Why was Batholomew also known as Nathanael? Bartholomew is a Hebrew surname meaning “son of Tolmai.” So, Nathanael is the son of Tolmai, or Nathanael Bar-Tolmei. This will help clear things up when you read about Jesus’ disciples. In some places, he is called Nathanael and in others Bartholomew, but they are the same person. Like Philip the Apostle, we know very little about Nathanael. It is easy to remember John, Peter, James, Andrew, and even Thomas, who was the doubter. Yet, these obscure Apostles were just as important, maybe more important, because Jesus didn’t have to spend a lot of time rebuking and correcting them as He did some of the others. They show us that ordinary people who quietly serve and stay in the background are valuable to the cause of Christ.
The first time we see Nathanael is in John 1:45-46. Philip has found Jesus, and now he goes to find Nathanael. It is assumed they were friends or maybe even relatives. Nathanael makes the comment about Jesus being from Nazareth. Philip does what we would do. He doesn’t try to reason with him or explain why he thinks this man is the Messiah; he tells him to come and see for himself. In other words, once you see Him and hear Him, you will not doubt what I have told you.
John 1:45-46 “Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.”
In John 1:47, Jesus sees Nathanael coming and says, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Jesus uses the words “no guile,” which characterizes Nathanael as a true worshiper of the true and living God. He was not deceitful or hypocritical like the religious leaders of that day. Nathanael is puzzled and wonders how this man could know him. Jesus answers, “Before that Philip called thee, when thou was under the fig tree, I saw thee.” Here we have Nathanael’s Ah-Ha moment. He sees and he believes. It was as if the light came on in Nathanael’s mind and all the darkness was dispelled. His reply to Jesus in verse 49 was “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.”
I love Jesus’ response in verse 50. “Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.” In our manner of speaking, it would be: Hey, Nathanael, if you think me seeing you when you were not in my presence is something, wait, you haven’t seen anything yet. Just hang on, there is better to come.
Nathanael has shown his belief. He called Him Rabbi, which means Master. He strengthens that statement by calling Him the Son of God and King of Israel! He got it! There was no doubt in his mind who Jesus was. He did not waffle back and forth; he did not second-guess what Jesus had said. He believed, and it was settled.
We see Nathanael at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and we see him at the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth. He was an eyewitness to Jesus’ presence after the resurrection. Evidence of this is shown in John 21:1-2 “After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.”
We know Nathanael was faithful until the end. He was at the ascension and went back to the upper room to pray and wait on the Holy Spirit.
Act 1:12-14 “Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, (Nathanael) and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
We find nothing negative about Nathanael. He follows faithfully, and while the Bible doesn’t record much about him, historians tell us that after the sending of the Holy Spirit, he preached in Persia and India. While we have no biblical record of his death, all historians agree that he died a martyr’s death. Some say he was tied up in a sack and dropped into the ocean, and others claim he was crucified.
So, what can we take away from this Apostle’s life that will help us as Christians? The most notable thing is that when he met Jesus, he was never the same. He remained faithful until the end of his life. He did not need a lot of attention; he just wanted to please the Master.
