These Essays are a response to an intensive study of the Gospel of Thomas that extended over many years. The study covered every possible aspect of the Gospel and its origins. Thus the Essays help you to become informed about this ground-breaking record of the sayings of Jesus. You learn about the ancient document itself, how it came into existence, the rôle of Thomas the disciple of Jesus, and the relation of this Gospel to those in the New Testament. Later Essays in the book expound crucial Teachings of Jesus. They make many references to the sayings recorded in the Gospel, and show how they link together into a woven whole. All these Essays are related to, or derived from, the Gospel of Thomas itself. They give a fresh view of that Gospel, just as the Gospel gives a fresh view of Jesus and his Teachings.