Douglas Jacoby Podcast

NT Characters: Thomas

Episode Summary

Douglas continues his series on New Testament Characters today looking at the life of Thomas. Douglas shares what we learn from his life and his story.

Episode Notes

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Name

• Judas Thomas
• Transliteration of Aramaic te'oma' (Hebrew te'om), Greek didymos
• These words mean "twin"
  • The twin of Matthew (they are often mentioned together)?
  • The twin of Jesus (Gnostic idea)? Highly doubtful.

Apostleship

• Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:38; Luke 6:15; John 11:16, 14:5, 20:24-29, 21:2 ; Acts 1:13.
• Known for doubt, yet courage is a more predominant characteristic: willingness to die (11:6).
• His wanting to know the way (John 14:5) triggers Jesus' famous response one verse later (John 14:6).
• John 20 -- insistence on evidence

A look at Thomas from John's gospel

• John 11:16 (see v.8; 12:14-26)
• 20:24-29; 14:5
• 21:2

Later tradition

• According to Indian Christian tradition (esp. in the apocryphal Acts of Thomas), lots were cast. At first Thomas refused India, but later changed his mind.
• Trade routes (overland and maritime were open), and there were Jewish communities all over India, so there is no reason to reject the tradition.
• Thomas worked his way from North India to South India, beginning in 52 AD.
• He appointed overseers in these newly established churches.
• Several generations later, the Church of the East joins with the Thomite Christians (Mar Thomite). Marco Polo (late 1200s) came across the Thomite sect.
• He was ultimately executed in Chennai (Madras), according to third and fourth century sources. The traditional site is St. Thomas Mount, where the apostle is alleged to have been speared in 72 AD.

Rubens "Martyrdom of Thomas"

Writings falsely attributed to Thomas

• The Gospel of Thomas. (Click for my take on this late 2nd-century document.) "Let none read the gospel according to Thomas, for it is the work, not of one of the twelve apostles, but of one of Mani's three wicked disciples." -- Cyril of Jerusalem, Cathechesis V (4th C.)
• Infancy Gospel of Thomas -- miraculous events in Jesus' childhood.
• Acts of Thomas

Conclusion: 3 attributes of Thomas worth emulating
 

• Display of courage
• Insistence on evidence (natural curiosity?)
• Evangelistic conviction