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Lesson #9 - The Apostle Nathanael Bartholomew
Series: The Fourteen ApostlesLESSON #9 – THE APOSTLE NATHANAEL BARTHOLOMEW
Which is it - - Nathanael or Bartholomew?
Rather than an “either/or”, we think both names belong to the same apostle.
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¡ In Matthew, Mark & Luke, Bartholomew is the name of the apostle who follows Philip in the lists of the Twelve Apostles.
cf. Mt.10:3; Mk.3:19 and Lk.6:14. Bartholomew is also mentioned in Luke’s list in Acts 1:13.
The synoptic gospels never mention Nathanael.
¡ John’s gospel never mentions Bartholomew, but records: Philip found Nathanael and said to him,
‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph’ (Jn.1:45).
¡ Bartholomew literally means “son of Talmai or Tholomais”, which most likely indicates a two-part name:
Nathanael, bar (son of) Tholomais. e.g., Simon bar Jona (Mt.16:17).
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT NATHANAEL BARTHOLOMEW?
~ The name Nathanael means “gift of God”.
~ Nathanael was a resident of Cana in Galilee (Jn.21:1), where Jesus performed His first miracle (Jn.2:11/water into wine).
Nathanael’s presence among the apostles mentioned in Jn.21:1ff, also likely indicates that he was also a fisherman.
In this post-resurrection setting (Jn.21:3), Peter told them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said, ‘We will also come with you...'
~ Some have speculated that Nathanael Bartholomew descended from “royal roots". One of David’s wives was
Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. This princess was the mother to David's son, Absalom. cf. 2Sam.3:3
Jerome, who wrote in the 4th century A.D., was the first to promote this idea.
NATHANAEL IN THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN
~ Matthew, Mark and Luke each include Bartholomew in their lists of The Twelve, but they tell us nothing more of him.
John's gospel provides a few details about Nathanael.
~ Jn.1:46 notes that when Philip declared to Nathanael that they had found "the Messiah",
Nathanael’s response was to opine: Can anything good come out of Nazareth?
Nathanael may have been guilty of parroting one of the more common views of his age. cf. Jn.7:41
Jn.7:52 tells of Jewish leaders who jousted with Nicodemus saying, Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.
~ At any rate Jesus commended Nathanael for being honest (although mistaken).
Jn.1:47 / Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said to him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.’
Nathanael was transparent and without duplicity - - a character reflecting authenticity and genuineness. cf. Rom.9:6
~ Jn.1:48f records that Nathanael said back to Jesus, How do you know me?
Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.'
Nathanael answered Him, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.’
Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe?
You shall see greater things than these.' And He said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall
see the Heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’
P.S. Jesus' words, I saw you when you were under the fig tree, proved to be quite revealing to Nathanael.
Being “under the fig tree” was a Hebraic expression for being “in prayer and/or deep reflection”. cf. Zech.3:10 & Mic.4:4
It wasn't that Jesus spotted Nathanael nearby a few minutes before Philip called him, but rather that the all-knowing Jesus (Jn.4:39) divulged a very private moment that no others would have witnessed. We can only imagine Nathanael's prayer.
P.S.S. Jesus' added exhortation (an allusion to Jacob's ladder/Gen.28:12) - - you shall see the heaven opened and the angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man - - may have been a specific future reference to Acts 1:9 and/or Mt.16:27-28.
