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Texts -- John 20:25-31 (NET)

Context
20:25 The other disciples told him , “We have seen the Lord !” But he replied , “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands , and put my finger into the wounds from the nails , and put my hand into his side , I will never believe it!” 20:26 Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them . Although the doors were locked , Jesus came and stood among them and said , “Peace be with you !” 20:27 Then he said to Thomas , “Put your finger here , and examine my hands . Extend your hand and put it into my side . Do not continue in your unbelief , but believe .” 20:28 Thomas replied to him , “My Lord and my God !” 20:29 Jesus said to him , “Have you believed because you have seen me ? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed .” 20:30 Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples , which are not recorded in this book . 20:31 But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ , the Son of God , and that by believing you may have life in his name .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Thomas

    [ebd] twin, one of the twelve (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18, etc.). He was also called Didymus (John 11:16; 20:24), which is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name. All we know regarding him is recorded in the fourth Gospel (John 11:15,...
    [isbe] THOMAS - tom'-as (Thomas; ta'om, "a twin" (in plural only): 1. In the New Testament: One of the Twelve Apostles. Thomas, who was also called "Didymus" or "the Twin" (compare Jn 11:16; 20:24; 21:2), is referred to in detail b...
    [smith] (a twin), one of the apostles. According to Eusebius, his real name was Judas. This may have been a mere confusion with Thaddeus, who is mentioned in the extract. But it may also be that; Thomas was a surname. Out of this nam...
    [nave] THOMAS, called Didymus. One of the twelve apostles, Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15. Present at the raising of Lazarus, John 11:16. Asks Jesus the way to the Father's house, John 14:5. Absent when Jesus first appeared to ...

  • JOHN, GOSPEL OF

    [ebd] The genuineness of this Gospel, i.e., the fact that the apostle John was its author, is beyond all reasonable doubt. In recent times, from about 1820, many attempts have been made to impugn its genuineness, but without succe...
    [isbe] JOHN, GOSPEL OF - || I. INTRODUCTORY 1. Scope of Gospel 2. State of Opinion as to Date of Appearance, etc. II. EXTERNAL EVIDENCE fOR THE FOURTH GOSPEL 1. At the End of 2nd Century 2. Irenaeus--Theophilus 3. Middle of 2nd Cen...
    [smith] This Gospel was probably written at Ephesus about A.D. 78. (Canon Cook places it toward the close of John?s life, A.D. 90-100. --ED.) The Gospel was obviously addressed primarily to Christians, not to heathen. There can be li...

  • RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, THE

    [isbe] RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, THE - || 1. First Proof: The Life of Jesus 2. Second Proof: The Empty Grave 3. Third Proof: Transformation of the Disciples 4. Fourth Proof: Existence of the Primitive Church 5. Fifth Proof: The...

  • Jesus, The Christ

    [nave] JESUS, THE CHRIST. Index of Sub-topics History of; Miscellaneous Facts Concerning; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Ascension of; Atonement by; Attributes of; Compassion of; Confessing; Creator; Death of; Design of His...

  • CHRIST, THE EXALTATION OF

    [isbe] CHRIST, THE EXALTATION OF - egz-ol-ta'-shun: I. THE RESURRECTION 1. Its Glorification of Christ 2. Resurrection Body--Identity, Change, Present Locality 3. The Agent of the Resurrection II. ASCENSION OF OUR LORD 1. Its Actua...

  • Faith

    [nave] FAITH. 2 Sam. 22:31; Psa. 5:11; Psa. 7:1; Psa. 9:9, 10; Psa. 18:30; Psa. 32:10; Psa. 33:18, 19; Psa. 34:8, 22 vs. 1-8;; Psa. 2:12. Psa. 36:7; Psa. 40:4; Psa. 64:10; Psa. 78:7 vs. 5-7.; Psa. 84:5, 12; Psa. 112:5, 7, 8; Psa. ...

  • Skepticism

    [nave] SKEPTICISM, Job 21:15; 22:17; Psa. 14:1; 53:1; Zeph. 1:12; Mal. 3:14. Of Pharaoh, Ex. 5:2. Of Thomas, John 20:25-28. See: Unbelief.

  • Sabbath

    [ebd] (Heb. verb shabbath, meaning "to rest from labour"), the day of rest. It is first mentioned as having been instituted in Paradise, when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:2). "The sabbath was made for man," as a day of rest and re...
    [isbe] SABBATH - sab'-ath (shabbath, shabbathon; sabbaton, ta sabbata; the root shabhath in Hebrew means "to desist," "cease," "rest"): I. ORIGIN OF THE SABBATH 1. The Biblical Account 2. Critical Theories II. HISTORY OF THE SABBAT...
    [nave] SABBATH Signifying a rest period, Gen. 2:2, 3; Lev. 23; 25; 26:34, 35. Preparations for, Ex. 16:22; Matt. 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:31. Religious usages on, Gen. 2:3; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16, 31; 6:6; 13:10; Acts ...

