One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others 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.
- BSB Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples 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.
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 11:16Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go also, that we may die with him.”
- Heb 10:25not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.
- John 6:66–67At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
- John 21:2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.
- John 14:5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
- Matt 18:20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
- Matt 10:3Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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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