Acts of Apostle Thomas

THE ACTS OF APOSTLE THOMAS : M. M. NINAN
Thomas in Hebrew means "The Twin". So he was also known as "Didymus" which meant 'The
Twin' in Greek. It obviously implies that Thomas was the twin brother of some other known person.
His real name was Judas. Judas (Greek: Ιούδας) is the anglicized Greek rendering of the
Hebrew name Yehudah (Hebrew: ‏.יְהוּדָה Since there are so many persons with the common name
Yehuda (Judah) the only way to identify is the nickname as Didymus. Here are some of the New
Testment person by name Judas
o Judas Iscariot, the apostle of Jesus Christ who betrayed him
o Judas Thomas Didymus, commonly referred to as Saint Thomas and Doubting
Thomas
o Judas Thaddaeus, son of James, one of the twelve apostles
o Saint Jude, a brother, stepbrother, or half-brother, to Jesus
o Judas the Zealot, whose identity is not completely clear, probably either of:
• Saint Jude, who some traditions think is Judas Thomas Didymus
• Simon the Zealot, the apostle named Simon that was not Simon Peter
o Judas Barsabbas, an emissary of the Church of Jerusalem to the Church at Antioch.
Judas Maccabeus, a founder of the Hasmonean dynasty
Judas of Galilee, also Judas of Gamala, Jewish revolt leader
Judas Cyriacus, man said to have assisted Helena of Constantinople find the True Cross
The Gnostics considers Thomas as the twin brother of Jesus. We have no evidence for this in the
Bible. No, Mary did not give birth to two Children, Matthew 1:18-23. It also has the problem of a
twin being conceived in Mary by Holy Spirit making Thomas also God incarnate. Jesus Christ is
the Father's only begotten Son, John 3:16-17.
The Book of Thomas the Contender, found in the Nag Hammadi library, Jesus says: "Now, since it
has been said that you are my twin and true companion, examine yourself…" Thomas probably
looked like Jesus and so people called him the Twin. Still others consider that his attitude of rationality
and interpretation corresponded a spiritual reflection of Jesus.
It has been conjectured that Thomas was the twin brother of Matthew, Some legends make Thomas
the twin of James. What was his real name? All tradition ascribes the name Judas Thomas
which makes his real name as Jude or Judas. In the lists of the apostles Thomas is always mentioned
along with Matthew, who was the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18), and that these two are always
followed by James, who was also the son of Alphaeus. Hence it may be assumed that these
three, Matthew, Thomas, and James, were brothers.
Even though the references to Thomas are few, they are sufficient to give us insight into this great
rationalist scientist. Once committed he was willing to die for the cause. So when Jesus was planning
to return to Jerusalem where people waiting to kill him, Thomas volunteered and encouraged
his fellow brothren to dare to accompany Jesus even to death.
John 11:16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that
we may die with him."
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