Doubting Thomas
Few biblical figures are as instantly recognizable—and as frequently misunderstood—as doubting Thomas, or doubtful Thomas. His brief but powerful appearance in the Gospel of John, has made it even to our everyday language.
Unfortunately the expression 'Doubtful Thomas' oversimplifies a far more complex and relatable character. Rather than a symbol of weak faith, Thomas can be seen as a figure of honest questioning. His doubt is not failure, but a meaningful step on the path toward belief. Thomas’s journey now resonates more than ever, offering a timeless perspective on the tension between skepticism and faith.
A doubting Thomas
We often call someone 'a doubting Thomas', if (s)he refuses to believe something without direct personal experience. You could say that a doubting Thomas is a skeptic person.
This is clearly a reference to Thomas in the Gospel of John, who refused to believe in Jesus' resurrection until he could see, feel and touch Jesus' crucifixion wounds.
What is the story behind doubtful Thomas?
So the story starts with Jesus' resurrection. A few days after Jesus' death, Mary goes to the tomb. There she sees that the heavy stone in front of the entrance is rolled away. She runs back to inform the others disciples. John and Peter go to check out the tomb too, where they just see the strips of linen.
Jesus and Mary at the tomb
After they leave, Mary stays at the tomb, crying. After two angels appear to her, she has a beautiful encounter with Jesus. Watch the scene below!
Jesus appears to ten of his disciples
That evening (John 20:19) Jesus all of a sudden appears to ten of his disciples, while they were in a locked room. Jesus stands among them and says, “Peace be with you!” He shows them his wounded hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed.
Jesus Appears to Thomas
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Doubting Thomas scripture
The only gospel that tells us about Thomas' doubt, is the Gospel of John, in John 20:24-29. You can read the story of Doubtful Thomas in scripture above. Did you know you can also watch the story in the bible movie The Gospel of John? You can find the scene below, word by word from the Bible.
Thomas touches Jesus
Imagine this: ten of your closest friends tell you something that seems impossible. They tell you that your beloved teacher, who was horrifically murdered, has risen.
So you respond: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
At first glace, it may seem like an understandable respons. But if we take a closer look, it is quite a surprising response. Because it’s ten to one: his ten friends, that he shared life with for three years, claim Jesus rose from the death. Thomas had seen the miracles that Jesus performed. He probably had seen Lazarus rise from the death. Why would he doubt?
In verse 25 he says: “I have to see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails.” Like John Piper says:
In other words, “I don’t care what you’ve seen — a spirit, a ghost, a vision. You may be telling the truth. But what I can’t believe is that the man hanging on that cross — with nails in his hands and feet and spear thrust into his side to make sure he was dead — that man, that very man, with those wounds, is alive."
This story is not meant to glorify Thomas' doubt. The story of doubtful Thomas shows us how Jesus responds in the midst of ours. He uses the exact words of Thomas the week before: "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side."
Thomas doesn't even do it. He doesn't even touch Jesus. Just hearing his exact words, was enough for Thomas to believe and completely surrender.
Thomas the disciple
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Why would the doubt of Thomas be in the Bible?
The main point of this passage about doubtful Thomas in scripture (and indeed of the whole book of John!) we find in John 20:31:
These are written [the story of Thomas and Jesus] 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.
Ten reliable eyewitnesses all testify not only that Jesus is alive but that he did in fact show them his hands and his side. This was why they were so happy. If ten of your best reliable friends tell you that it really happens, that they saw the risen Jesus, it should be enough.
The story of doubtful Thomas in the Gospel of John was meant to give you another testimony, to help you realize that Jesus is the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Jesus is going to say in verse 29, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” So be blessed!