Why is Nathaniel....?

Question

called Bartholomew in some Gospels?Was Bartholomew his last name (I know Bar means son of..)and was Simon the Niger in Acts a black guy?Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

Regarding Nathaniel/Bartholomew:


"NATHANAEL. The name means ‘gift of God’, and it occurs only in Jn. 1:45–51; 21:2. He seems to be one of the Twelve and he has been variously identified, especially with Bartholomew. The name Bartholomew is a patronymic, and its bearer would have another name too. Bartholomew is next to Philip in the lists of the Twelve in the Synoptics (Mt. 10:3; Mk. 3:18; Lk. 6:14). Some, with but little justification, have identified Nathanael with Matthew, Matthias, John, Simon the Cananaean or Stephen. Others, with even less justification, have denied his real existence.
He was from Cana in Galilee and he was brought by Philip to Jesus, sceptical about the possibility of a Messiah from Nazareth. He was astonished that Jesus knew him already, having seen him under the fig tree. (This means a display of supernatural power, though the ‘fig tree’ may be symbolic of the study of the Law or of prosperity.) He confessed that Jesus was Son of God and King of Israel. This was the confession of an ‘Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile’, but it seems to limit the Messiahship to Israel. Christ promised him a greater vision, that of the Son of man as the link between heaven and all mankind (Jn. 1:45–51). He was one of those who saw Christ on his resurrection appearance by the Sea of Tiberias (Jn. 21:2).
Bibliography. C. F. D. Moule, JTS N.S. 5, 1954, pp. 210f. r.e.n."


Regarding Simon the Niger in Acts:


"Niger — black, a surname of Simeon (Acts 13:1). He was probably so called from his dark complexion."