THOMAS.  [N.T. Gr. from Heb. Teom = "a twin."
    One of the twelve apostles (Matt. x. 3; Mark iii. 18; Luke vi. 15; John xi. 16; xiv. 5; xx. 24-29; xxi. 2; Acts i. 13).  He was called also Didymus (Greek Didumos), meaning like Thomas, "a twin."  When the disciples were astonished that our Lord intimated His intention of going again to Judaea, where a little before the Jews had threatened to stone Him (John xi. 7, 8), Thomas came forth with an ambiguous utterance, addressed to his fellow-disciples:  "Let us also go, that we may die with Him" (16).  It might mean excessive devotion to his Master, but more probably signified:  "He ought not to go; but if He is determined to do it, we must accompany Him, though we do it at the greatest risk to our lives."  When Jesus, in anticipation of His departure, spoke of going to prepare a place for them, Thomas said:  "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?"  To which the reply commenced with the well-known words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (xiv. 1-6).  Thomas was constitutionally of a sceptical turn of mind, and not having been present at the meeting at which the privilege was granted of seeing the risen Lord, he said:  "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe" (xx. 24, 25).  Eight days later Jesus gave him the evidence he required, and elicited from him the adoring exclamation:  "My Lord and my God!" (26-29).  He was with the rest of the apostles in the upper room at Jerusalem after the ascension (Acts i. 13).  Tradition makes Thomas afterwards labour in Parthia and Persia, dying in the latter country.  At a later period India was named as the place where he had preached and suffered martyrdom, and a place near Madras is called St. Thomas's Mount. (The Sunday School Teacher's Bible Manual, Hunter, 1894)