NATHANAEL (na-thăn'ā-ĕl, Heb. nethan’ēl, God has given). One of the apostles introduced to Christ by Philip (John.1.45ff.; John.21.2). Nathanael was presumably of Cana in Galilee. The circumstances surrounding his calling are somewhat striking, since Christ praises his integrity at their initial encounter and demonstrates to Nathanael his own foreknowledge by reference to the fig tree. Evidently Nathanael’s knowledge of the Scripture was considerable because of the remarkable theological repartee that occurred between Christ and him (John.1.47-John.1.51). Nathanael is commonly identified as Bartholomew. The two names are used interchangeably by the church fathers.