholars such as Bart Ehrman believe the Gospel of Thomas was likely written in the early second century, some sayings may have been passed down from earlier oral traditions — possibly even from Jesus himself.

Still, the text’s authenticity and origin remain hotly debated.

Christian apologist site Crosse Examined emphasizes that the Gospel doesn’t recount Jesus’ life or death, and instead prioritizes personal discovery and spiritual introspection, rather than repentance and divine sacrifice.

Some critics dismiss the Gospel of Thomas as heretical or misleading, while others appreciate it as a fascinating window into early Christian diversity.