________________
9. COMING OF THOMAS
St. Thomas the Apostle
Thomas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus who had been with him for over three years as a witness to his teachings and actions. He himself was a hard-core scientist who would not believe in anything true just because some one told him and would trust them only after verification. Thus, he insisted that he touch the wound of the resurrected Jesus to confirm that it was Jesus himself and not any apparition. Having confirmed he became the most powerful Apostle. No wonder Jesus wanted him to go to India into the midst of the Rationalistic Atheistic Buddhists, Jains and to other groups who were materialists. He was himself all that and he could bear witness in their midst.
Thomas himself was no Gnostic, as some would like to him to be represented. Later Syrian Aryan origin) Gnostic would write up and make Puranas (as is the character of all Gnostic religions) which we have as Gnostic Gospels, written as late as third century, soon after the appearance of modern Hinduism. Christian sacred text would not include any document written after the death of the last of the Apostles, John, to ensure the accuracy of the testimony.
192
