Thomas Believes; Purpose of John's Gospel
John 20:24-31
John.20.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Θωμας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- δωδεκα: NUM,acc,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λεγομενος: PART,pres,pass,nom,sg,m
- Διδυμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- μετ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- οτε: CONJ
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 10:3 (structural): Lists Thomas as one of the twelve apostles, confirming his identity within the Twelve (parallel to John’s identification of Thomas).
- Mark 3:18 (structural): Mark’s list names Thomas among the Twelve, providing a Synoptic attestation of Thomas’ apostolic status (corresponds to John’s 'one of the twelve').
- Luke 6:15 (structural): Luke includes Thomas in his catalog of the Twelve, again corroborating the Johannine designation of Thomas as one of the Twelve (called Didymus in John).
- John 20:25 (thematic): Direct continuation of the same episode: reports Thomas’ absence and his refusal to believe the resurrection appearance unless he sees and touches Jesus (develops the consequence of 20:24).
- Acts 1:13 (structural): After the Ascension, Thomas is named among the apostles present in the upper room; contrasts with his absence at Jesus’ initial post‑Resurrection appearance in John 20:24.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
- Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
John.20.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ελεγον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- ουν: CONJ
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αλλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται·Εωρακαμεν: NOUN,nom,pl,m;VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κυριον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Εαν: PRON,dat,pl,3
- μη: PART
- ιδω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- χερσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- τυπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ηλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- βαλω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- δακτυλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- τυπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ηλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- βαλω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- χειρα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πλευραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- πιστευσω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
Parallels
- John 20:27 (quotation): Directly connected: Jesus responds to Thomas by inviting him to touch the nail‑marks and put his hand into the side — the immediate fulfillment of Thomas’s demand for tactile proof.
- Luke 24:39‑40 (verbal): Luke’s resurrection appearance also emphasizes Jesus showing his hands and feet and inviting touch as proof of bodily resurrection, using similar wording and the same physical demonstration.
- Matthew 28:17 (thematic): Parallel theme of disciples’ mixed response to the risen Lord: some worship while others remain doubtful, echoing Thomas’s refusal to believe without seeing.
- 1 Corinthians 15:5 (thematic): Paul’s catalogue of post‑resurrection appearances underscores that Jesus proved his resurrection by appearing to eyewitnesses — addressing the same concern for verifiable, bodily proofs that Thomas expresses.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
- The other disciples therefore told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
John.20.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- μεθ᾽ημερας: PREP,gen,sg,f
- οκτω: NUM,nom,sg,m
- παλιν: ADV
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- εσω: ADV
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Θωμας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μετ᾽αυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,3
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- θυρων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- κεκλεισμενων: VERB,perf,pass,part,gen,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- εστη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μεσον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν·Ειρηνη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+NOUN,nom,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- John 20:19 (verbal): The earlier post-resurrection appearance the same evening: Jesus enters with doors shut, stands among the disciples and says εἰρήνη ὑμῖν (‘Peace to you’); same scene with Thomas absent.
- Luke 24:36 (verbal): Luke's resurrection appearance: Jesus stands among the disciples and greets them with ‘Peace to you’ (Greek εἰρήνη ὑμῖν), a close verbal/thematic parallel.
- John 20:27 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation in John: Jesus addresses Thomas’s doubt, inviting him to touch the wounds—directly linked to the occasion of the repeated greeting.
- John 14:27 (thematic): Earlier Johannine promise: Jesus tells the disciples ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you,’ thematically anticipating the post-resurrection greeting of peace.
Alternative generated candidates
- After eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
- Eight days later his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
John.20.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειτα: ADV
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Θωμα·Φερε: NOUN,voc,sg,m+VERB,imp,act,2,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- δακτυλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- ωδε: ADV
- και: CONJ
- ιδε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- χειρας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- φερε: VERB,imp,act,2,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- χειρα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- και: CONJ
- βαλε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πλευραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- γινου: VERB,pres,mid,imp,2,sg
- απιστος: ADJ,voc,sg,f
- αλλα: CONJ
- πιστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- John 20:25 (structural): Immediate literary parallel: records Thomas's prior demand for tactile proof ('Unless I see... and touch'), which Jesus now answers directly in 20:27.
- Luke 24:39-40 (verbal): Very close verbal parallel—Jesus invites the disciples to 'handle' his hands and feet and see that he is not a spirit, using physical proof to establish the reality of his resurrection.
- John 20:17 (structural): Contrasting instance in John where the risen Jesus tells Mary 'Do not cling to me'—highlights different responses to physical contact with the risen Lord (rejection of clinging vs. invitation to touch for proof).
- Matthew 28:9 (thematic): After the resurrection Jesus meets the women and they 'take hold of his feet and worship him'—another scene where bodily contact with the risen Christ elicits recognition and worship.
