Bartholomew or Nathanael
Bartholomew also called Nathanael was prejudice against Nazareth, believing that nothing good could come from that part of the country. Many times we have prejudice against people we don’t know anything about. We need to get to know people before we think they are bad. Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14, John 1:45-47
Bartholomew is one of the twelve disciples as mentioned in Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; and Acts 1:13). There is no further reference to Bartholomew in the New Testament. It is believed that Bartholomew is the surname of Nathanael who was led to Christ by Philip.
Philip told Nathanael they had found Him whom Moses in the law, and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. It was Nathanael who asked the famous question of “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (John 1:47). Guile is another word for craftiness or deceit.
Nathanael asked Jesus how He knew him. Jesus answered and told Nathanael that before Philip called him he had been under the fig tree. That is where Jesus saw him. (John 1:48).
Nathanael then responded by addressing Jesus as Rabbi, meaning teacher. Nathanael knew Jesus was the Son of God; knowing He was the King of Israel. (John 1:49.
Jesus answered Nathanael that he believed Jesus was the Son of God because He saw him under the fig tree. Then Jesus told Nathanael he would be seeing greater things than these. Jesus said unto Nathanael: Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:50-51).
There was one other time when Nathanael is mentioned as being of Cana in Galilee when Jesus showed Himself at the Sea of Tiberias after His Resurrection. (John 21:1-2).
What Can We Learn From This Story?
Bartholomew also called Nathanael was prejudice against Nazareth, believing that nothing good could come from that part of the country. Many times we have prejudice against people we don’t know anything about. We need to get to know people before we think they are bad.
Bartholomew was recognized by Jesus as having “no guile” as an Israelite. Jesus already knew most Israelites were up to cunning trickery against Him. We must always deal with the people in our lives as honest and truthful as we can. That way Jesus will know we are up to sneaky dishonesty.
Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD does not input iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. (Psalm32:2). This means we will be blessed if we are not stubborn or unreasonable and if we are not immoral or evil. We shall not have any carelessness, slackness, deceit, or treachery in our spirit.
We are all followers of Jesus and therefore we should lay aside all malice which is desire to injure others do wickedness. We should also lay aside our focus on our selves and focus on the teachings of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne ” Bartholomew or Nathanael:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Oct 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1740,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, October) ” Bartholomew or Nathanael:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1740,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) ” Bartholomew or Nathanael:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (October), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1740, (accessed).
