Nowhere is “theos” used as Master. When he said “Lord” that was the affirmation of “Master.” When “Lord” is used it is kyrios in Greek. So Thomas was not saying “My Lord and my Lord.” No, “theos” has only the following meanings: God; a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. So at least choose one of the above and not try to replace the lexicon used.
So within the context of the passage and original language your choices are above. Lord and Master was covered in the very first portion of Thomas’ statement.
The opinion of Michaelis is just that an opinion. An opinion where the lexicon says different and translators over the centuries refute.
I will ask again. What Bible translation are you using to come to your conclusions?
From Vines:
1 Strong’s Number: g2316 Greek: theos God:
(A) in the polytheism of the Greeks, denoted “a god or deity,” e.g., Act 14:11; 19:26; 28:6; 1Cr 8:5; Gal 4:8. (B)
(a) Hence the word was appropriated by Jews and retained by Christians to denote “the one true God.” In the Sept. theos translates (with few exceptions) the Hebrew words Elohim and Jehovah, the former indicating His power and preeminence, the latter His unoriginated, immutable, eternal and self-sustained existence.
In the NT, these and all the other Divine attributes are predicated of Him. To Him are ascribed, e.g., His unity, or monism, e.g., Mar 12:29; 1Ti 2:5; self-existence, Jhn 5:26; immutability, Jam 1:17; eternity, Rom 1:20; universality, Mat 10:29; Act 17:26-28; almighty power, Mat 19:26; infinite knowledge, Act 2:23; 15:18; Rom 11:33; creative power, Rom 11:36; 1Cr 8:6; Eph 3:9; Rev 4:11; 10:6; absolute holiness, 1Pe 1:15; 1Jo 1:5; righteousness, Jhn 17:25; faithfulness, 1Cr 1:9; 10:13; 1Th 5:24; 2Th 3:3; 1Jo 1:9; love, 1Jo 4:8, 16; mercy, Rom 9:15, 18; truthfulness, Tts 1:2; Hbr 6:18. See GOOD, No. 1 (b).
just in case you missed it... and this is not disputable..it is a fact...
It doesn’t really matter..as I wrote earlier and you are in denial about...fact...if you line up all scripture that shows Jesus as the son of God and God’s subservient, many of which are directly from his own words..and you have another line of scripture that seems to show Jesus as God...somehow...the scriptures that show the former are far far more numerous and clearly descriptive, not nebulous, in comparison to the other line. Fact. Match, game..done.
The Jesus is God thing is the devil’s concoction in order to deceive the deceivable and keep them in his kingdom of the lost. The original sin was wanting to be as God was..and the devil put that very same sin onto Jesus, through the minds of “smart” intellectuals of the apostasy. How dare you try and mess up such a wonderful thing God has done for all of us!