Didymus

Didymus is the Greek form of the name meaning “twin.” In historical use it refers to several figures in the Greek-speaking world, particularly in early Christianity, as well as to the biblical name of the Apostle Thomas in the Greek tradition.

In the New Testament, Didymus is the name given to Thomas the Apostle. The Gospel of John identifies him as Didymus (the Twin) in John 11:16 and John 20:24–29. He is commonly called “Doubting Thomas” in Western tradition for the hesitation he expresses before believing in Jesus’ resurrection, unless he could see and touch Jesus’ wounds.

Didymus the Blind (c. 313–395) was a prominent Alexandrian Christian theologian and biblical commentator who was blind from birth. He studied at the school of Alexandria, reportedly under Origen, and produced extensive exegetical and theological writings. Although his works survive primarily in fragments quoted by later authors, Didymus the Blind influenced the development of early Christian interpretation, including approaches to Scripture and doctrine within the Eastern church.

The name Didymus also appears in patristic literature as the designation for other writers associated with the Alexandrian tradition, and it is encountered in Greek to Latin translations of early Christian texts. In general modern scholarship, Didymos or Didymus is treated as a historical name referring to multiple individuals rather than a single figure.

Overall, Didymus functions as both a given name in ancient Greek contexts and a marker for several notable early Christian figures, most prominently the Apostle Thomas in the Gospel of John and Didymus the Blind, the Alexandrian theologian.