Although little is certain about his life, Christian tradition holds that St. Thomas was the first missionary to India. We should realize that the disciples were not any less doubting than Thomas was because after Jesus death, they were in hiding and had the doors locked for fear of the Jews, perhaps thinking that they would be next (John20:19). (The other one is Judas Iscariot.) The texts authorship by Thomas the Apostle is rejected by modern scholars. Both names mean "twin," although we aren't given the name of Thomas' twin in Scripture. Jesus had been crucified, having nails driven through his ''hands'' (more accurately, the nails would have gone through the wrists) and ankles to pin him onto a cross to execute him. Tagged as: Who Was Saint Thomas the Apostle? Biography, Thomas is the one disciple who was not present on the first Easter Sunday. When Lazarus had died Jesus said Let us go to Judea again (John 11:7b) but The disciples said to him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? From what we can tell (since the gospels focus on Jesus rather than minute details about the apostles), Thomas was born in Galilee, a region bordering the Sea of Galilee where Jesus was said to. If So, What is It? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Thats when they tried to tell Thomas which is recorded in John 20:24-25, 28 which says, Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. According to common Christian tradition, 'doubting' Thomas, a practicing Jew, was killed by jealous Hindu priests of Kali. Thomas was honest with Jesus and the disciples. In art, Jude is often portrayed holding an axe to represent this tradition. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Polycrates of Ephesus wrote in a letter to Pope Victor, I speak of Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who is laid to rest at Hierapolis. Peter was crucified, but with a twist: they hung his cross upside down. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. The implication here is that he is Jesus twin. People who are skeptical are sometimes referred to as a "Doubting Thomas.". He fell at the feet of Jesus and said, My Lord and my God! and Jesus replied, Because you have seen me, Thomas, you believed. Simon the Cananaean . A Christian Study. The texts authorship by Thomas the Apostle is rejected by modern scholars. His books are include: Teaching Children The Gospel/How to Raise Godly Children, Do Babies Go To Heaven?/Why Does God Allow Suffering?, "The Great Omission; Reaching the Lost for Christ," and Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, Empirical Methodologies & the Bible.". Syrian Christian tradition specifies Thomas was martyred in Mylapore on July 3, 72 AD, noting that he was killed with a spear. How the Apostle Got the Nickname 'Doubting Thomas'. How to Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus, How Churches Are Falling Away From Biblical Truth, Ice Dragon: Legend of the Blue Daisies Movie Review, Phoenix Wilder And The Great Elephant Adventure Movie Review, The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island Movie Review. The 1st Sunday after Easter, October 6th, June 30th, July 3rd, and December 21st. He could simply be referring to something that happened after Judas hung himself. God performed many miracles through Thomas to help the people with whom Thomas shared the Gospel message -- in Syria, Persia, and India -- believe, according to Christian tradition. It is worth noting that Jesus did not scold Thomas for his doubt. Thomas: Thomas, or "twin" in Aramaic, is called "doubting Thomas " because he doubted Jesus's resurrection until he could touch Jesus's wounds himself (John 20:24-29). Didymos is Greek for twin. The Lord's famous answer is one of the most memorized verses in all the Bible, "I am the way and the truth and the life. Death Stabbed with a spear c.72 in India. Believers know of the great joy that you possess, and of the multitude of gifts you have prepared. However, Thomas claimed that he was not healthy enough and that a Hebrew could not teach Indians; even a vision of Christ could not change his mind. Upon seeing Jesus' image, the king placed it with great honor in one of his palatial houses. 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Tolkien: Biography, Books & Poems, Joyce Carol Oates: Biography, Books & Short Stories, Robert Penn Warren: Biography, Poems & Books, Saul Bellow: Biography, Novels & Short Stories, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. The Acts of Thomas says he was martyred in Mylapore, India, where he was stabbed with spears. