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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/20-29.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/43_Jhn_20_29.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 20:29 - Jesus Appears to Thomas" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/20-29.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/20-29.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/20.htm">Chapter 20</a> > Verse 29</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/20-28.htm" title="John 20:28">◄</a> John 20:29 <a href="/john/20-30.htm" title="John 20:30">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/20.htm">New International Version</a> Then Jesus told him, &#8220Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/john/20.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” <a href="/esv/john/20.htm">English Standard Version</a> Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” <a href="/bsb/john/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” <a href="/blb/john/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Jesus says to him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those not having seen, yet having believed." <a href="/kjv/john/20.htm">King James Bible</a> Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. <a href="/nkjv/john/20.htm">New King James Version</a> Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” <a href="/nasb_/john/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” <a href="/nasb/john/20.htm">NASB 1995</a> Jesus said to him, &#8220Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/john/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” <a href="/lsb/john/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.” <a href="/amp/john/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, and favored by God] are they who did not see [Me] and yet believed [in Me].” <a href="/csb/john/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” <a href="/hcsb/john/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Jesus said, &#8220Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.&#8221 <a href="/asv/john/20.htm">American Standard Version</a> Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. <a href="/cev/john/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Jesus said, "Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!" <a href="/erv/john/20.htm">English Revised Version</a> Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. <a href="/gwt/john/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Jesus said to Thomas, "You believe because you've seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me but believe." <a href="/gnt/john/20.htm">Good News Translation</a> Jesus said to him, "Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me!" <a href="/isv/john/20.htm">International Standard Version</a> Jesus told him, "Is it because you've seen me that you have believed? How blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!" <a href="/msb/john/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” <a href="/net/john/20.htm">NET Bible</a> Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed." <a href="/nheb/john/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed." <a href="/wbt/john/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Jesus saith to him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. <a href="/wey/john/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Because you have seen me," replied Jesus, "you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." <a href="/web/john/20.htm">World English Bible</a> Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Jesus says to him, “Because you have seen Me, Thomas, you have believed; blessed [are] those having not seen, and having believed.” <a href="/blb/john/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Jesus says to him, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those not having seen, yet having believed." <a href="/ylt/john/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Jesus saith to him, 'Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed; happy those not having seen, and having believed.' <a href="/slt/john/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Jesus says to him, Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: happy they not having seen, and having believed.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. <a href="/cpdv/john/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Jesus said to him: “You have seen me, Thomas, so you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” <a href="/nabre/john/20.htm">New American Bible</a> Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” <a href="/nrsvce/john/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Jesus said to him, Now you believe, because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen me, and have believed. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/20.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Yeshua said to him, “Now that you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me and have believed.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/20.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me you have believed: blessed are they who, though they have not seen, yet have believed.<CM> <a href="/godbey/john/20.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> Jesus says to him, <FR>Because you have seen me, you have believed: happy are those not seeing, and believing.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/john/20.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Jesus saith to him, Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, hast thou believed: blessed are they who though they have not seen me, yet have believed.<CM> <a href="/mace/john/20.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Jesus said to him, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed. <a href="/wey/john/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "Because you have seen me," replied Jesus, "you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." <a href="/worrell/john/20.