  • Resurrection of Christ

    [ebd] one of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter ar...

  • BODY, SPIRITUAL

    [isbe] BODY, SPIRITUAL - spir'-it-u-al: Paul describes the body after the resurrection as a spiritual body (soma psuchikon) and contrasts it with the natural (psychical body, soma pneumatikon, 1 Cor 15:44). Our present natural body...

  • Backsliders

    [nave] BACKSLIDERS. Lev. 26:14-42; Deut. 4:9; Deut. 8:11-14; Deut. 28:58, 59, 63 vs. 15-68;; 1 Kin. 9:6-9; Deut. 29:18 vs. 18-28.; Deut. 32:15-30; Josh. 24:27 vs. 20-27.; 2 Chr. 15:2-4; Ezra 8:22; Job 34:26, 27; Psa. 44:20, 21; Ps...

  • NAIL

    [ebd] for fastening. (1.) Hebrew yathed, "piercing," a peg or nail of any material (Ezek. 15:3), more especially a tent-peg (Ex. 27:19; 35:18; 38:20), with one of which Jael (q.v.) pierced the temples of Sisera (Judg. 4:21, 22). T...
    [isbe] NAIL - nal: (1) As denoting the finger-nail, the Hebrew word is tsipporen (Dt 21:12), the captive woman "shall shave her head, and pare her nails." The latter was probably intended to prevent her from marring her beauty by s...

  • Life

    [isbe] LIFE - lif (chayyim, nephesh, ruach, chayah; zoe, psuche, bios, pneuma): I. THE TERMS II. THE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING 1. Popular Use of the Term 2. Complexity of the Idea III. IN THE APOCRYPHA IV. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 1. In t...
    [nave] LIFE. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics; Brevity and Uncertainty of; Everlasting; From God; Long; Spiritual. Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics Breath of, Gen. 2:7. Called Spirit of God, Job 27:3. Tree of,...

  • JESUS CHRIST, 4F

    [isbe] JESUS CHRIST, 4F - F. THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION The Resurrection a Fundamental Fact: The resurrection of Jesus, with its completion in the ascension, setting the seal of the Father's acceptance on His finished work on e...

  • Miracles

    [nave] MIRACLES. Index of Sub-topics Catalog of, and Supernatural Events, Of Jesus, in Chronological Order, Of the Disciples of Jesus; Convincing Effect of; Design of; Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit; Miscellany of Minor Sub-...

  • NATHANAEL (2)

    [isbe] NATHANAEL (2) - (nethan'el, "God has given"; Nathanael): Nathanael, who was probably a fisherman, belonged to Cana in Galilee (Jn 21:2). According to the "Genealogies of the Twelve Apostles" (compare Budge, Contendings of th...

  • TYPE

    [ebd] occurs only once in Scripture (1 Cor. 10:11, A.V. marg.). The Greek word tupos is rendered "print" (John 20:25), "figure" (Acts 7:43; Rom. 5:14), "fashion" (Acts 7:44), "manner" (Acts 23:25), "form" (Rom. 6:17), "example" or...
    [isbe] TYPE - tip: 1. Definition of Type 2. Distinctive Features 3. Classification of Types 4. How Much of the Old Testament Is Typical? LITERATURE The Bible furnishes abundant evidence of the presence of types and of typical instr...

  • PERSON OF CHRIST, 4-5

    [isbe] PERSON OF CHRIST, 4-5 - IV. Teaching of John. 1. The Epistles: In the circumstances in which he wrote, John found it necessary to insist upon the elements of the person of our Lord--His true Deity, His true humanity and the ...

  • MATTHEW, THE GOSPEL OF

    [isbe] MATTHEW, THE GOSPEL OF - (euaggelion kata Maththaion (or Matthaion)): 1. Name of Gospel--Unity and Integrity 2. Canonicity and Authorship 3. Relation of Greek and Aramaic Gospels 4. Contents, Character, and Purpose 5. Proble...

