[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "Actually a large number of these texts co-date or pre-date the accepted writing period of the four gospels, which are believed to be put together at the end of the first century. The Gospel According to Thomas is a good example, it fits well into the synoptic gospels."

Bull. I will take Saint Jerome's word over the above any day. Eusedius also pans it. The Gospel according to Thomas is so far from the Gospels of Matthew Mark and Luke that no reasonable person could possibly see it as synoptic. In addition there is no reference to it in any work earlier than the middle of the second century. Both valid reasons for leaving it out.

[djf]

I agree it is marginal and appears to have not been known till recently.

And it does not seem to be ANOTHER synoptic gospel, being almost entirely sayings of Jesus, almost all pararaphs and verses starting "Jesus said..."

But by the same token one could say the Dead Sea scrolls were fraudulent because early historians didn't mention them.

I just try to keep an open mind on the subject, my personal favorite being Murdocks translation of the Syriac Peshito, 1851.

(In 1982 I found and original hardcover in a barn back east. Had it rebound last year).