Sermon Central
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The 12 Apostles: Thaddaeus
Contributed by John Gaston on Apr 16, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: He was one of the 12 men chosen by Jesus to bear witness to His life, death, and resurrection. This Judas was the opposite of another Judas. He became a missionary preacher and died testifying to Jesus’ reality.
THE 12 APOSTLES: THADDAEUS
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
Memorandum to: Jesus, son of Joseph, Wood crafter Carpenter Shop, Nazareth.
From: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem.
1. Dear Sir: Thank you for submitting the resumes of the 12 men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.
2. It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking.
3. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue searching for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capacity.
a. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper.
b. Andrew has absolutely no leadership qualities.
c. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty.
d. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.
e. We feel it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau.
f. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical leanings, and both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.
4. One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places.
5. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. We wish you every success in your new venture. Sincerely years, Jordan Management Consultants.
B. THESIS
1. Tonight is the 10th part in our series called, “The 12 Apostles of Jesus.” Tonight we’re looking at another of the apostles that are little known; Thaddaeus.
2. We’re going to find this guy has a couple of aliases. There’s only one record of him saying something and there’s nothing in the Bible describing his accomplishments.
3. Yet we’re going to find some interesting stuff! He was one of the 12 men chosen by Jesus to bear witness to His life, death, and resurrection. This Judas was the opposite of another Judas. He became a missionary preacher and died testifying to Jesus’ reality.
4. So let’s open the Bible and embark on the surprising study of the 10th of the 12 Apostles: Thaddaeus.
I. “TRINOMIOUS:” MAN WITH 3 NAMES
A. SCRIPTURAL MENTIONS
1. JUDAS SON OF JAMES, in Luke’s writings.
Acts 1:13, “When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.” (See Lk. 6:16.)
2. ONLY 2 MENTIONS OF THADDAEUS.
Mt. 10:3 Mk. 3:18 Lk. 6:12-16
10th Thaddaeus Thaddaeus Simon Z
11th Simon Z Simon Z Judas Of James
3. ONLY MENTION OF LEBBEAUS = KJV of Matt. 10:3; “and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.”
a. The mss which support “Lebbaios” are D, k, mu, and early father, Origen. All other mss support the Thaddaeus reading.
b. Alfred Edersheim in his book, The Life & Times of Jesus the Messiah, says that Matthew called him “Lebbaeus from the Hebrew, lebh, a heart.” Edersheim says that Thaddaeus was derived from “Thodah, from ‘praise.’ In that case both Lebbaeus / Thaddaeus would point to the heartiness and thanksgiving of the apostle, and hence his character” (Vol. 1, p.522).
B. REASON FOR THE NAME SUBSTITUTION
1. There is little doubt that Thaddaeus’ real name is “Judas son of James.” So why the name Thaddaeus? Matthew 10:3, KJV, hints that it was his “surname.” However his father’s name was James.
2. Commentators think it most likely that the reason Matthew and Mark call him Thaddaeus is to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot.
3. The Gospel of John mentions him as "Judas not Iscariot" (John 14:22). How would you like to be called that?
4. Evidently the name "Judas," when referring to the 12, was irreparably tarnished by Judas Iscariot.
5. So St. Jerome called Judas "Trinomious" which means "a man with three names," because he’s called Judas, Thaddaeus, and Lebbaios(Gr.).
II. THADDAEUS AT THE LAST SUPPER
A. TEXT John 14:12-24
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.