The lost way How two forgotten gospels are rewriting the story of Christian origins

Patterson, a religion professor and Jesus Seminar scholar, helps readers examine some of the earliest gospel writings, including Q, the lost gospel considered to be a reference point for two of the synoptic gospels, and the Gospel of Thomas, a wisdom gospel that has been argued about since its discovery in 1948 as part of the Nag Hammadi documents. Both gospels contain lists of Jesus' sayings, many familiar to New Testament readers, others not. Q itself has never been found, but Patterson makes a strong case for the validity of his reconstruction, using incidents and language from Matthew and Luke to show that Q was their source. Like Q, Thomas (considered by some to be later and more gnostic than Patterson believes it to be) cares little for the death of Jesus and more for the way he asked his followers to live. Patterson's main focus here is on how these gospels link together, giving an early picture of both Jesus and his followers. There are annotated minibibliographies after each chapter, a smart and helpful touch for those wanting to delve more deeply.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2014 Booklist

Patterson (religious and ethical studies, Williamette Univ.; The Gospel of Thomas and Christian Origins) is a leading scholar of the Jesus Seminar and the Gospel of Thomas, an early manuscript containing sayings of Jesus. In his latest work, he introduces Thomas, the "Gospel of Q," and wisdom literature to a lay audience and gives a clear overview of the synoptic problem and the argument for "Q." He states, "We will never be able to transport ourselves back in time to experience in fullness the rich conversation that was going on about Jesus in the first 20 years after his death. But from the gospels we can get a sense of the gist." Patterson argues that these sources in particular reveal a different, fuller version of the historical Jesus and the way of "Wisdom." Although evangelicals will disagree with the author's conclusions, the details of both sources and their impact on scholarship are clearly presented. Each chapter includes suggestions for further research. VERDICT This fascinating account will appeal to readers of John Dominic Crossan and Bart Ehrman. Recommended for both academic and public libraries with readers interested in theology or church history.-Ray Arnett, Fremont Area Dist. Lib., MI (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.