John 11:16
Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him."
Thomas or
Didymus both mean "Twin". We are not told why Thomas is called as Didymus.
Twin of whom? we do not know. The (Gnostic work?)"Acts of Thomas" (though
considered unreliable by some)
refers to Thomas as the twin of Jesus. Also this source refers to Thomas as a builder in the courts of King Gondaphorus in India. A Builder or a carpenter like our Lord?
(Makes me wonder aloud, was he also a co-worker, friend of Jesus before Jesus began his public ministry? Did they work together building structures and furniture? Did they play together taking a break from work? Was he a companion of the boy Jesus? All wild speculations of a wandering mind, but not beyond the
realms of possibility. We must be cautious about speculations though and hurry back to focus on what the Holy Spirit has revealed in more conspicuous ways)
In any case, let us look at another level. Twins are often look alikes. At a spiritual level - the name "Didymus" is best suited to Thomas in the context of this verse. There was no one else with a will aligned with the Will of the Lord at that particular instance. Adhering to the call of Jesus, Thomas is the one who steps up to obey. He is the one resembling Christ, the only one among the twelve at that moment. By Thomas's "Christ-like" character, he is able to change the minds of the others and convince them also to be "Christ-like". He is "the"
Twin at that moment.
Apostle Thomas, the Catholicose of the East, who is called Didymus, the trusted friend of the other apostles, is a holy saint. All saints are sign-posts pointing to Christ. Thomas, the twin, was the saint at that moment pointing the others to Christ, coaxing them to follow Christ, guiding them to obey Christ. He was Didymus, indeed!
Christ is Risen!
Mathew Samuel
Albany, NY
P.S.: This whole series has been dealing with speculations at some level, but
closer to and based on the verse in question, using "hunches" from the
Scriptures more or less. However the references to 'Acts of Thomas' is a
diversion and I will try to keep within the popularly accepted Scriptural
passages as much as possible. I just felt the urge to add another perspective.
Kindly excuse.
Part 13:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23565
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23577
Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him."
 |
| Lets be Christ-like |
refers to Thomas as the twin of Jesus. Also this source refers to Thomas as a builder in the courts of King Gondaphorus in India. A Builder or a carpenter like our Lord?
(Makes me wonder aloud, was he also a co-worker, friend of Jesus before Jesus began his public ministry? Did they work together building structures and furniture? Did they play together taking a break from work? Was he a companion of the boy Jesus? All wild speculations of a wandering mind, but not beyond the
realms of possibility. We must be cautious about speculations though and hurry back to focus on what the Holy Spirit has revealed in more conspicuous ways)
In any case, let us look at another level. Twins are often look alikes. At a spiritual level - the name "Didymus" is best suited to Thomas in the context of this verse. There was no one else with a will aligned with the Will of the Lord at that particular instance. Adhering to the call of Jesus, Thomas is the one who steps up to obey. He is the one resembling Christ, the only one among the twelve at that moment. By Thomas's "Christ-like" character, he is able to change the minds of the others and convince them also to be "Christ-like". He is "the"
Twin at that moment.
Apostle Thomas, the Catholicose of the East, who is called Didymus, the trusted friend of the other apostles, is a holy saint. All saints are sign-posts pointing to Christ. Thomas, the twin, was the saint at that moment pointing the others to Christ, coaxing them to follow Christ, guiding them to obey Christ. He was Didymus, indeed!
Christ is Risen!
Mathew Samuel
Albany, NY
P.S.: This whole series has been dealing with speculations at some level, but
closer to and based on the verse in question, using "hunches" from the
Scriptures more or less. However the references to 'Acts of Thomas' is a
diversion and I will try to keep within the popularly accepted Scriptural
passages as much as possible. I just felt the urge to add another perspective.
Kindly excuse.
Part 13:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23565
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/23577
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