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Jesus saith to him, <FR>"Because you have seen Me, you believe: happy are those who did not see, and yet believed."<Fr> <a href="/worsley/john/20.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> Jesus saith unto him, <FR>Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed <Fr>are<FR> they that have not seen, and <Fr>yet<FR> have believed.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/john/20-29.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=7289" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/20.htm">Jesus Appears to Thomas</a> …28Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” 29<a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2424.htm" title="2424: Iēsous (N-NMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.">Jesus</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: Legei (V-PIA-3S) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">said</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">to him,</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: Hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.">“Because</a> <a href="/greek/3708.htm" title="3708: heōrakas (V-RIA-2S) -- Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.">you have seen</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: me (PPro-A1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">Me,</a> <a href="/greek/4100.htm" title="4100: pepisteukas (V-RIA-2S) -- From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.">you have believed;</a> <a href="/greek/3107.htm" title="3107: makarioi (Adj-NMP) -- Happy, blessed, to be envied. A prolonged form of the poetical makar; supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off.">blessed are</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">those who</a> <a href="/greek/3361.htm" title="3361: mē (Adv) -- Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether."></a> <a href="/greek/3708.htm" title="3708: idontes (V-APA-NMP) -- Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.">have not seen</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and yet</a> <a href="/greek/4100.htm" title="4100: pisteusantes (V-APA-NMP) -- From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.">have believed.” </a> 30Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/hebrews/11-1.htm">Hebrews 11:1</a> Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. <a href="/1_peter/1-8.htm">1 Peter 1:8-9</a> Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, / now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. <a href="/2_corinthians/5-7.htm">2 Corinthians 5:7</a> For we walk by faith, not by sight. <a href="/matthew/5-8.htm">Matthew 5:8</a> Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. <a href="/romans/10-17.htm">Romans 10:17</a> Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. <a href="/john/1-12.htm">John 1:12</a> But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— <a href="/john/11-40.htm">John 11:40</a> Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” <a href="/luke/1-45.htm">Luke 1:45</a> Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.” <a href="/matthew/16-17.htm">Matthew 16:17</a> Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. <a href="/1_john/5-4.htm">1 John 5:4-5</a> because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. / Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. <a href="/james/1-6.htm">James 1:6</a> But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. <a href="/mark/9-23.htm">Mark 9:23</a> “If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” <a href="/john/6-69.htm">John 6:69</a> We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” <a href="/john/17-20.htm">John 17:20</a> I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, <a href="/romans/8-24.htm">Romans 8:24-25</a> For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? / But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.blessed.<a href="/john/20-8.htm">John 20:8</a> Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.<a href="/john/4-48.htm">John 4:48</a> Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.<a href="/luke/1-45.htm">Luke 1:45</a> And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/20-27.htm">Belief</a> <a href="/john/20-27.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/john/20-8.htm">Believed</a> <a href="/john/13-17.htm">Blessed</a> <a href="/john/12-13.htm">Blessing</a> <a href="/john/13-17.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/john/20-26.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/20-28.htm">Thomas</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/13-41.htm">Belief</a> <a href="/john/20-31.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/acts/2-44.htm">Believed</a> <a href="/acts/3-25.htm">Blessed</a> <a href="/acts/3-25.htm">Blessing</a> <a href="/acts/5-41.htm">Happy</a> <a href="/john/20-30.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/21-2.htm">Thomas</a><div class="vheading2">John 20</div>1. <a href="/john/20-1.htm">Mary comes to the tomb;</a> 3. <a href="/john/20-3.htm">so do Peter and John, ignorant of the resurrection.</a> 11. <a href="/john/20-11.htm">Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene,</a> 19. <a href="/john/20-19.htm">and to his disciples.</a> 24. <a href="/john/20-24.htm">The incredulity and confession of Thomas.</a> 30. <a href="/john/20-30.htm">The Scripture is sufficient to salvation.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/john/20.