Thaddaeus

Biblical Record

Thaddaeus appears in the lists of the twelve disciples. His name, however, is recorded differently from one Gospel to another.

• Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18 give the name "Thaddaeus." In some manuscripts, Matthew 10:3 reads "Lebbaeus" instead. For this reason, some older translations combine the two names, as in the King James Version's "Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus."
• Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13 place "Judas the son of James" in the corresponding position in the list.
• John 14:22 mentions a "Judas... not Iscariot." He asks, "Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" Jesus answers that He and the Father will come and make their abode with anyone who loves Him and keeps His words (John 14:23). This is the only scene in Scripture in which his words are directly recorded.

Beyond this, Scripture records nothing about his background or activities.

Significance Within Scripture

Thaddaeus is little more than a name among the disciples. Nevertheless, according to Acts 1:13, he was among the disciples gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem after Jesus' Ascension. He is therefore understood as an apostle who took part in the beginnings of the early church. In the Gospel of John, the qualifier "not Iscariot" attached to his name serves to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot, who bore the same name.

Interpretations and Issues

• The question of the name: The names of the other disciples largely agree across the four lists. For this reason, the view that Thaddaeus and "Judas the son of James" are the same person is widely accepted. One explanation is that a single person was known by two names; another conjecture is that the name "Thaddaeus" was used to avoid confusion with Judas Iscariot. These explanations, however, are not stated directly in the text. There are also several theories about the meaning of the name "Thaddaeus."
• "Son" or "brother"?: The Greek text reads simply "Judas of James." Accordingly, the New Korean Revised Version renders it "the son of James," while some translations, such as the King James Version, render it "the brother of James." One tradition identifies him with "Jude... brother of James" (Jude 1:1), the author of the Epistle of Jude. Many scholars, however, distinguish between the two.
• Tradition: According to tradition, he preached the gospel in Edessa in Syria and was martyred in the region of Persia together with Simon the Canaanite. These are later traditions from outside Scripture. The Catholic Church venerates him as "Saint Jude Thaddeus" and commemorates him together with Simon in the liturgical calendar.

In the Korean Church

In Korean Protestantism, Thaddaeus is discussed mainly in Sunday school or Bible study when students learn the names of the twelve disciples. On these occasions, teachers often explain that "Thaddaeus" and "Judas the son of James" are the same person. In preaching, the question in John 14:22 is sometimes cited as the occasion that prompts Jesus' answer. Sermons devoted to him alone, however, are rare.