The Acts of Thomas. Introduction, Text, Commentary by Dr. A. F. J. Klijn. Supplements to Novum Testamentum; Volume V.

Gutes Exemplar; Vors�e etwas nachgedunkelt. - Englisch; stw. syrisch. - Der Apostel Thomas (� der �erlieferung nach in Mailapur, einem Bezirk der indischen Stadt Madras, dem heutigen Chennai, um 72) ist einer der zw�lf Apostel bzw. J�nger, die Jesus drei Jahre lang als Freunde und Sch�ler begleiteten (vgl. Joh 15,15 EU). Der Name Thomas leitet sich ab aus dem aram�chen ta'am, was "gepaart" oder "Zwilling" bedeutet. Deshalb wird Thomas in der Bibel auch Didymos (altgriechisch didymos) genannt. In der syrischen Tradition erscheint er als Judas Thomas, da Thomas dort als Beiname verstanden wird. In der katholischen, der orthodoxen und der anglikanischen Kirche wird der Apostel Thomas als Heiliger und M�yrer verehrt; auch die evangelischen Kirchen erinnern an ihn. � (wiki) // During the last hundred years the Acts of Thomas enjoyed a particular interest. It is, however, more than a century ago since a commentary on these Acts appeared. In that commentary, written by J. C. Thilo in 1823, special attention was paid to the relation of these Acts to Manichaeism. Important discoveries of Manichaean documents and of manuscripts containing a much more complete text both in Greek and Syriac make it necessary to publish a new commentary on this important document of the ancient church. In this commentary the text has been investigated not only with regard to its relation to Manichaeism, but also, and especially, with a view to its relation to the ancient Syrian church in general. By approaching the text from this angle it has been possible to liberate the Acts of Thomas from the isolated position in which it was put long ago by orthodox ecclesiastical authors and in which it remained even up to the present time. The commentary has been based on the Syriac text of these Acts. Inquiries into the text made clear that the Acts of Thomas were written in Syriac. The complete Syriac text, however, is only available in one manuscript. The translation of this text, published in 1871 by W. Wright, has been followed. In most cases deviations from the other Syriac manuscripts have been given is the commentary. The Greek text has been rendered according to the edition of Lipsius-Bonnet, sometimes in the translation of M. R. James. Usually deviations from the Syriac text have been given in the commentary. We have not attempted to publish an original text. With regard to these Acts, and generally speaking with all apocryphal writings, each copyist must be considered to be a rewriter, adding to the text, omitting from the text and altering the text according to his own taste and theological outlook. Therefore, it is much more important to look at the differences and development of the text than at the agreement of manuscripts. � (Vorwort) // INHALT : Preface. --- Abbreviations. --- INTRODUCTION --- I. Tradition of the Text. --- The Syriac Version. --- The Greek Version. --- The Latin Version. --- The Arabic Version. --- The Armenian Version. --- The Coptic Version. --- The Ethiopic Version. --- The Development of the Texts in the Versions --- The Relation between Syriac and Greek Version. --- Quotations from the New Testament. --- II. Comparison with other Apocryphal Acts. --- General Remarks. --- The Apocryphal Acts in ancient Christian Literature --- The mutual Dependency of the Apocryphal Acts. --- III. Thomas and India. --- IV. The Beginnings of Christianity in Edessa. --- V. The Doctrine of the Acts of Thomas. --- VI. The Acts of Thomas and Syriac Christianity. VII. Baptism and Eucharist. --- THE ACTS OF JUDAS THOMAS THE APOSTLE Based on the Translation of W. Wright --- The Acts of Judas Thomas the Apostle. --- Commentary.