All rights reserved worldwide. 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. Cana is very close to Jesus hometown of Nazareth. The Philip we call the Evangelist or the Deacon is first mentioned in Acts 6 when the church selects seven people to distribute food. Follow me, Jesus says to each one of us. How he really died, we dont know. Aside from the lists of apostles in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, Philip appears in four narratives in the Gospel of John. And thats Jesus. This Philip is explicitly identified as the evangelist and one of the Seven. If this were Philip the Apostle, it would be odd for Luke to provide two distinguishing details and not call him the apostle. He also was among those surrounding John the Baptist when the . 46 Nazareth! Nathanael was doubtful at first. Your changed life, your verbal witness, your faith evident in your lifethis becomes a witness to others. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. Go to Romans 9:6-7, the apostle Paul says, "For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are deceit and Abraham.". The New Testament lists all twelve apostles four timesMatthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19, Luke 6:13-16, and Acts 1:13-16. The differences between John's account and the Synoptics' account are easily explained. ., Caius the Presbyter (a Christian writer in the third century) wrote: And after this there were four prophetesses, daughters of Philip, at Hierapolis in Asia. Dont you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? 46 Nazareth! Nathanael: Oh, Hello! In the verses before ours, John tells us that Andrew was one of two men who had been John the Baptist's disciples. He was skeptical, analytical, pessimistic, and unsure. Most Bible scholars believe Nathanael and Bartholomew were the same person. Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. In Christ, the kingdom of heaven comes down to earth. [8] The earliest reference to this theorywhich is based on Bartholomew being properly a surnameis found in Ishodad of Merv (c.850). And like the other apostles, Nathaniel stands to prove that God can use anyone, from any place, provided he has an open heart to build his kingdom. Jesus knew Nathanaels heart. Nathanaels name is never directly mentioned again in the New Testament. Phillips closest companion is Nathaniel. Its hard to say how Philip died, especially since he was confused with Philip the Evangelist early on, and there are conflicting accounts. January 14, 2018, Philip and Nathanael: A Story of Witnessing (John 1:43-51). Can anything good come from there? Nathaniel asked. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Frequently, the disciples have no idea what Jesus is talking about, and someone has to stick their neck out and ask a clarifying question (or often in Peters case, make a foolish statement). Likewise, Philip, when Jesus called him, went to his brother Nathanael and said, We have found Him (meaning the Messiah foretold by Moses and the prophets). 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. Follow me, he says to each one of us. And whats more, this new life doesnt stop with you. John seems more interested in telling us who said what, and using Philips answer to set up Jesus miracle. )Most scholars believe that either Papias was talking about Philip the Evangelist (due to the reference to his daughters) and using the term apostle more broadly, or else Papias confused the two. But even a Galileans looked down on the Nazarene's. You have a sure hope to carry you through all the trials and afflictions of this life. Because this is where he has promised to be present. He was in charge of arranging meals and logistics for Jesus and his disciples. Who was Nathanael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org When Jesus spoke out against the religious establishment in Jerusalem, the religious leaders just chalked that up to his coming from lowly Nazareth. Imagine that, this is the first time Nathaniel meets Jesus and Jesus calls him a true Israelite without deceit. All of your sins are forgiven. However, from the beginning to the very end, Nathanael proved to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, a keen student of Scripture, and a bold witness to the power of Gods grace and forgiveness. Church tradition holds that Philip preached the gospel in Scythia (a region in central Eurasia), Syria, and Phrygia (Turkey). Whether Philips statement was foolish or simply bold, it gave Jesus another opportunity to directly assert his divinity, and help us understand his relationship to the Father. In John's Gospel, Nathanael is introduced as a friend of Philip, from Bethsaida. Come on along! Come and see. The bad. John's gospel is the only one that mentions a man named Nathanael, who appears to be an apostle (John 1:43-51).John also never mentions Bartholomew. It was a kind of private outdoor space -- perfect for meditation, reflection, and solitude. We have to remember that even though he had a Greek name, he was still a Jew and would have heard Jesus say that he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The Call of the Four Disciples in John 1 - JSTOR It was Jesus who found Philip! Save 15% for life on BibleGateway+ with code SPRINGSTUDY15. Can anything good come from there? Nathanael asked. So that would be pretty strange if that was Philip the Apostle.Much later in Acts 21:89, Paul and his companions stay at Philips house in Caesarea with his four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. After all Nazareth didn't exist in the Old Testament. Think of it this way: Think of where you would be without Jesus. Little is written about him the Gospels and book of Acts. He said, 45 Philip found Nathaniel 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.. To this Jesus replied, before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you(John 1:49). (3) Philip is closely connected with Nathanael and also with Bartholomew. This was not flattery. Phillip is the administrator -- the bean counter. There was nothing fake or insincere about him. Now of course, there are many things about our congregation we can talk about, positive things, the various aspects of our life together: the camaraderie and the fellowship, the friendliness of our members, the potlucks and the friendships we enjoy. 6 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. Nathaniel who came from an even lowlier village was simply echoing the sentiments of the Jewish establishment when he expressed his contempt for Nazareth. The day after that, Jesus went . After all Jesus didn't fit his picture of the messiah. Blind and dead in our sins, enemies of Godthat is our natural state. Nathanael recognizes Jesus as "the Son of God" and "the King of Israel". And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And Jacob called that place Beth-El, the house of God, the gate of heaven. Eusebius also quotes Polycrates of Ephesus, a bishop who lived during the second century, as saying: For in Asia also great lights have fallen asleep, which shall rise again on the last day, at the coming of the Lord, when he shall come with glory from heaven and shall seek out all the saints. He said we have found him. 