The Call of the Apostles - Batholomew

 

And he [Jesus] went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Mark 3:13–19 ESV).

Bartholomew was one of the original twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Scholars widely identify him as Nathanael, the disciple introduced to Jesus by Philip. Jesus famously described him as "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile". While "Bartholomew" (meaning "son of Tolmai" in Aramaic) is his patronymic surname, he is believed to be the Nathanael mentioned in the Gospel of John. In the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), his name appears in the lists of the twelve apostles alongside Philip.

 

According to John, he was from Cana in Galilee. Like the other apostles, Bartholomew witnessed Jesus's ministry, death, and resurrection. Following Pentecost, he is said to have traveled extensively to spread the Gospel. Historical and church traditions suggest he performed missionary work in regions such as India, Mesopotamia, Persia, and Armenia. He is also credited by many traditions with helping to establish Christianity in Armenia alongside Jude.

 

All traditions agree that Bartholomew died a martyr for his faith. According to historical accounts, particularly in Armenia, he was brutally executed by being flayed (skinned) alive and then beheaded. As crazy as it may sound, because of his manner of death, he is recognized in in some Christian traditions as the patron saint of leatherworkers, tanners, butchers, and bookbinders. His feast day is celebrated on August 24th in the Western Roman Catholic tradition.

 

There are some things that stand out as principles we should seek to emulate in our lives from his life. First, there are times when honest skepticism can lead to true faith. When first told about Jesus, Bartholomew openly questioned, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46). He teaches us that it is okay to have doubts or questions. However, instead of remaining close-minded, he accepted the invitation to "come and see," allowing his skepticism to be transformed into a powerful confession of faith.

 

Second, there is great value in living a life without deceit or guile. Upon meeting him, Jesus praised Bartholomew, saying, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" (John 1:47). Bartholomew models purity of heart, sincerity, and absolute honesty. He lived without a hidden agenda, teaching us the importance of transparency and integrity in our own lives. He was also a faithful servant without seeking recognition or attention. In the Synoptic Gospels, Bartholomew is only mentioned in the lists of the Twelve Apostles, with no major personal storylines recorded. His legacy reminds us that you do not need to be in the spotlight to do extraordinary work. True fulfillment comes from quietly and faithfully fulfilling your mission.

 

These are traits we all could use more display of in our lives!