The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is not part of the canonical Bible; it is considered an apocryphal text, meaning it falls outside the collection of books that the church broadly recognizes as the inspired Word of God. The canonical Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—do not record any incidents of Jesus harming others, let alone killing. Instead, they consistently portray Jesus as loving, compassionate, and seeking the well-being of others, including children.

For instance, Mark 10:13-16 shows Jesus’s tender heart towards children: “And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

In the canonical Gospels, Jesus’s actions and teachings consistently embody love, mercy, and forgiveness. He heals the sick, raises the dead, and preaches good news to the poor. Jesus said, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). This foundational aspect of Jesus’s ministry contrasts sharply with any portrayal of Him causing harm.

Understanding Jesus’s character through the lens of the canonical Gospels is crucial for grasping the essence of His mission and teachings. These texts were carefully selected through a historical process by early church leaders to form the New Testament, primarily because they were seen as authentic and inspired accounts of Jesus’s life and ministry.

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is not found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in caves near the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1956, comprise a vast array of Jewish texts from the Second Temple period, including books of the Hebrew Bible, apocryphal and pseudepigraphal works, and sectarian documents related to the community living near Qumran. These scrolls are dated from the third century BCE to the first century CE.

The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, however, is a later text, generally dated to the second century CE. It is part of a genre known as the New Testament Apocrypha, a collection of writings that were not included in the New Testament canon. These texts often include stories about Jesus or the apostles that were not accepted by the early church as authoritative or inspired in the same way as the canonical Gospels.

The content of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas focuses on the childhood of Jesus, describing various events that purportedly demonstrate His divine power. However, the tone and nature of these stories differ significantly from those found in the canonical Gospels, and the early church did not recognize them as conveying the same truth about Jesus’s life and teachings.

Because the Dead Sea Scrolls primarily contain Jewish texts from before and around the time of Jesus, and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas is a Christian text from a later period, they are part of different collections and traditions of religious literature. The Dead Sea Scrolls have been invaluable in providing insights into Judaism and the context of the New Testament, while the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, though not considered canonical, offers perspectives on how some early Christians imagined Jesus’s early life.