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! He in turn went and found his brother Simon, who would come to be called Peter. In vs. 43 Jesus "found" (EdpltcKeL) Philip. Were about to discover that Phillip is not usually a very decisive person. In that passage, Nathanael is said to have come from Cana in Galilee, the same town were Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water to wine at the wedding feast (John 2:11). Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and Wait There Were How Many Herods?! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. I know I shared with you in an earlier study how each time I minister on one of the apostles I see a little bit of my own character in each of them. Houses could get full smoke and stuffy. This is where he can be found. How can we get there., The disciples think theyre going to the Fathers house soon, and Jesus responds, If you really know me, you will know my Father as well., Philips basically trying to demonstrate his faith by saying, I dont even care about the details. Just seeing the Father will be enough for us.. (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. 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. Never heard of it. Or Luthern? They had studied the Law of Moses and read the prophets. Bartholomew = son of Tolmai, probably to be identified with Nathanael. As common tradesmen (possibly fishermen), their study of the Old Testament would have been something they had undertaken as both a hobby and a passion, not a profession. Though Cana itself was not a particularly remarkable village, Nathanaels disdain for Nazareth indicates a certain civic pride and pretension on the part of the Nathanael. So, yes, you do have something to tell others about, something absolutely exciting and joyful! 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. You would be lost and helpless and hopeless, headed to hell. It was inconceivable to Nathaniel that the messiah would come from a tacky place like Nazareth. Matthew 10:3 Commentaries: Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew Does that have to do with Martin Luther King? Church? This suggests that both Phillip and Nathaniel knew the Old Testament prophecy. No doubt Phillip had already begun counting heads. Cana itself is located only a few miles north of Jesus hometown in Nazareth and just a few miles west of Bethsaida, where Nathanaels good friend Philip was from (John 1:44). They were both disciples of John the Baptist who preached to Israel of the coming deliverer. Nathanael: Well, Philip went on to tell me that the "Messiah" he had found was from a little town called Nazareth. Later they were present in the Upper Room in one accord, when the Holy Spirit, as promised, descended upon them and they were empowered to preach and witness in Jesus name.We dont know where Philip and Nathanael may have gone or what became of them at the end of their lives. Bartholomew would have been Nathanaels Hebrew surname, meaning son of Tolmai. Nathanael, his first name, means God has given. Nathanael, therefore, would have been known formally as Nathanael, son of Tolmai, or Nathanael Bar-Tolmai. Those are the great things that Nathanael will see in Jesus ministry. Now remember I told that Philip was pessimistic and didn't see the big picture? All four of these disciples of Jesus were from the town of Bethsaida. In fact, Jesus was saying I know where your heart is, because I saw you under the fig tree. Cana, Nathaniels home town was a side trip from everything. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wroteJesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. John 1:43-46 [Read John 1: 43-51], Philip and Nathanael were brothers as were Andrew and Peter. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. By his death on the cross, Jesus bridges the gap between us and God. No hope to sustain you. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. If you are going from Chicago to Indianapolis, you might travel through Merrillville. According to John, Nathaniel came from the small town of Cana in Galilee, the place where Jesus did his first miracle. Because his heart was sincere his faith was real. Christ came down from heaven, for us men and for our salvation. In each of the listings of the disciples, the names of Philip and Bartholomew are linked, which could mean they were good friends or even related. But maybe youll put it a different way, perhaps like this: I have found my Savior, and hes your Savior too. That's group two. Like many in Israel, this was something (or someone) they were eagerly waiting and even searching for. He doesnt get sidetracked. You may meet resistance when you tell others that you have found Jesus and his gifts present here at St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Im guessing that unless youre talking to an orthodox Jew, you probably wont start out by saying, We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote. Thats going to go over most peoples heads. How can you say no? Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Jesus cross is our Jacobs ladder. Phillip had to get beyond human limitation. Matthews? In other words between all the disciples -- at least 12 of them and probably more like 70 -- all they had was eight months worth of a single laborers wages. We know Jesus called them all before the foundations of the world. [2] The first disciples who follow Jesus are portrayed as reaching out immediately to family or friends: thus, Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.[3]. Nathaniel was prejudice. You will see greater things than that. 51He then added, Very truly I tell you,[b] you[c] will see heaven open,(O) and the angels of God ascending and descending(P) on[d] the Son of Man.(Q). What have you found that you can tell others about? Just like he finds us. Phillip, on the other hand still hadn't gotten at two years later. Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. Lets see what happens when his friend questions his set of facts. That is our starting point, and it is a dead end. The Holy Gospel for today, from John 1, takes place very early in Jesus ministry, when he was first gathering his disciples. 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). (1) St John, who twice mentions the name of Nathanael, never mentions that of Bartholomew; (2) the three Synoptists mention Bartholomew but not Nathanael. Follow me, learn from me, as my disciples. Some traditions tell of Nathanael being flayed alive in Armenia. Hes one of four people named Philip in the Bible, and hes often confused with Philip the Evangelist, who plays a minor role in Acts. We need to take a little rabbit trail here in so that you can get the scope of his prejudice. These men were called the 12 Disciples. He was so engrossed in his commonsense calculation, that he couldn't see an opportunity for the supernatural. Or stoned to death. He found Nathanael, presumably someone he knew or had some kind of relationship with. But while the Judeans often looked down on the Galileans, it seems even the Galileans had a particular disdain for the rough, uncultured, and uneducated people of Nazareth. Rabbit trail: 1 denari is equal to one day's wages. Well, thats all right. In Johns gospel, the author mentions that Jesus had sought out Philip shortly after calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be His disciples (John 1:43).
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