Page "Gospel of Thomas" Paragraph 26

Another argument for an early date is what some scholars have suggested is an interplay between the Gospel of John and the logia of Thomas.

Parallels between the two have been taken to suggest that Thomas ' logia preceded John's work, and that the latter was making a point-by-point riposte to Thomas, either in real or mock conflict.

This seeming dialectic has been pointed out by several New Testament scholars, notably Gregory J. Riley, April DeConick, and Elaine Pagels.

Though differing in approach, they argue that several verses in the Gospel of John are best understood as responses to a Thomasine community and its beliefs.

Pagels, for example, says that John's gospel makes two references to the inability of the world to recognize the divine light.

In contrast, several of Thomas ' sayings refer to the light born ' within '.

("... Light that lights every man born into the world ") acknowledges Thomas ' idea of the Light within.

John also follows Thomas by personifying the Light as Jesus.

(" I am the way, the truth, and the life ...) and chapter 17, which emphasizes salvation via the logos of Christ, expands on Thomas ' logion 1.

Intertextuality and acknowledgment of Thomas ' priority seems to be in play.