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>Jesus said to him This phrase indicates a direct communication from Jesus to Thomas, one of His disciples. The Greek word for "said" is "λέγει" (legei), which implies a declaration or a statement of importance. In the context of the resurrection appearances, this is a pivotal moment where Jesus addresses doubt and faith directly. Historically, this encounter is significant as it occurs after Jesus' resurrection, a time when He was revealing Himself to His followers to affirm His victory over death.Because you have seen Me The word "seen" comes from the Greek "ἑώρακας" (heōrakas), which means to perceive with the eyes, but also to understand or experience. Thomas had demanded physical evidence of Jesus' resurrection, and Jesus graciously provided it. This phrase underscores the tangible reality of the resurrection, which was necessary for the early disciples to become bold witnesses. It also highlights the human tendency to rely on physical evidence for belief.you have believed The Greek word for "believed" is "πεπίστευκας" (pepisteukas), which denotes a firm conviction or trust. Thomas' belief was based on empirical evidence, which was a common requirement for faith in the ancient world. This belief, however, was not just intellectual assent but a deep trust in the risen Christ, which transformed Thomas from a doubter to a proclaimer of the Gospel.blessed are those The term "blessed" is translated from the Greek "μακάριοι" (makarioi), which means happy or fortunate. In the biblical context, it often refers to a state of spiritual well-being and prosperity. This blessing is pronounced by Jesus Himself, indicating divine favor. It is a beatitude, similar to those found in the Sermon on the Mount, and it sets a standard for faith that transcends physical evidence.who have not seen This phrase refers to those who believe without the benefit of physical sight or direct evidence. The Greek "μὴ ἰδόντες" (mē idontes) emphasizes the absence of visual confirmation. This is a call to faith that relies on spiritual insight and the testimony of others. Historically, this would apply to all future believers who would come to faith through the witness of the apostles and the written Word.and yet have believed The conjunction "and yet" (καὶ) in Greek connects the lack of sight with the presence of faith. The phrase "have believed" (πιστεύσαντες, pisteusantes) indicates an active, ongoing trust in Jesus Christ. This is the essence of Christian faith—believing in the unseen realities of God, His promises, and His work in the world. It is a faith that is commended by Jesus and is foundational to the Christian experience.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(29) Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed.--The name "Thomas" is omitted in all the better MSS., and the order of the other words suggests that they should be read interrogatively--Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen Me, hast thou believed? The tense of the word rendered "hast thou believed" is the perfect-present--"hast thou become, and art thou a believer?" The command of <a href="/john/20-27.htm" title="Then said he to Thomas, Reach here your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.">John 20:27</a> had done its work, and the words are words of approval; but yet they are not wholly so. He had arrived at conviction by means of the senses, but the higher blessedness was that of those who see by the eye of the spirit and not by that of the body; who base their confidence on the conviction of the faith-faculty, and are independent of the changing phenomena of the senses.Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.--The truth is expressed in its general form. It is not to be understood in any special sense of the Ten, for the Greek is against it, and the other disciples also had seen and had believed; but it includes all who have become believers without having seen. This blessedness is thought of as existing from the moment of believing, and the act of faith is therefore spoken of in the past tense. The words look forward to the development of the Church which is to be founded upon Apostolic witness, and whose faith must ever be in the unseen. (Comp. Notes on <a href="/john/1-9.htm" title="That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.">John 1:9</a> and <a href="/1_peter/1-9.htm" title="Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.">1Peter 1:9</a>.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 29. - Jesus saith to him, Because thou hast seen me thou hast believed. Our Lord does not bid him rise, nor say, as the angel did to John in the Apocalypse, "Worship God;" nor did he reject the homage which is here so grandly paid; but he describes this very state of mind which induced the disciple to say, "My Lord and my God!" as that high, holy acquisition which throughout his ministry he had treated as the main, prime condition of all spiritual blessings. "Thou hast believed," said he, "and because thou hast seen me; thou hast become a believer in all that I am, because thou hast received this crowning proof of the reality of my victory over death." There are critics or scholars (Lachmann, Meyer, Ewald, etc.), who treat the expression as an interrogative: Because thou hast seen me, hast thou believed (art thou now a believing man?); and the Revisers have placed this punctuation in their margin. A few cursives thus point the words, but it is improbable, for it would seem, even still, to have suggested a doubt or question in the mind of the Lord touching the reality of the apostle's faith. Moreover, the obvious contrast between those who have seen and those who saw not would be obscured by the punctuation. Observe that Christ did not say, "Because thou hast touched me, thou hast believed." The vision alone brought the apostle back to that high tension of faith which he, with others, had reached on the night of the Passion (see <a href="/john/16-30.htm">John 16:30-32</a>, and notes). All the tide of overmastering love surged up within him. But the condition of multitudes was even then less privileged than that of Thomas. It could not be a part of the conduct of the kingdom of God that each separate soul should have all the elements of conviction which the apostles had enjoyed, all the vision and all the inspiration of the chosen prophets of the Lord. There may and will come a time when "every eye shall see him" as Thomas saw him, when all shall have the function and powers, equal faculties and opportunity, of seeing him. In the Apocalypse the evangelist, at the very commencement of his visions, saw for himself