- 1 Corinthians 15:5 (thematic): Paul summarizes post‑resurrection appearances ('to Cephas... then to the twelve'), emphasizing eyewitness encounters—parallels the theme of physical appearances and proof of the risen Lord found in John 20:27.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then he said to Thomas, "Bring your finger here, and see my hands; and bring your hand, and put it into my side; do not remain unbelieving, but believe."
- Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and reach out your hand and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."
John.20.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- απεκριθη: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- Θωμας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω·Ο: PRON,dat,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- John 1:1 (verbal): Directly identifies the Word (Logos) as God — a verbal/theological basis for Thomas' declaration, 'My Lord and my God.'
- John 1:14 (thematic): Affirms the Word became flesh — supports the theological claim that the incarnate Jesus can be rightly confessed as God.
- Colossians 2:9 (thematic): States that the fullness of deity dwells in Christ bodily — echoes the same affirmation of Jesus' divine identity implicit in Thomas' confession.
- Hebrews 1:3 (thematic): Describes the Son as the radiance of God's glory and exact imprint of his nature — undergirds the New Testament portrayal of Jesus as truly divine.
- Romans 9:5 (thematic): Paul's doxology refers to Christ as 'God over all' in some readings — another early confession of Christ's divine status parallel to Thomas' statement.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
- Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
John.20.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Οτι: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εωρακας: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,sg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- πεπιστευκας: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,sg
- μακαριοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μη: PART
- ιδοντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πιστευσαντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Hebrews 11:1 (verbal): Faith defined as the assurance/conviction of things not seen—directly echoes the commendation of believing without seeing.
- 2 Corinthians 5:7 (thematic): “We walk by faith, not by sight” expresses the same principle of trusting God apart from visual proof.
- 1 Peter 1:8-9 (thematic): Speaks of loving and rejoicing in Christ though unseen, and receiving the outcome of faith (salvation), paralleling the blessedness of those who believe without seeing.
- John 20:27 (structural): Jesus invites Thomas to touch his wounds as basis for Thomas’s belief; 20:29 immediately contrasts that instance with the blessedness of those who believe without such proof.
- John 20:31 (structural): The Gospel’s stated purpose is to produce belief in Jesus as the Christ—supporting the beatitude for those who come to faith through the testimony (without seeing the risen Lord).
Alternative generated candidates
- Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
- Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John.20.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Πολλα: ADJ,acc,pl,neut
- μεν: PART
- ουν: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- αλλα: CONJ
- σημεια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- εποιησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ενωπιον: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- μαθητων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- γεγραμμενα: VERB,perf,pass,part,acc,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- βιβλιω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- τουτω·: DEM,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- John 21:25 (verbal): Almost identical verbal echo: John again notes that Jesus 'did many other things' and that, if all were written, the world could not contain the books—directly parallel to 20:30's claim of unwritten signs.
- John 20:31 (structural): Immediate literary follow-up: 20:31 explains the author's purpose in selecting the signs mentioned in 20:30 (that readers may believe and have life in Jesus' name).
- Acts 1:1-3 (verbal): Luke's prologue uses similar language about 'many things' Jesus began to do and teach and emphasizes his post-resurrection appearances 'by many proofs,' paralleling John's reference to additional signs and appearances.
- Mark 16:20 (thematic): The closing of Mark highlights that the Lord confirmed the disciples' message by signs following his resurrection—thematic parallel to John's emphasis on Jesus' signs performed before/among the disciples.
- 1 Kings 11:41 (allusion): Ancient historiographical formula: 'the rest of the acts... are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?'—a comparable note that not every deed is recorded, echoing John 20:30's 'not written in this book.'
Alternative generated candidates
- Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.
- Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
John.20.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- δε: CONJ
- γεγραπται: VERB,perf,pass,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- πιστευητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ινα: CONJ
- πιστευοντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- ζωην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχητε: VERB,pres,act,sub,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 John 5:13 (verbal): Same Johannine purpose statement—explicitly written so believers may know they have eternal life in the name of the Son of God.
- John 6:47 (verbal): Uses the same doctrinal formula linking belief in Jesus to possession of eternal life: 'Whoever believes has eternal life.'
- John 3:16 (thematic): Connects belief in Jesus as the Son of God/Christ with the promise of eternal life—the core salvific theme of John 20:31.
- John 1:12 (thematic): Highlights the effect of believing in Jesus—becoming children of God—which parallels John 20:31’s focus on belief and resulting life in his name.
- Romans 10:9-10 (thematic): Paul’s summary that confession and belief bring salvation parallels John’s emphasis that faith in Jesus as Christ/Son of God yields life.
Alternative generated candidates
- But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
- But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."
Eight days later his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and bring your hand and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believe."
Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, by believing, you may have life in his name.