Nathanael (follower of Jesus)

The biblical Nathanael depicted in stained glass.

Nathanael (Hebrew נתנאל, "God has given") is a follower of Jesus, mentioned only in the Gospel of John Chapter 1 and Chapter 21.

History

In the Gospel of John, Nathanael is introduced as a friend of Philip. ^[1] He is described as initially being skeptical about the Messiah coming from Nazareth, saying: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?", but nonetheless, follows Philip's invitation. Jesus immediately characterizes him as "Here is a man in whom there is no deception." 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. Nathanael recognizes Jesus as "the Son of God" and "the King of Israel".

He reappears (as "Nathanael of Cana") at the end of John's gospel as one of the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection.^[1]

Nathanael is often identified with Bartholomew the Apostle in the synoptic Gospels.^[1]

Notes