Did Thomas Call Jesus God: John 20:28?

 “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” 

John 20:28 

     This is a rather long blog but is in answer to a question posed to me and to a person in need of more information as to the position tethered and promoted by Jehovah Witnesses. I hope that you find this helpful.

A Study on John 20:28

By Richard L. Crumb

            The question by many when reading John 20:28 is: Who is Thomas speaking too or about when his words: Did those words apply to Jesus or did Thomas exclaim calling Jesus my Lord and then acknowledging God making those two statements referring to two different persons? Jehovah Witnesses claim the latter method that Thomas was not referring, “o theos” to Jesus. Christians or non-Jehovah Witnesses say different that Thomas gave acknowledgement that Jesus was both Lord and God. So who is right? Furthermore, how can we witness to Jehovah Witnesses affectively? To begin to discern the truth the position of Jehovah Witnesses in regard to Jesus Christ must be set forth. Jehovah Witnesses call Jesus Christ “a god” and not God. This theology is Arian as set forth both the 4^th century monk Arius and was refuted by Athanasius and settled at the council of Nicea 326 A.D. Jehovah Witnesses do not adhere to the councils decision and remain Arian in theology. Taking the headings from their book, “Aid to Bible Understanding” 1971 edition, pp. 917–933, and selected portions that refer to our study will give us their position by means of their own words. Jesus had a prehuman existence, p. 917; and this prehuman existence was that He was “a god” and not the God, or the Father. They used John 1:1 for proof as well as other Scriptures. I will not deal with this in this study and have done so in other studies that are available on request. Jesus is not a co–creator. On page 918 last portion of this subsection Jehovah Witnesses state: “Rather than a co–creator, then, the Son was the agent or instrumentality through whom Jehovah, the Creator, worked. Jesus himself credited God with the creation, as do all the Scriptures.––Matt. 19:4–6. I will give these verses for your viewing: “And he answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ ‘and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.’” Jesus is “Wisdom personified, p. 918, How he is the “only–begotten Son;” Why called “the Word”, and Jesus’ Godship, pp. 918-919. As Non–Trinitarians they once again use John 1:1 as a proof text that Jesus was only “a god” and not God. The explanation given by Jehovah Witnesses to the words of Jesus: “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30) taken from “Aid to Bible Understanding” p. 919 which states: “That this did not mean that Jesus claimed to be the Father or to be God is evident from his reply, already partly considered. The oneness to which Jesus referred must be understood in harmony with the context of the statement. He was speaking his works and his care of the “sheep” who would follow him, His works, as words, demonstrated that there was unity, not disunity and disharmony, between him and his Father, a point his reply went on to emphasize. (John 10:25,26,37,38; compare 4:34; 5:30; 6:38–40; 8:16–18…..Jesus’ prayer on behalf of the unity of all his disciples, including future ones, shows that the oneness or union between Jesus and his Father was not as to identity of person but as to purpose and action. In this way Jesus’ disciples could “all be one,” just as he and his Father are one. ––John 17:20–23.

            This then is the theological position of Jesus Christ, that He is only “a god” and not the God, or the Father and that Jesus only in unity of purpose with the Father and not to be identified as God. Therefore, when, according to Jehovah Witnesses Thomas cried, “my Lord and my God” he was speaking of two separate identities. Taking their words from “Aid to Bible Understanding” p. 920, subsection “My Lord and my God,” second paragraph of this subsection: “So, Thomas may have addressed Jesus as “my God” in the sense of Jesus’ being “a god” though not the Almighty God, not “the only true God,” to whom Thomas had often heard Jesus pray. (John 17:1-3). Or he may have addressed Jesus as “my God” in a way similar to expressions made by his forefathers, recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures with which Thomas was familiar…In this sense, acknowledging or confessing Jesus as the true God’s representative and spokesman. Whatever the case, it is certain that Thomas’ words do not contradict the clear statement he himself had heard Jesus make, namely, that “the Father is greater than I am.” John 14:29). Each of these suppositions addressed in my other writings on Jehovah Witnesses and available for copies on request.

