Why did Thomas use two "my"s?

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK

John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Why is the second "my" there?

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6845 Location: USA

John 20:28-29 Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God! (29) Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe (trust, have faith)? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on Me.

The text is plain: Jesus comes in - sees Thomas, and addresses him; desiring him to come to him, and put his finger into the print of the nails, etc. Thomas, perfectly satisfied of the reality of our Lord’s resurrection, says unto him, - My Lord! and My God! i.e. Thou art indeed the very same person, - my Lord whose disciple I have so long been; and thou art my God, henceforth the object of my religious adoration. Thomas was the first who gave the title of God to Jesus; and, by this glorious confession, made some amends for his former obstinate incredulity. It is worthy of remark, that from this time forward the whole of the disciples treated our Lord with the most supreme respect, never using that familiarity towards him which they had often used before. The resurrection from the dead gave them the fullest proof of the divinity of Christ. And this, indeed, is the use which St. John makes of this manifestation of Christ. See Joh_20:30, Joh_20:31. Bishop Pearce says here: “Observe that Thomas calls Jesus his God, and that Jesus does not reprove him for it, though probably it was the first time he was called so.” And, I would ask, could Jesus be jealous of the honor of the true God - could he be a prophet - could he be even an honest man, to permit his disciple to indulge in a mistake so monstrous and destructive, if it had been one?
~ Adam Clarke

Joh 20:28 -
My Lord and my God - In this passage the name God is expressly given to Christ, in his own presence and by one of his own apostles. This declaration has been considered as a clear proof of the divinity of Christ, for the following reasons:
1. There is no evidence that this was a mere expression, as some have supposed, of surprise or astonishment.
2. The language was addressed to Jesus himself - “Thomas ...said unto him.”
3. The Saviour did not reprove him or check him as using any improper language. If he had not been divine, it is impossible to reconcile it with his honesty that he did not rebuke the disciple. No pious man would have allowed such language to be addressed to him. Compare Act_14:13-15; Rev_22:8-9.
4. The Saviour proceeds immediately to commend Thomas for believing; but what was the evidence of his believing? It was this declaration, and this only. If this was a mere exclamation of surprise, what proof was it that Thomas believed? Before this he doubted. Now he believed, and gave utterance to his belief, that Jesus was his Lord and his God.
5. If this was not the meaning of Thomas, then his exclamation was a mere act of profaneness, and the Saviour would not have commended him for taking the name of the Lord his God in vain. The passage proves, therefore, that it is proper to apply to Christ the name Lord and God, and thus accords with what John affirmed in Joh_1:1, and which is established throughout this gospel.
~ Albert Barnes

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK

Hi RevJP, Thanks

TBax · King of the Jungle Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 1942

Steven3,

Hi, Very Happy

Thomas used the same phrasing in both instances in refering to him as his Master (Lord) and then God.
Why do you view this as significant?

Later. Very Happy

knuckle · Young Wolf Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 501

Hi Steven----------

Thomas is a picture of us.His doubt,his "I will believe it when I see it" attitude is a big part of the Christian mind set.We all go through a period where we come face to face with the risen Christ-----and not all answer as Thomas did.

My Lord is about recognizing that Christ is our Master and we are to serve Him

My God is about deity and we are to love and worship Him

My Lord and My God is about mindset we are to claim Him

Some recognize God but do not serve some Serve out of fear and do not love and some recognize and serve without claiming Him.It is a very personal relationship we have with God now through Jesus.

This picture in Thomas is like the great invitation to those who came after and never knew Jesus in the flesh.The whole book of John kind of leads us up to this point.All the miracles all of the I am's, the whole of Christ's works and testimony sets the stage and we are left with the question---Who IS this Jesus? I agree with Thomas,He is MY LORD and MY GOD!!

much love-----------knuckle

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK

Hi Knuckle

knuckle · Young Wolf Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 501

Hi Steven--------

Because I claim him as both

If I served Him but hated Him He wold be My Lord and God

If I recognized Him but didn't serve He would be Lord and My God

we must claim Christ as both My Lord and My God

Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Doubting Thomas is called a believer after this instance.He put two and two together and came up with the right answer.

Now Steven perhaps I misunderstand the point of your question are you asking why the two MYs were used or is the question why is the My before Theos? Are you trying to differentiate between Thomas' My Theos and The Theos?

much love--------knuckle

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK

knuckle · Young Wolf Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 501

Hi Steven---------

Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Greek is a bit well "greek" to me if you will explain the sentence structure here in relation to your above example.

thanks and much love---------knuckle

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6845 Location: USA

TwoPutt · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:46 am Post subject:

RevJP · Moderator Joined: 18 Apr 2003 Posts: 6845 Location: USA

I disagree. I think you are missing a very important aspect of the scenario in which Jesus commended Thomas rather than rebuke him for naming Him God.

TwoPutt · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject:

TwoPutt · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject:

BTW, Thomas didn't name Jesus God.

Steven3 · Lion King Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 1205 Location: UK