  • Unbelief

    [nave] UNBELIEF See: Skepticism. Ex. 4:1; Num. 11:21-23; Num. 20:12, 13; Psa. 78:19, 21, 22, 32; Psa. 95:8-11; Psa. 106:7, 24; Isa. 7:9; Isa. 53:1 [John 12:38.] Isa. 53:2, 3; Isa. 58:3; Jer. 5:12-14; Mal. 1:2, 7; Matt. 10:14, 15; ...
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Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • Dikau Yang Bangkit, Mahamulia [KJ.194]
  • Hai Umat Tuhan, Nyanyilah [KJ.199]
  • Sungguh Indah Kabar Mulia [KJ.383] ( Yesterday, Today, Forever )
  • Yesus, Kini Kataku [KJ.215]
  • [Joh 20:26] Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands
  • [Joh 20:27] How Oft, O Lord, Thy Face Hath Shone
  • [Joh 20:27] O Thou, Who Didst With Love Untold
  • [Joh 20:28] Come, Holy Ghost, God And Lord!
  • [Joh 20:28] Come, Holy Spirit, God And Lord!
  • [Joh 20:28] He Is Mine
  • [Joh 20:28] If Christ Is Mine
  • [Joh 20:28] Jesus Is Mine
  • [Joh 20:28] Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All
  • [Joh 20:28] O Christ, Our King, Creator, Lord
  • [Joh 20:29] Blessed Are They That Believe
  • [Joh 20:29] We Have Not Seen, We Cannot See

Questions

  • The Narrated Bible is the Bible in chronological order, for reading over a one year period of time. F. LaGard Smith has ordered the events for the entire Bible, and thus he does so for the resurrection account. He gives the f...
  • Ten: (1) Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18; (2) Matt 28:8-10; Mark 16:8; Luke 24:9-11; (3) Luke 24:34; (4) Mark 16:12,13; Luke 24:13-35; (5) Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23; (6) John 20:24-29; (7) Matt 28:16-20; Mark 16:15...
  • The answer to this question is the same for every book of the Bible (except the number of chapters will differ). The length of any book is precisely what the human and divine authors intended (see John 20:30-31). This is why ...
  • "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). We are commanded to have faith in God and in Christ (John 14:1; John 6:29) and yet it, of itself, is the gift and work of God in us, t...
  • Mark says it at the outset of his gospel (1:1). The angel told Mary her child would be the Son of God (Luke 1:35). John the Baptist said the same thing (John 1:34). Nathanael said it (John 1:49). Martha believed it (John ...
  • I think our safest and most reliable course of action is to see how the term is used and understood in the New Testament. Here are the references to "Son of God" in the NT: Matt. 4:3; 4:6; 8:29; 26:63; 27:40; 27:43; 27:54 ...
  • Each of the gospels have a specific goal or objective in writing their message, but they all basically agree in their testimony about Christ. Matthew writes to prove that Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews. But in his gospel, h...
  • The answer of the Bible is an unqualified "Yes!" The Bible teaches that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are one, and yet they are three. Note these statements from Scripture: Isaiah 7:14 /Matthew 1:23 = M...
  • Faith is trust. It is the gift of God, wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, which quickens and directs all our faculties toward the one object. We must pray to have faith, and to have our faith increased. It will be stren...
  • Emotions run high and opinions vary widely on this issue, but I'll share my convictions on this issue. The word "repent" has to be understood within the context in which it is being used. In fact, very often, it should not e...

Sermon Illustrations

Who Is Jesus Christ?; Why We Believe Jesus Rose from the Dead; Resurrection Events; A Sign for Unbelievers; Hebrews 11:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:37; Search the Scriptures; A Title of Jesus

