Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.
- KJV But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
- NKJV Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
- NASB But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
- NLT One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Thomas was absent when Jesus appeared to the others. His absence sets up his struggle to believe.
Overview
Thomas, called the Twin, missed the first appearance and so lacked the others' firsthand experience. John notes this to explain Thomas's doubt and to highlight the importance of seeing the risen Lord. The episode will lead to one of the Gospel's greatest confessions of faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- John 11:16Then Thomas called Didymus said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
- Heb 10:25Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
- John 6:66–67From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.
- John 21:2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
- John 14:5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
- Matt 18:20For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”
- Matt 10:3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 20:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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