India and Christian Opportunity
Written in 1908 by Harlan Page Beach, 1854-1933, a missionary to China under the American Board from 1883-1890. He was professor of missions at Yale Divinity School from 1905-1921 and librarian of Yale's Day Missions Library from 1911-1925.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Traditions of the missionary labors of one of the twelve, St Thomas, have for centuries existed in India. In their fullest form, they are found in two of the apocryphal books of the New Testament, "Acts of the Holy Apostle Thomas", and "Consummation of Thomas the Apostle". <span style='color:red'>The "Acts" a Gnostic work written by Leucius, does not go back further than the 2nd century and is manifestly fanciful</span>.
Following is a specimen:
"We portioned out the regions of the world, in order that each one of us might go into the region to which the Lord sent him. By lot, India fell to Judas Thomas, also called Didymus. And he did not wish to go, saying he was not able to go on account of the weakness of the flesh; 'and how can I, being an Hebrew man, go among the Indians to proclaim the truth?'
And while he was thus reasoning and speaking, the Saviour appeared to him: 'Fear not, Thomas; go away to India and proclaim The Word, for my grace shall be with thee.'
But he did not obey, saying: 'Wherever Thou wishest to send me, send me elsewhere; for to Indians I am not going.'"
The following day Jesus sold Thomas as a slave carpenter to one Abbanes from India, who purchased him for his king. As a carpenter he was not to be commended; for, being bidden to build a alace for the king, he expended the money on the relief of the poor. His missionary efforts, however, were crowned with success. In both East and West Thomas's name was cnnected with India from the 4th century, and the Malabar Christians of St Thomas still count him as the first martyr and evangelist of their country.
<span style='color:red'>These traditions and others of later date are not beleived by most reputed scholars of today</span>, but are variousely explained.
Explanations :
1. The Name "India"
Ethopia and Arabia Felix, the adjacent Insula Diocoridis - Socotra - were designated by this name 'India'. These countries however maintained by trade a lively intercouse with 'India Proper', and could thus furnish a channel for the propagation of Christianity in the later age. Gregory Nazianzen says that Thomas preached the Gospel to Indians, but Jerome understands the India here meant to be Ethopia.Â
If the tradition in Origen, which makes Thomas, the Apostle to the Parthians, were credible, it would not be so very remote from the former legend; since the Parthian empire touched, at that time, on the boundaries of India.
As persistent traditions connect, his work and his tomb with Persia, this last explanation seems probable.
2. Different Thomases
Others would explain the traditions by the stories of two other prominent Thomases who were actually connected with the early Indian church, one a Manichaean who was in India towards the end of the 3rd century, and the other an Armenian of the 8th century, who was a resorter of their faith. On his death, his memory received the gradual and spontaneous honors of canonization by the Christian communities for whom he had labored, and his name became identified with that of the apostle.
Bernard suggests still another explaination. As it seems probable that India was evangelized through someone from Edessa, where St. Thomas's grave was located, later memories connected his name with that of Edessa's famous saint.
3. Pantaenus
Pantaenus, the Principal of the Christian college at Alexandria, had been a Stoic of Athens or Cicily. He thus possessed intellectual qualities which when brought into captivity to Christ, made him a fit instrument to lead philosophial Brahmins of India to Jesus's feet. <span style='color:red'>The end of 2nd century thus brings us to the first historical missionary of Christ to the people of India.</span>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
other reasons why it is probable that India is being confused with other lands:
1. At the famous council of Nicea in 325 AD, Johannes, the Metropolitan of Percia, also signed himself as "Of the Great India" - while Persia was not India.
2. According to the 'Acts', "Abbanes" from India, purchased slave Thomas for his king. Abbanes is not possibly an Indian name of 1st century AD. (unless a lot of imagination is used, "Avaneesh" :-) )
Written in 1908 by Harlan Page Beach, 1854-1933, a missionary to China under the American Board from 1883-1890. He was professor of missions at Yale Divinity School from 1905-1921 and librarian of Yale's Day Missions Library from 1911-1925.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Traditions of the missionary labors of one of the twelve, St Thomas, have for centuries existed in India. In their fullest form, they are found in two of the apocryphal books of the New Testament, "Acts of the Holy Apostle Thomas", and "Consummation of Thomas the Apostle". <span style='color:red'>The "Acts" a Gnostic work written by Leucius, does not go back further than the 2nd century and is manifestly fanciful</span>.
Following is a specimen:
"We portioned out the regions of the world, in order that each one of us might go into the region to which the Lord sent him. By lot, India fell to Judas Thomas, also called Didymus. And he did not wish to go, saying he was not able to go on account of the weakness of the flesh; 'and how can I, being an Hebrew man, go among the Indians to proclaim the truth?'
And while he was thus reasoning and speaking, the Saviour appeared to him: 'Fear not, Thomas; go away to India and proclaim The Word, for my grace shall be with thee.'
But he did not obey, saying: 'Wherever Thou wishest to send me, send me elsewhere; for to Indians I am not going.'"
The following day Jesus sold Thomas as a slave carpenter to one Abbanes from India, who purchased him for his king. As a carpenter he was not to be commended; for, being bidden to build a alace for the king, he expended the money on the relief of the poor. His missionary efforts, however, were crowned with success. In both East and West Thomas's name was cnnected with India from the 4th century, and the Malabar Christians of St Thomas still count him as the first martyr and evangelist of their country.
<span style='color:red'>These traditions and others of later date are not beleived by most reputed scholars of today</span>, but are variousely explained.
Explanations :
1. The Name "India"
Ethopia and Arabia Felix, the adjacent Insula Diocoridis - Socotra - were designated by this name 'India'. These countries however maintained by trade a lively intercouse with 'India Proper', and could thus furnish a channel for the propagation of Christianity in the later age. Gregory Nazianzen says that Thomas preached the Gospel to Indians, but Jerome understands the India here meant to be Ethopia.Â
If the tradition in Origen, which makes Thomas, the Apostle to the Parthians, were credible, it would not be so very remote from the former legend; since the Parthian empire touched, at that time, on the boundaries of India.
As persistent traditions connect, his work and his tomb with Persia, this last explanation seems probable.
2. Different Thomases
Others would explain the traditions by the stories of two other prominent Thomases who were actually connected with the early Indian church, one a Manichaean who was in India towards the end of the 3rd century, and the other an Armenian of the 8th century, who was a resorter of their faith. On his death, his memory received the gradual and spontaneous honors of canonization by the Christian communities for whom he had labored, and his name became identified with that of the apostle.
Bernard suggests still another explaination. As it seems probable that India was evangelized through someone from Edessa, where St. Thomas's grave was located, later memories connected his name with that of Edessa's famous saint.
3. Pantaenus
Pantaenus, the Principal of the Christian college at Alexandria, had been a Stoic of Athens or Cicily. He thus possessed intellectual qualities which when brought into captivity to Christ, made him a fit instrument to lead philosophial Brahmins of India to Jesus's feet. <span style='color:red'>The end of 2nd century thus brings us to the first historical missionary of Christ to the people of India.</span>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
other reasons why it is probable that India is being confused with other lands:
1. At the famous council of Nicea in 325 AD, Johannes, the Metropolitan of Percia, also signed himself as "Of the Great India" - while Persia was not India.
2. According to the 'Acts', "Abbanes" from India, purchased slave Thomas for his king. Abbanes is not possibly an Indian name of 1st century AD. (unless a lot of imagination is used, "Avaneesh" :-) )