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The great contribution of this book is the revelation that Yahweh is the sovereign God who provides deliverance for man from the slavery in which he finds himself.The major teaching of Exodus is primarily threefold.1. The sov...
  • 4:19-23 Moses did not return immediately to Egypt when he arrived back in Midian following his encounter with God at Horeb (v. 19). God spoke to him again in Midian and sent him back to Egypt assuring His servant that everyon...
  • Chronicles covers a broader period of history than any other Old Testament book. It begins with Adam and ends with Anani who lived eight generations after King Jehoiachin (1 Chron. 3:24). If we allow 25 years for each generat...
  • The focus now changes from physical to spiritual deliverance (cf. Deut. 30:1-10).12:10 The Lord also promised to pour out on the Davidic rulers and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, representing all the Israelites, a spirit of re...
  • Several church fathers (i.e., Irenaeus, Origen, and Eusebius) stated what we might suppose from the distinctively Jewish emphases of this book, namely that Matthew wrote his Gospel primarily for his fellow Jews.21He wrote, un...
  • 28:1 The NASB translation of the Greek preposition opseas "late"is misleading. The word can also mean "after,"and it makes better sense if translated as such here.1082The women waited until after the Sabbath to go to Jesus' t...
  • The emphasis here is on the physical reality of Jesus' body after His resurrection whereas in the previous pericope the stress was on His supernatural nature. The incident clarifies that the One who rose from the dead was ind...
  • John's presentation of Jesus in his Gospel has been a problem to many modern students of the New Testament. Some regard it as the greatest problem in current New Testament studies.15Compared to the Synoptics that present Jesu...
  • The preceding quotation implies that John wrote primarily for Christians. This implication may seem to be contrary to John's stated purpose (20:30-31). Probably John wrote both to convince unbelievers that Jesus was the Son o...
  • In one sense the Gospel of John is more profound than the Synoptics. It is the most difficult Gospel for most expositors to preach and to teach for reasons that will become evident as we study it. In another sense, however, t...
  • I. Prologue 1:1-18A. The preincarnate Word 1:1-5B. The witness of John the Baptist 1:6-8C. The appearance of the Light 1:9-13D. The incarnation of the Word 1:14-18II. Jesus' public ministry 1:19-12:50A. The prelude to Jesus' ...
  • Each of the four Gospels begins with an introduction to Jesus that places Him in the historical setting of His earthly ministry. Matthew connected Him with David and Abraham. Mark associated Him directly with John the Baptist...
  • John began his Gospel by locating Jesus before the beginning of His ministry, before His virgin birth, and even before Creation. He identified Jesus as co-existent with God the Father and the Father's agent in providing creat...
  • John the Apostle introduced John the Baptist because John the Baptist bore witness to the light, namely Jesus. John the Baptist was both a model evangelist pointing those in darkness to the light and a model witness providing...
  • John's return to the Word in verse 14 from verse 1 introduces new revelation about Him. Though still part of the prologue, the present section focuses on the Incarnation of the Word.1:14 The Word, who existed equal with God b...
  • The disciples of John were not the only men who began following Jesus. Andrew continued to bring other friends to Jesus. This incident preceded Jesus' formal appointment of the Twelve, but it shows Him preparing those who wou...
  • The first miracle that Jesus performed, in His public ministry and in John's Gospel, was semi-public. Apparently only Jesus' disciples, the servants present, and Jesus' mother understood what had happened.2:1 The third day ev...
  • John now presented evidence that Jesus knew people as no others did and that many believed in His name (2:23). This constitutes further witness that He is the Son of God. John summarized several conversations that Jesus had w...
  • This pericope explains why Jesus must become greater. It also unites several themes that appear through chapter 3. John the Apostle or John the Baptist may be the speaker. This is not entirely clear.3:31-32 The incarnate Son ...
  • This incident completes a cycle in John's Gospel. Jesus performed His first sign in Cana (2:1), and now He returned and did another miracle there (v. 46). There is even a second reference to Capernaum (2:12; 4:46). John's acc...
  • "John is interested in the way the coming of Jesus divides people."3479:35 The healed man had responded positively and courageously to the light that he had so far, but he did not have much light. Therefore Jesus took the ini...
  • This teaching is quite similar to what the Synoptic evangelists recorded Jesus giving in His parables, but there is a significant difference. John called this teaching a figure of speech (Gr. paroimian) rather than a parable ...
  • 10:22-23 "At that time"(NASB) is a general reference to the proximity of the feast of Dedication and the events narrated in the previous pericope. It does not mean that the events in the preceding section occurred exactly bef...
  • In this pericope John stressed Jesus' deliberate purpose in allowing Lazarus to die and the reality of his death.11:1-2 "Lazarus"probably is a variant of "Eleazar"meaning "God helps."379The Synoptic writers did not mention hi...
  • The scene now shifts from the region near Bethany of Perea (1:28; 10:40) to the Bethany in Judea. Both towns became sites where people believed on Jesus.11:17 There is some evidence that the later Jewish rabbis believed that ...
  • 12:37-38 The majority of the Jews did not believe on Jesus despite the many miracles that He performed that indicated His messiahship (cf. 1:11). John again attributed Israel's unbelief to God's will, though he balanced that ...
