BARTHOLOMEW ( bar - ' o - mew ), (Greek BapOoNowtios, bar-thol-om-aleyos, son of Tolmai).
(1) Name and Family. Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles, and is generally sup posed to have been the same individual who in John's gospel is called Nathaniel. The reason of this opinion is that in the first three gospels Philip and Bartholomew are constantly named to gether, while Nathaniel is nowhere mentioned; on the contrary. in the fourth gospel the names of Philip and Nathaniel are similarly combined, but nothing is said of Bartholomew. Nathaniel therefore must be considered as his real name, while Bartholomew merely expresses his filial re lation.
(2) Personal History. 1 le was a native of Cana in Galilee ( John xxi :2). He was intro duced by Philip to Jesus, who, un seeing him approach, at once pronounced that eulogy on his character which has made his name almost synonymous with sincerity : 'Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!' (John i :47)• He was one of the disciples to whom our Lord appeared after his resurrection, at the Sea of 1 therias (John xxi :2) ; he was also a witness of the Ascension, and returned with the other apos tles to Jerusalem (Acts i :4, 12. 13).
(3) Traditions. Of his subsequent history we have little more than vague traditions. Accord
ing to Eusebius (Hist. Eccles. v :to), when Pan tainus went on a mission to the Indians (towards the close of the second century), lie found among theta the Gospel of Matthew, written in Hebrew, which had been left there by the apostle Bar tholomew. Jerome (De I7r. Illustr. c. 36) gives similar account. and adds that Pant:rims brought the copy of Matthew's Gospel hack to Alexandria with him. But the title of Indians is applied by ancient writers to so many ditTerent nations that it is difficult to determine the scene of Bartholo mew's labors. Mosheim (with whom Neander agrees) is of opinion that it was a part of Arabia Felix, inhabited by Jews, to whom alone a He brew gospel could be of any service. Socrates (Hist. Eccles. i :to) says that it was the India bordering on Ethiopia, and Sophronius reports that Bartholomew preached the Gospel of Christ to the so-ea/led fortunate Indians.' This apos tle is said to have suffered crucifixion at Albanop olis in Armenia, or, according to Nicephorus, at Urbanopolis in Cilial. A spurious gospel which heirs his name is in the catalogue of apocryphal books condemned by Pope Gelasius. (See NA TnANA