The Life of Jesus in Harmony | Index

Nathanael

NATHAN'AEL (na-than'a-el; Gk. from Heb. "God has given").

BARTHOL'OMEW (bar-thol'o-mu; "son of Tolmai").

One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and generally supposed to have been the same person who in John's gospel is called Nathanael.

Name and Family. In the first three gospels (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14) Philip and Bartholomew are constantly named together, whereas Nathanael is not mentioned. In the fourth gospel Philip and Nathanael are similarly combined, but nothing is said of Bartholomew. Nathanael must therefore be considered his real name, whereas Bartholomew merely expresses his filial relation (Kitto).

He was born in Cana of Galilee (John 21:2). Philip, having accepted Jesus, told Bartholomew that he had "found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth." To his question, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip replied, "Come and see."

Jesus, as He saw him coming to Him, said "Behold an Israelite, indeed, in whom is no guile!" (Jn 1:45-47). He was appointed with the other apostles (Mk 3:18), was one of the disciples to whom the Lord appeared after the resurrection (Jn 21:2), was a witness of the ascension, and returned with the other apostles to Jerusalem (Acts 1:4,12-13).

TRADITION. Tradition only speaks of his subsequent history. He is said to have preached the gospel in India (probably Arabia Felix); others say in Armenia, and report him to have been flayed alive there, then crucified with his head downward.