Βαρθολομαῖος

Bartholomew

Definition

Βαρθολομαῖος is the Greek form of the personal name Bartholomew, which means 'son of Tolmai' in Aramaic. In the New Testament, Bartholomew is consistently identified as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, listed alongside Philip in the synoptic Gospels (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14). He is traditionally understood to be the same person as Nathanael mentioned in the Gospel of John (John 1:45-49), where Jesus commends him as 'an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.' This identification is supported by his pairing with Philip in the apostolic lists and his inclusion among the apostles gathered in the upper room after the ascension (Acts 1:13).

Biblical Usage

The name Βαρθολομαῖος appears exclusively in the four apostolic lists of the New Testament. It is used in a formal, cataloguing context to identify one of the foundational twelve apostles. The usage is identical across all occurrences: Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14, and Acts 1:13. In each list, his name is mentioned without additional narrative detail, indicating his established role within the core group of Jesus's disciples.

Etymology

The name Βαρθολομαῖος is a Hellenized form of an Aramaic patronymic, בַּר־תַּלְמַי (bar-Tolmai), meaning 'son of Tolmai.' The prefix 'bar' means 'son of,' and 'Tolmai' is likely derived from the Hebrew name Ptolemy. This follows a common Semitic naming convention, similar to the name Bartholomew's fellow apostle, Simon Bar-Jonah (Simon, son of Jonah). The Greek form simply transliterates the Aramaic name into Greek characters.

Semantic Range

While the name itself is a personal identifier, Bartholomew's inclusion among the Twelve is theologically significant. It underscores the theme of Jesus calling and appointing specific individuals (Mark 3:13-19) to be authoritative witnesses to his ministry, death, and resurrection. His traditional identification with Nathanael highlights Jesus's divine knowledge and the call of a sincere seeker who recognizes Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel (John 1:49). Bartholomew represents the fulfillment of God's promise to gather a renewed Israel through the apostles.

In first-century Jewish culture, a patronymic name like 'son of Tolmai' was a standard way to identify a person, distinguishing him from others with the same given name. The fact that he is primarily known by this family designation in the Gospels, rather than a personal first name, reflects this common practice. His identification as a potential 'Israelite indeed' (if equated with Nathanael) connects him to Jewish ideals of piety and honesty, setting him apart from the deceit Jacob was known for.

Ναθαναήλ (Nathanaēl, G3482) — The name used in John's Gospel, traditionally identified as the same person as Bartholomew. Ἀπόστολος (Apostolos, G652) — The general term for 'apostle,' describing Bartholomew's office and role.

Word Details

Scripture References