Research on the Gospel of Thomas in the last quarter of a century has made it clear that the origins of this apocryphal gospel cannot be satisfactorily explained from a single point of view. The author thus suggests that Thomas be understood as a growing collection of sayings which originated in various places and languages, with some logia being added to the collection after its inception. While this suggestion is by no means new, there have been few extensive attempts to study Thomas from such a presupposition. Due to the need for a control group, only the logia which have rather close parallels to the Synoptic gospels are investigated. Verbal and textual affinities are noted between these logia and the earliest texts of the Gospels (the Coptic versions, the Diatessaron, the Old Syriac version, and other early versions and Christian writings). Various degrees of probable contact between each logion and these texts are assigned. The results of this study give some idea as to the place of origin, the original language, and the approximate date at which certain logia were added to the collection. Those sayings which show a closer affinity to the Diatessaron, the Old Syriac version, or other Syrian writings may be considered as having been added to the sayings collection as it circulated in its earliest form, possibly in a Semitic language. Other logia which show no signs of awareness of a Syrian reading, but which are similar to variants found in the Coptic versions or other Egyptian texts, may well have originated in Egypt and been added to the collection at a later stage. These results, however, must await verification by those who might approach Thomas from related, but different, perspectives.

Data base of parallel word-for-word comparison: A data-base (MAIN-DB) has been built up which enables data from each Gospel to be partitioned into unique units to contain the same information (*) present in one, two or three Gospels. The current structure of chapter and verse is shown to be irrelevant and an obstacle to analysis. Data base of detailed Huck-number event analysis: A data-base (Summary) has been built up to enable the main Episodes in the Gospels to be partitioned into Events and Units which contain the same information (*). The criterion is that the words in a given unit either match exactly with a group of words in one or two of the other Gospels or the content of the words in the unit are the same or similar. This database is being developed as a statistical Apparatus to evaluate Co-Structural and Detailed studies of each Episode and the associated Events and Units. This is achieved by the use of word counts. Analysis of detailed structure using words as criterion: Analysis of the data enables the units to be analysed into all possible combinations. The analysis shows that the above categories must be further divided into the above categories where each gospel can be either the origin of data or the result of gospel data from another Gospel. The co-structural analysis of the Gospels is then given based on word counts and general conclusions are reached. The detailed analysis of correlation between the Gospels is then given for selected events. The resultant databases would be of general use to scholars of both science and literature. Information: The measurement of information is considered as changing text to numbers. This would then enable data to be translated from text - which is data in a number base other than base 10 - and to translate it to a suitable number base for use on current computers.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Reformed Theological Seminary, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-118).

Thesis (M. Div.)--Master's Seminary, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-71).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1979. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-145).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 219-240).

Thesis (M. Div.)--Master's Seminary, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-71).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity International University, 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 219-240).

Thesis (M. Div.)--Master's Seminary, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-71).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University