JHN 20:24-29

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24But Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [20:25] The other disciples, therefore, were saying to him: 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them: 'Unless I see in his hands the impression of the nails and put my finger into the impression of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not trust.' [20:26] And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came — the doors having been locked — and stood in their midst and said: 'Peace to you.' [20:27] Then he said to Thomas: 'Bring your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side — and stop being untrustworthy, but be trustworthy.' [20:28] Thomas answered and said to him: 'My Lord and my God.' [20:29] Jesus said to him: 'Because you have seen me, you have trusted? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have trusted.'

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, honor and shame were central to social interactions, and public testimony carried significant weight. Thomas’s demand for physical proof reflects a cultural expectation of tangible evidence to validate extraordinary claims. The term (mark) would have evoked the idea of an indelible impression, like a seal or stamp, which in this context underscores the permanence of Jesus’ crucifixion wounds. Thomas’s refusal to believe without such proof aligns with the broader Greco-Roman skepticism toward unverified reports, especially concerning resurrection, which was widely regarded as impossible. The disciples’ claim to have seen the Lord would have been met with suspicion, as resurrection narratives were rare and often dismissed as fabrications. Jesus’ appearance to Thomas and his invitation to touch the wounds would have been understood as a restoration of honor, both for Jesus, whose resurrection was validated, and for Thomas, whose doubt was addressed without shame. The term (faithful) here emphasizes not just belief but a restored trustworthiness in Thomas’s commitment.

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How other translations render this

JHN 20:24

KJV: But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
BSB: Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
Koinōnos: But Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

JHN 20:25

KJV: The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, 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.
BSB: So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
Koinōnos: The other disciples, therefore, were saying to him: 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them: 'Unless I see in his hands the impression of the nails and put my finger into the impression of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not trust.

JHN 20:26

KJV: And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
BSB: Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
Koinōnos: And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came — the doors having been locked — and stood in their midst and said: 'Peace to you.

JHN 20:27

KJV: Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
BSB: Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Koinōnos: Then he said to Thomas: 'Bring your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side — and stop being untrustworthy, but be trustworthy.

JHN 20:28

KJV: And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
BSB: Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!”
Koinōnos: Thomas answered and said to him: 'My Lord and my God.

JHN 20:29

KJV: Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
BSB: Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Koinōnos: Jesus said to him: 'Because you have seen me, you have trusted? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have trusted.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3

“for he appeared to them alive again the third day; 10 as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him.”

Cited to ground: resurrection narratives were rare and often dismissed as fabrications

Translator's notes

JHN 20:25

mark:The word translated 'mark' here refers to an impression or a stamp, like the indentation left by a seal or a blow. It implies a distinct, physical imprint.
shall I believe.:The word translated 'believe' means to trust in, rely on, or have faith in something or someone. It's not just intellectual assent but a commitment of trust.

JHN 20:27

unbelieving:The word translated 'unbelieving' describes someone who is untrustworthy or unfaithful, or who lacks faith and trust. It can imply a lack of conviction or reliability.
believing.:The word translated 'believing' describes someone who is trustworthy, faithful, and reliable. It implies a steadfast commitment and conviction.