Greater Men and Women of the Bible by James Hastings: 518. Who was Thomas?

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Greater Men and Women of the Bible by James Hastings: 518. Who was Thomas?


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Who was Thomas?



Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus.- Joh_20:24.



The name Thomas in English, as in Greek, is just a reproduction, with the addition of a single euphonic letter, of the original Syriac name, Thoma. This is derived from the Hebrew word for “twin.” Hence when he is also called Didymus he does not receive an additional name. Nor is there, as so many suppose, any attempt to indicate his character. He does not get this name because he was a doubter or ready to halt betwixt two opinions, but simply because this word in Greek expresses the fact, already indicated in the Syriac form of his name, that he was one of twin children.



Thomas appears in all the lists of the Apostles. But we have no account of his call. In Matthew's arrangement of the Twelve as couples he is associated with Matthew-“Thomas, and Matthew the publican” (Mat_10:3); and this fact has led to the suggestion that possibly the two were twins. But that is not likely, because in the case of two earlier instances the relationship of brotherhood is stated-“Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother”; “James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.” If there were another pair of brothers it would be natural to go on and read, “Thomas and Matthew his brother,”



Our knowledge of Thomas is derived from the Fourth Gospel. In the first three he is named as one of the twelve Apostles and no more. In the fourth, however, he appears on four occasions. He utters memorable words on each occasion, and it is by these words that we know both who and what he was.