Doubting Thomas

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “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.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 (John 20:24–30, ESV)

The most common explanation of this text is that Thomas was skeptical about the other Disciples’ testimony.    However, when we understand that John, like Mark is written in stageable vignettes in part or in whole, something different emerges, very like the story of Nicodemus & Yeshua in Chapter 3.  

What we see here is an interesting exercise in thesis, antithesis, & synthesis.

Thesis, antithesis, synthesis packages that same process for writing. Instead of showing every round of the debate, you compress it: Establish common ground (thesis), reveal why it fails (antithesis), and resolve the tension with a stronger viewpoint (synthesis). The reader experiences the same logical journey in a few paragraphs instead of a five-minute argument.  (https://www.animalz.co/blog/thesis-antithesis-synthesis)

Thesis: Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” 

Antithesis:  But he said to them, “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.”

Synthesis:  Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 

The point of the passage, from the perspective of the original audience, isn’t that Thomas doubted the good news about Yeshua’s resurrection.  Rather, the point of the passage is that Thomas, in his response is taking on the role of Antithesis as if he is their Vox.  The other disciples are taking on the role of Thesis’ Vox.  These two points of view are now being debated in the presence of many witnesses. 

Yeshua appears as Vox Synthesis after 8 days, signifying a new beginning with a stronger point of view.  He appears to resolve the debate. 

Maybe Thomas was skeptical, maybe not.  That’s not the point of the narrative. What’s important is who & what the main characters represent relative to the Resurrection.     Just because Thomas is Vox Skepticus, it doesn’t therefore follow that he himself was skeptical,   What follows is that he represents people like those about whom Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, people who were uncertain or downright skeptical about Yeshua’s Resurrection (& physical, bodily resurrection in general) & that God has replied to them by ensuring that Yeshua’s resurrection is a real, literal, historical fact —- > not a fictional tale.