WARNING: LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!
We are beginning our bonus series through the 2025/2026 school year: A Moment for the Martyrs!
Once (or sometimes maybe twice) a month we will be telling the story of a different martyr in Christian history. If you don't know what a martyr is, it is someone who has lost their life because of their testimony about Jesus.
But something we'll do that's a little different is that we'll actually be telling a story, rather than relaying pure information!
Because of this, some creative license will be employed, but I assure you the facts of each story are true (or at least as true as I know lol), and will be included in the episode notes. Today, we are telling the story of Bartholomew!
So, who was Bartholomew?
-Many scholars believe that Bartholomew was also known as Nathanael. The reason for this belief is that the synoptic Gospels list Bartholomew as one of the 12, but in John's Gospel Bartholomew is missing, and Nathanael is in his place.
-Another reason for this belief is that the synoptic Gospels often list Bartholomew and Philip together, implying a very close relationship. In John's Gospel, Philip runs to get Nathanael to introduce him to Jesus. This would make sense if John knew him as Nathanael!
-Bartholomew was one of Jesus' 12 disciples, who fled in fear once Jesus was crucified, but suddenly became bold in preaching the Gospel after meeting the risen Jesus.
-Church history records Bartholomew traveling to Indian, Mesopotamia, Lycaonia, Phrygia, and finally Armenia.
-It was in Armenia that Bartholomew saw thousands come to Christ. It is also in Armenia where he would die at the hands of King Astreges after converting his brother, King
-After displaying the power of Jesus in a contest against the priests of Astreges, Astreges ordered that Bartholomew be flayed alive. It is said that Bartholomew continued to preach the Gospel while being flayed alive, and in the days following his martyrdom, even Astreges gave his life to Christ.
NOTE: The picture for our podcast episode is a statue created by Marco d'Agrate. It is a statue of the skinned Bartholomew holding his skin, as well as the knife that was used. It's a very powerful image of the story of Bartholomew!
