Thomas, James & Thaddaeus

19. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

We are still studying our disciples.  Today we want to talk about Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus and  Thaddaeus. 

Our text is still the same:  Here is a list of all twelve disciples.

Matthew 10:1 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. 

The New Testament only mentions James four times and each time it is in connection with giving the list of the twelve.  There was some speculation that he may be the brother of Matthew since they both were called the son of Alphaeus.  There is no biblical evidence that these two were brothers and is probably not likely since the other accounts do indicate relationship as in the case of Peter and Andrew and James and John.   Most scholars agree that their fathers simply shared the same name. 

Some manuscripts have Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus and other manuscripts just include the name Thaddaeus alone.    Thaddaues is only mentioned twice in the New Testament and in both cases he is simply listed among the names of the twelve disciples.  The scriptures do not give us any information about his personal life or any acts that were attributed to him alone.  He is merely listed as one of the Disciples of Christ. 

Thomas who has been called Doubting Thomas, Judas Thomas and Didymus.    Thomas is probably best known in church history for doubting the resurrected Christ unless he was able to thrust his hand in his side.    Here is that story. 

John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “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 it.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 

  Thomas is also included among the disciples when they go to see Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and Thomas actually is the one that instructs the other disciples to go along.  Here is that account: 

John 11:11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 

Thomas is the one that asks Jesus to show them the way and Jesus responds with one the most controversial passages ever written.  Let’s look at that account. 

John 14:1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 

The last we hear of Thomas is in Acts when he is listed among the group that is in the upper room on the day of Pentecost waiting for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. 

Okay, we only have two left to go and then the test. 

Have a wonderful weekend.  If you didn’t get a chance to go see Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys, go check it out.  I’m going again with my husband this weekend.   

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!! 

God Bless!!!!!!!!!!

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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