Metalogos The Gospels of Thomas & Philip & Truth

importance for the study of early Christianity than
the former one.... The ‘Gospel of Truth’ is
considered by the editors as being either the
original work of Valentinus, or its revision by one of
his earliest disciples. This would date it at about
A.D.150.... One is amazed about the freshness of
the author's approach. There is no trace of
polemics against certain types of established
doctrine; and the exegesis, for example, of the
Prologue of John at the beginning of the work, is
of surprising originality. The frequent references to
New Testament passages and to ‘Jesus the
Christ’ indicate the author's conviction and
determination to be a real Christian. In a number
of instances, for example in his view of man, the
author is obviously indebted to Hebraic realism....
Far from being a philosophical treatise, the Gospel
of Truth is a poem. The elegance of its style, the
loftiness of its outlook, the tenderness with which
the ‘secret’ is described, the unfailing dexterity with
which the right term is chosen in each instance ...
point to an author of uncommon talent and
profound spirituality and in every respect superior
to the [Church] Fathers of the second century....
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