44. Ti ἐπαύριον "ἠθέλησεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν :
45.
"Hy δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδὰ, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ᾿Ανδρέου καὶ 46. Εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν "Ναθαναὴλ, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, «:Σ Ὃν ἔγραψε Μωσῆς ἐν τῷ νόµῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν,
chap. xxi. 2 he is classed with apostles ; (2) in the lists of apostles given in the Synoptical Gospels Bartholomew is coupled with Philip ; (3) while Nathanael is never, mentioned by the Synoptists, Bartholomew is not mentioned by John. The two names might quite well belong to one man, Bartholomew being a patronymic. Nathanael means ‘ God’s gift,’ Theodore, or, like Augustine’s son, Adeodatus. Philip announces the dis- covery in the words ὃν ἔγραψεν . Ναζαρέτ. On which Calvin remarks: “Quam tenuis fuerit modulus fidei in Philippo Ἠϊπο patet, quod de Christo quatuor verba profari nequit, quin duos crassos errores permisceat. Facit illum fillum Joseph, et patriam Nazareth falso illi assignat.”” This is too stringent. He draws the conclusion that where there is a sincere purpose to do good and to pro- claim Christ, success will follow even where there is error. Nazareth lies due west from the south end of the Sea Οἱ ΄ Galilee, and about midway between it and the Mediterranean.—Ver. 47. Philip’s announcement is received with incredulity.—é« Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; ‘Can anything good be from Nazareth.” Cf. viii. 52, ‘out-of Galilee ariseth no prophet”. Westcott, representing several modern interpreters, explains: ‘“‘Can any blessing, much less such a blessing as the promised Messiah, arise out of a poor village like Nazareth, of which not even the name can be found in the O.T.?” But probably Nathanael was influenced by the circumstance that he himself was of Cana (xxi. 2), only a few miles from Nazareth, and with the jealousy which usually exists between neighbouring villages (inter accolas odium) found it hard to believe that Nazareth could pro- duce the Messiah (cf. Is. ΠΠ, 2, ‘a root out of a dry ground”). From this remark of Nathanael’s light is reflected on the obscurity and unobtrusiveness of the youth of Jesus. Though living a few miles off, Nathanael never heard of Him. To _ his incredulity Philip wisely replies, ἔρχου καὶ tSe; as
44—50.
"Inoody τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ.” Ναθαναὴλ, “Ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι ; 48. Εἶδεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ
Φίλιππος, “"Epxou καὶ ide.”