Bartholomew: Apostle of Jesus Christ Bible Study

This is the Second bible study of a twelve week bible study called the "Twelve Apostles-Foundation of Christ's Bride (The Holy City)". Here we will study one of the twelve apostles which were Jesus Christ's apostles and referred to as the foundation of Christ's Holy City.  In the Revelations chapter 21, one of seven angel's came to John telling him that he would show him the bride, the Lamb's (Jesus Christ) wife. He then showed the apostle the Holy Jerusalem of heaven. A description is given, part of that description reveals that the twelve disciples names would represent the twelve foundations of this Holy city.

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" Revelation 21:14
The Apostles play an important role in the Holy City
The apostles have significant importance as the foundation of the Holy City so it makes sense that we should know who they were, what they taught, why it was important, and how they died. This Second study is on the Apostle Bartholomew one of Jesus Christ's disciples (apostles). 
Jesus spoke highly of Bartholomew
Jesus spoke highly of Bartholomew referring to him as "An Israelite in whom there is no guile John 1:47.
What we know about Bartholomew from the Bible and theological studies

• Son of Tahnai
• Resided in Cana of Galilee
• Missionary in Armenia
• Said to be the only Apostle from a royal bloodline or noble birth
• Meaning of the Bartholomew: Son of Talmai or Tahmar: 2 Sam. 3:3
• He was a scholar in the law and the prophets
• He was sincere
• Without guile
• Ernest in prayer
• An adventurous missionary
• A disciple of Christ

Bible Verses Listing Bartholomew as a disciple of Christ in Matthew, Mark & Luke
​In Matthew and Mark Bartholomew was named among the twelve apostles whom Jesus gave power to cast out unclean spirits and heal all kinds of sickness and diseases.

• Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
• ​Matthew 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
• Matthew 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
• Matthew 10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 

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• ​Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
• Mark 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
• Mark 3:16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;
• Mark 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
• Mark 3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
• Mark 3:19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

Bartholomew was also named as an Apostle of Christ in Luke:

• ​Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
• Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
• Luke 6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
• Luke 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
• Luke 6:16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
• Luke 6:17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;​

​After Christ's Crucifixion Bartholomew was in the Upper room praying:
​Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Bartholomew may have also been referred to as Nathaniel
It is interesting to note that Bartholomew and Nathaniel are both named in the listings of the disciples but never together.
​"Bartholomew and Nathanael are recorded in the listings of the twelve apostles, but never together. In Matthew, Mark and Luke, Bartholomew is listed as one of the twelve, but Nathanael is not. Conversely, in John, Nathanael is listed, but Bartholomew is not. From that, many logically assume that Bartholomew and Nathanael were actually the same man who was known by two names, just as, for example, Peter was also known as Simon. 
Another clue that Bartholomew and Nathanael were the same apostle is that they are commonly mentioned with the apostle Philip e.g. "Philip and Bartholomew" (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14) or "Philip findeth Nathanael" (John 1:45 KJV). (1)" 

• John 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
• John 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
• John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
• John 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
• John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
• John 1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
• ​John 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. ​

How Bartholomew Died
Bartholomew was a disciple of Jesus Christ and died a martyr's death. He was flayed alive with knives. Note that in last weeks study of the Apostle Andrew-he also died a martyr's death.
Bartholomew's Apostolic Symbol

• Three parallel knives

Related Bible Studies

Apostles of Christ Bible Studies

About Jesus

End Times Bible Study

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Memory Verse

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" Revelations 21:14  

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References:

1. ​Daily Bible Study - Bartholomew and Nathanael. (2019). Keyway.ca. Retrieved 20 June 2019, from http://www.keyway.ca/htm2005/20051130.htm