            Having set forth the doctrine of Jesus by Jehovah Witnesses I now turn attention to John 20:28: “…my Lord and my God!” The Greek from Textus Receptus which is the same in the critical text that Jehovah Witnesses used for their translation: “ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου.”  Literal translation: “he answered Thomas and he said to him, the lord my and the god my.” Good English rendered: “Thomas answered and said to him, my lord and my god. Notice that I did not capitalize lord or god as this not the case in critical text but they are capitalized in the Textus Receptus. I follow the Textus Receptus and agree that lord should be Lord, and god, should be God. Either case Thomas said those words, so, to whom was he addressing those words?

            Does Scripture aid us in our understanding to this question: “Is Jesus God, or “a god?” Taking from the New World Translation in Isaiah 40:3: “Listen! Someone is calling out in the wilderness: ‘Clear up the way of Jehovah, you people! Make the highway for our god through the desert plain straight.”  Referring to Jesus John the Baptist quoted this verse from Isaiah: “he said: ‘I am a voice of someone crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make the way of Jehovah straight,’ just as Isaiah the prophet said’” (John 1:23). It is clear that John the Baptist was conjoining the word Jehovah and God in Isaiah 40:3 to Jesus in John 1:23. Paul the apostle gives us more understanding when he wrote: For even if there are so–called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1Corinthians 6:5–6).  We must notice the comparison from verse 5, to verse 6: “if there were so–called gods in heaven or on earth” and the word for “if” is emphatically used for the writer uses “εί” and “περ” as “είπερ” which is a strong way of saying “if indeed, “if indeed there were….” And not there are……” and then conjoins the one God who is the Father by which all things were made, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things,…..; Paul then says: “However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled” (1Corinthians 8:7).  Previously in verse 4: “Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one” (vs. 4). Paul uses this narrative in regards to eating things that were or possibly offered to idols with the doctrine taught in Scripture and revealed to us by Jesus Christ through His life on earth. Then tells us that there is the Father, and there is the Lord Jesus Christ and that both are creators. Paul adds; that “all” things were created by Jesus Christ. That being so stated then Jesus Christ had to be, that is, if He is a created being as Jehovah Witnesses teach, that He is not God but “a god,” one that is created then there should be Scripture that tells us that the Father created Jesus Christ: there are none. Paul writing to Timothy states that there is: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus,” (1Timothy 2:5). Paul writes further: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory” (1Timothy 3:16). God is the subject of this verse and literally can be translated, as God appeared in true character in the flesh. God justified in the Spirit, that is, an influential principal, a term for a process superior to a merely natural or carnal course of things, by the operation of the Divine Spirit. God preached among the Gentiles, God was believed on in the world, and God was received up in glory. Scripture is clear that Jesus Christ, God manifested in the flesh, was God, and as His Wisdom clothed in flesh was called the Son of God, the Son of Man, two natures in one body.

            John 20:28 then is speaking rightly by Thomas when he declared: “My Lord and My God.”  The Greek word “καὶ”  can be used either copulative, or cumulative. So then, how is it used in this verse? The Greek will aid us: “Ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου.”  The my Lord and the my God with the antecedent “him”, “αὐτῷ·”  causes both “Lord” and “God” to refer to the same antecedent which is Jesus Christ to whom Thomas was answering. Therefore, “καὶ”  can be, and is being used copulative, which makes both statements equal, and refer to the same antecedent. If there was no antecedent by which the statement by Thomas refers too, then the Greek word “καὶ”  is to be understood to be cumulative and make the two phrases to be different as the latter phrase would only be an addition in his declaration. Thomas saw the risen Jesus and the wounds caused by His crucifixion and along with al those three years of traveling with Jesus. Thomas heard the words of Jesus, and hearing or in the least knowing that John the Baptist declared that Jesus was the antitype to the type found in Isaiah 40:3 he would then without any hesitation due to Jesus appearing before him and calling Jesus both Lord and God.

            If John 20:28 was the only proof that Jesus was both God and Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity then we would fall short to present this doctrine to others. All of Scripture and keeping within context, not by our presuppositions; rather by Scripture interpreting Scripture, we have more than enough truth in regards to the Divinity of Jesus. We do not have to rely on just one Scripture, or a twisting of the Greek or as in some cases providing some truth to cover up the lie, so that we, by faith, have assurance that our Doctrine that Jesus is both God and man is a correct doctrine.

            This short study will give at least some information that will aid a person in their search of the truth. Questions are welcome as “iron sharpens iron” and I look forward to them and/or any other helpful ideas or thoughts. Finally, all italics are mine. 

