What is the story of St. Thomas in the Bible, and what is his significance?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

St. Thomas the Apostle, also known as or Didymus (meaning "the twin"), holds a position of great significance in the Coptic Orthodox Church. While often unfairly labeled only as "the Doubter," our Church views him as a loyal disciple whose momentary skepticism served to provide an even stronger proof of the Resurrection for all generations.

1. The Loyalty of St. Thomas

Before the Resurrection, we see Thomas’s deep devotion. When Jesus intended to go to Judea to raise Lazarus—a place where the Jews had recently tried to stone Him—it was Thomas who courageously said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him" (John 11:16). This highlights his loyalty and his willingness to face martyrdom for his Master.

2. The Great Confession (John 20)

The most famous account of St. Thomas occurs eight days after the Resurrection. Thomas was not present when the Lord first appeared to the disciples. When they told him they had seen the Lord, he sought physical evidence, stating he would not believe unless he saw the print of the nails and put his hand into His side.

When the Lord appeared again, He specifically called Thomas to touch His wounds. This resulted in the profound confession: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). This is one of the most direct declarations of the Divinity of Christ in the Gospels. As noted by the Papal Message of Resurrection 2022, Thomas was called by the Lord to witness the truth of the risen Body, essentially becoming a witness to the reality of the Incarnation even after the Resurrection.

3. The Resurrection of the Mother of God

According to Coptic Tradition (Holy and the Synaxarium), St. Thomas plays a unique role in the story of the Assumption of the Body of the Virgin Mary, the. Thomas was preaching in India and was not present for her departure. As he was being carried back on a cloud by the Holy Spirit, he saw the angels carrying her pure body to heaven. He was the only apostle to witness her assumption and received her girdle (the Zinnar) as a blessing and proof for the other apostles.

4. Theological Significance

• The Reality of the Body: St. Thomas’s insistence on touching the wounds proves that Christ did not rise as a "phantom" or a spirit, but in a real, glorified body. This refutes early heretics who denied the physical reality of the Resurrection.
• Strengthening Our Faith: The Lord said to him, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Thomas’s doubt was allowed by Divine Providence to provide us with an empirical testimony of the Resurrection.

5. Missionary Work and Martyrdom

St. Thomas is the Apostle of India. He traveled to the East, preaching the Gospel and establishing the Church in India, where he eventually gained the crown of martyrdom.

Apocryphal Writings

While there is a "Gospel of Thomas" mentioned in various historical circles, the Coptic Orthodox Church identifies it as Gnostic and non-canonical. It contains ideas that contradict the pure Orthodox faith—such as the suggestion that Christ’s teaching was a "secret" knowledge or that He was a "philosopher" rather than the Incarnate Word. We adhere strictly to the account of St. Thomas found in the Holy Gospel according to St. John and the Holy Tradition of the Church.