BARTHOLOMEW

also known as Nathanael

JESUS CHRIST JOHN PETER PHILIP BARTHOLOMEW THOMAS THADDEUS JAMES JAMES ANDREW SIMON MATTHEW JUDAS ISCARIOT

          LAST SUPPER PAGE          HOME PAGE          INFORMATION PAGE

                                                     

John 1:45-51
    Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.  When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."  "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." 
NIV

REFERENCES

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).

Personal History. If this may be taken as true, 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." His fastidious reluctance was soon dispelled. Jesus, as He saw him coming to Him, uttered the eulogy "Behold an Israelite, indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1:45-47). He was appointed with the other apostles (Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14), was one of the disciples to whom the Lord appeared after the resurrection (John 21:2), was a witness of the ascension, and returned with the other apostles to Jerusalem (Acts 1:4,12-13). 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.
(from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)
 

HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS

Bartholomew is described in The Apostolic History of Abdias as having black curly hair that covered his ears,  white skin, large eyes,  straight nose, his beard long and grizzled and was of a middle height. He wore a white robe with a purple stripe and a white cloak with four purple gems at the corners.

Bartholomew was reported tortured and then crucified in India.

                    Life size bronze sculpture by Bill McCown, Edition of 3, Price on request.

 

Hit Counter