May God Bless You 

Richard L. Crumb

Living For Our King Jesus Christ

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world,

if My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight,

so that I should not be delivered to the Jews,

but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Pilate therefore said to Him, “are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king.

For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have

come into the world, that I should bear witness

to the truth. Everyone who is  of the truth

hears my voice.”

John 18:36–37

            His followers gave a charge of royalty to Jesus for they were looking for a King, a Messiah, and this charge of being a king; one of royalty outside of Caesar was a crime, a great crime. Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews: “Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, and called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are you the king of the Jews” (John 18:33)? Unabashedly Jesus answered Pilate: “Jesus answered him, ‘Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me’”(John 18:34)? Pilate wanted to know what Jesus had done as He was delivered up to Pilate by His own people and that is when Jesus cleared the air on this subject that His kingdom was not of this world. This is sure fact that by not disputing that He was called a king, even though as Pilate as asked if He was the King of the Jews for He said that He was the King and the bearer of the truth. Pilate asked: Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no fault in Him at all’” (John 18:38). Pilate had a choice, free Jesus or submit to the shouts and clamor of the Jews: what would he do as this was an illegal arrest and an illegal trial. Pilate desired to free Jesus so why did he not do so, was it merely fear, fear that the Jews might riot? Let us get this straight about Pilate; he had no influence by the opinion of the Jews. So then why did he not free Jesus and submit to the shouting and angry Jews? Pilate’s history with Rome was one of problems for his record of accomplishment was one of him disregarding authority, especially those under him. Furthermore, Pilate was an inept ruler and in time he was deposed as ruler of Jerusalem and recalled back to Rome in 36 A.D. Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History 2.7 stated: “fell into such calamities that he was forced to become his own murderer”. Pilate offended the Jews by hanging certain ensign, flags with images of Caesar, and this infuriated the Jews for this images were considered to be heathen and against the Ten Commandments. Pilate disdained the Jews and this was an example as to how far he would go to displease them for he hated them. Pilate even slaughtered some Galileans: “there were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices” (Luke 13:1). Pilate already having trouble with Caesar heard the Jews shout: “From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out saying, ‘If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar’” (John 19:12).

            Why this narrative is so important for us is that we must answer this question: “Am I deposing my King by my actions, words, or am I becoming sanctified as I apply His truth in my life?” Too often, we are crucifying Jesus repeatedly by not placing Him as priority in our lives. We allow this culture, this world opinion to infect, and affect us making our effects in this world to be more heathen than Christian. Pilate acquiesced to the Jews for fear of reprisal by Caesar. Do you fear this world and those who would stop you from doing what is right? Will you relinquish you beliefs in some ways as to be not scorn by others? Jesus is King, Jesus is Truth, and His Kingdom is not of this world: neither is yours for you are an ambassador for Christ and to be an ambassador is to not to be a citizen of a country, rather to be the spokesperson for the country to which you belong. Oh! We do hold dual citizenship but this does not mean that we are not, first and foremost, members of one country, one nation, one group of people that are children of God, the bride of Christ. Our fight is not worldly, it is spiritual for our kingdom, that which we are part of, the place where Jesus went after His ascension into heaven to make for us “rooms,” where in time we will reside forever: that is who we are. Then so being this: live as what you are, and whose you are. How are we to be soldiers for Christ? Simple: mow your lawn. Drive at the speed limit. Care for your children. Dress with respect! Go to Church and worship with your brothers and sisters. Read His word daily, and pray daily, during the day, be in prayer at all times. Are you living for yourself and what you can succeed in this world? On the other hand, are you living for Him? This is a question we must all ask of ourselves, and we must apply those things that make us do what is right by the truth of His word, and by placing Jesus Christ, our King, our Saviour first in our lives. This question to Peter by Jesus is one for us: “He said to him ht e third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me’” (John 21:17a)?

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

            I will joy in the God

Of my salvation.

                        Habukkuk 3:18

Rejoice Our Saviour Lives

Richard L. Crumb

How Can God Be Born By A Human Woman?

