Nathanael | |
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| Religious life | |
| Religion | Christianity |
Nathanael,[Note 1] also known asNathaniel[Note 2] ofCana was adisciple ofJesus, mentioned only inchapters 1 and21 of theGospel of John.
He is typically viewed as the same person asBartholomew.[1]
In theGospel of John, Nathanael is introduced as a friend ofPhilip, fromBethsaida (1:43-44).[2] The first disciples who followJesus are portrayed as reaching out immediately to family or friends: thus, Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whomMoses in thelaw, and also the prophets, wrote — Jesus ofNazareth, the son ofJoseph".[3]
Nathanael is described as initially being skeptical about whether theMessiah could come from Nazareth, saying: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?",[4] but nonetheless, he accepts Philip's invitation to find out. Jesus immediately characterizes him as "anIsraelite in whom is no deceit".[5] Some scholars[who?] hold that when Jesus said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under thefig tree, I saw you", is based on a Jewishfigure of speech, referring to studying theTorah.[citation needed] Nathanael recognizes Jesus as "theSon of God" and "the King ofIsrael".[6]
He reappears (as "Nathanael ofCana") at the end of John's Gospel, as one of the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at theSea of Galilee after theResurrection.[2][7]
Nathanael is usually identified withBartholomew the Apostle mentioned in theSynoptic Gospels andActs 1:13.[2][8] The reason for this identification is Bartholomew being a surname (Nathanael Bar-Tolmai; meaning Nathanael, son of Tolmai), and because Bartholomew and Philip are always paired together in the synoptic gospels.[9] The earliest known example of this identification is fromIshodad of Merv (c. 850). The earliest known reference in the West is inRupert of Deutz (d. 1129).
However, some disagree with this identification.Augustine suspected that Nathanael was not one of the twelve at all because he was so versed in the law.[10] The earliest identification of Nathanael with one of theTwelve Disciples is found in the 2nd-centuryEpistula Apostolorum, where he is identified with or takes the place ofJames, son of Alphaeus.[11]