Apostle St. Bartholomew (Nathaniel) – June 11 I An Israelite In Whom was no Guile

Bartholomew is mentioned sixth in the Synoptic Gospels, after the name of Philip and seventh in the list of Acts and not mentioned in the Gospel of John (Matt. 10:3; Mk. 3:18; Lk. 6:14; and Acts 1:13). St. John refers to him as Nathaniel (Jn. 1: 45-49, 21: 2). The name Bartholomaios means ‘son of Tolmai’ [Bar – son of]. The name Nathaniel is a Greek name meaning ‘gift of God’. In the synoptic gospels and Acts, Philip and Bartholomew always occur together, as if it is natural to speak of them together. Since Philip is closely connected to Bartholomew and Nathaniel, it may well be that both are the same person.  In the fourth gospel, we learn that it was Philip who brought Nathaniel to Jesus (Jn. 1: 45). Nathaniel came from Cana (Kothine) in Galilee (Jn. 21: 2). When Philip discovered Jesus, he went straight to Nathaniel and communicated his discovery to him. It was Philip’s belief that in Jesus of Nazareth, he had discovered the Messiah to whom all the Law and the prophets pointed.

When he met Jesus, he was greeted with the words “Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile“. Nathaniel showed his modesty and unworthiness of cognizance and asked how Jesus knew who he was. Jesus answered that before Philip had called him, he had seen him under a fig tree. {In Judaism and rabbinic literature, the mention of the fig tree is a symbol for the study of Law (Torah) and a proper place to study the Torah under a fig tree}. It was most probable that Nathaniel under the fig tree was employed in prayer, mediation and in communion with God. Thus, Nathaniel was a man of prayer.

To Nathaniel it seemed amazing thing that anyone should have the divine power to read the secrets of his heart. In awed amazement he said “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel”. Nathanael in short had said, ‘Thou art the Messiah’. Observe here how firmly he believed in heart and how freely he confessed with his mouth. He confesses Christ’s prophetical office by calling Him ‘Rabbi’. He confesses His divine nature by calling Him ‘Son of God’. He confesses His very mission, by calling Him ‘King of Israel’. This is one of the mysteries of the biblical quotations, for no one has identified satisfactorily the prophecy. The idea is that Nathanael was such an expert in the Law and the Prophets that he alone could identify the prophecy, which no one else has ever been able to identify. Nathanael is considered by many as a great scholar and doctor in law.

Thus, Nathaniel was a man of complete sincerity, searcher of the scriptures, seeker of truth, a man of prayer, who knew no half measures completely, surrendered in Christ. Bartholomew, a man completely surrendered to Christ, one of his most staunch followers, became a man of action and one of the most adventurous missionaries in the history of the Church. Nathanael has the distinction of being the first recorded person to confess belief in Jesus as the Son of God and Saviour. When Nathanael accepted Jesus’ call, he became His disciple. He was a witness to the resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ and became a missionary, spreading the gospel.

Even though the N. T. tells nothing about Bartholomew except his name, but the later stories – and that they are true in spirit – tells us of a man, who intimately knew his Lord, who lived and preached and died for his Lord. The Roman martyr-logy follows the tradition of ascribing to him an Apostolate in Armenia. It is believed after the Martyrdom of Apostle Philip, he moved to Armenia, where he cured the king’s daughter of madness and also converted his brother, Polymius. The king’s envious brother, Astyages, took the apostle of God and crucified him, then had him flayed and beheaded in the Armenian town of Ourbanopolis. His relics are thought by some to be preserved in the Church, St. Bartholomew-in-the-island, at Rome. He along with Thaddeus is called by the Armenia Church as the “First Enlighteners of the Armenian Church“. Armenian Church claims him to be their founder.

Many legends gather around him. We have seen Bartholomew’s presence in the campaign he shared with Philip in Hierapolis, but he escaped martyrdom. Bartholomew then lived to preach in India, Phrygia, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Armenia, and Lycaonia and on the shores of the Black Sea. It is said he preached with great success in Armenia, that he rendered the heathen Gods powerless. Another reason for his undoubted popularity in England is that there were 165 churches dedicated to him in England alone was his manner of death. Bartholomew or Nathanael, as one of the twelve apostles, went out into the world to preach the gospel to the whole world, each going out in different directions. They took seriously the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8) and obeyed Christ’s instructions, even paying for their commitment with their own lives. Our liturgical calendar of the Indian Orthodox Church commemorates the Apostle – St Bartholomew on June 11.