An Attempt to Date
Thomas
G.D.O'Bradovich III
August 12, 2015
Background
I have recently been perusing the fourth Gospel for anomalies, inconsistencies and tidbits. Perhaps the most striking oddity is when Thomas learns that Lazarus is dead, he suggests that the disciples go and die with Lazarus. This statement is never explained.
I have recently been perusing the fourth Gospel for anomalies, inconsistencies and tidbits. Perhaps the most striking oddity is when Thomas learns that Lazarus is dead, he suggests that the disciples go and die with Lazarus. This statement is never explained.
Part the First
The Oxford English Dictionary gives the following:
Etymology:
< Latin Thōmās, Greek Θωμᾶς."
We note that the Greek uses theta, while the Latin uses "Th" and like all major European languages, except Greek and English, "th" is pronounced "t" (Tomas). We continue:
1. A Greek, Latin, and common Christian name; well known as that of the ‘doubting apostle’ (see John xx. 25), and hence used allusively..."
The following if from the 1912 edition of the OED:
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xx. 24
Thomas an of þam twelfon þe ys gecweden didimus..næs mid him þa se hælend com.
c1275 Old Eng. Misc. 90
Haly thomas of heoue[n]riche.
c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 5080
Ȝe, so I drede me, by seynt Thomas.
c1620 T. Robinson Mary Magdalene (1899) ii. lxxix. 1519
O, that I might, with waueringe Thomas, dippe The finger of my faith within his side.
1656 T. Blount Glossographia
Thomas (Hebr.) signifies twin, or as some will have it, bottomlesse deep.
We see from the citations that all the examples are spelled "Thomas" with no variations. We have previously noted that "Christ" has multiple spellings and we attributed these variants due to "Christ" originating from Greek and not from Latin [vide]. Therefore, we are surprised that there are no variations in the spelling of Thomas.
The Oxford English Dictionary gives the following:
Etymology:
< Latin Thōmās, Greek Θωμᾶς."
We note that the Greek uses theta, while the Latin uses "Th" and like all major European languages, except Greek and English, "th" is pronounced "t" (Tomas). We continue:
1. A Greek, Latin, and common Christian name; well known as that of the ‘doubting apostle’ (see John xx. 25), and hence used allusively..."
The following if from the 1912 edition of the OED:
c1000 West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xx. 24
Thomas an of þam twelfon þe ys gecweden didimus..næs mid him þa se hælend com.
c1275 Old Eng. Misc. 90
Haly thomas of heoue[n]riche.
c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 5080
Ȝe, so I drede me, by seynt Thomas.
c1620 T. Robinson Mary Magdalene (1899) ii. lxxix. 1519
O, that I might, with waueringe Thomas, dippe The finger of my faith within his side.
1656 T. Blount Glossographia
Thomas (Hebr.) signifies twin, or as some will have it, bottomlesse deep.
We see from the citations that all the examples are spelled "Thomas" with no variations. We have previously noted that "Christ" has multiple spellings and we attributed these variants due to "Christ" originating from Greek and not from Latin [vide]. Therefore, we are surprised that there are no variations in the spelling of Thomas.
Part the Second
Interestingly, "Tom" shows variants in the historical record:
Forms: ME–15 tomme, (ME thomme, 15 thom), 15– Tom; also, in general uses, with lower-case initial.
a. A familiar shortening of the Christian name Thomas....
1377 [see Tom True-tongue n. at Compounds 1c(a)].
1393 [see Tom Two-tongued n. at Compounds 1c(a)].
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 898
...And Thom beares Logges into the hall.
1598 Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. v. 8,
...by their christen names, as Tom, Dicke, and Francis.
1606 N. Breton Choice, Chance, & Change sig. K2v,
When Tom, and Tib, were in their true delight...
1734 Vocal Miscellany (ed. 2) I. 332
Farewell, Tom, Dick, and Harry, Farewell, Moll, Nell, and Sue.
1749 H. Fielding (title)
Tom Jones.
