Thomas

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Greek Didymos (“twin”), used as an identifying surname in the Gospels
• Period/Era: Second Temple Period; Roman Imperial Context
• Main References: Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; John 11:16; 14:5; 20:24–29; 21:2; Acts 1:13
• Key Connections: One of the Twelve apostles; associated with Jesus’ ministry and the apostolic group in Jerusalem

Who was Thomas?

Thomas, also called Didymus (“the Twin”), was one of Jesus’ Twelve apostles.
He appears most fully in the Gospel of John, where he is portrayed as direct and questioning.
After Jesus’ resurrection, Thomas moved from absence to personal encounter with the risen Christ.
He is listed among the apostles after the ascension in Jerusalem.

Key Events & Achievements

• Event 1: Named among the Twelve in the apostolic lists (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13)
• Event 2: Spoke during Jesus’ ministry, including at Lazarus’s death and in the upper-room discourse (John 11:16; 14:5)
• Event 3: Encountered the risen Jesus and confessed him in John’s resurrection narrative (John 20:24–29)

Life Lesson & Legacy

Thomas illustrates that discipleship in the Apostolic Age included honest questioning that could be answered through the risen Jesus’ self-disclosure.

Key Verse

"Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”" — John 20:28, ESV