Thomas

Did Thomas Call Yahshua "God"?

Explanations proposed:

1. Thomas was surprised when he saw the Lord in their midst. “My God!” was just an expression, a “statement of surprise.”
  1. - Thomas was actually addressing both the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ when he said, “My Lord and my God.”
      - It is not a teaching text (non-didactic text); actually Thomas made a mistake when he said, “My Lord and my God.”
        Thomas could have been saying my master and judge. The word 'theos' is generic and has many meanings and can mean 'judge'.

Webmaster's Comment: It is my stance that Thomas exclaimed "My master (lord) AND my Almighty One ['God']!". He said "my master ['lord']" giving reference to Yahshua as his master AND "my Almighty One ['God']" giving reference to Father Yahweh as his Almighty One.

"Yet for us there is one Mighty One [God], the Father, from Whom are all things...and one master, Yahshua the Messiah because of whom are all things ... (1 Corinthians 8.6).

There are two separate beings spoken of in this verse, Yahshua Messiah and His and our FATHER Yahweh. I believe that Thomas was also speaking of two separate beings.

Here is the entire text from the 'New American Standard Bible' John 20:27-28:

"Then he (Yahshua) said to Thomas, 'Reach here your finger, and see my hands, and reach here your hand, and put it into my side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.' Thomas answered and said to him, 'My Lord and my God!'"

Please observe the mark of exclamation (!) at the end of the phrase. The King James Version does not use an exclamation mark.

Please notice there was no question asked in the entire narration. Hence, the text which reads "Thomas answered" is inaccurate.

The last phrase "My Lord and my God!" was not an answer but it was an outburst by Thomas, having seen something inexplicable and baffling. It is not unusual that a man cries out; "O' my God!" when he sees something totally bizarre.

Below are the texts from two reputed versions of the Bible

that support what Thomas said was not an answer to any question.

'New English Bible': Thomas said, "My Lord and my God!"

'Phillips Modern English Bible': "My Lord and my God!" cried Thomas.

Study Supportive Passage:

Apostle Yahchanan writes, immediately after the discourse between Yahshua and Thomas; "Many other signs therefore Yahshua also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Yahshua is the Messiah."

If Yahchanan had recognized the answer by Thomas to be a testimony for the 'Deity of Jesus', and the observed silence by Jesus to be his acquiesce to such a testimony, then the apostle Yahchanan would have asked us to believe "Yahshua is Yahweh", instead of "Yahshua is the Messiah" in the above verse.

Yahshua is Called “God”

Jn 20:28 Thomas answered and said unto him, My Master and my God.

The English word “God,” is derived in the OT from the Hebrew “elohim,” and in the NT from the Greek “theos.”

#430 ‘elohiym; KJV – God 2346, god 244, judge 5, GOD 1, goddess 2, great 2, mighty 2, angels 1, exceeding 1, godly 1; total 2606; Definition: rulers, judges, divine ones, angels, gods or god, the (true) God.

#2316 theos; KJV – God 1320, god 13, godly 3, God-ward + 4214 2, misc 5; total 1343; Definition: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities, spoken of the only and true God, refers to the things of God, of magistrates and judges.

As you can see by the definitions above the words “elohim” or “theos” do not solely apply only to the Father and the Son but can be given to angels, judges, rulers or any great or mighty person. Satan is termed god in 2Co 4:4, and the belly in Phil 3:19 as is Herod in Act 12:22. In Jn 10:34 Yahshua uses Ps.82:6 to counter the Jews charge, “That thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Yahshua answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken” (Jn 10:33-35). Elohim merely means a great or mighty one (see also Ex 22:9 & 28) and can certainly be applied to Yahshua, but the error takes place when Yahshua is classified as the one true “God,” the Almighty. Two verses clearly prove beyond a doubt that the Son is not the One True Almighty God, one spoken by Yahshua, the other by Paul.

Jn.17:3; “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee (Yahweh the Father vs. 1) the only true God, and Yahshua Messiah, whom thou hast sent.”

