Lebbaeus is one of the Twelve apostles, also called Thaddaeus and Judas the son of James.
The King James Version of Matthew names him “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.”
He is not Judas Iscariot.
Scripture records one question from him in the upper room and otherwise lets his place among the Twelve be his testimony.
The apostolic lists use more than one name for this disciple. Matthew, in the wording preserved in the King James tradition, calls him Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddaeus. Mark calls him Thaddaeus. Luke and Acts call him Judas the son of James. These are the same man, distinguished carefully from Judas Iscariot, the traitor. John’s Gospel records that Judas (not Iscariot) asked Jesus, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered that if anyone loves Him, he will keep His word, and the Father will love him, and they will come and make their home with him. Lebbaeus was chosen to be with Jesus and to be sent. He was present in the upper room after the ascension. He belongs to the twelve apostles of the Lamb whose names are written on the foundations of the New Jerusalem. Like several of the Twelve, he is known more by his calling than by a long recorded ministry.
- Lebbaeus, Thaddaeus, and Judas the son of James refer to the same apostle.
- He must not be confused with Judas Iscariot.
- He was one of the Twelve, appointed to be with Jesus and to be sent out.
- His one recorded question concerns how Jesus will be made known to the disciples and not to the world.
- Jesus’ answer points to love, obedience, and the indwelling of the Father and the Son.
- His name stands among the foundation stones of the church.
- Quiet membership in the Twelve is still a place of honor and responsibility.
- One of the Twelve – Named in the apostolic lists under more than one name.
- Also Called Thaddaeus – The surname given in Matthew and the name used in Mark.
- Judas the Son of James – The name used by Luke and Acts, distinct from Iscariot.
- Question in the Upper Room – Asked how Jesus would manifest Himself to the disciples and not to the world.
- Chosen and Sent – Appointed with the others to preach and to bear witness.
- Present after the Ascension – Gathered with the apostles in the upper room.
- Foundation of the City – One of the twelve names on the wall of the New Jerusalem.
- Matthew 10:3 – “Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.” (KJV)
- Mark 3:18 – “And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite.”
- Luke 6:16 – “And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.”
- Acts 1:13 – “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.”
- John 14:22-23 – “Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’”
- Mark 3:13-15 – Jesus appointed twelve so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.
- John 14:21 – “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
- Ephesians 2:19-20 – The household of God is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.
- Revelation 21:14 – “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
- Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”
- Matthew 19:28 – Those who have followed Jesus will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Luke 24:48 – “You are witnesses of these things.”
- John 13:18-26 – The narrative carefully distinguishes the beloved disciple’s question about the betrayer from the later question of Judas (not Iscariot).
- 1 Corinthians 15:5 – The risen Christ appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Lebbaeus is Thaddaeus. He is Judas the son of James. He is not the traitor. One name in Matthew, another in Mark, another in Luke—and one man among the Twelve. His recorded words are a question: How will You show Yourself to us and not to the world? Jesus answered with love, obedience, and the promise that the Father and the Son will make their home with the one who keeps His word. That is enough light for a lifetime. Lebbaeus was chosen, sent, and numbered with the apostles of the Lamb. The church does not need every foundation stone to have a long biography. It needs the foundation Christ laid. Hold to the word. Love the Lord. The same Jesus who answered Lebbaeus still makes His home with those who keep His word.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.