John 20:28 | Exposing the False Trinity Doctrine

The King James Version (KJV) is mostly used in these lessons. Click here to access the KJV online.

Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and My G-d." (John 20:28)

The Trinitarian Claim

Trinitarians claim that Thomas himself is identifying Yahushua as "G-d [Yahuwah]."

The Claim vs. The Facts

The Scriptural facts show us that Thomas was confessing what Yahushua had taught him - to see Yahushua is to see the Father (14:10-11; 12:44-45). That human flesh named Yahushua declares the Father (1:18). In fact, the entire point of the Gospel of John is to illustrate how the man Yahushua made G-d the Father [Yahuwah] known.

The Problems with the Claim

1. What Thomas finally believed: Yahushua had Risen from the dead

The Trinitarian interpretation is based on the notion that Thomas took this opportunity to declare Yahushua is his G-d. However, this interpretation defies the context. The account is not about Thomas doubting who Yahushua was but whether Yahushua was alive from the dead. Thomas had doubted his Lord's resurrection and declared he would not believe he had risen until he had seen Yahushua for himself. In verse 27, Yahushua tells Thomas to see the wounds in his hand and side proving that he was indeed risen from the dead. Thomas' response to Yahushua in verse 28 is based on finally believing that Yahushua had indeed risen from the dead. Yahushua then responds to Thomas in verse 29 saying that he was blessed to finally believe because he had seen him. Yahushua's response refers to the fact that Thomas had finally believed he had risen from the dead. Trinitarians read verse 29 as if Yahushua is blessing Thomas for believing he is his G-d. However, the entire point of the passage is that Thomas had finally believed Yahushua had risen from the dead.

For some reason, this fact is completely lost on Trinitarians when they read the passage. They read verse 29 as if Yahushua blessed Thomas for declaring he is G-d [Yahuwah] when the entire point of the passage is that Thomas finally believed Yahushua rose from the dead. This disconnect is likely due to the fact that the typical Trinitarian has no idea why Thomas would say "My Lord and my G-d" in response to finally believing Yahushua had risen from the dead. That fact alone demonstrates they simply do not know what is going on.

2. A Seriously Flawed Assumption

The Trinitarian interpretation is also based upon a very defective assumption. Trinitarians suppose that since Thomas said these words TO Yahushua, then he must have taken this opportunity to declare that Yahushua is his G-d ("my G-d"). However, as the following passage demonstrates, this assumption is highly flawed.

From that time Yahushua began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "G-d forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But Yahushua turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of G-d [Yahuwah] but upon the things of men." Matthew 16:21-23

If we interpreted the above passage in the very same manner as Trinitarians interpret John 20:28, we would then be required to conclude Peter is Satan himself. But this is obviously incorrect. Even though Yahushua said these words directly TO Peter, we know it does not mean Peter is Satan himself. Hence, we must inquire whether a similar situation may be taking place at John 20:28.

The text says Thomas said these words to Yahushua. It does not say that Thomas "called" Yahushua "G-d."

3. The Surrounding Context

The immediate context militates against the Trinitarian claim. In the preceding context, Yahushua describes his Father [Yahuwah] as his G-d and Mary's G-d rather than identifying himself as her G-d. In the following context, John indicates that he wrote this Gospel, including the account of Yahushua and Thomas, not to tell us that Yahushua is himself G-d [Yahuwah] but so that we might believe that Yahushua is G-d's [Yahuwah's] son:

We have seen the Lord. (20:25).

I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my G-d and your G-d. (20:17)

These things have been written so that you may believe that Yahushua is the Christ, the son of G-d [Yahuwah] and that believing you may have life in his name. (20:31).

The Trinitarian interpretation of verse 28 disregards and defies these contextual facts.

4. The Significance of the Greek Grammar

Thomas literally said to Yahushua, "the Lord of me and the G-d of me." Now if Thomas had said, "the Lord and G-d of me," the Trinitarian claim would carry much more weight. The latter statement would be the kind of language you would normally use in Greek to refer to one person as both your Lord and your G-d. But this is not the language Thomas used. He used a language convention which Greek speakers would use when they wanted to refer to TWO persons, "the Lord of me and the G-d of me."

Verse 17 is also highly significant here. Yahushua says he will ascend to "the Father of you and Father of me and G-d of you and G-d of me." This is the kind of language a Greek speaker would use if he wanted to refer to just one person. He did not say he will ascend to, "the Father of you and the Father of me and the G-d of you and the G-d of me." This fact tells us that John was definitively selective about his language structures and would use the verse 17 language structure when he wanted to refer to one person. John did not use this "one person" language structure when he wrote John 20:28. He does not record Thomas as saying, "the Lord and G-d of me." Rather, he used the language structure used by Greek speakers to refer to two persons, "the Lord of me and the G-d of me." Additionally, it is also significant that Thomas did not say, "the Lord and the G-d of me." Rather, he said, "the Lord of me and the G-d of of me."

Compare the following two verses. If the first verse below refers to two persons, what about the second?

This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 1 Jn 2:22

Thomas answered and said to him, "the Lord of me and the G-d of me." Jn 20:28

However, this language structure is occasionally used in Scripture when referring to one person. For example, it is sometimes used to draw a distinction between two different roles that one person might serve (see John 13:13-14). So even though this is the language construction used by Greek speakers to refer to more two persons, this fact alone does not make it certain. Therefore, we must ask ourselves if there is additional information in our Bible which demonstrates Thomas was referring to two persons. And the answer to that question is, "Yes, there is additional information in the Scriptures which demonstrates that Thomas was referring to two persons."

