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The Coptic Gospel of Thomas Trivia Quiz

The modern discovery of the Coptic Gospel of Thomas created quite a stir. How much do you know about this apocryphal work?

A multiple-choice quiz by skylarb. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
skylarb

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
264,089

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
530

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. It has been determined that the Gospel of Thomas is older than any of the canonical gospels.

True

False

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Question 2 of 10

2. The Gospel of Thomas was rediscovered in 1945. Where was it found? Hint

Italy

Egypt

Israel

Iraq

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Question 3 of 10

3. In the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, Jesus strikes a boy dead for breaking one of his clay birds.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. How many sayings of Jesus are contained in the Gospel of Thomas? Hint

114

666

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. The gospel begins, "These are the ___ sayings of Jesus." What word is missing from the quote? Hint

Oldest

Famous

True

Secret

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Gospel of Thomas makes numerous references to Hell and Satan.

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. In the Gospel of Thomas, whom does Jesus say he will guide to make male, "so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males"?

Hint

Mary Magdalen

Mary sister of Lazarus

Mary mother of Jesus

Martha sister of Lazarus

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Which parable found in the canonical gospels is also found in the Gospel of Thomas? Hint

Both of these

Parable of the mustard seed

Neither of these

Parable of the sower

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Question 9 of 10

9. When Peter asks Jesus who will be their leader when Jesus is gone, to whom does Jesus direct them? Hint

Peter

James

Mary Magalen

Paul

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. In saying 77, Jesus says, "Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the __, and you will find me there." What is missing from the blank? Hint

Cross

Stone

Crown

Serpent

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Mar 23 2024 : Guest 98: 2/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. It has been determined that the Gospel of Thomas is older than any of the canonical gospels.

Answer: False

The date of authorship is a subject of serious scholarly debate. Although some scholars date authorship as early as 50 AD (prior to the canonical gospels), the majority of Biblical scholars date authorship in the the mid-2nd century, later than the canonical gospels.

2. The Gospel of Thomas was rediscovered in 1945. Where was it found?

Answer: Egypt

The gospel was discovered in 1945 as part of the Gnostic library at Nag Hammadi, Egypt. The Coptic manuscript was entirely preserved on papyrus. It is debated whether the gospel was authored by Gnostics, as the Gnostic library also contained many non-Gnostic texts.

3. In the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, Jesus strikes a boy dead for breaking one of his clay birds.

Answer: False

The gospel contains virtually no narrative and consists, instead, of a collection of sayings of Jesus. If you answered true, you may have confused the Coptic Gospel of Thomas with the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, a largely narrative work.

4. How many sayings of Jesus are contained in the Gospel of Thomas?

Answer: 114

Some have posited that these sayings may be one part of the hypothetical "Q" source, a source used for all of the synoptic gospels.

5. The gospel begins, "These are the ___ sayings of Jesus." What word is missing from the quote?

Answer: Secret

The text goes on to say that "whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings shall not experience death." The emphasis on "secret" knowledge has lead many to believe that the work is definitively Gnostic.

6. The Gospel of Thomas makes numerous references to Hell and Satan.

Answer: False

In fact, it never mentions Hell, Satan, demons, or eternal damnation.

7. In the Gospel of Thomas, whom does Jesus say he will guide to make male, "so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males"?

Answer: Mary Magdalen

Jesus says this in reply to Peter's request, "Make Mary leave us, for females don't deserve life." Some scholars believe this section to be a later addition to the gospel.

8. Which parable found in the canonical gospels is also found in the Gospel of Thomas?

Answer: Both of these

Many sayings in the Gospel of Thomas resemble those found in the canonical gospels, while others are unique to the Gospel of Thomas.

9. When Peter asks Jesus who will be their leader when Jesus is gone, to whom does Jesus direct them?

Answer: James

Saying 12 reads, "No matter where you are, you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being."

10. In saying 77, Jesus says, "Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the __, and you will find me there." What is missing from the blank?

Answer: Stone

In this same saying, Jesus says, "I am the light that is over all things. I am all." "I am" is the name God was known by in the Old Testament.

Source: Author skylarb

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series Apocrypha and Non-Canonical Scriptures:

All of my quizzes on non-canonical books / the pseudepigrapha. For deuterocanonical books, see my separate quiz list.

  1. Gnostic Gospels Tough
  2. The Coptic Gospel of Thomas Average
  3. The Pseudepigrapha Tough
  4. The Book of Enoch Tough
  5. Non-Canonical Acts Difficult
  6. Non-canonical Epistles Tough
  7. Non-Canonical Gospels Tough

Referenced Topics

Religion Vocabulary Christianity Famous Quotes Wild Birds Names Non-Canonical 'Scripture' Egypt James Bible Virgin Mary Scripture Peter

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