So it was, that while they were there,

the days were completed for her to be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son,

and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths,

and laid Him in a manger, because there

was  no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:6–7

            Some people do and have this day complain that to say that God had to go through the pains of birth, that Mary in travail by giving birth is unfitting for God, and in fact it may even evil to think that God would undergo such a thing. They should consider this: our first parents Adam and Eve the parents of mankind would have to be phantom beings, not real beings, since they had no real parents. So out of sync with nature as we know it that a human would be formed from the earth those inanimate and insensate matter that are for the most part inert, than to be begotten without the copulation of male and female. Is not the making of Adam and then Eve miraculous? Is not the now normal birth process worshipful? The forming of Adam and Eve, was this not an act of God’s might? Is not the birthing today a work of God’s grace and of His might? Some are so averse to the belief that the Most Holy God would endure such a natural birth, enclosed in the womb some nine months. Maybe, you too are confused or in the least have a problem with this event: the conception and birth of Jesus Christ who is God. What is the quality of this aversion, this aversion that shrinks from reason, and shrinks form perception? Here is an example: By the basis of reason, we shrink, even tremble at vice in contrast to virtue, yet according to perception we enjoy vice more than virtue. By the basis of perception we shrink from touching a snake more than touch a stone, yet we value more highly the snake over the stone. How is then that a person is averse to a woman’s womb? By the basis of perception or by the basis of reason: surely, it is perception, not reason, for reason cannot shrink from any substance or nature; in fact we cannot shrink from anything that God has made. Therefore, when we speak of the Logos being God incarnate; to be both God and Man, two natures in one body we must understand that God or His Word. It is that His Wisdom is reason itself and not influenced by any of our feelings and does not hate or avoid any creature He has made, that is to hate one and love the other. Therefore, it is more appropriate to say that Jesus the Word of God, the Reason of God did not abhor the inviolate womb of the virgin. By this act of being born into this world and to be and live, as man and so being placed into the womb of Mary for nine months were He sojourned without the taint of sin for Adam was not His father for His Father was God. It is then appropriate that Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of God call God, the first Person of the Trinity, Father. When the Son of God was born, it was like the bridegroom leaving his chamber and going forth to receive his bride, to set up a home for her. Jesus Christ dwelt among us, developed in tender flesh as child even uttering cries of infancy, born under law, subordinate to Joseph and Mary, circumcised and purified by sacrifice according to law like any sinner. He endured hunger and underwent the many artifices of the tempter, suffering persecution at the hands of mad men, and put to death as an innocent man, One who went from place to place, and at all times was obedient even unto death.

            What does al this mean? John answers: “…and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14b). With all the humiliation and weakness, and John explains to us that he has seen it and we can bear positive witness to it. From the beginning, the signs of His divinity at the wedding in Cana where He changed water into wine at time when manifested to be the Messiah. Showing Himself to be the One who the Israelites awaited. The One hoped and now in this time were looking intently for His coming: He had come and by other signs; i.e., the healing of blind eyes, leprosy, fevers, and even raising the dead, making dumb men talk, and walking on water, calming raging seas, His glory was revealed and manifested to His disciples and all that say these miracles. Think of His manifestation in the events of taking a few fishes and loaves of bread and feeding 5,000 or more people, all this showing us His glory and that He is the Son of God, the Only Begotten Son of God, the One in whom we can with full assurance place our faith, our lives. All other sons of God are adopted, that is you Christian, and this adoption is secured by Jesus Christ through His life, born of a woman, died as a man, and rose from the grave to ascend into heaven making intercession for all those His Father had placed into His hands.

            John the apostle, the one whom Jesus especially loved, the son of thunder, the one who was with Jesus even at His death is a first–hand witness and he wrote his letter so that we can know Him and have assurance of our faith in Him as the One who paid our debt of sin. Jesus Christ, our faithful witness. Are you seeking this glory that belongs to the Only begotten Son of God? It is gold, it pure gold, a price worthy for us to captivate and assimilate into our very beings. Lay hold of Him; He is not dead: He is alive and awaiting the time to come again and this time to receive His bride, you Christian, and to never allow again sin to destroy that which He has created.

There shall come forth a Rod

            From the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out

            Of his roots. The Spirit

Of the LORD shall rest upon Him,

            The spirit of wisdom and

Understanding, the Spirit of counsel

            And might, the Spirit of

Knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

                                    Isaiah 11:1–2

Fear not: God salvation is secure

Richard L. Crumb