{"product_id":"seek-to-see-him-ascent-and-vision-mysticism-in-the-gospel-of-thomas-9781481307925","title":"Seek to See Him: Ascent and Vision Mysticism in the Gospel of Thomas","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eSeek to See Him\u003c\/i\u003e April DeConick argues that the \u003ci\u003eGospel of Thomas\u003c\/i\u003e, contrary to the way \u003ci\u003eThomas\u003c\/i\u003e is normally understood, does not originate from gnostic traditions. Instead, she proposes that \u003ci\u003eThomas\u003c\/i\u003e is best explained by Hermetic and Second Temple Jewish mystical traditions. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDeConick substantiates her proposal by first examining the developmental stages of the \u003ci\u003eGospel of Thomas\u003c\/i\u003e, questioning the classification of \u003ci\u003eThomas\u003c\/i\u003e as gnostic on the basis of \u003ci\u003eThomas\u003c\/i\u003e' dualism and his speculation about original sin. DeConick carefully delineates the difference between \u003ci\u003eThomas\u003c\/i\u003e' and gnostic views of the world and of salvation before going on to demonstrate the crucial role of purification, heavenly ascent, and \u003ci\u003evisio dei\u003c\/i\u003e--final transformation through an experience of seeing God--in this Gospel. In the end, DeConick shows that Thomas is best explained as arising from the fusion of Jewish Mysticism and Hermetic praxis and not as being shaped by gnostic traditions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eApril D. DeConick is Chair of the Department of Religion and Isla Carroll and Percy E. Turner Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Rice University (Houston, Texas). She specializes in early Christian history and theology, noncanonical Gospels, and gnostic and mystical traditions, and she was an editor of Baylor University Press' \u003ci\u003eIsrael's God and Rebecca's Children: Christology and Community in Early Judaism and Christianity\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Baylor University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50338260418834,"sku":"9781481307925","price":38.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_1a4ca6cf-6ce1-47e9-921a-9729fc80dfad.jpg?v=1727980023","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/seek-to-see-him-ascent-and-vision-mysticism-in-the-gospel-of-thomas-9781481307925","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}