Seek to See Him: Ascent and Vision Mysticism in the Gospel of Thomas (Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, Vol 33)

Rating:
Summary: Seek to See Him.
Review: Table of Contents

Preface
IThe Problem: Is Thomas Gnostic?3
IIThe Solution: Thomas is Mystical28
IIIThe Triad of Questions in Logion 50 and Mystical Ascent43
IVThe Triad of Answers in Logion 50 and Tradition History64
VThe Vision of God or his Kavod99
VIPreparations for the Visio Dei in Logia 27 and 37126
VIIVision of the Images in Logion 84148
VIIIThe Background and Theology of Thomas in Summary175
Bibliography183
Author Index200
Logion Index204
Name and Subject Index205

Rating:
Summary: The most significant recent study of the Gospel of Thomas
Review: This study, by a student and collaborator of Jarl Fossum, is the most significant contribution to the study of the Gospel of Thomas in the last decade because it locates its distinctive vocabulary and themes in an identifiable historical and communal context: the practice of heavenly ascent in the early Jewish Christian ascetic communities of Syria (in this instance, encratite communities). Building on the work of Gilles Quispel and others, the author identitfies the Thomas sayings material which refer to the preparation for, the ascent journey as a passage through angelic gates, and the vision of the Divine Glory or Anthropos. The parallels in vocabulary, ritual structure, and forms of visionary experience to Hermetic and Hekhaloth literature are carefully described. The distinctive theme of ascent to the Divine Glory as a salvific event is explored. This study is a valuable contribution to recent studies of the practice of heavenly ascent in early Christianity, e.g., J. Knight on the Ascension of Isaiah pseudegraph, and J. Baumgarten's study of the Book of Elkasai, to earlier studies of ascent and visonary experiences among Gnostic groups, e.g., Nag Hammadi Apocalypses of James, and recent work on the heavenly ascent in Hekhaloth literature, e.g., N. Deutsch and C. Morray-Jones.