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Lesson #13 – The Apostle Thaddeus Lebbaeus Judas
Series: The Fourteen ApostlesLESSON #13 – THE APOSTLE THADDEUS LEBBAEUS JUDAS
Actually, this apostle had three names.
Jerome, a fourth-century Bible scholar, spoke of him as “Trinomius” (three names).
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¡ In the KJV rendition of Mt.10:3, he is listed as Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.
¡ Other versions of Mt.10:3 refer to him as Thaddaeus, as does Mark's list of the twelve. cf. Mk.3:18
¡ Luke's dual list of the Twelve Apostles in his gospel and Acts calls him Judas of James. cf. Lk.6:16 and Acts 1:13
Notice in the above citations that the words, son of, are in italics, meaning they do not appear in the actual original text.
¡ In the only reference to him in John's gospel, he is spoken of as Judas (not Iscariot). cf. Jn.14:22
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THADDAEUS LEBBAEUS JUDAS?
~ Like other apostles, Thaddaeus had multiple names (see above).
For those who look for insight from the meaning of a given name:
Judas means Jehovah leads; Lebbaeus means heart-child; and Thaddaeus means breast-child.
John MacArthur proposes that these names suggest Thaddaeus was a gentle soul with a tender, child-like heart.
~ Judas of James is often most often translated as Judas son of James.
As to which “James”, no further details are revealed in Scripture.
~ A few contend that Judas was a brother to James, also without specifying which James.
A handful attempt to make the case that Thaddaeus Judas was a brother of James and half-brother to Jesus (Mt.13:55).
These also suggest that he was the author of the New Testament book of Jude. cf. Jude vs.1.
This theory is weakened (dismantled) by two key points:
(1) Jn.7:5 states. “not even His brothers were believing in Him”.
(2) In Jude 17-18, the writer refers to the apostles as “they”, not “we”, implying that he was not an apostle.
~ The only tidbit we can uncover from the four gospels, about Thaddaeus Judas is that he asked Jesus one single question:
Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world? (Jn.14:22).
Thaddaeus’ question reveal a few things about himself. First he evidently felt comfortable enough in his relationship
with Jesus to interrupt Him with a question. Secondly, Thaddaeus seemed perplexed as to how (and perhaps, why)
Jesus would treat His disciples differently from "the world”. And thirdly, like many first-century Jews,
Thaddaeus seemed to be expecting a Messiah who would reveal Himself IN POWER TO THE WORLD.
~ While not “famous”, all indications are that Thaddaeus was a faithful and obedient servant of Christ.
- Heb.6:10 records these words: For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love
which you have shown to His name, in having ministered and still ministering to the saints.
- Lk.16:10 contains the words of Jesus - - He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much...
~ An old Latin manuscript implies that he was a zealot.
Zealots were the pharisees of the pharisees.
They were extremist fanatics, semi-revolutionaries, insurrectionists, freedom fighters and assassins. cf. Acts 21:38
We'll elaborate on this more when we discuss the last two of the twelve, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.
AS TO HIS MINISTRY & DEATH
Extra-biblical, non-inspired literature says that after Pentecost, Thaddaeus took the gospel into modern day Turkey.
Traditions about his death are varied: clubbed or axed to death; crucified; and shot to death with arrows.