5. Thomas' G-d vs. Yahushua Christ's G-d

Trinitarians here unwittingly betray themselves as polytheists. Their claim implicitly indicates the G-d of Thomas and the G-d of Yahushua are not the same G-d. Thomas' G-d is Yahushua but Yahushua Christ's G-d is NOT Yahushua but someone else (and in their own doctrine they admit the Father is not the Son and vice versa). But somehow, the obvious consequences of their claims never ever seem to occur to them.

Trinitarians seem to be completely blind to the fact that any mention of the true G-d [Yahuwah] is necessarily a reference to Yahushua Christ's G-d. This is inescapable since there is only one G-d [Yahuwah]. So when Thomas says, "my G-d" he is necessarily referring to Yahushua Christ's G-d, that is, the Father.

I ascend to my Father and your Father and my G-d and your G-d. John 20:17

That Thomas' G-d and Yahushua Christ's G-d are identical and that he is necessarily referring to Yahushua Christ's G-d when he says "my G-d" is an inescapable since there is only one G-d. And indeed, Yahushua had just affirmed the fact of their common G-d at John 20:17. Therefore, Thomas is necessarily referring to the Father. And that fact speaks directly to what the entire Gospel of John is about - "He who has seen ME has seen the FATHER."

6. The Holy Spirit Proceeds from THE FATHER

at John 20:28, Yahushua had risen from the dead but Thomas would not believe this unless he had seen Yahushua for himself. Now, carefully compare these verses:

When the Paraclete comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth which proceeds from THE FATHER John 15:26

And when Yahushua had said this, he showed them hi hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced having seen the Lord. So Yahushua said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22

In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in me, and I in you. John 14:20 (see 14:9-11).

Yahushua breathed the Spirit out from himself yet he already promised them that it would be the Spirit which proceeds from THE FATHER. "In that day, you will know..." Thomas knew. Yahushua was in the Father and the Father was in Yahushua.

Analysis of the Facts

1. The Context: Seeing and Believing

But Thomas called Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Yahushua came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” After eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Yahushua came, the doors being shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see my hands and reach here and put your hand into my side and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my G-d!” Yahushua said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are they who do not see, and yet believe.” 20:24-29

The context of John 20:28 involves the theme of seeing and believing. The risen Yahushua had already appeared to the disciples but Thomas was not present. So when they declared they had seen Yahushua, Thomas declared he would not believe Yahushua had risen until he had seen Yahushua for himself complete with the wounds in his hands and side. Yahushua then appeared to Thomas and said, "Reach here with your finger, and see my hands, and reach here your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believing." And after Thomas responded to him, Yahushua responds back to Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are they who do not see, and yet believe." It is quite clear that seeing and believing is the point of this account.

[BREAK]

The text says Thomas said these words to Yahushua. The text does not say that Thomas "called" Yahushua "G-d [Yahuwah]." Why then would Thomas say these words to Yahushua? We are explicitly told why by Yahushua in the Gospel of John. To see Yahushua was to see someone else: his Father. To see Yahushua was to see not just one person but two. And that is precisely what Thomas is confessing at John 20:28.

3. In that Day you will know

Carefully compare these two teachings from Yahushua:

He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, "Show us the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? (14:9-10).

In that Day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (14:20).

Yahushua is telling us disciples that they would fully realize the truth of this matter "on that Day." That day is when he rose from the dead. "After a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know I am in my Father. (14:19-20). He also taught them that the Spirit would remind them of everything he had just taught them (14:26). On that Day, the disciples would know that Yahushua was in the Father.

And again, Yahushua had breathed the Spirit into his disciples, that same Spirit which he said proceeds from THE FATHER and which he would send to them. This happened because he was raised in the Spirit and glory of the Father when Yahuwah raised him from the dead. The Lord IS the Spirit (2 Cor 3:17; 1 Cor 14:45) and for that reason, he could breathe the Spirit out from himself, the Spirit that proceeds from the Father.

When we put all these facts together, the answer is clear and undeniable. To see Yahushua is to see the Father. To see Yahushua was to see two persons, Yahushua and the Father. Yahushua taught Thomas and the disciples that they would know in that Day that Yahushua was in the Father. The reason for Thomas' words is clearly explained in the Scriptures in this selfsame Gospel of John.

Conclusion

Since there is only one G-d [Yahuwah], Thomas was necessarily referring to Yahushua Christ's G-d when he said, "my G-d." When all the evidence is honestly weighed, there is simply no doubt that Thomas was affirming Yahushua's earlier teaching to him, that to see and believe in Yahushua was to see and believe in the Father, the G-d of Yahushua, the G-d of Thomas (20:17). Yahushua himself tells us in this Gospel that he declared/explained the Father in terms of everything he said and did. John tells us the same thing - Yahushua came so that we might know the Father, the true G-d (1 John 5:20). He is the Way to the Father and through Him we know the Father. Yahushua explained that they saw the Father when they saw Yahushua because the Father abiding in him did the works (14:9-10). How much more then was the Father abiding in that dead body which had the Father had risen from the dead by the power of His Holy Spirit which proceeds from THE FATHER and which Yahushua breathed into his disciples (see 20:21-22). Since seeing Yahushua meant seeing the Father, Thomas said to Yahushua, "My Lord and my G-d. Thomas is confessing what the entire Gospel of John is about. Yahushua made the Father known to the people of the world. The only begotten declares/explains the Father. For that reason, to see Yahushua is to see the Father. To see the Lord Yahushua is to see the Father [Yahuwah], our G-d, and Yahushua Christ's G-d.

Blessed are you Thomas. Because you have seen, you have believed. John 20:29

He who believes in me, does not believe in me but in Him who sent me.
He who sees me sees Him who sent me. John 12:44-45

My Lord and my G-d.
 

• https://www.worldslastchance.com/topical-biblical-studies/anti-trinitarian-studies
• https://www.angelfire.com/space/thegospeltruth/TTD/verses/john20_28.html