by Giuseppe Monno
John 20:28
“Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
The use of the double article (“ho Kyrios… ho Theos…”) indicates two distinct titles, yet both referring to the same Person: Jesus. This is not a mere exclamation of astonishment, but rather a personal and direct profession of faith. Thomas, in fact, explicitly addresses these words to Jesus, as confirmed by the expression “eipen autō” (“he said to him”).
In the Gospel of John, “Kyrios” and “Theos” are not simply honorific titles. “Kyrios” evokes the Lord of the Old Testament (YHWH), while “Theos” expresses Jesus’ full participation in the divine reality. In this sense, Thomas does not recognize in Jesus merely the risen teacher, but confesses Him as God Himself manifested in the flesh (cf. John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16).
The double “mou” (“my”) expresses a deeply personal appropriation of faith: it is not a purely theoretical assent, but an authentic salvific encounter. At this point, faith is no longer bound to the need to see, but springs from the recognition of the Risen One as Lord and God of one’s life.
Jesus does not correct Thomas, a sign that He fully accepts his recognition of His divine identity:
“Because you have seen me you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
This final beatitude extends Thomas’s experience of faith to all future believers. “My Lord and my God” thus becomes a culminating profession of faith, capable of summarizing the entire message of the Gospel.