Dismas

Saint Dismas (sometimes spelled Dysmas), also known as the Good Thief, is the apocryphal name given to one of the thieves who was crucified alongside Christ according to the Gospel of Luke 23:39-43:

Related Topics:
Apocrypha - Thieves - Gospel of Luke

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:And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

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:But the other answering rebuked him, saying, "Dost not thou fear God , seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss."

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:And he said unto Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."

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:And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (KJV)

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The thief who challenged Jesus to free Himself from the Cross was not saved; the thief who asked to be remembered in Christ's kingdom was St Dismas, according to the legend.

Related Topics:
Jesus - Cross

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The name of "Dismas" for this person, unnamed in the canonical Gospel itself, appears first in the twelfth century in the Gospel of Nicodemus. The other thief's name is given as Gestas. The name of "Dismas" was adapted from a Greek word meaning "sunset" or "death."

Related Topics:
Canonical - Twelfth century - Gospel of Nicodemus - Gestas - Greek

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The apocryphal Arabic Infancy Gospel calls the two thieves Titus and Dumachus, and adds a fanciful tale about how Titus (Dismas) prevented other thieves in his company from robbing Mary and Joseph on their flight into Egypt.

Related Topics:
Arabic Infancy Gospel - Mary - Joseph - Egypt

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In medieval art, St Dismas is often depicted as accompanying Jesus in the Harrowing of Hell as related in the Apostles Creed.

Related Topics:
Medieval art - Harrowing of Hell - Apostles Creed

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