Thomas the Twin
- James Collazo
- Jun 10, 2017
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 25
Introduction
Thomas (Hebrew: Thomas—Greek: Thōmas) was born around AD 10 in the Roman district of Galilee. The New Testament mentions him only eleven times, usually among the twelve apostles of Jesus. Like most of the others, he was likely a Galilean, possibly a fisherman like Simon Peter and Andrew of Bethsaida. Of the four gospel writers, only John provides significant details about Thomas. John notes that the apostles called him "the Twin" (John 20:24, 21:2), which reflects the meaning of his name. Thōmas (G2381) is the Greek form of the Aramaic Tawoma, meaning "twin," similar to the Hebrew Tawom (H8380). He was "also known as Didymus" (John 20:24), derived from the Greek noun didymos, meaning "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 for himself. When Jesus showed him the nail marks, Thomas responded with a bold confession: "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). His journey shows both the struggle and the transformation of faith. Although other apostles may receive more attention, Thomas' story highlights the human 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. They paint him as a skeptic who questions everything. Yet in John's account, we see two striking moments of faith. When Jesus told the disciples 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). While the others feared for their lives because the Judean leaders sought to kill Jesus for blasphemy (John 10:31–39, 11:8), Thomas courageously chose to risk martyrdom for Christ.
When Jesus told the disciples, "You know the way to the place where I am going" (John 14:4), Thomas asked, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5). This moment shows Thomas' deep faith—he wanted to find Jesus even after the priests arrested him. He didn't yet understand that Jesus would rise and ascend to heaven, but he grasped that the Lord faced imminent crucifixion. Despite the danger, Thomas held hope. Jesus 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 one who also confessed the "Christ of faith." His faith rested on testing 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). Hoping for proof, 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 say, "That is impossible; no one comes back from the dead." He was not that kind of skeptic, and his initial doubt may even seem reasonable. Jesus, showing 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 responded 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 have to. Jesus asked him, "Have you believed because you have seen me?" and commended future believers, saying, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Thomas experienced the blessing of witnessing the historical Jesus both before and after the resurrection. How much more blessed are we, twenty-first-century believers, to know Christ now while we await the day we will see him face to face?
Thomas' Evangelism in India
Thomas' journey to India stands out as a striking story of history and faith among the many uncertain tales about Jesus' apostles. While most extrabiblical accounts lack reliability, the ancient Christian tradition in Kerala, India, offers a strong and lasting witness. Patristic writers of the third and fourth centuries report that Thomas traveled the Silk Road from Judea to India in AD 52, a claim that remains plausible. He aimed to bring the message of Jesus to the Aramaic-speaking Jewish communities living along the trade routes of the Malabar Coast, a tradition that may reach back to the reign of King Solomon (c. 970–c. 931 BC). The churches of Kerala still honor this legacy, proudly referring to themselves as "Saint Thomas Christians" (Syriac: Mar Thoma Nasrani, lit. "Saint Thomas Nazarenes") to demonstrate their deep connection to the early church. When the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama (c. 1460–1524) arrived in 1498, he marveled at the thriving Christian population he found, a lasting testament to the profound impact of Thomas' mission on Kerala's culture and faith.
Conclusion
Thomas's story illustrates the difficulty of transitioning from doubt to belief. Instead of hiding his questions, he looked for proof, reflecting a search for truth that many share. When he finally encountered the risen Jesus, his faith became strong and sure. His journey reminds us that honest doubt can lead to deeper understanding and a stronger connection with God. In a world full of uncertainty, Thomas encourages us to bring our questions to God and trust that faith can grow through them.
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of heaven and earth! You led your apostle Thomas from doubt to firm belief in your Son's resurrection. Lead us in the same way, so that we may move from uncertainty to unwavering faith in our Lord and our God, standing firm in your sight. We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Bibliography
Bard, Mitchell G. "King Solomon." Jewish Virtual Library. link.
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.
