| The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07. |
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| Thomas, Saint |
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| one of the Twelve Apostles, called Didymus. According to John, he refused to believe in the resurrection until he saw Jesus’ wounds; hence the expression “doubting Thomas.” John 11.16; 14.5; 20.24–29; 21.2. By tradition he is said to have gone as missionary to Parthia or India. The Syriac-rite Christians of Malabar, India, whose church was established by the 3d cent., claim St. Thomas as their founder. Among the Pseudepigrapha are a Gospel of Thomas and Acts of Thomas. In addition, a Gospel of Thomas was among the 4th-century Coptic books found at Nag Hammadi. Feast: Dec. 21. | 1 | | See E. Pagels, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas (2003). | 2 |
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| | | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright © 2007 Columbia University Press. |
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