To Touch or Not to Touch? Doubting and Touching in John 20:24–29

Thomas the (Un)Faithful: Πιστός in John 20.27

“…The question of doubt is a dominant one where Thomas is concerned. A prevalent interpretation understands Thomas’s failure primarily in terms of intellectual doubt or unbelief (Thomaskutty 2018: 62-70; Schliesser 2017: 72, 74; Sylva 2013: 100; Farelly 2010: 125; Bonney 2002: 160). Some go so far as to state explicitly that the meaning of πιστός in 20.27 is the same as πιστεύω elsewhere in the gospel (Jerumanis 1996: 54).…”

“…6 Rather, the orientation of Jesus’ words is towards the future and towards the reader, to what will be rather than what is (cf. 1.50) (O’Brien 2005: 295; Schliesser 2017: 74). 7 While Thomas sees Jesus, the text does not convey such seeing in negative terms.…”

“…Another option is that Thomas’s refusal to believe is a demand for proof more than an expression of unbelief (Lee 1995: 43; Moloney 1982: 429). Yet there is no indication that Thomas actively seeks such proof, as the narrative presents Jesus taking the initiative to address Thomas’s failure (Schliesser 2017: 72; Sylva 2013: 104; Schlier 1964: 282). It is indeed a failure to believe, albeit a failure to believe the report of the other disciples, rather than a direct failure to believe Jesus.…”

“…John does not want to distract from the implications of Thomas’s doubts by including any other similar responses. Indeed, Thomas’s absence from the earlier resurrection scene with the disciples and his subsequent introduction functions to indicate the importance of the following scene, beyond merely a repetition of a resurrection appearance (Schliesser 2017: 71; Farelly 2010: 122). The reason for highlighting Thomas and his failure is to put the focus on how, by rejecting the report of his fellow disciples, he has rejected Jesus’ commission as witnesses.…”

“… 12 Schliesser (2017: 73) notes how this request does not fit with the pattern of requests for signs elsewhere in the gospel. …”