Club Name: Toma
LIFE Motto: Believe Beyond Sight
Thomas is the type of disciple who likes to look a little closer. Whether he’s following a trail of clues with a magnifying glass, inspecting a new find, or asking thoughtful questions, he enjoys discovering how things fit together. With a keen eye for detail and a desire to look beyond first impressions, Thomas is always searching for the truth. His curiosity, courage, and honesty remind others that sincere questions can lead to deeper faith. A fan of tomatoes, Thomas claims their lycopene is one of the secrets behind his sharp eye for detail.
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND
Thomas was one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). In the Gospel of John, he is also called Didymus, which means “Twin” (John 11:16; 20:24; 21:2). The Greek name Didymus and the Aramaic name Thomas both carry the same meaning, highlighting a distinctive detail preserved in the biblical text. While Scripture never identifies his twin, the name became a distinguishing part of his identity.
Scripture Spotlight
“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’”
— John 14:5
“They told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he [Thomas] replied, ‘I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.’”
— John 20:25
“Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!'”
— John 20:28
Thomas appears several times in the Gospel of John, offering a glimpse into both his courage and his desire to understand. When Jesus prepares to return to Judea after learning of Lazarus’ death (whom He would soon raise to life), Thomas recognizes the danger of returning to a region where Jesus had recently faced threats and encourages the other disciples, saying, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Later, during Jesus’ final teaching before the crucifixion, Thomas asks how the disciples could know the way when they did not yet understand where Jesus was going (John 14:5). Jesus responds with one of His most well-known declarations: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (v. 6). After the resurrection, Thomas struggles to believe the reports that Jesus was alive and declares that he needed to see the evidence for himself (John 20:25). Yet when the risen Christ appears to him, Thomas proclaims one of the clearest confessions of faith in the New Testament: “My Lord and my God!” (v. 28).
Thomas later joins the other disciples when Jesus appears by the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:2) and was among those gathered in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension as they awaited the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13). His journey from honest questions to confident faith continues to encourage believers today.
*Scripture quotations used throughout this page are from the NRSV and NLT.