Facts of the Apostle Saint Thomas
St. Thomas Facts
Thomas the Apostle Facts tell us that Thomas usually was nicknamed “Doubting Thomas,” Thomas was also called Didymus, meaning The Twin (although a twin brother or sister is never mentioned in the Bible.)
He was an outspoken skeptic to the point of being known as a pessimist.
No details are given about Thomas in the first three Gospels other than the mention of his name.
John’s first mention of Thomas is in John 11:16. Lazarus had died and the disciples feared for the life of Jesus and themselves if they were to go back to Bethany.
“Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (John 11:16)
Thomas speaks up.
Here we see the character quality of courage and loyalty to Christ, a quality not often attributed to Thomas.
Symbol of Saint ThomasApostle Thomas Facts and Symbol
Thomas the Apostle Facts gives us the knowledge that the apostle Thomas is most famous for disbelieving the news that Jesus had risen from the dead. The disciples came to him, and they told him about Jesus.
He said,
“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Eight days later, Thomas sees the Lord, and he cries,
“My Lord and my God!”
Thomas was also the spokesman for the disciples in the gospel of John. When Jesus went to Judea to raise Lazarus from the dead, Thomas said,
“Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Tradition has it that Thomas traveled east as far as India to preach the gospel. He founded several churches in the country, and there are some that still claim a history directly from him. He may have traveled almost as far as Chennai, known as Madras at the time.
Thomas was martyred in India by stoning and by a spear. His symbol has a spear to symbolize his death, and there is also a carpenter’s square pointing to the churches he founded. Legend even has it that he built a church building himself.
Quick Thomas the Apostle Facts
His nickname is Didymus (the twin). We don’t really know why he’s called this. He could have been a twin, he could have been born with a strong physical resemblance to Jesus, or it could have been the name he went by in Greek-speaking communities.
The apocryphal Acts of Thomas suggests that Thomas is actually Jesus’ twin, but that would create a few big theological problems concerning Jesus’ conception and incarnation process.
Domínikos Theotokópoulos, dit Le Greco 1541-1614 Tolède. Apostle Saint Thomas ca 1608 Toledo Museo del Greco.Apostle Thomas’ Miracles
Thomas the Apostle Facts state that Saint Thomas is most famous for how he interacted with Jesus Christ after the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The Bible records in John chapter 20 that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to some of His disciples while they were together, but Thomas wasn’t with the group at the time.
Verse 25 describes Thomas’s reaction when the disciples told him the news:
So the other disciples told him,
‘We have seen the Lord!’
But he said to them,
‘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.’
Shortly afterward, the resurrected Jesus appeared to Thomas and invited him to examine his crucifixion scars in exactly the way Thomas had requested. John 20:26; John 20:27 records: “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.
Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'”
After getting the physical proof he’d wanted of the resurrection miracle, Thomas’s doubt turned to strong belief: Thomas said to him,
‘My Lord and my God!'” (John 20:28).
The next verse reveals that Jesus blesses people who are willing to have faith in something that they can’t see right now:
Then Jesus told him,
‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ (John 20:29).
Thomas’s encounter with Jesus shows how the right response to doubt — curiosity and searching — can lead to deep belief. Catholic tradition says that Thomas witnessed the miraculous ascension into heaven of Saint Mary (the Virgin Mary) after her death.
Apostle Thomas Facts on Miracles
Thomas the Apostle Facts show that God performed many miracles through Thomas to help the people with whom Thomas shared the Gospel message — in Syria, Persia, and India — belief, according to Christian tradition.
Right before his death in 72 AD, Thomas stood up to an Indian king (whose wife had become a Christian) when he pressured Thomas to make religious sacrifices to an idol.
Miraculously, the idol shattered into pieces when Thomas was forced to approach it. The king was so enraged that he ordered his high priest to kill Thomas, and he did: Thomas died from being pierced by a spear but was reunited with Jesus in heaven
But you can still call him Thomas.
Prayer to Saint Thomas The Apostle
O Glorious Saint Thomas, your grief for Jesus was such that it would not let you believe he had risen unless you actually saw him and touched his wounds. But your love for Jesus was equally great and it led you to give up your life for him. Pray for us that we may grieve for our sins which were the cause of Christ’s sufferings. Help us to spend ourselves in his service and so earn the title of “blessed” which Jesus applied to those who would believe in him without seeing him. Amen. Conclusion Thomas the Apostle Facts
In conclusion, Thomas the Apostle’s facts have shared more light that the phrase “doubting Thomas” comes from Thomas the Disciple in that he was particularly slow to believe in Christ.
Thomas is also characterized by being somewhat gloomy and easily discouraged. While he was much of a pessimist Thomas was a full believer in Christ and followed Him loyally throughout His life. Thomas is known for being unable to see the forest for the trees and Jesus often had to help him to see the whole forest.
Thomas is the one disciple who was not present on the first Easter Sunday.
Thomas was the disciple who refused to believe in resurrection but he went on to spread the word of Christ until his death. It is believed that Thomas died the death of a martyr but this cannot be verified.
#1. The tradition among Christians in India is that Thomas was speared to death near?
#2. When was the Gospel of Thomas discovered in a Coptic translation?
#3. Who canonized Paul Thomas?
#4. What was Thomas's profession before he became an apostle?
#5. How many churches did apostle Thomas establish in Kerala?
#6. Who's wife and son did apostle Thomas convert in Syriac Mazda?
#7. Where was apostle Thomas born?
#8. Which lady assumption to heaven was Thomas noted as a witness?
#9. (John 11:1-16) Was Thomas?
#10. What origin word of twin is apostle Thomas's name originated from?
Results
Resources Thomas the Apostle Facts
https://ourlordstyle.com/blogs/christian-writings/classic-christian-symbols-and-their-meanings-the-twelve-apostles-part-2
https://overviewbible.com/12-apostles/#thomas
https://overviewbible.com/apostle-thomas-infographic/
https://www.learnreligions.com/who-was-saint-thomas-the-apostle-124543
