CHRISTIAN STUDIES / GNOSTICISM"Among all the astonishing documents unearthed in 1945 near the desert village of Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas has made the greatest impact on our understanding of Christianity. . . . The words in this text have the power to touch an unknown part of ourselves that brings with it an undeniable recognition of truth and hope."Jacob Needleman, author of "Lost Christianity and The American Soul""In this remarkable book, scholar-mystic Jean-Yves Leloup invites us to meditate on the 'eternal jewel, ' the revelation of Jesus, and on the reign of God spread all around us, within and without. May these logia of Jesus translated from the Gospel of Thomas fall on good soil and yield a bountiful harvest of peace, justice, and enlightenment."Margaret Starbird, author of "The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail"One of the cache of codices and manuscripts discovered in Nag Hammadi, the Gospel of Thomas, unlike the canonical gospels, does not contain a narrative recording Christ's life and prophecies. Instead, it is a collection of his teachings in 114 logia, or sayings, that were gathered by Judas Didymus Thomas, whom some claim was Jesus' closest disciple. No sooner was this gospel uncovered from the sands of Upper Egypt than scholars and theologians began to bury it anew in a host of conflicting interpretations and polemics. While some say it is a hodgepodge from the canonical gospels, for others it is the source text from which all the gospel writers drew their material and inspiration.In this new translation of the Gospel of Thomas, Jean-Yves Leloup shows that the Jesus recorded by the "infinitely skeptical and infinitely believing"Thomas has much in common with gnostics of nondualistic schools. Like them, Jesus preaches the coming of a new man, the genesis of the man of knowledge. In this gospel, Jesus describes a journey from limited to unlimited consciousness. The Jesus of Thomas invites us to drink deeply from the well of knowledge that lies within, not so that we may become good Christians, but so that we may attain the self-knowledge that will make each of us, too, a Christ.JEAN-YVES LELOUP is the founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists. His other books include the bestselling "The Gospel of Mary Magdalene" and "The Gospel of Philip." He lives in France.

CHRISTIAN STUDIES / MYSTICISM "In this rich and lucid translation, Jean-Yves Leloup unlocks mysteries of the enigmatic bridal chamber found in the Gospel of Philip and sheds new light on their associations with Jewish esoteric tradition." --Margaret Starbird, author of The Woman with the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail "For scholars and seekers alike, every page of this book opens profound new dimensions in the teachings of Jesus." --Jacob Needleman, author of Lost Christianity and The American Soul The mainstream position of the Christian church on sexuality was perhaps best summed up by Pope Innocent III (1160-1216) when he stated that "the sexual act is so shameful that it is intrinsically evil." Another Christian theologian maintained that "the Holy Ghost is absent from the room shared by a wedded couple." The apostle Philip, however, records in his gospel that Christ said precisely the opposite: The nuptial chamber is in fact the holy of holies. For Philip the Holy Trinity includes the feminine presence--God is the Father, the Holy Ghost is the Mother, and Jesus is the Son--and neither man nor woman alone is created in the image of God. It is only in their relationship with one another--the sacred embrace in which they share the divine breath--that they resemble God. The Gospel of Philip is best known for its portrayal of the physical relationship shared by Jesus and his most beloved disciple, Mary Magdalene. Because it ran counter to Church dogma, however, which condemned "the works of the flesh," Philip's gospel was suppressed and eventually lost until rediscovered at Nag Hammadi in 1947. Orthodox theologian Jean-Yves Leloup's translation of the gospel from theCoptic and his analysis of this scripture are presented here for the first time in English. What emerges from this important source text is a restoration of the sacred initiatic union between the male and the female principles that was once at the heart of Christianity's sacred mystery. JEAN-YVES LELOUP, an Orthodox theologian and professor of theology, philosophy, and psychology, is the founder of the International College of Therapists. His other books include The Gospel of Mary Magdalene and a forthcoming translation and commentary on the Gospel of Thomas. He lives in France.

RELIGION / CHRISTIAN STUDIESThe familiar story of Judas, betrayer of Jesus, is striking because of its incomprehensibility. Why would one of Christ's disciples and companions of the heart deliver him up to his enemies and a barbarous, ignominious, and certain death for thirty pieces of silver? Jean-Yves Leloup's careful investigation of the gospels, various apocryphal texts, and most importantly the Coptic codex known as the Gospel of Judas leads him to conclude that there is more to the familiar story of Judas than a simple demonstration, viewed through one man, of humanity's inherent failings.In this reconstruction, based on these classic texts, Leloup offers an alternative explanation for Judas's actions, complete with illustrative dialogue. The betrayal of Jesus to the Romans was Jesus's idea, explains Leloup. Jesus persuaded Judas to play the role of "evil" in humankind by telling him that this enactment was crucial to God's plan and would set Judas by Jesus's side in eternity: "There where I am," spoke Jesus to Judas, "is where I wish you, too, to be."But to get there, Judas--a metaphorical representation of the darker side present in all human beings and the "shadow" counterpart to his Messiah dying on the cross--must first shed all his human qualities. His failings of greed, deceit, and cowardice--and even his faith and hope--are washed away in the despair that engulfs him. A parallel moment occurs for Jesus on the cross, when he comes to know the despair of separation from God. The moment Judas "loses" his life and all that gave it meaning--his God, his law, his justice, his Messiah--is the very moment he finds that which cannot be discarded--life eternal. Thus, in the momentof his ultimate extremity, Judas receives Jesus's true message and his intended gift.JEAN-YVES LELOUP is a theologian and founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists. His other books include The Sacred Embrace of Jesus and Mary, The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, The Gospel of Philip, and The Gospel of Thomas. He lives in France.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES / WOMEN'S STUDIES"The Gospel of Mary, taken with the inspired commentary by Jean-Yves Leloup, can help toward making the teaching of Jesus once again alive."Jacob Needleman, author of Lost Christianity and The American Soul"One welcomes this solid telling of the story and meaning of a neglected text at the root of Christian wisdom and of a neglected figure who had a special relationship with both the historical Jesus in his lifetime and with the Christ spirit after the death of Jesus."Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing"Readers will welcome this perceptive translation and the insightful commentary by scholar-mystic Jean-Yves Leloup. The journey of the soul and other profound and subtle teachings of Jesus and his beloved Miriam will enlighten modern seekers."Margaret Starbird, author of Woman with the Alabaster JarPerhaps no figure in biblical scholarship has been the subject of more controversy and debate than Mary Magdalene. As the first witness to the Resurrection, Mary was considered by the apostle John to be the founder of Christianity. In most theological studies she has been depicted as a reformed prostitute, the redeemed sinner who exemplifies Christ's mercy. Today's reader can ponder her role through references in the four canonical gospels and in theGnostic gospels of Philip, Thomas, Peter, and Bartholomew rejected by the early Christian church. Mary's own gospel is among these, but until now it has remained unknown to the public at large. Orthodox theologian Jean-Yves Leloup's translation of the Gospel of Mary from the Coptic and hisprofound commentary on this text are presented here for the first time in English. What emerges from this important sourcetext and commentary is a renewal of the sacred feminine in the Western spiritual tradition and a new vision for Christian thought and faith throughout the world.JEAN-YVES LELOUP is the founder of the Institute of Other Civilization Studies and the International College of Therapists. His other books include "Absurdity and Grace, Lack and Fullness," and a commentary on the Gospel of Thomas. He lives in France.