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139:8.1 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] was the eighth [[apostle]], and he was chosen by [[Philip, the Apostle|Philip]. In later times he has become known as " [[doubting]] Thomas, "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_20] but his fellow [[apostles]] hardly looked upon him as a chronic doubter. True, his was a [[logical]], [[skeptical]] type of [[mind]], but he had a form of [[courageous]] [[loyalty]] which forbade those who knew him [[intimate]]ly to regard him as a trifling skeptic.

139:8.1 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] was the eighth [[apostle]], and he was chosen by [[Philip, the Apostle|Philip]. In later times he has become known as " [[doubting]] Thomas, "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_20] but his fellow [[apostles]] hardly looked upon him as a chronic doubter. True, his was a [[logical]], [[skeptical]] type of [[mind]], but he had a form of [[courageous]] [[loyalty]] which forbade those who knew him [[intimate]]ly to regard him as a trifling skeptic.

139:8.2 When [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] joined the [[apostles]], he was twenty-nine years old, was [[married]], and had four [[children]]. Formerly he had been a [[carpenter]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonry stone mason], but latterly he had become a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisherman fisherman] and resided at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarichea Tarichea], situated on the west bank of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan] where it flows out of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee Sea of Galilee], and he was regarded as the leading [[citizen]] of this little village. He had little [[education]], but he possessed a keen, reasoning [[mind]] and was the son of excellent [[parents]], who lived at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberias Tiberias]. Thomas had the one truly [[analytical]] [[mind]] of the twelve; he was the real [[scientist]] of the apostolic group.

139:8.2 When [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] joined the [[apostles]], he was twenty-nine years old, was [[married]], and had four [[children]]. Formerly he had been a [[carpenter]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonry stone mason], but latterly he had become a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisherman fisherman] and resided at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarichea Tarichea], situated on the west bank of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan] where it flows out of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee Sea of Galilee], and he was regarded as the leading [[citizen]] of this little village. He had little [[education]], but he possessed a keen, reasoning [[mind]] and was the son of excellent [[parents]], who lived at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberias Tiberias]. Thomas had the one truly [[analytical]] [[mind]] of the twelve; he was the real [[scientist]] of the apostolic group.

139:8.3 The early [[home]] life of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] had been unfortunate; his [[parents]] were not altogether [[happy]] in their [[married]] life, and this was reflected in Thomas's adult [[experience]]. He grew up having a very disagreeable and quarrelsome disposition. Even his [[wife]] was glad to see him join the [[apostles]]; she was relieved by the [[thought]] that her [[pessimistic]] [[husband]] would be away from [[home]] most of the time. Thomas also had a streak of [[suspicion]] which made it very [[difficult]] to get along peaceably with him. [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]] was very much upset by Thomas at first, complaining to his brother, [[Andrew, the Apostle|Andrew]], that Thomas was " mean, ugly, and always [[suspicious]]. " But the better his associates knew [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas], the more they liked him. They found he was superbly [[honest]] and unflinchingly [[loyal]]. He was [[perfectly]] [[sincere]] and unquestionably [[truthful]], but he was a [[natural]]-born faultfinder and had grown up to become a real [[pessimist]]. His [[analytical]] [[mind]] had become [[cursed]] with [[suspicion]]. He was rapidly losing [[faith]] in his fellow men when he became associated with the twelve and thus came in [[contact]] with the [[noble]] [[character]] of [[Jesus]]. This association with [[the Master]] began at once to [[transform]] Thomas's whole disposition and to effect great [[changes]] in his mental [[reactions]] to his fellow men.

139:8.3 The early [[home]] life of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] had been unfortunate; his [[parents]] were not altogether [[happy]] in their [[married]] life, and this was reflected in Thomas's adult [[experience]]. He grew up having a very disagreeable and quarrelsome disposition. Even his [[wife]] was glad to see him join the [[apostles]]; she was relieved by the [[thought]] that her [[pessimistic]] [[husband]] would be away from [[home]] most of the time. Thomas also had a streak of [[suspicion]] which made it very [[difficult]] to get along peaceably with him. [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]] was very much upset by Thomas at first, complaining to his brother, [[Andrew, the Apostle|Andrew]], that Thomas was " mean, ugly, and always [[suspicious]]. " But the better his associates knew [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas], the more they liked him. They found he was superbly [[honest]] and unflinchingly [[loyal]]. He was [[perfectly]] [[sincere]] and unquestionably [[truthful]], but he was a [[natural]]-born faultfinder and had grown up to become a real [[pessimist]]. His [[analytical]] [[mind]] had become [[cursed]] with [[suspicion]]. He was rapidly losing [[faith]] in his fellow men when he became associated with the twelve and thus came in [[contact]] with the [[noble]] [[character]] of [[Jesus]]. This association with [[the Master]] began at once to [[transform]] Thomas's whole disposition and to effect great [[changes]] in his mental [[reactions]] to his fellow men.

