St Bartholomew (Nathanael) 		August 24
the Apostle
The identification of Bartholomew with Nathanael is not certain, but is sufficiently reasonable to justify the single commemoration in the Calendar. The name of Bartholomew appears only in the lists of apostles in the first three Gospels and Acts (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:13), and Nathanael appears only in John’s Gospel (John 1:45-51; 21:2). However, in John chapter 1, Nathanael appears linked with Philip in the same way Bartholomew is linked with Philip in the other Gospels.
If the identification is not accepted, we know nothing of Bartholomew apart from his being an apostle. Jerome in the fourth century knew of a Gospel according to Bartholomew (no longer extant), and according to tradition Bartholomew was a missionary in India, but none of this can be substantiated.
If Nathanael is Bartholomew, then we can add that he came from Cana (John 21:2) and was brought to Jesus by Philip (John 1:45). Despite Nathanael’s doubts that anything good can come out of Nazareth, Jesus hails Nathanael as an Israelite worthy of the name and promises that he will see angels ascending and descending on the Son of man, thus making Nathanael a witness to the fulfilment of the hopes of Israel in Jesus. Nathanael reappears at the end of John’s Gospel in the resurrection episode beside Lake Galilee (John 21).
For Liturgical Use
The Calendar in the Prayer Book assumes that Bartholomew and Nathanael are one and the same. The identification is probable but not certain. About Bartholomew we know nothing other than his name in various lists of apostles in the first three Gospels and Acts. Nathanael, mentioned only by John, was brought to Jesus by Philip and becomes symbolic of an Israelite worthy of the name, who will see the hopes of Israel fulfilled in Jesus. Nathanael appears again in the resurrection episode beside Lake Galilee.
Sentence, Prayers and Readings as in A New Zealand Prayer Book - He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa, page 661-662