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/apostle-known-as-doubting-thomas-701057. In the Bible, fourteen people are considered apostlesthe original members of the Twelve, plus Matthias (who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot), and Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles). Saint Andrew preached the Faith in Asia Minor (Turkey) and in Scythia, east of Turkey (north of Iran). Thomas, whose full name was Didymus Judas Thomas, lived in Galilee when it was part of the ancient Roman Empire and became one of Jesus Christs disciples when Jesus called him to join his ministry work. Known as "the apostles" or "ones who were sent," Bartholomew and the other disciples witnessed Jesus' ministry for about three years. Thomas cannot understand what Jesus is saying and replies, ''Lord, we do not know where you are going. They have a master's degree in religious studies from Western Kentucky University and a bachelor's degree in English literature and religious studies from Western Kentucky University. According to church tradition, Peter was killed by Emperor Nero around 64 AD, after the Great Fire of Rome, which he famously blamed Christians for starting. Some believe he was killed with a spear on accident while others believe he was martyred for his beliefs. When he emerged unharmed, the entire coliseum converted to Christianity. There is no call narrative about Thomas' calling, unlike some of his fellow disciples. Your email address will not be published. He's also called Didymus Thomas (which is like saying "twin" twice in both Greek and Aramaic). The Beginners Guide, and you can read it for freeyou dont even have to give us your email. He was a dedicated but impetuous follower of Christ. While we might find this a gruesome image, it was the proof Thomas needed to recognize this was the same person, causing him to call Jesus ''My Lord and my God'' and recognizing the divinity of Jesus. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. Of whom are Matthew, Philip, Thomas, Levi, and many others. Stromata. We read about his death in Acts 12: It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. .. Thomas was impaled by a spear. The same type of thing happens in the event which gives Thomas his ''doubter'' title. But that still leaves us with the question of who bought the fieldJudas, or the chief priests? Often asked: Where Did The Apostle Peter Live? You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Before the Lord mounted you, you inspired an earthly fear. Rather than being upset with him, Jesus let Thomas put his finger through the holes. Birth Unknown. So both were beheaded at the same time. Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 236 lessons. Share your talents in ministry! https://www.learnreligions.com/who-was-saint-thomas-the-apostle-124543 (accessed July 1, 2023). Stay in contact with St. Thomas by e-mail! Thomas, Reluctant Missionary And the king bare the bodies of the apostles into his city, and did do make a church of marvellous greatness in the honour of them.. Thomas' question comes next, revealing that he's thinking of physical directions rather than spiritual guidance: "Thomas said to him, "Lord, we dont know where you are going, so how can we know the way? According to traditional accounts of the Saint Thomas Christians of modern-day Kerala in India, Thomas is believed to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Malabar Coast which is in modern-day Kerala State, India. And it certainly wasnt from old age. Now, instead, endowed with heavenly love, you are accepted as a gift. At least he asked where Jesus was going to which Jesus responded by saying that He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Salem Media Group. Scholars either consider this account entirely fictional, or believe that there is a historical core beneath the legendary embellishment. "Who Was Saint Thomas the Apostle?" While the other disciples saw the resurrected Jesus and believed that he was bodily resurrected, Thomas wanted physical proof, asking to put his finger through the holes where Jesus was pierced in his crucifixion. The Apostle Thomas traveled with Jesus and learned from him for three years. Jesus explains that he is the ''way,'' but what we see from this exchange for our purposes in this lesson is Thomas' personality. Did they have fear about going back to Bethany too? For example when Jesus said that He was going away and that He was going to prepare a place for the disciples and would come again for them (John 14:2-4) everyone else was silent. About 10 years later, in 42 AD, King Herod unleashed a violent persecution of the Catholic Church. But there are plenty of possibilities. Actually the name Thomas Didymos well, Thomas is Hebrew for twin. Thomas was born in the early 1st century CE in Galilee, a region in the Roman province of Judea surrounding the Sea of Galilee. The Thomas in Syriac is equivalant to didymos in Greek, and means twin. Church tradition says that while he was establishing a church there, he was stabbed with a spear, dying from the wound. . 25 Encouraging Bible Verses About Strength, Words of Encouragement: 30 Uplifting Quotes. I come to you, therefore, confident and joyful, so that you too may receive me exultant as a disciple of the One who was hung upon you. General Parish E-mail What Does Epistle Mean? Though the New Testament does not explicitly state where Thomas was born, it does claim that he was from Galilee. At the end of the Gospel of John, Jesus predicts Peters death when he tells him, when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go (John 21:18). Gospel account The King James Version text (John 20:2429) is: 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. St. Theoderus saith that he was flayed, and it is read in many books that he was beheaded only. The extravagance of the legend may be judged from the fact that in more than one place (cap. Apostle Thomas, These include Thomas asking Jesus how to find where Jesus was ascending to if the disciples did not know the way. This is why some iconography shows John in a vat of boiling oil. Because of its discovery with the Nag Hammadi library, it was widely