Nathanael bar Tolmai

Bartholomew (Nathanael)

Notes from Chapter 6 of "Christ’s Cabinet" by Commissioner William A. McIntyre

Simple, truthful Israelite – a dreamer.

Nathanael means ‘gift of God’.

He was a native of Cana - the place of Jesus’ first miracle.

Nathanael is mentioned only in John Gospel. The name Bartholomew is absent from John, but used in the synoptics.

Nathanael is associated with Bartholomew because in the synoptics Phillip and Bartholomew are always listed together, and in John Nathanael is brought to Jesus by Phillip.

Tradition holds that Nathanael was the bridegroom at the wedding in Cana and was one of the three who journeyed to Emmaus after the resurrection.

John:

1:45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the book of the Law and whom the prophets also wrote about. He is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth." 46 "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," answered Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, he said about him, "Here is a real Israelite; there is nothing false in him!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you when you were under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 "Teacher," answered Nathanael , "you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus said, "Do you believe just because I told you I saw you when you were under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than this!" 51 And he said to them, "I am telling you the truth: you will see heaven open and God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man."

Cana and Nazareth were 11 miles apart and rival towns. Nazareth had a poor reputation and was at a disadvantage – so it was in Jesus’ interest to have an Apostle from the rival town endorse Him.

Nathanael was the only Apostle to hesitate upon calling by Jesus.

Nathanael was at the fishing expedition in John 21.

Nathanael is associated with the ministry of Thaddeus and Philip after the resurrection. He escaped martyrdom when Philip was murdered and continued his ministry with Thaddeus.

He was reportedly flayed alive and then crucified head down (or maybe beheaded) – likely in Armenia – what is today a part of Azerbaijan.

Tolmai is connected with the mother of King David’s son, Absalom – suggesting royal lineage for Bar Tolmai. He has also been connected with the Ptolemy house that gained rule of Egypt after the demise of Alexander the Great.

Bartholomew is the traditional founder of the Armenian Church.

He is credited with taking a Hebrew copy of the Gospel of Matthew to the Armenians (or the Indians).