Page:Lives of the apostles of Jesus Christ (1836).djvu/385



HIS NAME AND CALL.

In respect to this apostle, there occurs a primary question about his name, which is given so differently in different sacred authorities, as to induce a strong suspicion that the two names refer to two totally distinct persons. The reasons for applying the two words, Nathanael and Bartholomew, to the same person, are the circumstances,—that none of the three first evangelists mention any person named Nathanael, and that John never mentions the name Bartholomew,—that Bartholomew and Nathanael are each mentioned on these different authorities, among the chosen disciples of Jesus,—that Bartholomew is mentioned by the three first evangelists, on all the lists, directly after Philip, who is by John represented as his intimate friend,—and that Bartholomew is not an individual name, but a word showing parentage merely,—the first syllable being often prefixed to Syriac names, for this purpose; and Bar-Tholomew means the "son of Tholomew," or "Tholomai;" just as Bar-Jonah means the "son of Jonah;" nor was the former any more in reality the personal, individual name of Nathanael, than the latter was of Peter; but some circumstance may have occurred to make it, in this instance, often take the place of the true individual name.

A few very brief notices are given of this apostle by John, who alone alludes to him, otherwise than by a bare mention on the list. It is mentioned in his gospel that Nathanael was of Cana, in Galilee, a town which stood about half-way between lake Gennesaret and the Mediterranean sea; but the circumstances of his call seem to show that he was then with Philip, probably at or near Bethsaida. Philip, after being summoned by Jesus to the discipleship, immediately sought to bring his friend Nathanael into an enjoyment of the honors of a personal intercourse with Jesus, and