The Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas: Meditations on the Mystical Teachings [Paperback]

Tau Malachi (Author)

Book Description

Series: Gnostic | Publication Date: June 8, 2004

Of all the "lost" gospels of the early Christian Bible, the Gospel of St. Thomas is the most well known. According to Tau Malachi, each verse of this Holy Scripture is like an "endless well of Wisdom." Drawing upon the Holy Kabbalah, contemporary Christian thought, and wisdom of the gnostic tradition, Malachi guides the reader into a true gnostic experience-a first-hand and completely unique exploration of the sacred secrets and spiritual insights in this important gnostic text.

Both intuitive and interactive, the gnostic approach to faith is a sacred quest for greater knowledge, understanding, and wisdom-a deeper penetration of the Mystery. This path leads to a higher degree of the enlightenment experience or gnosis. The Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas reveals how the reader can use each verse in this scripture as a source of daily contemplation and spiritual growth, while exploring the secrets of resurrection and ascension, the true role of St. Mary Magdalene in the early church, and other mystical and magical teachings.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Best described as a devotional, this collection of letters offers 114 meditations corresponding to the verses of the Gospel of Thomas. Malachi, a California-based mystic who founded the Sophia Fellowship in 1983, writes from the perspective of the Christian Gnosticism of the Sophian Tradition, which he defines as "a weave of Gnosticism, Kabbalah and Rosicrucian philosophy." He sets out to provide a "source of contemplation" while simultaneously striving to transcribe an oral tradition not only for novices but also for those already practiced in Gnostic study. He accomplishes all of this admirably. Readers should heed the author's advice and, rather than read the book in a sitting, use one verse per day as a meditative source. This practice attunes the mind to the voice of the Holy Spirit and also promotes a better appreciation of the oral tradition, in which key elements and phrases often resurface. Read straight through, important messages may be lost rather than cherished if seen as repetitive. Malachi clearly (and respectfully) delineates the differences among Christian Gnosticism, Judaism and what he calls Orthodox Christianity. Throughout, he encourages readers to actualize their divine potential or, as he paraphrases the Master, "Get a life so that you have something to offer up to God." Malachi perfectly captures the oral tradition within the written word.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Tau Malachi's (Malachi eben Ha-Elijah's) spiritual journey began when he met the acquaintance of a Tau of the Sophian Tradition of Gnostic Christianity, Tau Elijah ben Miriam. He received the oral tradition of Sophian Gnosticism from Tau Elijah, and has been a student and practitioner of Gnostic Christianity for over thirty-five years. In 1983 he founded Sophia Fellowship as an expression of the tradition, and has been teaching and initiating others into Christian Gnosticism, Rosicrucian Philosophy and Christian Kabbalah since that time. He is an initiate of Ordo Sanctus Gnosis and serves as an Elder and Tau within the Sophian lineage.

Tau Malachi is also a Chevalier (a dubbed Knight) in the International Order of Chivalric Companions, a Martinist, and is an ordained and consecrated Independent Bishop. He is co-founder of The Gnostic Apostolic Church of Sophia and is among the leading exponents of Christian Gnosticism and Kabbalah in our times.

Along with his exploration of the Western Mystery Tradition, he has studied extensively in several Eastern Traditions, such as Vajrayana Buddhism and Vedanta, and he also studied within a Middle Eastern Tradition of Sufism, as well as becoming involved in Native American Shamanism. Though Gnostic Christianity has always been his heart's path.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (June 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738704997
• ISBN-13: 978-0738704999
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Gnostics Among Us?, June 25, 2004

By 

Phillip "Phillip" (Sacramento, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas: Meditations on the Mystical Teachings (Paperback)

Wow!

There is something about this book that is saying far more than the scholars and modern academia is saying. Not only is it stylistically more interesting to read, it's practically and directly spiritual!

I'd been looking for a way to find SPIRITUALITY in the West, rather than stale dogmas, and real methods to feel connected with God, Divine Spirit, or whatever you want to call it in a practical and meaningful way. This book addresses those needs quite directly, unlike the scholars writing about Gnosticism who, at best, address those issues indirectly. I used to look up to the Eastern systems of metaphysics because they had a rich tradition of meditation and spiritual contemplation that I always felt I needed, but couldn't really connect with. But this author is coming to show me that such a spiritual richness and depth may also exist in the West!

The best part about the book is its practical use! The chapters are direct responses to each line of the Gospel of St. Thomas. There is a contemplation following each of St. Thomas' 114 sayings. This allows me to read in order, out of order, re-read sections in a nice, relaxing way as it fits into my busy schedule. Plus, each contemplation is good spiritual food for thought, so that I can read a contemplation, look back on Thomas' line and contemplate it myself to glean a little more on my own. It's the perfect book for anyone that has been looking for something more directly spiritual about Gnosticism, and more practically useful as good, solid food for one's truly spiritual considerations.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gnostic Gospel fo St. Thomas: Meditations, June 20, 2004

By 

Dominic "dominichael" (nevada city, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas: Meditations on the Mystical Teachings (Paperback)

At last! While there is so much gratitude we owe to scholars who've made available English translations of Gnostic texts, I find their academic commentaries often reach only so far. Even more gratitude is owed to Tau Malachi for picking up where such academics leave off, guiding in a meditative and introspective voice that opens up the reader to spectacular vistas within the Gospel of St. Thomas. As a devout Christian who once had issues with there being any other scripture than my Old and New Testament, I've become not only intrigued by the bigger questions and contemplations Tau Malachi gently weaves around these 114 sayings, I'm surprised by how much benefit for my faith the Gnostic messages in this book have inspired!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth in simplicity, June 21, 2004

By 

Christopher Derks (Grass Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas: Meditations on the Mystical Teachings (Paperback)

The Truth spoken in the Gospel of Thomas has many subtle layers. Tau Malachi takes these subtle sayings and peels them open enabling one to more penetrate the Mysteries. The method and approach Tau Malachi takes is complex in it's simplicity. In his writing style he draws from the unspeakable and grounds it making the subtle Truth speakable. I'am very grateful that finally a book that goes into the depth of Christian Gnosticism exists! Thank You Tau Malachi!!