  • 13:12 Jesus now returned to His role as the disciples' teacher, which His change of clothing and physical position indicated. He began to explain the significance of what He had done, though full comprehension would come to t...
  • 14:8 The Eleven regarded Jesus very highly. Notwithstanding they did not yet realize that He was such an accurate and full revelation of God the Father that to see Jesus was to see the Father. Philip asked for a clear revelat...
  • Jesus realized that the Eleven did not fully understand what He had just revealed. He therefore encouraged them with a promise that they would understand His words later.14:25-26 Jesus had made these revelations to His discip...
  • John condensed the scene in which Pilate declared Jesus innocent, the Jews accused Jesus further, Jesus replied nothing, and Pilate marvelled at Jesus' silence (Matt. 27:12-14; Mark 15:3-5; Luke 23:4-6). He simply related Pil...
  • This pericope is unique to the fourth Gospel.19:31 The "day of preparation"was Friday, the day before the Sabbath (Saturday, cf. v. 14; Mark 15:42). The Jews considered sundown the beginning of a new day. In this case the new...
  • 19:38 All four evangelists mentioned Joseph of Arimathea but only with Jesus' burial. The Synoptics tell us that he was a godfearing rich member of the Sanhedrin who was a follower of Jesus and who had not voted to condemn Je...
  • "If the Gospel of John were an ordinary biography, there would be no chapter 20. I am an incurable reader of biographies, and I notice that almost all of them conclude with the death and burial of the subject. I have yet to r...
  • John omitted the earthquake, the angel rolling away the stone that covered the tomb entrance, and his sitting on the stone (Matt. 28:2-3). He also did not include the appearance of two angels to the women who visited the tomb...
  • This is the first of four of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances that John included in his Gospel.Jesus' Post-resurrection Appearances627Easter morningto Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:10-18)to other women (Matt. 28:9...
  • This pericope contains another post-resurrection appearance of Jesus that bolstered the disciples' faith. It also contains John's account of the Great Commission.20:19 John moved his readers directly from the events of Easter...
  • 20:26 John located this post-resurrection appearance eight days after Easter Sunday, namely the following Sunday. His "eight days"(Gr. hemeras okto) evidently included both Sundays. Perhaps he identified the day because, by t...
  • John followed the climactic proof that Jesus is God's Son with an explanation of his purpose for writing this narrative of Jesus' ministry. This explanation constitutes a preliminary conclusion to the book.20:30 "Therefore"ti...
  • This Gospel began with a theological prologue (1:1-18). It ends with a practical epilogue. John concluded his narrative designed to bring unbelievers to faith in Jesus Christ in chapter 20. Chapter 21 contains instruction for...
  • 21:1 John recorded still another post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to His disciples. It undoubtedly occurred during the 32-day period between Thomas' confession (20:28) and Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:9). Exactly when is uni...
  • 1:12-13 The disciples returned to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. The short trip from where Jesus ascended on Mt. Olivet to the upper room was only a Sabbath day's journey away (about 2,000 cubits, two-third...
  • 3:17-18 If Peter's charges against his hearers were harsh (vv. 13-15), his concession that they acted out of ignorance was tender. Peter undoubtedly hoped that his gentle approach would win a reversal of his hearers' attitude...
  • Luke devoted more space to Paul's evangelizing in Philippi than he did to the apostle's activities in any other city on the second and third journeys even though Paul was there only briefly. It was the first European city in ...
  • "From 20:5 through the end of Acts (28:31), Luke's narrative gives considerable attention to ports of call, stopovers, and time spent on Paul's travels and includes various anecdotes. It contains the kind of details found in ...
  • Verses 14-17 explain the Spirit's ministry of confirming the reality of the believer's position as a son of God to him or her. Paul believed that the believer who is aware of his or her secure position will be more effective ...
  • James next introduced an objection to his thesis that faith is dead without works. He put it in the mouth of a hypothetical objector. This literary device of objection and response was a common one that Paul also used (Rom. 9...
  • "The main thread of Peter's rhetoric [in this pericope] can . . . be expressed in one sentence: Then you will rejoice with inexpressible and glorious delight, when you each receive the outcome of your faith, your final salvat...
  • Peter began his second epistle as he did to introduce himself to his readers and to lay a foundation for what follows.1:1 The writer could hardly have stated his identity more clearly than he did in this verse. "Simon"was Pet...
  • If I were to boil down the message of this epistle into one sentence it would be this. Fellowship with God is the essence of eternal life.Both the Gospel of John and the First Epistle of John deal with eternal life. John wrot...
  • John concluded as he did to explain the brevity of this epistle and his hope to visit Gaius soon. This conclusion is very similar to the one in 2 John (vv. 12-13; cf. John 20:30).The use of "friends"to describe believers is u...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • The first appearance of the Lord, and revelation of the new form of intercourse.Nothing had been said of Mary's return to the tomb; but how could she stay away? The disciples might go, but she lingered, woman-like, to indulg...
  • And after eight days, again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus.'--John 20:26.THERE is nothing more remarkable about the narrative of the resurrection, taken as a whole, than the completeness with...
  • And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might h...
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