Scripture
Answer 4: John 20:28
Thomas
called Yahshua Elohim and Yahshua never rebuked him. John 20:28
King James Bible
And Thomas answered and said unto
him, My Lord and my God.
What did
Thomas mean when he said to Yahshua, “My Lord and my God”?
On the
occasion of Yahshua’s appearance to Thomas and the other apostles, which had
removed Thomas’ doubts of Yahshua’ resurrection, the now-convinced Thomas
exclaimed to Yahshua: “My Lord and my God! [literally, “The Lord of me and the
God (ho The·osʹ) of me!”].” (John 20:24-29)
Some
scholars have viewed this expression as an exclamation of astonishment spoken to
Yahshua but actually directed to Elohim Yahweh, his Father. However, others
claim the original Greek requires that the words be viewed as being directed to
Yahshua.
Even if
this is so, the expression “My Lord and my God” would still have to harmonize
with the rest of the inspired Scriptures. Since the record shows that Yahshua had
previously sent his disciples the message, “I
am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and
your God,” there is no reason for believing that Thomas thought
Yahshua was the Almighty Elohim (God). (John 20:17) John himself, after recounting
Thomas’ encounter with the resurrected Yahshua, says of this and similar
accounts: “But these have been written
down that you may believe that Yahshua
is the Christ the Son of
God, and that, because of
believing, you may have life by means of his name.”—John 20:30, 31.
The word "Lord" (ὁ κύριος)
is precisely the Greek translation for the Hebrew "Adonai." John used
the title God here or accurately in Hebrew it is “Elohim”.
John
20:28 says (KJV)...
English
And Thomas answered and said unto him,
My Lord and my God.
Greek...
ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου.
According to Meyer's NT Commentary...
ὁ κύριός μου κ. ὁ θεός μου] is
taken by Theodore of Mopsuestia (“quasi pro miraculo facto Deum collaudat,” ed.
Fritzsche, p. 41) as an exclamation of astonishment directed to God.
Accurate
Literal Translation using exact Hebrew words for the Titles:
Halleluyah
Scriptures: And T’oma answered and
said to Him, “Adonai and my Elohim”.
There is no objection to referring to Yahshua (Jesus) as “God,” if this
is what Thomas had in mind. Such would be in harmony
with Jesus’ own quotation from the Psalms in which powerful men, judges, were
addressed as “gods.” (John
10:34, 35, RS; Ps. 82:1-6)
Isaiah 9:6 (RS) also prophetically describes a
future title that Yahshua (Jesus) would be called as “Mighty God,” but not as
the Almighty God.
The context helps us to draw the right conclusion
from this. Shortly before Yahshua’s death, Thomas had heard
Yahshua pray in which he addressed his Father as “the only true God.” (John 17:3, RS) After Yahshua’s resurrection, Yahshua had
sent a message to his apostles, including Thomas, in which he had said: “I am ascending. . . to my God and your
God.” (John
20:17, RS) After recording what
Thomas said when he actually saw and touched the resurrected Messiah, the
apostle John stated: “These are written that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that
believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31, RS) So, if anyone has concluded from Thomas’
exclamation that Yahshua is himself “the only true God” or that Yahshua is a
Trinitarian “God the Son,” he needs to look again at what Yahshua himself
said (vs. 17) and at the conclusion that is clearly stated
by the apostle John (vs. 31).
SOME PERSONAL EXCLAMATIONS MADE IN MY PERSONAL LIFE EXPERIENCE:
Ø The very first time in my life when I saw a Female
fully naked, I exclaimed in a
loud voice, OH MY GOD. The Girl just like Yahshua did not rebuke me or correct
me. She did not MISTAKE it to understand that I was calling her God when she is
nude!!! I also did not understand her to be God!!!! IT WAS JUST AN EXCLAMATION
REMARK IN AN EXCEPTIONAL SITUATION.
Ø Recently I saw a disastrous natural landslide on a
recorded video. Unknowingly and
without being aware, I exclaimed to myself, “OH MY GOD, WHAT IS THIS HAPPENING?
Now did I mean to say that the Landslide was God? NO.
Ø Exclaiming, OH MY GOD is also not taking God’s name in
vain. As God or Elohim are Titles and not the personal name of Elohim which is
Yahweh.
Ø Many
times in India, when driving on the
Highways, I have seen many people of
different religions and faiths, exclaiming out of fear and astonishment, on
seeing a major accident happen right in front of them. OH MY GOD. Does this
mean, 2000 years later when the incident is written or translated in other
foreign languages, should the reader consider that the person who met in the
accident was God?
