The Acts of Thomas and the pearl hymn tradition
- Date of account
- 1990–2009 scholarly reception
- Location
- Edessa and eastern Christian textual traditions; modern study across the Middle East
- Source
- model_recalled_reference
- Record updated
- 2026-10-10
Record summary
The Acts of Thomas, associated with Syriac Christianity and the Edessan world, contains missionary adventures, miracles, ascetic teaching, and the embedded Hymn of the Pearl. Its visionary and symbolic episodes have been compared with Iranian, Mesopotamian, and Christian traditions of exile and return. The work matters for studying how apostolic authority and miracle narratives moved across languages and cultures. Its historical value is limited by legendary composition, uncertain dating, and layered transmission; the traditional mission of Thomas to India is not established by the narrative alone.
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