Philip the practical did not yet know the power of Jesus the miracle worker to multiply the five barley loaves and two fish Andrew found that the little boy was willing to share. He would walk with Jesus during His subsequent forty days on earth, witness His miracle on the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-8), eat breakfast with Jesus on the shores of Galilee (John 21:9-14), receive Christs great commission (Matthew 28:19-20), and observe Jesus final ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). In fact, Nathanaels local knowledge and civic pride would come to light when called upon to follow Jesus. of Luke writes: So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Though not much is known about Nathanaels background or personality, the apostle is revealed in the gospels to be an honest, insightful, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ and student of the Old Testament. Sort of like Merrillville. Follow me, he says to each one of us. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. While its easy to gloss over this quick interaction, a few key insights into Nathanaels character can be gleaned from this verse. Jesus was a common name. Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. What we know about Bartholomew/Nathanael comes primarily from the account of . The first six disciples, then, were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, and Bartholomew. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going., 5 Thomas said to him, Lord, we dont know where you are going, so how can we know the way?. Even Nathanael, who was probably caught off guard by Christs compliment following a previously bigoted assumption, responded by asking Jesus, how do You know me? (John 1:48). Another suggests Nathanael died by crucifixion. 46 Nazareth! No doubt Phillip had already begun counting heads. The Bible doesn't say Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. We dont know. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Despite these thoughts and feelings, however, they continued to be positive instruments in the hands of God. All rights reserved worldwide. (The other two Philips are both sons of King Herod the Great.). Let's go! Knowing Nathanaels heart, Jesus greeted His would-be disciple, not with chastisement or contempt, but rather, with a remarkable compliment of his character. Its worth noting that Nathanael is rarely mentioned apart from the listing of the twelve disciples. And this business about the angels of God ascending and descending? Their association with the Lord made them disciples who learned from Him, but their faithfulness and commitment sent them forth as apostles to proclaim the good news that Jesus is Lord. He belonged to the town to which Jesus was going (Cana of, Galilee, John 21:2 ). Do you have the excitement and joy of a Philip? I have found the one who forgives my sins. And so it goes. He might have been the same person as Nathanael. Philip found Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wroteJesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' 'Nazareth! Before Philip invited his brother, already Jesus had an intention of calling the young man. Nathanael makes a second appearance in John 21:2, where he is included in a list of disciples who saw the resurrected Christ by the Sea of Tiberias. Sure his mind was tainted by prejudice, but his heart was pure. You have a sure hope to carry you through all the trials and afflictions of this life. We need to take a little rabbit trail here in so that you can get the scope of his prejudice. And whats more, this new life doesnt stop with you. It says in John 21:2 that Nathanael was from Cana not Bethsaida. They had the same background, the same experiences in following our Lord. This is as good as it gets! Phillip had studied the scriptures and everything lined up. But why does John refer to his fellow disciple as Nathanael while the other gospel writers list him as Bartholomew? The earliest reference in the West is in Rupert of Deutz (d. 1129). How can you say, Show us the Father? Bartholomew = son of Tolmai, probably to be identified with Nathanael. Thats wonderful! Beyond that, Nazareth may have carried some negative baggage for Nathanael. You would be lost and helpless and hopeless, headed to hell. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. Jesus honored Andrews faith by multiplying and feeding 5000. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?. You have the word of God as your anchor and stay. He was so engrossed in his commonsense calculation, that he couldn't see an opportunity for the supernatural. And that was enough to convince Nathaniel that he was messiah. Phillip eventually got the message. Most Bible scholars believe Nathanael and Bartholomew were the same person. They are apparently close friends. Nathanael is described as initially being skeptical about whether the Messiah could come from Nazareth, saying: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Let me just say a little about his name while you're turning there. Still, there are some things we can learn about Philip the Apostle from the Bible, and we can glean a few insights from the early church as well. He didn't know what to do. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. No, he probably ran through a list of rules of regulation in his mind and tried to figure out whether Jesus should talk to these Gentiles. After this, Nathanael would return with the remaining apostles to the upper room in Jerusalem, joining with them in prayer as they selected Matthias as a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who had recently hung himself (Acts 1:12-26). Nathanael is the Hebrew of the Greek word Theodorus, God's gift. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Theres really not much we can say about Philip without speculating. (This is one of the main arguments for assuming that all New Testament references to Mark are talking about John Mark, the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. Nathanael (Hebrew , Greek: , "God has given"), also known as Nathaniel [1] of Cana was a disciple of Jesus, mentioned only in chapters 1 and 21 of the Gospel of John . Andrew and his brother Simon Peter sought to find Jesus, but in the case of . A fig tree near house provides a large, shady, protected place outdoors. Phillip, like the other apostles was a man of weak faith and imperfect understanding. It is interesting to see Jesus characterization of Nathaniel, 47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said of him, Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.. When you know the Lord, it affects the way you speak and act and live. Phillip told Nathaniel about the messiah from the standpoint of the Old Testament prophecy. To challenge his friends blind bigotry, Philip responded with a simple invitation. Nathanael is a boy's name of Hebrew origin that means "God has given." In the Bible, Nathanael came from Cana in Galilee and was an early follower of Jesus. John 12 gives us another insight into Philips character in, 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story, NIV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Revelation, Paperback, Comfort Print, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, Verse Mapping Bible, Comfort Print: Find Connections in Scripture Using a Unique 5-Step Process. [5] Some scholars hold that Jesus' quote "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you", is based on a Jewish figure of speech, referring to studying the Torah. Peter and James came to the Lord because of the personal soul-winning of their brothers. These men were part of Jesus' inner group. He was familiar with what the prophets had said. James and John: the two sons of Zebedee, who were called next: Philip and Bartholomew; the latter of these is by some thought to be Nathanael. Given the fact that Peter and Andrew were also from Bethsaida, and possibly even James and John, the sons of Zebedee, (John 1:44), the likelihood that many of the disciples knew each other, were close friends, and possibly even coworkers and fellow fisherman prior to meeting Jesus becomes more conceivable. Now that we've looked at Philips faults, and cited his inability to look at the whole picture. In the Gospel of John, Nathanael is introduced as a friend of Philip, from Bethsaida (1:43-44). Phillip doesn't like maybes. These were Andrew, John, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathanael, James, and Levi Matthew. The earliest identification of Nathanael with one of the Twelve Disciples is found in the 2nd-century Epistula Apostolorum, where he is identified with or takes the place of James, son of Alpheus. Instead he says "can anything good come out of Nazareth?" If you are going from Chicago to Indianapolis, you might travel through Merrillville. (LogOut/ But what does this actually mean, and why would Jesus compliment someone who had expressed such obvious prejudice? Philips personality, led him to say, I don't think we can do that., 7 Philip answered him, Eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!. In Nathanael, Christ had found a genuine and authentic believer. You are the King of Israel!. 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. So we know that like Philip, Andrew and Simon, Nathanael was from the region of Galilee, and specifically he was from the town of Cana. we first meet Phillip the day after Jesus called Andrew, John, and Peter. [1] "Come and see," said Philip. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Nathanael was willing to leave both job and long-held religious beliefs and follow Jesus. Then Philip identifies this Messiah by name, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. But notice Nathanaels response: Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Apparently Nathanael, as one well-versed in the Scriptures, knew that there was no particular prophecy linking the Messiah to the city of Nazareth. It bears wonderful fruit and gives good shade. Did the citizens of Nazareth hold the same view of those from Cana? It wouldnt taken long for him to get past his prejudice and acknowledge Jesus for who He really was. Was it the right thing to do? Joel Ryanis an author, writing professor, and contributing writer for Salem Web Network and Lifeway. [9], "John Wesley's Notes on the Gospel according to Saint