Page:Early Christianity outside the Roman empire.djvu/92

82 The teaching of the Acts of Thomas contains another feature which must not remain unnoticed. It is a feature which, though not heretical in itself, is in early documents characteristic rather of Gnostic thought than of Catholic teaching. This is the lack of interest in controversy against the Jews and against idolatry. Judas Thomas does not bring forward unorthodox opinions about the old dispensation or the worship of heathen gods: he simply passes these things by with the turn of a phrase. Thus we read (Transl. p. 207) that God's will was spoken by the Prophets, but Israel did not obey because of their evil genius. Again, the devils confess that they take pleasure in sacrifices and libations of wine on the altars as well as in murder and adultery (Transl. p. 213). But these are mere allusions by the way: it is not so much against the gods that St Thomas preaches as against the evil nature in man. Contrast this with the