all the mystery and the certainty of this crowning victory. Meanwhile faith upon testimony, faith in reality through the power of truth, is declared to be the law of the kingdom, and the great beatitude which Christ left as his latest legacy is, Blessed (are) they who saw not, and believed. Of whom is he speaking? Clearly not of those who had already received the same advantage which Thomas had now enjoyed so tardily! The apostles, at first, did not accept the testimony of the women, nor the voices and messages o angels, nor the objective fact of the deserted grave. John rebuked himself for not knowing that the Christ must rise from the dead, whether he should have personal ocular evidence of it or not; and he blamed himself for not believing throughout the earthly ministry of Christ that "the Holy One could not see corruption." Still, the fact was patent, that not until the disciples saw the Lord were they glad. Even in their gladness there was the mingling of surprise and incredulousness. To whom, then, did the blessedness apply? Surely, first of all to the multitudes of loving, waiting souls, who were prepared by their reverence and the new life given to them, and by the bewildering rumors of the Easter week, to believe in the Divine necessity of the Resurrection. Christ told the disciples, on their way to Emmaus, that they were foolish and dull of heart in not accepting all that the prophets had spoken. Before the final assurance given by their identification of his Person, he persuaded them to accept his statements, and believe in all that he was, including the fact of his resurrection. Whether they should ever have more convincing evidence or not, they were bound to believe that the suffering Messiah was, in the very nature of things, and by Divine necessity, Victor of death, and must see the travail of his soul. This does but repeat the same idea, ,' Blessed are they who saw not as Thomas and the other disciples were at this moment doing, and yet believed." But the beatitude includes the whole future of the Church. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." So said St. Peter to the widely scattered Church. The Lord does not sever the link between external facts and spiritual principles, and thus propound a group of subjective conceptions for a series of objective realities (as Baur and others have urged); but he does pronounce a great benediction on those who can rise to faith in himself through the word which he has spoken, and which his apostles would continue to proclaim without intervention of physical contact or visible manifestation. "If Christ be not risen, then is your faith vain; ye are yet in your sins." These words are charged with the grounds of conviction for others. Instead of the first disciples being disposed to transform hallucinations of spiritual manifestation into tangible and visible objective facts, they appear to have been more prone and tempted to transform some utterly indisputable facts into spiritual phenomena. There were objective facts, but every attempt which has been made to discredit the Resurrection while admitting these facts has utterly broken down. Even if the narratives of the four Gospels, with their divergent representation, be left out of sight, nothing can be more certain than that, in the space of a quarter of a century, the Churches of Christ in Antioch, Corinth, Philippi, Rome, Ephesus, and Ancyra were existing, and held, without doubt or question, the objective fact. Paul (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-1.htm">1 Corinthians 15:1-11</a>) simply recounts, not for the first time, but as a resume of long-since-delivered instruction, the indubitable fact of the Resurrection. It was not an incredible thing, even to Agrippa, that God should raise the dead; nor need it be so now to any one who accepts as true Christ's account of the Father. The creation of the Church unquestionably turns on the settled conviction of the first disciples that Jesus rose from the dead. That conviction cannot be accounted for independently of the fact. Every attempt to explain it apart from the fact itself has hitherto been wrecked. <a href="/commentaries/john/20-29.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Jesus Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2424.htm">Strong's 2424: </a> Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. said Λέγει (Legei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. to him, αὐτῷ (autō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. “Because Ὅτι (Hoti) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. you have seen ἑώρακάς (heōrakas) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3708.htm">Strong's 3708: </a> Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. Me, με (me) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. you have believed; πεπίστευκας (pepisteukas) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust. blessed [are] μακάριοι (makarioi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3107.htm">Strong's 3107: </a> Happy, blessed, to be envied. A prolonged form of the poetical makar; supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off. those who οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. have not seen ἰδόντες (idontes) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3708.htm">Strong's 3708: </a> Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. and yet καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. have believed.” πιστεύσαντες (pisteusantes) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/20-29.htm">John 20:29 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/20-29.htm">NT Gospels: John 20:29 Jesus said to him Because you have (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/20-28.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 20:28"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 20:28" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/20-30.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 20:30"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 20:30" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>