01 — Foundations
The ground on which the figure of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew stands: who he is in the New Testament — a name in the apostle-lists, always beside Philip — what the patronymic “son of Tolmai” means, and the traditional identification with Nathanael of Cana that gives the apostle nearly all of his biographical content. Because the New Testament never says Bartholomew and Nathanael are one man, these files establish both what is named and how securely.
Tradition: Pan-Orthodox (Apostle)
Bartholomew belongs to the Twelve whom the Lord chose and sent. In the Synoptic Gospels and Acts he is only ever a name in a list, and that name — Bartholomaios, “son of Tolmai” — is a patronymic, not a personal name, which has long suggested to readers that the man bore another name as well. Orthodox tradition identifies him with Nathanael, the man of Cana whom Philip brought to Jesus and who confessed Him “the Son of God, the King of Israel” (John 1:49). This section sets out the New Testament data, weighs the inference that joins Bartholomew to Nathanael, and unfolds the Lord’s first word about him — “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (John 1:47) — as the apostle’s enduring spiritual portrait.
Files in This Section
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| Bartholomew and Nathanael | The New Testament data: Bartholomew in the four apostle-lists (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13), always next to Philip; the patronymic “son of Tolmai”; Nathanael only in John (1:45–51; 21:2); and the traditional identification, its inferential basis, and the scholarly caution, presented with the positions named. |
| An Israelite Without Guile | The Lord’s word over Nathanael — “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47) — read as the apostle’s spiritual portrait: the guileless, true Israelite who recognizes his King; the patristic reading of “without guile”; and the contrast with the false in whom guile dwells. |
See Also
- Under the Fig Tree — the Johannine episode that gives the figure his content
- The Companion of Philip — the pairing with Philip, the chief argument for the identification
- The Identification Debate — the full weighing of Bartholomew = Nathanael
- Holy Scripture — the Gospel and Acts witness on which the figure rests
References
- The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version and King James Version. (The apostle-lists at Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13; the Nathanael material at John 1:45–51 and 21:2.)
- Eusebius of Caesarea. The Ecclesiastical History. Trans. Arthur C. McGiffert, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 1. 1890.
- Metzger, Bruce M., and Michael D. Coogan, eds. The Oxford Companion to the Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. (Entries “Bartholomew” and “Nathanael.”)