thought that the document originated within a school of early Christians, possibly proto-Gnostics. One (in John 11) shows his courage and loyalty to Jesus, the other (in John 20) reveals his human struggle with doubt. Most of the earliest traditions seem to point to him being martyred in the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis. (This tradition assumes that John the Apostle and John of Patmos are the same person, and scholars arent sure if thats the case.). Jesus then appeared and offered to let him do just that. Later, in John 14:1-5 it was St. Thomas who raised an objection prior to the Last Supper: Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. Basically, we dont know how Philip died. The dead includes everyone else, all who have lived and died physically. Of Jesus' 12 apostles, Thomas is one of the most famous who appears in the Gospel of John. He planted seeds for the new Church, forming many parishes and building many churches along the way. Moses: The Old Testaments Greatest Prophet. Learn how this disciple got the nickname 'Doubting Thomas'. The living includes all who will be alive when he returns. Name Syrian, meaning "Twin" (Twin/Thomas also known as Didymus in Greek and Jumeau in French); Apostle of India; Doubting Thomas. To this day, Saint Thomas is venerated as the Apostle of India. Saint James was the first of Jesus apostles to die for following him, and hes one of the only two apostles whose death is recorded in the Bible. Clement of Rome, an early church father who personally knew the apostles, wrote in his famous letter known as 1 Clement, Let us take the noble examples of our own generation. This is the same death tradition ascribes to James, brother of Jesus, but scholars have little reason to trust On the Twelve Apostles of Christ. But he probably was. Why is he sometimes called Doubting Thomas?. When Thomas believed, he could be quite courageous. We discover from the story of Thomas that he was sincerely pledged to His master, and yet he fought with uncertainties and questions. Roman soldiers had a reputation for experimenting with variations of crucifixion. Contents 1 Life 2 Hymns 3 Source 4 See also 5 External links Life Thomas was probably born in Galilee to a humble family, but there is no indication that he was a fisherman. I think we are too hard on Thomas because Thomas was ready to go up to Jerusalem and die with Christ (John11:16) while the others tried to talk Jesus out of going back to Judea (John 11:8). The apparently seamless transition from Jesuss invitation to Thomass confession actually entails the most striking and productive textual lacuna within the Thomas episode: The Gospel-writer remains completely silent about whether or not Thomas actually touched Jesuss wounds. When they relayed the information, Thomas said he would not believe them until he put his finger through the holes in Jesus' hands to see it was true. Who was the first disciple chosen by Jesus? Who was with Mary until the death of . He's also called Didymus Thomas (which is like saying "twin" twice in both Greek and Aramaic). Muslim exegesis preserves the tradition that Matthew and Andrew were the two disciples who went to Ethiopia to preach the message of God. He is recognized as the founder of the Church of the Syrian Malabar Christians, or Thomas Christians. Create your account. Thomas is best known for being one of Jesus' 12 disciples, or followers. Thomas died in India in 72 AD as a martyr for his faith when an Indian king, angry that he couldn't get Thomas to worship an idol, ordered his high priest to stab Thomas with a spear. We create research-based articles and handy infographics to help people understand the Bible. What does Scripture say about the Apostle Thomas? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Numerous early church fathers wrote that he was beheaded by emperor Nero, which would mean it had to be sometime before 68 AD. There are varying accounts of Thomas' death, but most agree that he died in India. The Golden Legend notes several accounts: There be divers opinions of the manner of his passion. Free or royalty-free photos and images. Some church historians claim Thomas traveled and spread the gospel to other areas in the Ancient Near East while some traditions claim he traveled as far as India and founded a church there. - Quora. However, according to the Gospel of John, Jesus was resurrected and rose from the dead after three days. We discover from the story of Thomas that he was sincerely pledged to His master, and yet he fought with uncertainties and questions. Interestingly, Acts (traditionally attributed to Saint Luke) gives a different account: (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Take a look at another Apostle biography here: John the Apostle. There are so few historical facts that are available beyond this account that we cannot add much more to this account and do so with absolute certainty. The king gave him money, which Thomas gave to the poor. All the other early records of Matthews death claim he was martyred, but they disagree about how and where it happened. Matthew records that Judas hung himself immediately after the chief priests refused to take their money back: So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Matthews account is the only one that tells us Judas felt remorse, and he directly connects that remorse to Judas suicide.