Czy "niewierny Tomasz" jest wyrażeniem recesywnym?
Is "niewierny Tomasz" an obsolete phrase?

Summary/Abstract: The text expatiates on the origin and functioning of the phrase "niewierny Tomasz 'someone suspicious, skeptical, wanting to check everything personally, disbeliever' in the Polish language. This phrase is an allusion to Scripture i.e. the one derived from the texts and images present in Scripture and used in figurative meaning today. The expression is the result of the popularity of Jakub Wujek Bible translation from the late sixteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. The lexeme "niewierny" has the old meaning of 'the one who does not believe'; during centuries there has been a semantic shift in of the lexeme niewierny and the contemporary primary meaning of this word is 'unfaithful'. The post-war translations of the Bible do not contain the term "niewierny" in relation to Thomas the Apostle, but other forms clearly indicate his skepticism. Although both former literature and journalism use the phrase "niewierny Tomasz", he is less and less known by today's youth. Surveys show that approximately 30% of students are not familiar with this phrase. Thus, one can assume this structure to be slowly withdrawn from the active vocabulary of the Poles.

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