Thomas and John

In a recent work, noted scholar of gnosticism Elaine Pagels suggested that the Gospels of Thomas and John were written in the same environment by two competing schools/churches/leaders. Hoping not to massively oversimplify this excellent work, Pagels says that Thomas levels a critique on John's demand for faith and belief by calling for the reader to engage the message critically and to think rather than simply believe.

There is much that we can discuss (and we may take this discussion into next week), but what Pagels does not do a lot of is pointing out the resonance between these two gospels.

Here is an excellent passage that rally higlights both the similarities and the differences between Thomas and John:

Jesus said, "Two will rest on a bed: the one will die, and the other will live."

Salome said, "Who are you, man, that you ... have come up on my couch and eaten from my table?"

Jesus said to her, "I am he who exists from the undivided. I was given some of the things of my father."

<...> "I am your disciple."

<...> "Therefore I say, if he is destroyed, he will be filled with light, but if he is divided, he will be filled with darkness." Logion 61

What do you think?