The Beloved Disciple in Conflict Revisiting the Gospels of John and Thomas [Hardcover]

Was the Gospel of John written in critical response to theGospel of Thomas, an early collection of Jesus's sayings? Or was it directed to the Christians among whomThomasoriginated? Ismo Dunderberg challenges these views, arguing that the two gospels were written at about the same time but without knowledge of each other. He also offers a thorough discussion of the identity and functions of the enigmatic Beloved Disciple in the Gospel of John, throwing new light on this figure by comparing it to other `beloved' disciples of Jesus in early Christian literature.

1. Introduction
2. John and Thomas in conflict - about what?
3. The figure of Thomas in the Gospel of John
4. Jesus's I-sayings in Thomas and their relationship to Johannine traditions
5. The Beloved Disciple in the Gospel of John
6. The Beloved Disciple and Thomas
7. The Beloved Disciple in context
8. Conclusion

Ismo Dunderberg is Professor of New Testament, University of Helsinki.