Nathanael
“Gift of God”
Summary
Nathanael was one of the earliest disciples of Jesus, praised by the Lord as 'an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile,' and commonly identified with the apostle Bartholomew.
☩Call to Discipleship
Nathanael was from Cana of Galilee and was brought to Jesus by Philip, who told him, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth.' Nathanael's initial response, 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?' expressed doubt that the insignificant village could produce the Messiah, but he readily accepted Philip's invitation to 'Come and see.' His willingness to have his prejudice removed demonstrates his sincere and guileless character.
☩The Lord's Commendation
As Nathanael approached, Jesus saluted him as 'an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile'—a true child of Abraham, not simply according to the flesh, but in character as well. When Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him, the Lord revealed that He had seen him under the fig tree before Philip called him. This demonstrated supernatural knowledge, probably of Nathanael's private thoughts and prayers, for one 'in whom is no guile' is one who confesses his transgressions to the Lord. The revelation convinced Nathanael immediately.
☩Confession of Faith
Convinced that Jesus could read his secret thoughts, Nathanael at once confessed, 'Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.' This remarkable confession came at the very beginning of Christ's ministry, before most of His miracles. Jesus promised him that he would see 'greater things than these,' and that he would witness 'heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.' This promised a wider basis of miraculous signs that would follow.
☩Identity with Bartholomew
It is commonly believed that Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. John, who twice mentions Nathanael, never introduces the name Bartholomew at all, while Matthew, Mark, and Luke speak of Bartholomew but never of Nathanael. Bartholomew (meaning 'son of Talmai') would be a surname, while Nathanael ('gift of God') was his proper name. Furthermore, Philip first brought Nathanael to Jesus, just as Andrew brought Simon, and Bartholomew is named by the synoptic evangelists immediately after Philip. Since all other disciples mentioned in John 1 became apostles, it seems unlikely that one so highly commended by Jesus would be excluded from that number.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Nathanael," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Nathanael," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 3.George Morrish, "Nathanael," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).