139:8.4 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas]'s great [[strength]] was his superb [[analytical]] [[mind]] coupled with his unflinching [[courage]]—when he had once made up his [[mind]]. His great weakness was his [[suspicious]] [[doubting]], which he never fully overcame throughout his whole lifetime in the flesh.

139:8.4 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas]'s great [[strength]] was his superb [[analytical]] [[mind]] coupled with his unflinching [[courage]]—when he had once made up his [[mind]]. His great weakness was his [[suspicious]] [[doubting]], which he never fully overcame throughout his whole lifetime in the flesh.

139:8.5 In the [[organization]] of the twelve [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] was assigned to arrange and [[manage]] the itinerary, and he was an able director of the [[work]] and movements of the apostolic corps. He was a good [[executive]], an excellent businessman, but he was [[handicapped]] by his many [[moods]]; he was one man one day and another man the next. He was inclined toward [[melancholic]] brooding when he joined the [[apostles]], but contact with [[Jesus]] and the apostles largely cured him of this morbid [[introspection]].

139:8.5 In the [[organization]] of the twelve [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] was assigned to arrange and [[manage]] the itinerary, and he was an able director of the [[work]] and movements of the apostolic corps. He was a good [[executive]], an excellent businessman, but he was [[handicapped]] by his many [[moods]]; he was one man one day and another man the next. He was inclined toward [[melancholic]] brooding when he joined the [[apostles]], but contact with [[Jesus]] and the apostles largely cured him of this morbid [[introspection]].

139:8.6 [[Jesus]] enjoyed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] very much and had many long, [[personal]] talks with him. His [[presence]] among the [[apostles]] was a great [[comfort]] to all honest doubters and [[encouraged]] many troubled [[minds]] to come into [[the kingdom]], even if they could not wholly [[understand]] everything about the [[spiritual]] and philosophic [[phases]] of the teachings of [[Jesus]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas]'s membership in the twelve was a standing [[declaration]] that Jesus loved even [[honest]] [[doubt]]ers.

139:8.6 [[Jesus]] enjoyed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] very much and had many long, [[personal]] talks with him. His [[presence]] among the [[apostles]] was a great [[comfort]] to all honest doubters and [[encouraged]] many troubled [[minds]] to come into [[the kingdom]], even if they could not wholly [[understand]] everything about the [[spiritual]] and philosophic [[phases]] of the teachings of [[Jesus]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas]'s membership in the twelve was a standing [[declaration]] that Jesus loved even [[honest]] [[doubt]]ers.

139:8.7 The other [[apostles]] held [[Jesus]] in [[reverence]] because of some special and outstanding trait of his replete [[personality]], but [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] [[revered]] his Master because of his superbly [[balanced]] [[character]]. Increasingly Thomas admired and honored one who was so lovingly [[merciful]] yet so inflexibly [[just]] and [[fair]]; so firm but never obstinate; so calm but never indifferent; so helpful and so [[sympathetic]] but never meddlesome or dictatorial; so strong but at the same time so [[gentle]]; so [[positive]] but never rough or rude; so tender but never vacillating; so [[pure]] and innocent but at the same time so [[virile]], [[aggressive]], and forceful; so truly [[courageous]] but never rash or foolhardy; such a lover of [[nature]] but so free from all tendency to [[revere]] nature; so [[humorous]] and so [[playful]], but so free from [[levity]] and frivolity. It was this matchless [[symmetry]] of [[personality]] that so [[charmed]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas]. He probably enjoyed the highest [[intellectual]] [[understanding]] and [[personality]] [[appreciation]] of [[Jesus]] of any of the twelve.

139:8.7 The other [[apostles]] held [[Jesus]] in [[reverence]] because of some special and outstanding trait of his replete [[personality]], but [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] [[revered]] his Master because of his superbly [[balanced]] [[character]]. Increasingly Thomas admired and honored one who was so lovingly [[merciful]] yet so inflexibly [[just]] and [[fair]]; so firm but never obstinate; so calm but never indifferent; so helpful and so [[sympathetic]] but never meddlesome or dictatorial; so strong but at the same time so [[gentle]]; so [[positive]] but never rough or rude; so tender but never vacillating; so [[pure]] and innocent but at the same time so [[virile]], [[aggressive]], and forceful; so truly [[courageous]] but never rash or foolhardy; such a lover of [[nature]] but so free from all tendency to [[revere]] nature; so [[humorous]] and so [[playful]], but so free from [[levity]] and frivolity. It was this matchless [[symmetry]] of [[personality]] that so [[charmed]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas]. He probably enjoyed the highest [[intellectual]] [[understanding]] and [[personality]] [[appreciation]] of [[Jesus]] of any of the twelve.

