Who was Thomas in the Bible? What does Scripture say about the Apostle Thomas?
Thomas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, Thomas was also called Didymus in John 11:16; 20:24, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew title Thomas, both meaning “twin.” In the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—Thomas is mentioned only in the listings of the apostles (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). In the Gospel of John, Thomas is one of the main characters in two important stories.
We discover from the story of Thomas that he was sincerely pledged to His master, and yet he fought with uncertainties and questions. On the day of His resurrection, Jesus appeared to a group of His disciples. Thomas was not with them for this notable event (John 20:19–24). After the disciples later explained to Thomas they had witnessed the resurrected Lord, he answered, “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” (John 20:25). With those memorable words, Thomas acquired a nickname that he would be identified by throughout history: Doubting Thomas.
Discover more Bible verses about the Apostle Thomas in this collection of scripture quotes.