Thaddaeus the Apostle in Early Christian Writings
Thaddaeus is named as one of the Twelve in the Bible, and later early Christian writing also lists him among the apostles. The strongest witness here is the Apostolic Constitutions, which calls him Lebbaeus, also called Thaddaeus. Evidence for his later role or biography is very limited in these cards. This page is mainly a name-and-list dossier rather than a full life story.
142 early-church witnesses · 228 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about thaddaeus the Apostle?
Early Christian writings clearly treat Thaddaeus as one of the apostles, but the material here is thin on anything beyond that. The clearest witness is the Apostolic Constitutions, which names him as "Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus" and lists him among the apostles. The Bible passages in Matthew and Mark also name Thaddaeus in the Twelve, with Acts giving the parallel apostolic list that includes Judas son of James.
There is not enough direct early Christian teaching here to build a fuller picture of his life, ministry, or later memory. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Thaddaeus is identified as one of the Twelve in Matthew and Mark.
- The Apostolic Constitutions also names him as Lebbaeus, who was called Thaddaeus.
- There is little direct early Christian detail here beyond his place among the apostles.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Was Thaddaeus one of the Twelve apostles?
Yes. Matthew and Mark both list Thaddaeus among the Twelve, and Acts gives the same apostolic circle with Judas son of James in the matching slot. These are the clearest passages for his place in the apostolic band.
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Matthew 10:3 Direct teaching
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
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Mark 3:18 Direct teaching
And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
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Acts 1:13 Supporting witness
And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.
Was Thaddaeus also called Lebbaeus?
Yes. The Apostolic Constitutions calls him "Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus" and repeats that wording in its apostolic list. That makes this the strongest early Christian witness here for the paired name.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
...hn, the sons of Zebedee; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who was surnamed Thaddaeus; and Simon the Canaanite, Matthew 10:2, and Matthias, who was counted among us in place of Judas; and James the brother of the Lord and bishop of Jerusalem; and Paul, the teacher of the Gentiles, the chosen vessel—having all come together, have written this catholic doctrine to you for your strengthening, to you who have been entrusted with the oversight of the universal Church. In it we declare to you that there is only one Almighty God, besides whom there is no other, and that you must worship and adore Him alone, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the most Holy Spirit; that you are to use the sacred Scriptures, the law, and the prophets; to honor your parents; to avoid all unlawful actions; to believe in the resurrection and the judgment, and to expect retribution; and to use all His creatures with thankfulness, as the works of God, with no evil in them; to marry lawfully, for such marriage is blameless. For the woman is suited to the man by the Lord, Proverbs 19:14, and the Lord says, "He who made them from the beginning made them male and f
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
And I, Lebbaeus, who is also called Thaddaeus, make this constitution about widows: A widow is not ordained. Yet if she lost her husband a long time ago, and has lived soberly and without blame, and has taken exceptional care of her family, like Judith and Anna, those women of great reputation, let her be chosen for the order of widows. But if she has recently lost her husband, let her not be trusted. Instead, let her youth be tested by time, for people's desires sometimes grow old with them if they are not held back by a better bridle.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
The instruction of Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus, concerning widows.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
Thomas and Matthew; James the son of Alphæus, and Lebbæus who is surnamed Thaddæus;
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
The Constitution of Lebbæus, Who Was Surnamed Thaddæus, Concerning Widows.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
XXV. And I Lebbæus, surnamed Thaddæus, make this constitution in regard to widows: A widow is not ordained;
Common Questions
Was Thaddaeus one of the Twelve apostles?
Yes. Matthew and Mark name Thaddaeus among the Twelve, and the Apostolic Constitutions also lists him as an apostle.
Is Thaddaeus the same person as Lebbaeus?
In the Apostolic Constitutions, he is called "Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus."
Do these sources tell us much about Thaddaeus’s ministry?
No. The cards here mostly name him; they do not give much detail about his later ministry or work.
Source Index for Thaddaeus the Apostle
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 228 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 142
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 86
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.