Thomas the Apostle
Born to a Jewish family, he is believed to have lived in Galilee, as did most other followers and apostles of Jesus. His ministry was based in Galilee. Originally called Jude the son of James and grandson of Alpheus, his real identity is today vague since some texts say he was the twin brother of James, not Matthew. And although he is claimed as the patron saint of architects, it is separately claimed that he was a fisherman in Galilee before he became a disciple. Nothing is known of where, when and how he became acquainted with Jesus. He is first noted in Mathew 10 3 as among the disciples chosen by Jesus. Most illustrations portray Thomas as a soft-spoken middle-aged man with a narrow face, long nose, curling hair and spotting a trimmed moustache. He is also illustrated holding a spear, although this does not mean he used to carry one. He is believed to have been speared to death, and paintings of martyrs often show them holding the particular instruments used to put them to death.
His personality depicts him as an honest, courageous and dedicated disciple. Though nicknamed Doubting Thomas for constantly questioning the truth, it is noted that it was hard to convince him otherwise once he believed in something after being presented with hard facts. His interaction with Jesus and fellow disciples shows he was equally pessimistic of Christ as he was loyal, obedient, and full of love for him. Events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus portray him as a disciple of little faith, while events preceding and succeeding this period depict his strong faith and brave character.
Following the ascension of Jesus, Thomas was a core figure in the Great Commission. He is believed to perhaps be the only Apostle to transcend the borders of the Roman Empire and traverse the remotest and largest regions to preach the gospel. Thomas is said to have first traveled to Babylon to evangelize. He later preached in Persia, Medes, Parthian and the Indian subcontinent. In India, he is credited with the introduction of Christianity there starting AD 52. Today, there exists an Indian Christian community (Thomasine Christianity) within the state of Kerala along the Malabar Coast of south-western India, which claims descent from Christians transformed by the preaching of Thomas. India, a predominantly Hindu nation, gives the best example of Thomas role in the spread of the gospel.
Christianity is today the countrys third largest religion, with an estimated 24 million followers. Thomas met his martyrdom in India, where he is believed to have been stabbed to death with a spear in A.D. 72 by Brahmins while praying.
Overall, his contribution to the New Testament record is brief, but significant to Christianity. It is mainly recorded in a few passages in the Gospel of John. When Jesus decided to travel and raise Lazarus from the dead in Judea, the disciples feared that he would be killed there. But Thomas showed fearlessness for death by saying to his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. (John 117, 8, 16)
Later on during the discourse the last Supper, it is this disciple who prompted Jesus to define himself in a phrase that has been crucial in defining the Christian faith. Jesus said that he was to go and prepare a place for his disciples, for which they also might come since they knew where he was going, and also the way. Courtesy of hindsight, we know that Jesus is talking about his death, and what was to follow in the next few hours. But out of confusion and misunderstanding, Thomas asked him Master, we do not know where you are going how can we know the way Jesus answered that he is the way and the truth and the life, and that no one could reach His father except through him. (John 145-6). Via his misunderstanding of the message, he inadvertently prompted Jesus to teach an immortal lesson.
Thomas most famed appearance in the New Testament comes when he doubts that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. He was absent when the Jesus appeared to the other apostles on the evening of Easter Day, and doubted his colleagues allusion that Christ had indeed risen from the dead. He insisted he could only believe it when he saw and touched the wounds inflicted on Christ while on the cross (Most, 2005).
When Jesus later appeared to them in a room and allowed Thomas to see the wounds on his hands and side, Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20 28). Through him, Jesus taught another valuable lesson when he said, blessed are they that do not have to see to believe. The public profession of faith in the holiness of Jesus has also been passed don many Christian generations.
In the Gospel of John, Thomas is mentioned as among the seven disciples who were fishing in the Sea of Tiberias when the Risen Jesus appeared and a miraculous catching of fish took place. Thomas is the author of the Gospel of Thomas. This Gnostic apocryphal Gospel is, however, not included in the certified King James Version of the Bible as it is considered not to be inspired by most of theological leaders. But a diverse theory attributes the exclusion of Thomas works in the original text of the Bible to a late discovery date, saying they are by no means of less value than the words of Christ in the other gospels. The document was discovered in 1945 at Naj Hamadi in Egypt and is believed to date back to c. A.D. 140.This book of the Gospel is made up of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus as a child, teen, and into young adult hood, told as Thomas remembers them (Most, 2005).
In yet another moment of great symbolism, The Passing of Mary, a text attributed to Joseph of Arimathaea, has it that Thomas was the only witness of the Assumption of Mary to heaven. Today, many Christians still have a special attachment with St. Thomas not mainly due to his incessant disbelief, but due to his eventually strong belief. The feast of Saint Thomas, in his honor, was added to the Roman calendar in the ninth century and is marked annually, on December 21, while other churches celebrate the feast on July 3.
To Christians, his moment of cynicism after Jesus resurrected is deemed more beneficial than the ready faith of his colleagues. It is through him that Christ gave more credible substantiation of resurrection, subsequently making many generations easily believe in and confess that Jesus indeed died and then rose from the dead. St. Thomas has been a vital pillar of Christianity, especially with his courage and disbelief standing out. For instance, when he urged his colleagues to follow Jesus to Judea, where death loomed, he showed willingness to sacrifice his own life alongside Christ. This shows unwavering loyalty to Jesus and depicts a man who acted exactly the way a disciple was expected to.
It can thus be concluded that despite his incredulity, Thomas has played a central role in the spread of Christianity across the world, both by provoking Jesus into making his messages clearer, and by physically spreading the gospels to hitherto non-Christian nations. His courage, fearlessness and devotion to Jesus set a lasting path that Christians are to follow if they are to be regarded true followers of Christ (Most, 2005).
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