Biographical Study – Topic Approval

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY

A biographical study of Apostle Thomas

Submitted to Dr. Charles Powell, in partial fulfillment

of the requirements for the completion of the course

NBST 515 - B18 LUO

NEW TESTAMENT ORIENTATION

By

Homefred M. Mufor

September 16, 2018

CONTENTS

Introduction

Methodology

Character traits of Apostle Thomas

His Courage

His Inquisitive Nature

His Doubt

The Ministry of Thomas

His Mission to India

Conclusion

VII. Bibliography

Introduction

Thomas was among the twelve disciples of Jesus. The first three gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke have minimal information about him. The Apostle John includes precious information in his gospel which provides a biblical account to an insight of the character traits of this great Apostle (John 11:16; 14;5, 20:24-29). He is mentioned only eight times in the entire scripture, four times with the list of other Apostles (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13). [footnoteRef:25836]It is true that Thomas is not among the privileged three: Peter, James and John who were called to be with Jesus on some important occasions as at the raising of the daughter of Jairus (Mt 9:23-26; Mk 5:35-43; Lk 8:49-56), at the transfiguration of Jesus on the mount (Mt 17:1-13; Mk 9:2-8; Lk 9:28-36) and in Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-37; Mk 14:32-33). He was not the least nor the most important of all the Apostles. A negative connotation is attached to his name by many theologians. Although theologians have labeled the Apostle as “Doubting Thomas", he possesses good character traits we can glean from as Christians. In this paper we will discover how Apostle Thomas was a courageous, inquisitive and loyal disciple who was misunderstood and labeled “doubting Thomas”. He did exploits as a missionary to India and was thus called the Apostle of the East. [25836: George Kaniarakath, Apostle Thomas and the Mission to the Nations. Studia Missionalia, 52 (2003): 366]

Methodology

The methodology of this biographical study anchor on the fact that the bible is the primary source of theological reflection. Other books are used to support the biblical reference. This paper is an objective rather than a subjective exegetical work based only on present findings of the biblical character. Preconceived knowledge does not influence this paper. The conclusion is not based on selected evidence but on information gleaned from the various study materials listed in the bibliography.

Character Traits of Apostle Thomas

His Courage

When Jesus learned that Lazarus was sick, He told His disciples to return with Him to Judea again. The disciples were reluctant because the Jews wanted to stone Jesus. Jesus explained to them that Lazarus had died, and they had to go to Judea. Thomas made a very remarkable statement in John 11:16 “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (NKJV). Peter made a similar statement in Luke 22:33, “Lord I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death” (NKJV). The difference between Thomas's and Peter’s statement is that Thomas dared to back his assertion with action and followed Jesus to Judea, but Peter was not committed to his declaration. The fact that Thomas went up to Judea despite threats of stoning and eminent death displays his courage.

His Inquisitive Nature

Knowing the way in whatever we are involved in is very important. If you do not know the way, any way will look like the way. Thomas plays a vital role in the farewell message of Christ to His disciples. Thomas’s inquisitive nature leads to a profound response to his question declaring Jesus as The Way, The Truth and The Life. Though unknowing within the narrative setup Thomas’s character is instrumental in revealing some of the mysteries of the extended story world (Thomaskutty 2018, 35). Thomas statement expressed his willingness to follow Jesus to the very end.

His Doubt

Thomas has described by many based on the perspective of doubting the resurrection of Christ. Humans are wired to define people based on their weaknesses rather than strengths. Yes, Thomas doubted the resurrection of Christ for a week, but does it mean he did nothing that requires his recognition? In John 20:24-29 Jesus appears to His disciples after the resurrection in the absence of Thomas. Most probably the disciples were hiding from the Jews, but only Thomas dared to leave the room. The idea of Theologians to label Thomas as “Doubting Thomas” is seriously debatable. It is clear though that he went through a season of faith, then doubt and faith again. As a disciple of Christ, he had faith in Christ. Faith is based on the evidence of things not seen. He then went through a season of doubt wishing to rely only on believing when he sees Jesus physically. He then moves into a season of radical faith declaring Jesus as “My Lord and My God” (John 20:28). Nowhere else in the fourth Gospel, or for that matter in any Gospel does any character make such an explicit confession of Jesus Divinity (Bonney 2002, 9). Stressing on Thomas doubt rather than his powerful declaration is questionable in theological manuscripts.

The Ministry of Thomas

His Mission to India

The story of Indian Christianity begins in the first century CE with the arrival of Apostle Thomas (Hedlund 2017, 1). The Apostle Thomas most probably traveled to India during the persecution of the church after the stoning of Stephen. This assertion is because in the bible Thomas is lastly mentioned during the upper room experience in Acts 2. Thomas ministered in India and had a group of converts known as the “Thomas Christians".

Conclusion

Thomas is an exciting character in the bible. Though he is known for doubting the resurrection of Christ, his doubt did not stop him from believing when Jesus revealed Himself. Thomas portrays dominant traits of a true disciple, and his inquisitive nature gave the opportunity for Jesus to make one of the most profound declarations in Scripture; “I am The Way, The Truth and The Life’. This study refutes the name “Doubting Thomas” is a pivot to describe who this great Apostle was.

Bibliography

Andrade, Nathanael. The Journey of Christianity of India in Late Antiquity: networks and the movement of culture, 2018.

Athikalam, James. “St Thomas the Apostle and Thomas Christians.” Studia Missionalia, 51 (2002): 333-351.

Bonney, William. Caused to believe: The Doubting Thomas story at the climax of John's Christological narrative, 2002.

Guillaumont, Antoine. The Gospel according to Thomas. 1984

Hedlund, Roger. Christianity Made in India: From Apostle Thomas to Mother Teresa. Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 2017.

Jansma, Taeke. A selection from the Acts of Judas Thomas, 1952.

Kaniarakath, George. “Apostle Thomas and the mission to the Nations”. Studia Missionalia, 52 (2003): 365-389.

Klijn, Albertus. The Acts of Thomas: Introduction, Text, and Commentary, 2003.

Most, Glenn. Doubting Thomas. Harvard University Press, 2005.

Thomaskutty, Thomas. Saint Thomas the Apostle: New Testament, Apocrypha, and Historical Traditions. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2018.