139:8.8 In the [[councils]] of the twelve [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] was always [[cautious]], advocating a [[policy]] of [[safety]] first, but if his [[conservatism]] was voted down or overruled, he was always the first fearlessly to move out in [[execution]] of the [[program]] [[decided]] upon. Again and again would he stand out against some project as being foolhardy and presumptuous; he would [[debate]] to the bitter end, but when [[Andrew, the Apostle|Andrew]] would put the [[proposition]] to a [[vote]], and after the twelve would elect to do that which he had so strenuously [[opposed]], Thomas was the first to say, " Let's go! " He was a good loser. He did not hold grudges nor nurse wounded [[feelings]]. Time and again did he [[oppose]] letting [[Jesus]] expose himself to [[danger]], but when [[the Master]] would [[decide]] to take such [[risks]], always was it [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] who rallied the [[apostles]] with his [[courageous]] [[words]], " Come on, [[comrades]], let's go and die with him. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_11]

139:8.8 In the [[councils]] of the twelve [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] was always [[cautious]], advocating a [[policy]] of [[safety]] first, but if his [[conservatism]] was voted down or overruled, he was always the first fearlessly to move out in [[execution]] of the [[program]] [[decided]] upon. Again and again would he stand out against some project as being foolhardy and presumptuous; he would [[debate]] to the bitter end, but when [[Andrew, the Apostle|Andrew]] would put the [[proposition]] to a [[vote]], and after the twelve would elect to do that which he had so strenuously [[opposed]], Thomas was the first to say, " Let's go! " He was a good loser. He did not hold grudges nor nurse wounded [[feelings]]. Time and again did he [[oppose]] letting [[Jesus]] expose himself to [[danger]], but when [[the Master]] would [[decide]] to take such [[risks]], always was it [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] who rallied the [[apostles]] with his [[courageous]] [[words]], " Come on, [[comrades]], let's go and die with him. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_11]

139:8.9 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] was in some respects like [[Philip, the Apostle|Philip]]; he also wanted " to be shown, "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_20] but his outward [[expressions]] of [[doubt]] were based on entirely [[different]] [[intellectual]] operations. Thomas was [[analytical]], not merely [[skeptical]]. As far as [[personal]] [[physical]] [[courage]] was concerned, he was one of the bravest among the twelve.

139:8.9 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] was in some respects like [[Philip, the Apostle|Philip]]; he also wanted " to be shown, "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_20] but his outward [[expressions]] of [[doubt]] were based on entirely [[different]] [[intellectual]] operations. Thomas was [[analytical]], not merely [[skeptical]]. As far as [[personal]] [[physical]] [[courage]] was concerned, he was one of the bravest among the twelve.

139:8.10 [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_20 Thomas] had some very bad days; he was blue and downcast at times. The loss of his twin sister when he was nine years old had occasioned him much [[youth]]ful [[sorrow]] and had added to his [[temperament]]al [[problems]] of later life. When Thomas would become despondent, sometimes it was [[Nathaniel]] who helped him to recover, sometimes [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]], and not infrequently one of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_apostles#139:9_and_10._JAMES_AND_JUDAS_ALPHEUS Alpheus twins]. When he was most [[depressed]], unfortunately he always tried to avoid coming in direct [[contact]] with [[Jesus]]. But [[the Master]] knew all about this and had an [[understanding]] [[sympathy]] for his [[apostle]] when he was thus afflicted with [[depression]] and harassed by [[doubts]].

139:8.10 [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_20 Thomas] had some very bad days; he was blue and downcast at times. The loss of his twin sister when he was nine years old had occasioned him much [[youth]]ful [[sorrow]] and had added to his [[temperament]]al [[problems]] of later life. When Thomas would become despondent, sometimes it was [[Nathaniel]] who helped him to recover, sometimes [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]], and not infrequently one of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_apostles#139:9_and_10._JAMES_AND_JUDAS_ALPHEUS Alpheus twins]. When he was most [[depressed]], unfortunately he always tried to avoid coming in direct [[contact]] with [[Jesus]]. But [[the Master]] knew all about this and had an [[understanding]] [[sympathy]] for his [[apostle]] when he was thus afflicted with [[depression]] and harassed by [[doubts]].

