Let There Be Light
Spring 2002; Once and Future Faith Conference
Does divine light shine through Jesus alone or in everyone? Who is Jesus, and what is the “good news” about him? Elaine Pagels suggests that the Gospel of John and the Gospel of Thomas articulate a first-century controversy over these questions. Both claim to offer teaching Jesus gave intimately to his disciples, and both interpret Jesus as the “light of the world” that came into being before creation. According to Thomas, Jesus, who speaks as “the light that is before all things” (Thomas 77), invites his disciples to recognize that “you are from the light” (Thomas 50 as well). John, on the other hand, characterizes Jesus as the sole source of that light (cf. John 8:12).
Format:
1 DVD; 90 minutes
