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T H E R E T R O B O R O
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RETRO EVOLUTION
A Gospel for Thomas
"The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth: Being Extracted from the
Account of His Life & Doctrines Given by Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
Being an Abridgment of the New Testament for the Use of the Indians
Unembarrassed [Uncomplicated] with Matters of Fact or Faith Beyond
the Level of Their Comprehensions" was the official title of Thomas
Jefferson's 'Gospel', a work of his while serving as the third
President of the United States. He finished this 'Gospel' in 1804
and conferred with friends on the expediency of having it published
in the disparate Indian dialects as a 'Collection for the Indians'.
Rather than a complete gospel, it is his attempt to rationalise the
canonical Gospels with much of their content literally cut & pasted
into an order that he thought best. The most interesting aspect of
his 'Gospel' is that it contradicts his description of himself as a
materialist in contradistinction to Jahshua's spiritualism. While
excluding allusions to His divinity & resurrection, it nonetheless
includes many of the canonical Gospels' references to supernatural
things, such as angels, devils, heaven, hell, and an eternal
afterlife after a final judgment by the Father in heaven.
Jefferson believed that accounts of Jahshua's background & miracles
might distract from His philosophical & moral teachings. Therefore,
he took it upon himself to "uncomplicate" them by collating what
seemed to be authentic sayings. In this way his 'Gospel' ironically
resembles The Gospel of Thomas--attributed to the very Apostle best
known for doubting the Resurrection of the Messiah. What follows is
a translation of that Thomas' Gospel (based on that of Messrs Brill
of Leiden). Given that he also is known as the Apostle to India, it
so uses Indian English as to duly be a Collection for the Indians.
gopher________________Gospel of Thomas:
v forward |{Greek manuscript variations from the Coptic}
--> down | <translations implied in originals>
up <-- | [missing words guessed at]
back ^ | (remarks & numbering)
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