Nathanael (Bartholomew) (John 1:43–51; John 21:1–14; Matthew 10:2–4; Mark 3:13–19; Luke 6:12–16; Acts 1:13)

Of Cana in Galilee, an Israelite Indeed, One of the Twelve

A man of Cana in Galilee, named Bartholomew in the lists of the twelve, whom Philip brought to Jesus; he asked whether any good thing could come out of Nazareth, was called by Jesus “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (John 1:47), and answered, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel” (John 1:49).

John calls him Nathanael; Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts call him Bartholomew. John tells his story in two places. In the first, Philip finds him and says, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). Nathanael answers, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46), and Philip says, “Come and see” (John 1:46).

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47). When Nathanael asks how Jesus knows him, Jesus answers, “Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee” (John 1:48), and Nathanael replies, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel” (John 1:49).

In the second, he is named among the disciples together at the sea of Tiberias: “Nathanael of Cana in Galilee” (John 21:2).

He is one of the twelve. In John, Philip brings Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:45), and in every list of the twelve Bartholomew stands beside Philip: “Philip, and Bartholomew” (Matthew 10:3), and so in Mark 3:18 and Luke 6:14. John never names a Bartholomew and the other lists never name a Nathanael: they are two names for one man. With the rest of the eleven he saw Jesus taken up and returned to the upper chamber in Jerusalem: “Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew” (Acts 1:13).

Strengths

• Willingness to come and see
• Open confession

Weaknesses

• Initial doubt

Themes

• Come and see
• Seeing and believing
• Confession of the Son of God
• Without guile

Philip brings him: Come and see (John 1:45–46)

Philip finds Nathanael and says they have found him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth; Nathanael asks whether any good thing can come out of Nazareth, and Philip says, Come and see.

Jesus sees him under the fig tree (John 1:47–48)

Jesus calls him an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile, and says he saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him.

Jesus sees him under the fig tree

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (John 1:47).

“Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee” (John 1:48). The text gives no further account of what he was doing under the fig tree.

Thou art the Son of God (John 1:49–51)

Nathanael answers Jesus, calling him the Son of God and King of Israel; Jesus says he shall see greater things.

Thou art the Son of God

“Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel” (John 1:49).

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee underneath the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these” (John 1:50). He then said, “Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (John 1:51).

Chosen one of the twelve (Luke 6:12–16; Mark 3:13–19)

After a night in prayer Jesus calls his disciples and chooses twelve, whom he names apostles; Bartholomew is named beside Philip.

Sent out with the twelve (Matthew 10:1–8)

Jesus gives the twelve authority over unclean spirits and to heal, and sends them to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

At the sea of Tiberias (John 21:1–14)

Nathanael of Cana in Galilee is among the disciples together when Jesus manifests himself again at the sea of Tiberias.

With the eleven in the upper chamber (Acts 1:9–14)

After Jesus is taken up, the eleven return to Jerusalem and continue stedfastly in prayer; Bartholomew is named among them.

Philip (John 1:45–46)

Found Nathanael, told him of Jesus, and said, Come and see.

Jesus (John 1:47–51)

Spoke of him as an Israelite indeed, and was answered with a confession of the Son of God.

Thomas (John 21:1–2)

Together with Nathanael at the sea of Tiberias.

Simon Peter, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples (John 21:1–2)

Major sections

• John 1:43–51
• John 21:1–14

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