GAH! My computer froze and I lost the big reply. So I'm going to post something short. I'm not trawling through all those sources again. Now my internet is disconnecting me like crazy.
S Walch. I'm sick now of discussing this with you, and you're too rude and come across as ignorant, a 20 year old trying to look intelligent by quoting strong's and posting things in Greek.
lol, that's one of the most used cop-outs I come across.
Obviously, becuase I'm 20, I'm a complete retard when it comes to someone older than me, is that what you're saying?
Thanks. It's nice to know what the older generation think of the younger one - dismiss what they say because they're not as old as you.
You cite Strong's and act like you're now an expert on the Bible and on names.
Haven't you been doing the exact same thing? Acting like you're an expert on the bible, and then quoting Wikipedia (of all places).
I've already explained that Thomas was used to distinguish between him and Judas.
And you claimed that this could be found in Scripture:
And, it is also only in Syrian tradition that Thomas' first name was Judas (or Jude).
What? Are you saying the Bible is wrong?
So, where does the Bible say that Thomas was a name used instead of Judas?
There is 11 instances where "Thomas" is used, and not a single one of those places in Scripture state that they called Him Thomas to distinguish him from the other two "Judas' "
No, I have not mixed them up.
Yes you have. The 11 places where Thomas is mentioned say nothing about him being called
Judas. There are instancies, thanks to the Gospel of Luke and John, and Luke's Acts, where it is discovered that
Thaddaeus is the one that was also called Judas "the son of James" - Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13, John 14:22
The Catholic Encyclopdeia also proves that "Judas Thomas" is a Syrican tradition, and mentions nothing of Scripture stating that Thomas was a name given to him to distinguish him from the other two Judas'
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14658b.htm
"The principal document concerning him is the "Acta Thomae", preserved to us with some variations both in Greek and in Syriac, and bearing unmistakeable signs of its Gnostic origin. It may indeed be the work of Bardesanes himself .... that the relics of Apostle Thomas, which we know to have been venerated at Edessa, had really come from the East. The extravagance of the legend may be judged from the fact that in more than one place (cap. 31, p. 148) it represents Thomas (Judas Thomas, as he is called here and elsewhere in Syriac tradition) as the twin brother of Jesus."
In fact, the most that the CE actulaly mentions regarding Thomas derived from the bible is:
"Little is recorded of St. Thomas the
Apostle, nevertheless thanks to the
fourth Gospel his
personality is clearer to us than that of some others of the
Twelve. His name occurs in all the lists of the
Synoptists (
Matthew 10:3;
Mark 3:18;
Luke 6, cf.
Acts 1:13), but in
St. John he plays a distinctive part. First, when
Jesus announced His
intention of returning to
Judea to visit
Lazarus, "Thomas" who is called Didymus [the twin], said to his fellow
disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (
John 11:16). Again it was St. Thomas who during the discourse before the
Last Supper raised an objection: "Thomas saith to him: Lord, we
know not whither thou goest; and how can we
know the way?" (
John 14:5). But more especially St. Thomas is
remembered for his incredulity when the other
Apostles announced
Christ's Resurrection to him: "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not
believe" (
John 20:25); but eight days later he made his act of
faith, drawing down the rebuke of
Jesus: "Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast
believed;
blessed are they that have not seen, and have
believed" (
John 20:29)."
And not once is the statment "and it is found in Scripture that Thomas was originally called Judas".
As I've said, Peter was not intended as a name, yet it is used as one. You said nothing to that. It is a word meaning "rock" in Greek, Thomas is from a word meaning "twin" in Aramaic.
Still doesn't negate that Petros and Thomas are
personal names. Just like my name is derived from the Greek
stephanos meaning
crown. Doesn't change the fact that Stephen is a
personal name.
It was used as a nickname, a way of identifying between the other other two Judas. Simple as that. I'm not here to argue, although apparently you're not willing to let other people have their say.
When someone claims that Scripture has said something, and then don't actually show me where, then no, I wont just take their word for it.
You have shown no Scriptural proof that Thomas' original name was Judas - And the only thing you have in your "favour" is Syric tradition, but you never stated anything concerning that.
I have more than a clue, but if I'm wrong I'm willing to admit it, I'm just not wrong here. You can't accept my opinion, that is your problem.
I accept "opinions" when opinions are backed up by evidence - which you have provided none for at all.