139:8.11 Sometimes [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] would get [[permission]] from [[Andrew, the Apostle|Andrew] to go off by himself for a day or two. But he soon [[learned]] that such a [[course]] was not [[wise]]; he early found that it was best, when he was downhearted, to stick close to his [[work]] and to remain near his associates. But no matter what happened in his [[emotional]] life, he kept right on being an [[apostle]]. When the [[time]] actually came to move forward, it was always Thomas who said, " Let's go! "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_11]

139:8.11 Sometimes [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] would get [[permission]] from [[Andrew, the Apostle|Andrew] to go off by himself for a day or two. But he soon [[learned]] that such a [[course]] was not [[wise]]; he early found that it was best, when he was downhearted, to stick close to his [[work]] and to remain near his associates. But no matter what happened in his [[emotional]] life, he kept right on being an [[apostle]]. When the [[time]] actually came to move forward, it was always Thomas who said, " Let's go! "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_11]

139:8.12 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] is the great example of a [[human being]] who has [[doubts]], faces them, and wins. He had a great [[mind]]; he was no carping [[critic]]. He was a [[logical]] [[thinker]]; he was the acid test of [[Jesus]] and his fellow [[apostles]]. If [[Jesus]] and his [[work]] had not been [[genuine]], it could not have held a man like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] from the start to the finish. He had a keen and sure sense of [[fact]]. At the first [[appearance]] of [[fraud]] or [[deception]] Thomas would have forsaken them all. [[Scientists]] may not fully [[understand]] all about [[Jesus]] and his work on [[earth]], but there lived and worked with [[the Master]] and his human associates a man whose [[mind]] was that of a true scientist—[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas Didymus]—and he believed in [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]].

139:8.12 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] is the great example of a [[human being]] who has [[doubts]], faces them, and wins. He had a great [[mind]]; he was no carping [[critic]]. He was a [[logical]] [[thinker]]; he was the acid test of [[Jesus]] and his fellow [[apostles]]. If [[Jesus]] and his [[work]] had not been [[genuine]], it could not have held a man like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] from the start to the finish. He had a keen and sure sense of [[fact]]. At the first [[appearance]] of [[fraud]] or [[deception]] Thomas would have forsaken them all. [[Scientists]] may not fully [[understand]] all about [[Jesus]] and his work on [[earth]], but there lived and worked with [[the Master]] and his human associates a man whose [[mind]] was that of a true scientist—[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas Didymus]—and he believed in [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]].

139:8.13 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] had a trying time during the days of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_185 trial] and [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_187 crucifixion]. He was for a [[season]] in the depths of [[despair]], but he rallied his [[courage]], stuck to the [[apostles]], and was present with them to welcome [[Jesus]] on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee Sea of Galilee]. For a while he succumbed to his doubting [[depression]] but [[eventually]] rallied his [[faith]] and [[courage]]. He gave [[wise]] [[counsel]] to the [[apostles]] after [[Pentecost]] and, when [[persecution]] scattered the believers, went to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus Cyprus], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crete Crete], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Africa North African] coast, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicily Sicily], preaching the glad tidings of [[the kingdom]] and [[baptizing]] believers. And [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] continued [[preaching]] and [[baptizing]] until he was apprehended by the agents of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_empire Roman government] and was put to [[death]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta Malta]. Just a few weeks before his [[death]] he had begun the [[writing]] of the life and teachings of [[Jesus]].

139:8.13 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] had a trying time during the days of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_185 trial] and [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_187 crucifixion]. He was for a [[season]] in the depths of [[despair]], but he rallied his [[courage]], stuck to the [[apostles]], and was present with them to welcome [[Jesus]] on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee Sea of Galilee]. For a while he succumbed to his doubting [[depression]] but [[eventually]] rallied his [[faith]] and [[courage]]. He gave [[wise]] [[counsel]] to the [[apostles]] after [[Pentecost]] and, when [[persecution]] scattered the believers, went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus Cyprus], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crete Crete], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Africa North African] coast, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicily Sicily], preaching the glad tidings of [[the kingdom]] and [[baptizing]] believers. And [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle Thomas] continued [[preaching]] and [[baptizing]] until he was apprehended by the agents of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_empire Roman government] and was put to [[death]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta Malta]. Just a few weeks before his [[death]] he had begun the [[writing]] of the life and teachings of [[Jesus]].

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_139 Go to Paper 139]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_139 Go to Paper 139]</center>