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Doubting Thomas

  • 29-05-2008 8:11pm
    #1
    Pompey Magnus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭


    Out of interest how would most Christians view Thomas? As he was a skeptic and demanded the same evidence as most non-believers today could I assume he would be generally frowned upon. I mean even if you accept the dodgy Apocrypha dealing with Thomas' martyrdom, the legend of his willingness to die for Jesus becomes pretty meaningless when you realise he didn't die for his faith (he didn't have any), but for his 100% certainty of Jesus' resurrection which of course is quite a bit easier.

    Also why exactly is Thomas singled out and described as "Doubting" when according to the Gospel of Luke all of the apostles (apart maybe from Peter) refused to believe Jesus was risen until he appeared to them in Jerusalem. Why are they not described as Doubting James, Doubting John, Doubting Batholomew, Doubting Thaddeus etc?


Comments

  • #2
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    Depeche_Mode wrote: »
    Out of interest how would most Christians view Thomas? As he was a skeptic and demanded the same evidence as most non-believers today could I assume he would be generally frowned upon. I mean even if you accept the dodgy Apocrypha dealing with Thomas' martyrdom, the legend of his willingness to die for Jesus becomes pretty meaningless when you realise he didn't die for his faith (he didn't have any), but for his 100% certainty of Jesus' resurrection which of course is quite a bit easier.

    Also why exactly is Thomas singled out and described as "Doubting" when according to the Gospel of Luke all of the apostles (apart maybe from Peter) refused to believe Jesus was risen until he appeared to them in Jerusalem. Why are they not described as Doubting James, Doubting John, Doubting Batholomew, Doubting Thaddeus etc?

    It is untrue to say Thomas didn't have any faith. He certainly had faith, but on one famous occasion was rebuked for refusing to believe something when he already had abundant evidence of who Christ was.


  • #3
    Fanny Cradock
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,245 ✭✭✭✭Fanny Cradock


    I can definitely empathise with the guy


  • #4
    Pompey Magnus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭Pompey Magnus


    PDN wrote: »
    It is untrue to say Thomas didn't have any faith. He certainly had faith, but on one famous occasion was rebuked for refusing to believe something when he already had abundant evidence of who Christ was.

    What faith did he have? He point blank refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he had absolute proof. How could that be considered faith?

    Thinking about it again he was even more skeptical than most people today, if the mirace stories of Jesus are true then he would have seen so many great works by Jesus and still wasn't impressed.


  • #5
    philologos
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,479 ✭✭✭✭philologos


    Depeche_Mode, to be honest with you I see a little of myself in Thomas when I struggle with doubt sometimes.


  • #6
    PDN
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,686 ✭✭✭✭PDN


    Depeche_Mode wrote: »
    What faith did he have? He point blank refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he had absolute proof. How could that be considered faith?

    Thinking about it again he was even more skeptical than most people today, if the mirace stories of Jesus are true then he would have seen so many great works by Jesus and still wasn't impressed.

    Faith is belief based on evidence rather than absolute proof.

    Thomas showed faith prior to the post-resurrection encounter with Jesus (He answered the call to discipleship, healed the sick etc). He showed faith after Christ's ascension (preaching the Gospel, risking persecution and martyrdom, and, if my Indian friends are to be believed, taking the Gospel to their country). On this one occasion he failed and was rebuked by Christ.

    Thomas is like so many of the rest of that have faith. Sometimes we fail and show a disappointing lack of faith in certain areas.


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