Thomas
Remembered for doubting, he made the boldest confession in the Gospels.
New Testament · 1st century · Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts · Also known as Didymus, Doubting Thomas
About Thomas
Thomas, also called Didymus ("the twin"), was one of the twelve apostles. When Jesus decided to return to Judea, where people had tried to stone him, Thomas said, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." He asked Jesus honestly how they could know the way, and heard, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Absent when the risen Jesus first appeared, he refused to believe without touching the wounds. Eight days later Jesus invited him to do just that, and Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God."
Didymus is Greek for "twin," and Thomas is from the Aramaic for "twin"; his twin is never named. The nickname "Doubting Thomas" comes from later tradition, not Scripture. Later church tradition says he took the gospel east, as far as India.
The story
That we may die with him
When Lazarus died, Jesus decided to go back to Judea, though the disciples warned him the Jews there had sought to stone him. "Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him."
John 11:7-16
How can we know the way?
At the last supper Jesus spoke of going to prepare a place. "Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
John 14:1-6
Except I shall see
Thomas wasn’t with the others when Jesus first appeared to them. "We have seen the Lord," they told him. He said, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."
John 20:24-25
My Lord and my God
Eight days later Jesus stood among them again and said to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands… and be not faithless, but believing." "And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God." Jesus said, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
John 20:26-29
Back to the boats
Later, by the Sea of Galilee, Thomas was among the disciples who went fishing with Peter and saw the risen Jesus on the shore. After Jesus ascended, he was in the upper room with the others, praying.
John 21:1-14; Acts 1:13-14
Key moments
- "That we may die with him": Ready to go with Jesus. (John 11:16)
- Asks the way: "I am the way." (John 14:5-6)
- Refuses to believe: Without seeing the wounds. (John 20:25)
- "My Lord and my God": Eight days later. (John 20:28)
- Prays in the upper room: With the apostles. (Acts 1:13)
Questions about Thomas
In meetBible these answers are given in Thomas’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Were you really a doubter?
I did say, "Except I shall see… I will not believe," and Jesus told me, "Be not faithless, but believing." But "Doubting Thomas" is a later nickname, not Scripture’s. John also records me ready to die with Jesus, asking him honest questions, and making the confession "My Lord and my God." Jesus didn’t send me away for my doubt; he came and met it.
What did Jesus say to you?
He said, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." John doesn’t say whether I actually touched him. I answered, "My Lord and my God." Then he said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
Did you have a twin?
John calls me "Thomas, which is called Didymus," and both names mean "twin," in Aramaic and Greek. Scripture never names my twin or says anything more about my family.
Connected people
- Jesus: "My Lord and my God"
- Peter: Fellow apostle
- John: Fellow apostle
- Lazarus: Jesus went to raise him
Read it yourself
Start with John 11; 14; 20.