1762 J. Otis Vindic. House of Rep.Mass.-Bay 21
...the christian name of Tom, Dick or Harry is evident.
1790 C. Dibdin Coll. Songs I. 230
Here, a sheer hulk, lies poor Tom Bowling.
There is only one variant ("Thom") from the year 1598.
Interestingly, "Tom" shows variants in the historical record:
Forms: ME–15 tomme, (ME thomme, 15 thom), 15– Tom; also, in general uses, with lower-case initial.
a. A familiar shortening of the Christian name Thomas....
1377 [see Tom True-tongue n. at Compounds 1c(a)].
1393 [see Tom Two-tongued n. at Compounds 1c(a)].
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 898
...And Thom beares Logges into the hall.
1598 Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. v. 8,
...by their christen names, as Tom, Dicke, and Francis.
1606 N. Breton Choice, Chance, & Change sig. K2v,
When Tom, and Tib, were in their true delight...
1734 Vocal Miscellany (ed. 2) I. 332
Farewell, Tom, Dick, and Harry, Farewell, Moll, Nell, and Sue.
1749 H. Fielding (title)
Tom Jones.
1762 J. Otis Vindic. House of Rep.Mass.-Bay 21
...the christian name of Tom, Dick or Harry is evident.
1790 C. Dibdin Coll. Songs I. 230
Here, a sheer hulk, lies poor Tom Bowling.
There is only one variant ("Thom") from the year 1598.
Part the Third
The spelling "Thomas" must be influenced by Latin, otherwise, if the influence were Greek, the spelling would be "Tomas". However, "Tomme" lack the letter "h", and we are uncertain why this letter is lacking. We speculate that "Tomme" is pronounced "Tommy".
The spelling "Thomas" must be influenced by Latin, otherwise, if the influence were Greek, the spelling would be "Tomas". However, "Tomme" lack the letter "h", and we are uncertain why this letter is lacking. We speculate that "Tomme" is pronounced "Tommy".
Conclusion
The oddities regarding Thomas in the fourth Gospel are only equaled by the oddities of the name "Thomas" in the English language.
Unfortunately with the research available only up to the year 1912, we are unable to date Thomas. Like George, we believe the name to be long established in the English language. However, we would like a detailed examination of Thomas through the centuries to determine if there are variants without the letter "h", and when these occur.
In An Attempt To Date series, we rarely can not date words or events, although at times the conclusions are fanciful (ATTD the Mass). Since we do not like to disappoint, we will leave the Gentle Reader with another unexplained oddity of the fourth Gospel. Per Wikipedia:
The "Apostle Thomas, who refused to believe that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to the ten other apostles, until he could see and feel the wounds received by Jesus on the cross."
Interestingly, Thomas was not at the cross [John 19:25], therefore, Thomas must have believed, without seeing, that Jesus was impaled with a sword. Why he would believe one event, but not another event is not explained.
Fourth Gospel 20:24 "Thomas called...Didymus..." or, when translated into English, "twin called...twin.."
The oddities regarding Thomas in the fourth Gospel are only equaled by the oddities of the name "Thomas" in the English language.
Unfortunately with the research available only up to the year 1912, we are unable to date Thomas. Like George, we believe the name to be long established in the English language. However, we would like a detailed examination of Thomas through the centuries to determine if there are variants without the letter "h", and when these occur.
In An Attempt To Date series, we rarely can not date words or events, although at times the conclusions are fanciful (ATTD the Mass). Since we do not like to disappoint, we will leave the Gentle Reader with another unexplained oddity of the fourth Gospel. Per Wikipedia:
The "Apostle Thomas, who refused to believe that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to the ten other apostles, until he could see and feel the wounds received by Jesus on the cross."
Interestingly, Thomas was not at the cross [John 19:25], therefore, Thomas must have believed, without seeing, that Jesus was impaled with a sword. Why he would believe one event, but not another event is not explained.
Fourth Gospel 20:24 "Thomas called...Didymus..." or, when translated into English, "twin called...twin.."