Thomas the Twin
- James Collazo
- Jun 10, 2017
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 14, 2025
Introduction
Thomas (Hebrew: Tawom / Greek: Thōmas) was born around AD 10 in the Roman client kingdom of Galilee. The New Testament mentions him only eleven times, usually listing him among the twelve apostles of Jesus. Like most of the other apostles, he was probably a Galilean and may have been a fisherman, like Simon Peter and Andrew of Bethsaida. Among the four gospel writers, only John provides meaningful details about Thomas. John reports that the apostles called him "the Twin" (John 20:24, 21:2), a title that reflects the meaning of his name. Thōmas (G2381) is the Greek form of the Aramaic Tawoma, which means "twin," a meaning similar to the Hebrew Tawom (H8380). John also notes that Thomas "was also known as Didymus" (John 20:24), a name derived from the Greek noun didumos, which likewise means "twin" (G1324).
Thomas stands out in the New Testament as a disciple who moved from doubt to deep belief. He questioned Jesus' resurrection until he saw the risen Lord with his own eyes. When Jesus showed him the nail marks, Thomas responded with a bold confession: "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). His story shows how faith can struggle and then grow stronger. Even though other apostles receive more attention, Thomas highlights the tension between skepticism and trust, as well as the life-changing power of meeting the risen Christ (see "Reconstruction After Deconstruction").
Example of Radical Faith
Christians often label him "doubting Thomas" because he wanted to verify that Jesus had truly risen from the dead. Many portray him as a skeptic who questions everything. However, in John's gospel, we see two striking moments of faith that challenge this reputation. When Jesus told the disciples that he was returning to Judea after Lazarus died (John 11:7–15), Thomas responded, "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16). The disciples feared going back because the Judean leaders had tried to stone Jesus for blasphemy just days earlier (John 10:31–39, 11:8). Thomas, however, showed remarkable courage. He understood the danger, yet he chose to follow Jesus even if it meant dying with him.
Later, when Jesus told the disciples, "You know the way to the place where I am going" (John 14:4), Thomas replied, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5). His question reveals sincere faith, not doubt. Thomas wanted to stay close to Jesus and follow him wherever he was going. He did not yet understand that Jesus would rise from the dead and ascend to heaven, but he recognized that Jesus faced imminent arrest and crucifixion. Even in this moment of confusion, Thomas held onto hope and sought direction. Jesus then answered him clearly: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Disciple of Evidential Faith
We can view Thomas as an early seeker of the "historical Jesus," yet also as one who confessed the "Christ of faith." His belief grew as he examined the truth of the resurrection reports. Like Thomas, the other disciples first doubted when Mary Magdalene and the other women announced that Jesus had risen (Luke 24:10–11). By the time Thomas heard the news, the others had already seen Jesus' hands and side (John 20:20). Wanting the same certainty they had received, Thomas said, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25).
Thomas wanted to believe, just as he wanted to know how to find Jesus after his arrest. He did not respond with cold disbelief or deny the possibility of resurrection; he was not that kind of skeptic. His initial doubt was reasonable, since others had also struggled to accept the news. Jesus, revealing himself as God in human flesh, told Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe" (John 20:27). No longer a doubting Thomas, he answered with an astonishing confession: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Notice that the text never says Thomas actually touched Jesus' wounds—he did not need to. Jesus then asked, "Have you believed because you have seen me?" and blessed future believers, saying, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Thomas received the rare blessing of encountering the historical Jesus both before and after the resurrection.
Thomas in India
Thomas' journey to India stands out as a vivid story of both history and faith. Many stories about Jesus' apostles come from uncertain sources, but the ancient Christian tradition in Kerala, India, remains strong and consistent. Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329–390) stated that "Thomas [shared the gospel] with India" (Oration 33.8). Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397) supported this tradition as well, writing that even distant regions opened to the apostles, including "India to Thomas" (Expositions on the Psalms, on Psalm 45).
According to the Christian community in Kerala, Thomas traveled along the eastern trade routes and reached India in AD 52. He shared the message of Jesus with the Aramaic-speaking Jewish communities on the Malabar Coast. These communities trace their roots back to the days of King Solomon (c. 970–931 B.C.), when trade between Israel and India expanded (cf. 1 Kings 9:26–28, 10:22). Because of their long history and shared religious background, these communities were ready to receive Thomas' message.
The Christians of Kerala still honor this story. They call themselves "Saint Thomas Christians" (Syriac: Mar Thoma Nasrani, meaning "Saint Thomas Nazarenes") to show their connection to the apostolic age. Their ancient Syriac liturgy reflects early ties to the Church of the East and preserves some of the oldest Christian traditions outside the Mediterranean world.
When the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama (c. 1460–1524) reached India in 1498, he was surprised to find a thriving Christian community that claimed to descend directly from the apostle Thomas. Portuguese missionaries recorded ancient churches, stone crosses, and oral traditions that supported this belief. Their reports highlight Thomas's lasting influence on Kerala's culture, identity, and faith for nearly two thousand years.
Conclusion
Thomas' story shows how doubt can lead to deep and lasting faith. Instead of hiding his questions, he spoke honestly, seeking truth and proof, and when he met the risen Jesus and saw the marks of the crucifixion, his belief grew strong and confident. His journey reminds us that honest doubt is not rejection but a natural step toward deeper understanding. Jesus met Thomas in his uncertainty and showed him patience, proving that God welcomes our questions rather than condemning them. According to early Christian tradition, Thomas later carried the gospel far beyond Jerusalem, showing that the disciple who once struggled to believe became a bold and courageous witness for Christ. Thomas' life reminds us that trust often begins with sincere searching and a heart open to truth.
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of heaven and earth. You led the apostle Thomas from doubt to faith in your Son's resurrection. Lead us through our own questions and searching, from uncertainty to trust and from fear to contentment. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bibliography
Ambrose of Milan. Expositions on the Psalms. Paris: J. P. Migne, 1845–1855.
Bard, Mitchell G. "King Solomon." Jewish Virtual Library. 1998–present. [link].
Gregory of Nazianzus. "Oration." In Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.
Hurtado, Larry W. Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
MacCulloch, Diarmaid. Christianity: The First Thousand Years. New York: Penguin, 2011.
McBirnie, William Steuart. The Search for the Twelve Apostles. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum, 2008.
McDowell, Sean. The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus. Abingdon, UK: Taylor & Francis, 2016.
Most, Glenn W. Doubting Thomas. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2009.