Is it wrong to doubt?

Not always — but doubt can blind us to plain evidence. In John 20:19-29, the risen Jesus meets the doubting disciple Thomas. Dr. Toby Holt looks at faith, evidence, and the scars of Christ. On the evening of the resurrection, Jesus appears in a locked room, shows His wounded hands and side, and gives peace. Thomas, absent, refuses to believe unless he can touch the wounds. A week later Jesus returns and offers exactly that. Thomas already had ample evidence — and face to face with the risen Christ, he gives the Bible's clearest confession: "My Lord and my God!"

Questions this study answers:

1. What are the proofs of the resurrection? Jesus appeared bodily, showed His wounds, and was seen by many witnesses over many days. Even Thomas's about-face is part of that evidence.

2. Was Thomas only a doubter? No. Elsewhere he was brave and loyal. His doubt here stands out precisely because he had already seen and heard so much.

3. What does this teach about faith? Genuine faith rests on real evidence, not blind feeling. Jesus calls "blessed" those who believe the trustworthy testimony even without seeing.

"And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'" — John 20:28 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.