John: Chapter 1", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nathanael_(follower_of_Jesus)&oldid=1149908118, This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 05:57. He loved God with a pure heart and desired to see the messiah. Now was late in the day, and there were no fast food franchises. But rather than just being casual readers, Philip and Nathanael had become passionate about the Word of God, even developing an interest in the prophecies of the promised Messiah. Not linked to together using the conjunction and like we see what the brothers Peter and Andrew or James and John. Peter and Andrew were early followers of John the Baptist. I cant think of anything better. Well, Phillip has my job. One of the first things we learn about Philip in the Gospel of John is that like Simon Peter and Andrew, he comes from Bethsaida, a town by the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). Houses could get full smoke and stuffy. Some people won't hear a minister of a different race. He was a man who worshipped God in spirit and in truth without deceit or hypocrisy. So quite possibly, if Phillip had introduced the Greeks to Jesus, he might have been breaking a rule. 48 How do you know me? Nathaniel asked. From Philips point of view this was the end of his search. James (son of Zebedee and John's brother) was called as he was mending nets inside a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Thats how it was for Philip. Our final look at Phillip comes a short time after the Last Supper on the eve of the crucifixion. It was. And so Jesus not only is the King of Israel, he is the king who ushers in the everlasting kingdom of heaven in our midst. Phillip was pessimistic, narrowly focused, and obsessed with identifying the reason that things can't be done. Nathanael also became Jesus' disciple. Jesus questioned Philip about how they would feed the large multitude at the Sea of Galilee. In both stories, the character of Philip (who in The Chosen is a disciple of John the Baptist) plays an important role as a kind of mentor/counselor, inviting Nathanael and Matthew to come and see the paradoxical Outside-In logic of the Kingdom of God and the meaningful role they can play in following the call of Jesus. He'd rather have a yes or no answer. What does the name Nathaniel mean biblically? Notice Philips reply to the problem that Nathanael has with Nazareth. Furthermore, both Philip and Nathanael had studied the Word of God on their own. His first response after meeting Jesus was to find his friend Nathaniel and tell him about a messiah. That's all we know about Nathaniel. This is where people will meet Jesus, their Savior, the author of life and the giver of salvation. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This may seem like a trivial detail, but later, when Jesus and the disciples come to Jerusalem, some Greek men from Bethsaida want to see Jesusand they come to Philip (John 12:21). The Philip we call the Evangelist or the Deacon is first mentioned in Acts 6 when the church selects seven people to distribute food. (C) 45Philip found Nathanael(D) and told him, We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,(E) and about whom the prophets also wrote(F)Jesus of Nazareth,(G) the son of Joseph.(H). He seeks us out, even when we were not looking for him. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Clement of Alexandria, who lived in the second and third century, claimed that this unnamed disciple was Philip: If they quote the Lords words to Philip, Let dead bury their dead, but do thou follow me . The name Bartholomew is a family designation, meaning "son of Tolmai.". The former is found in Numbers 1:8; 1Chronicles 2:14. He found us and brought his gospel to us and placed his call on our lives. In fact, the only time Nathanael is featured is in John 1 when he is first called to follow Jesus, and John 21:2, where he is mentioned along with those who returned to Galilee to go fishing with Peter after the resurrection. Imagine that, this is the first time Nathaniel meets Jesus and Jesus calls him a true Israelite without deceit. The Acts of Philip provides the earliest, most detailed account of his martyrdom, but again, its hard to say how much we can trust it. They probably came to hear John the Baptist together. And regardless of the fact that Jesus came from Nazareth, he was omniscient. 50 Jesus said, You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. Or I know that you praise me all the way to work, 49 Then Nathaniel declared, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.. Nazareth was the smallest, most unimportant town I could think of. [8] The earliest reference to this theorywhich is based on Bartholomew being properly a surnameis found in Ishodad of Merv (c.850). It should be noted that James and John had the same father, Zebedee (Matthew 10:2) and Peter and Andrew were brothers (Matthew 10:2). As we discussed earlier, these Greeks may have come to Philip because they knew him, or simply because he had a Greek name and spoke Greek the best. As the Son of God, he is the only one able to save us from our lost condition.

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