Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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THOMAS

One of the Twelve Apostles. In their Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke mention him only once, simply in listing the names of the twelve. In John's Gospel he is named several times as "Thomas, known as the twin." The disparaging sobriquet he has borne through the centuries, Doubting Thomas, he earned in the familiar story of his refusal to believe that the resurrected Christ had appeared to the other Apostles unless he could examine the marks of the Crucifixion (John 20:24-20). Another incident in John's Gospel reflects great on Thomas for strong faith and courage. When Jesus told the Apostles that he would return to Judaea despite the threats against his life, Thomas said to the others, "Let us go, too, and die with him" (John 11:16).