These Things Did Thomas Count as Real
These things did Thomas count as real
The hymn explores the apostolic struggle with resurrection faith, presenting Thomas's doubt not as spiritual failure but as honest engagement with incarnational reality. Lutheran theology affirms both the material, bodily nature of Christ's resurrection and the necessity of faith confronting physical evidence.
History & Background
Jaroslav Vajda composed this hymn in 1980 for Lutheran worship, addressing the Thomas narrative with contemporary theological depth. It was first published in Lutheran Book of Worship (1982) and subsequently included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006) and Christian Worship (2021).
Thomas H. Troeger (b. Suffern, NY, 1945) says, “I wrote [this] Scripture References hymn to help people sing their way past doubt and skepticism all st. = John 20:24-29 to belief in the risen Christ.” Inspired by the doubting Thomas story (usually read on the Sunday after Easter), Troeger wrote the text during a Lenten week he spent in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in 1983. Both text and tune were published in the Troeger/Carol Doran collection New Hymnsfor the Lectionary—To Glorify the Maker’s Name (1986). “These Things Did Thomas Count” is one of the finest of Troeger’s texts and indeed of the latter twentieth century. Stanzas 1 and 2 describe Thomas’s view of reality—so close to our own materialistic conception—in fresh language that recalls Christ’s crucifixion. Stanza 3 depicts the movement from doubt to faith with that wonderful line, “until his fingers read like braille the markings of the spear and nail.” Stanza 4 is a prayer for true faith to receive the Christ, who holds out his hands to us as he did to Thomas. Following his education at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, and Colgate Rochester Divinity School, New York, Troeger was associate pastor of the Presbyterian Church in New Hartford, New York, from 1970 to 1977. In 1977 he became professor of preaching and parish ministry at his alma mater, now called Colgate Rochester Divinity/Bexley Hall/Crozer Theological Seminary. Since 1991 he has taught homilet ics and communication at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. Troeger is an active leader of workshops and seminars on worship and often does so in association with Carol Doran. Troeger and Doran have published several hymn collections: Open to Glory (1983), New Hymnsfor the Lectionary (1986), and New Hymnsfor the Life of the Church (1992), with texts by Troeger and tunes by Doran. Troeger has also written several other books, including Are You Saved: Answersfor the Awkward Question (1980) and CreatingFresh Imagesfor Preaching (1982).
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 373
- Glory to God — 256
- Lutheran Service Book — 472
- Psalter Hymnal — 394
- Voices Together — 317
- With One Voice — 742
Liturgical Use
Sunday after Easter (like 393); other services that focus on issues of doubt and faith; the text is also useful for individual study or for sermon material.
Bulletin Note
Jaroslav Vajda's 1980 hymn reclaims Thomas from caricature, presenting his demand for sensory encounter as reverent fidelity to incarnational faith rather than spiritual failure. A Lutheran reframing of apostolic honesty.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms Thomas's doubt into a portal for preaching the incarnational heart of Lutheran faith: the God who meets us in material, tangible reality—in flesh, in Word, in bread and wine—conquering death not as ghost but as risen body.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christ's Lenten self-denial models our repentance; His victory over Satan empowers our spiritual triumph; His presence sustains us through suffering toward Easter joy and eternal paradise.
Themes
Resurrection faith Doubt transformed to belief Physical reality of Christ's resurrection Apostolic witness