The mystic Gospel of Thomas, an ancient text featuring 114 sayings purportedly from Jesus, paints the spiritual icon not as a miracle-worker but akin to a New Age sage, poised in sharp contrast to established church doctrines.

This controversial gospel, far from endorsing institutionalised worship, suggests personal enlightenment is paramount, bypassing churches and their rites.

Unearthed in Egypt in 1945 and recently resurfacing on cyberspace courtesy of influencer Nick Di Fabio, the Gospel of Thomas has captivated some academics who deem it possibly the most ancient record of Jesus' aphorisms, as stated by the MailOnline.

A recurrent theme within its passages—"The kingdom is within you"—defies conventional dogma, repudiating structured religious institutions, their edifices, and ecclesiastical hierarchy that embody the modern-day Catholic Church.

But what revelations does the Gospel of Thomas hold?

According to the Mirror this enigmatic gospel opens with a captivating declaration: "These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down."

Such a statement has led a swath of adherents to speculate that its authorship might trace back to Apostle Thomas himself, notorious for his incredulity post-resurrection.

The Gospel of Thomas was left out of the official Bible because it promoted the idea that salvation is achieved through personal enlightenment, known as "Gnosticism", clashing with early Church teachings that emphasised faith and obedience. Doubts about its authorship and dating also contributed to its exclusion.

Di Fabio highlighted sayings from the text that have "shocked theologians for centuries", including:.

"Split a piece of wood, and I am there".

"Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death."

He interpreted these phrases as indications that Jesus is omnipresent and that the ultimate aim is enlightenment rather than blind faith.

The Gospel of Thomas was unearthed in a clay jar near Nag Hammadi, which Di Fabio believes was an attempt to conceal its revolutionary messages from authorities intent on suppressing spiritual autonomy.

In contrast to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which narrate the full story of Jesus' life, crucifixion, and resurrection, the Gospel of Thomas consists solely of sayings. It lacks accounts of miracles or parables, offering instead a compilation of cryptic and poetic teachings.

The Gospel of Thomas, a text shrouded in mystery and debate, has scholars divided over its origins. Some argue it could be one of the earliest records of Jesus' words, dating back to the mid-1st century, while others suggest a 2nd-century origin, aligning it with traditional New Testament scriptures penned between 50 and 100AD.

What's so contentious about the Gospel of Thomas?

It's Saying 3 that stirs up the most controversy:.

"If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you."

This passage, with its mystical undertones, has ignited fierce debates for years. It challenges conventional ecclesiastical doctrine by suggesting that the Kingdom of God is not an external realm but an inner spiritual truth within each individual.

The opening declaration of the Gospel of Thomas is equally provocative:.

"And he said, 'Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death.'".

Interpreted by some academics as a pledge of immortality through esoteric wisdom rather than faith or virtuous action, this claim underscores the gospel's radical departure from orthodox beliefs.

Discovered alongside 13 other ancient texts, the Gospel of Thomas is now recognised as part of one of the most momentous archaeological finds of the 20th century.

The texts were discovered by Muhammad al-Samman, an Egyptian farmer, in a sealed jar containing leather-bound papyrus books written in ancient Greek.

Alongside the Gospel of Thomas, other works such as the Gospel of Philip, the Gospel of Truth, the Apocryphon of John, and the Apocalypse of Paul were found - all of which were excluded from the Bible and continue to stir controversy.