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Thomas — the Twin (Didymus)

Called Didymus, 'the twin.' He is remembered for doubting the resurrection until he saw the risen Jesus and confessed 'my Lord and my God.' A strong tradition carries him furthest of all the apostles — to India, where the Saint Thomas Christians trace their origin and where he was martyred.

Role: Apostle

Also known as: Didymus, Thomas the Twin, Doubting Thomas

Lived: 1st century AD

Belonged to: The Twelve Apostles, Israelites (Hebrews)

Death: Traditionally martyred near Mylapore, India

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1

Life, role & deeds

BibleCalled Didymus, 'the twin', he doubted the resurrection until he saw the risen Jesus.

John 20:24–28

Death & legacy

ScholarlyA strong tradition, and the ancient Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, hold that he carried the gospel to India and was martyred there.

Acts of Thomas; Saint Thomas Christian tradition

↳ Mylapore

Where in scripture

Matthew Mark Luke John Acts

Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;
Matthew 10:3

Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot;
Mark 3:18

Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot;
Luke 6:15

Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go also, that we may die with him.”
John 11:16 — 'Let us also go, that we may die with him'

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
John 14:5 — 'How can we know the way?'

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.
John 20:24 — Doubts, then confesses 'my Lord and my God'

After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”
John 20:26

Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
John 20:27

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Matthew 10:3 Mark 3:18 Luke 6:15 John 11:16 John 14:5 John 20:24 John 20:26 John 20:27 John 20:28 John 20:29 John 21:2 Acts 1:13

In their own words — 5 recorded sayings

“Then Thomas, who was named Didymus, said to the other disciples, Let us go so that we may be with him in death.” — John 11:16

“Thomas said, Lord, we have no knowledge of where you are going; how may we have knowledge of the way?” — John 14:5

“So the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, If I do not see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and if I do not put my hand into his side, I will never have belief.” — John 20:25

“And Thomas said in answer, My Lord and my God!” — John 20:28

“Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, And we will come with you. They went out and got into the boat; but that night they took no fish.” — John 21:3

Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).

Connections

Disciple of Jesus of Nazareth

Journeys

The mission of Thomas to India

By strong and ancient tradition, the apostle Thomas carried the gospel farther east than any other — through Mesopotamia and Persia to India, where the St Thomas Christians of Kerala trace their church to him.