1Cor.8: 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Master Yahshua Messiah, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Worship Mt 4:10 Then saith Yahshua unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship (4352) Yahweh thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. As close as most Bible scholars can tell this is a quote from De 6:13. De 6:13 Thou shalt fear (yare) Yahweh thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. #03372 – yare; KJV – fear 188, afraid 78, terrible 23, terrible thing 6, dreadful 5, reverence 3, fearful 2, terrible acts 1, misc 8; total 314; Definition: to fear, revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, reverence, honour, respect, be held in awe. The Greek word proskuneo was used to translate the Hebrew word yare. #4352 – proskuneo; KJV – worship 60; total 60. Definition: to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence. In the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication. Used of homage shown to men and beings of: 1] Superior rank 2] The Jewish high priests 3] To God 4] To Christ 5] To heavenly beings 6] To demons. The Hebrew word translated worship is shachah. #07812 – shachah; KJV – worship 99, bow 31, bow down 18, obeisance 9, reverence 5, fall down 3, themselves 2, stoop 1, crouch 1, misc 3; total 172. Definition: to bow down, prostrate oneself before a superior in homage, or God in worship, or before false gods, or before angels. Yahweh is worshipped (shachah) in Gen 24:26, 24:48, 1Sam 15:31, 2Sam 15:32, Neh 8:6 and in many other scriptures as well. However we also see where Lot worshipped (shachah) the angels sent to Sodom in Gen 19:1, Joseph’s brothers worshipped (shachah) him in Gen 43:26 & 28, David worshipped (shachah) Saul in 1Sam 24:8, Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth worshipped (shachah) David in 2Sam 9:6 and there are many other cases too numerous to mention. Important to note is that in each case the worshippers were not told to stop or get up but allowed to worshipped (shachah). So by studying the words translated “worship” and the context of the verses where they’re found we educate ourselves and are better able to understand what Yahweh is trying to tell us in His word. If we look at shachah and proskuneo, we see they both mean to bow down and show respect and honour to a king or high priest or someone of superior rank. This is strange and foreign to us today in the western world because even to the Queen we just bow slightly or curtsey. But we’re not talking about today but 2000 years ago, even though we often catch ourselves interpreting scripture by the standards of our own time period. If someone should honour or praise us (whether bowing down or just giving us credit) for something that we don’t totally deserve, it would be correct to tell them to stop and direct their honour towards the one the credit belongs to. To do otherwise would be deception. In the Bible when a person was worshipped (shachah or proskuneo) because of their position as king or priest it was not stopped but allowed, because they were being honoured for what they were, not worshipped as God. In the instances where an apostle or angel ordered the person to stop and stand up it was because they were worshipping them for the works God did. Heb 1:6 When he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship (proskuneo) him. The angels weren’t ordered to worship Yahshua for the works Yahweh Himself is responsible for but for the great honour and praise the Son himself deserves. Yahweh is worthy to receive worship for what He has done. Re 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Yahweh, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Yahshua is worthy to receive worship for his accomplishments. He is worthy, “For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev 5:9). Re 5:12 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And everything that lives gave praise and honour to both the Father (on the throne) and the Son (the Lamb). Re 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Yahshua said the saints themselves would receive worship. Re 3:9 Behold, I (Yahshua) will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship (proskuneo) before thy (Philadelphia assembly) feet, and to know that I have loved thee. The saints won’t be worshipped for the honour and praise that God deserves but only for what truly belongs to them. Yahshua didn’t tell Satan “And him only shalt thou worship” but, “And him only shalt thou serve.” Did Yahshua mean don’t serve anyone but Yahweh? Yes and no. You must serve your parents, the leaders of the assemblies, leaders of your country, your employers and your spouse but only as to what they represent to you and not serve them as your God. Satan wanted Yahshua to honour him in place of God and Yahshua quickly put him in his place. When we see in the NT people falling down before Yahshua and worshipping him it is not as if he is taking honour away from Yahweh. They worship him as the Son of God, not as God, and to revere/honour/worship/reverence someone for what they are and what they deserve is not idolatry. SOURCE

SOURCE

What Thomas seen was evidence of Yeshua's resurrrection.

Thomas exclaimed "My Master and my Mighty One!" Master ["Lord"] being in reference to the Messiah Yeshua and "Mighty One ["God"]" being in reference to Father Yahowah. When Thomas exclaimed "My Master and my Mighty One!" he was speaking of two separate beings. Following are some verse of Scripture transaltion that speak of our "Lord" (Yeshua) and our "God, or Mighty One" (Yahowah) as two separate and distinct beings:

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God (Mark 16:19).

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:59).

Cornelius calls an angel "Lord":

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God (Acts 10:14).

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul (Acts 16:14).

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him (Acts 28:31).

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:7).

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (Romans 5:11).

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9).

That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:6).

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him (1 Corinthians 8:6).

There are MANY more!

The account of Thomas wanting to see evidence of Yeshua resurrection is simpy not told to prove a "Jesus IS God!" doctrine. This account was told to show that those who have not seen what Thomas has seen are blessed. "... blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." It is speaking here of those who have witnessed that Yeshua had been resurrected from death and those who in the future who have not witnessed his ressurection, but yet still believe and how they are blessed in doing so.

Also See:

[ARCHIVED] Thomas 'Sees' God by Phil Maxwell 11/25/02

[ARCHIVED] Resolving the Dilemma - Making sense of the apparent contradiction between John 17:3 and John 20:28

My Lord and My God

Kurios, Theos, and Despotes

John 20:28

Psalm 110

by D. J. Love, The Bnei HaMashalim

written 4-2-2003

refined August 19, 2011

My Lord and My God