918. Bartholomaios
Lexical Summary
Bartholomaios: Bartholomew

Original Word: Βαρθολομαῖος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Bartholomaios
Pronunciation: bar-tho-lo-MY-os
Phonetic Spelling: (bar-thol-om-ah'-yos)
KJV: Bartholomeus
NASB: Bartholomew
Word Origin: [of Chaldee origin (H124 (אוֹדֶם - ruby)7 and H8526 (תַּלמַי - Talmai))]

1. son of Tolmai
2. Bar-tholomoeus, a Christian apostle

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Bartholomew

Of Chaldee origin (bar and Talmay); son of Tolmai; Bar-tholomoeus, a Christian apostle -- Bartholomeus.

see HEBREW bar

see HEBREW Talmay

HELPS Word-studies

918 BartholomaíosBartholomew, probably a surname for Nathanael (literally the "son of Tolmai," cf. Mt 10:3; Jn 1:45ff). That is, Bartholomew's "first name" was apparently "Nathanael."

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Aramaic origin bar and Talmay
Definition
"son of Tolmai," Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles
NASB Translation
Bartholomew (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 918: Βαρθολομαῖος

Βαρθολομαῖος, Βαρθολομαιου, (טָלְמַי בַּר son of Tolmai), Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles of Christ: Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13. (See Ναθαναήλ and BB. DD.)

Topical Lexicon
Name and Identity

Bartholomew appears in Scripture only in the lists of the Twelve. His name is patronymic, meaning “son of Tolmai,” and many scholars link him with Nathanael, the friend of Philip whose call is narrated in John 1:45-51. In John’s Gospel Nathanael is present while Bartholomew is absent; in the Synoptic lists Bartholomew is present while Nathanael is absent. This complementary pattern, together with the proximity of Philip and Bartholomew in every list, supports the long-held view that Bartholomew and Nathanael are the same man.

Biblical Occurrences

1. Matthew 10:3 – “Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector….”
2. Mark 3:18 – “Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew….”
3. Luke 6:14 – “Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew….”
4. Acts 1:13 – “When they arrived, they went to the upper room… Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew….”

These passages portray Bartholomew as an integral yet quiet member of the Twelve, counted among them before and after the resurrection and therefore a witness both to the earthly ministry of Jesus and to His resurrection.

Association with Nathanael

John recounts that Nathanael was initially skeptical (“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”) yet swiftly confessed, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel” (John 1:46-49). If Bartholomew and Nathanael are the same individual, then the narrative furnishes a portrait of a disciple whose early doubts were overcome by a profound revelation of Christ’s omniscience and messianic identity. This rapid movement from hesitation to conviction illustrates the gracious manner in which Jesus answers honest inquiry and transforms it into mature faith.

Role among the Twelve

The four Evangelists never record Bartholomew speaking, performing miracles, or asking questions. His significance therefore lies not in recorded words but in faithful presence. He is an example of discipleship defined by steadfast loyalty rather than public prominence. By including such figures in the apostolic band, Scripture reminds believers that quiet faithfulness is no less essential to the advance of the gospel than is public leadership.

Missionary Outreach after Pentecost

Although the New Testament gives no further details, early Christian writers describe wide-ranging missionary labors:
• Eusebius states that Bartholomew carried the gospel to “India,” a term covering regions east of Palestine that may include Arabia Felix or Ethiopia.
• Other traditions place him in Mesopotamia, Parthia, Lycaonia, and especially Armenia, where he is honored as founding apostle.
• A fragment attributed to Pantaenus claims Bartholomew had already left a Hebrew Gospel of Matthew in the region by the time Pantaenus arrived.

While extra-biblical, these accounts harmonize with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and with Acts’ portrait of apostles scattering “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Church Tradition and Legacy

Most traditions agree that Bartholomew was martyred. Armenian sources say he was flayed alive and beheaded at Albanopolis for converting the king’s brother. Such accounts underscore the cost of apostolic witness and have made Bartholomew a symbol of perseverance under persecution. Churches from Rome to India claim relics, demonstrating how widely his memory spread in early Christianity.

Theological Insights

1. The inclusion of lesser-known apostles affirms that the gospel advances through the entire body, not merely through headline figures.
2. Bartholomew’s probable identity with Nathanael shows that intellectual questions are welcomed by Christ and can culminate in robust confession.
3. His missionary traditions illustrate the outward thrust of apostolic faith and lend historical depth to the fulfillment of Genesis 12:3—blessing extending to all nations.

Applications for the Church Today

• Encourage believers who serve in obscurity; God values faithfulness more than fame.
• Welcome honest inquiry; sincere questions can lead to deeper revelation.
• Embrace the global mandate; the apostolic pattern urges believers to pray, give, and go for the sake of unreached peoples.

Summary

Bartholomew stands as a quiet yet resolute disciple, possibly identical with Nathanael, whose early confession in John prefigures a life devoted to proclaiming Christ. Mentioned only four times in the New Testament yet celebrated across continents, he reminds the Church that every follower, however unseen, is called to bear witness “to the ends of the earth.”

Forms and Transliterations
Βαρθολομαιον Βαρθολομαῖον Βαρθολομαιος Βαρθολομαῖος Bartholomaion Bartholomaîon Bartholomaios Bartholomaîos
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 10:3 N-NMS
GRK: Φίλιππος καὶ Βαρθολομαῖος Θωμᾶς καὶ
NAS: Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas
KJV: Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and
INT: Philip and Bartholomew Thomas and

Mark 3:18 N-AMS
GRK: Φίλιππον καὶ Βαρθολομαῖον καὶ Μαθθαῖον
NAS: and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew,
KJV: Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew,
INT: Philip and Bartholomew and Matthew

Luke 6:14 N-AMS
GRK: Φίλιππον καὶ Βαρθολομαῖον
NAS: and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;
KJV: Philip and Bartholomew,
INT: Philip and Bartholomew

Acts 1:13 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ Θωμᾶς Βαρθολομαῖος καὶ Μαθθαῖος
NAS: and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew,
KJV: and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew,
INT: and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew

Strong's Greek 918
4 Occurrences


Βαρθολομαῖον — 2 Occ.
Βαρθολομαῖος — 2 Occ.

917
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