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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - Mark 3:18 - 3:18
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Andrew (Ὰνδρέαν)
A name of Greek origin though in use among the Jews, from ἀνήρ, man, and signifying manly. He was one of the two who came earliest to Christ (Mat 4:18, Mat 4:20; compare Joh 1:40, Joh 1:41); and hence is always styled by the Greek fathers πρωτόκλητος, first called.
Philip (Φίλιππον)
Another Greek name, meaning fond of horses. In ecclesiastical legend he is said to have been a chariot-driver.
Bartholomew
A Hebrew name - Bar Tolmai, son of Tolmai. Almost certainly identical with Nathanael. Philip and Nathanael are associated by John, as are Philip and Bartholomew in the parallel passages of the synoptics. Bartholomew is not mentioned in John's list of the twelve (Joh 21:2), but Nathanael is; while the synoptists do not mention Nathanael in their lists, but do mention Bartholomew. Probably he had two names.
Matthew
See on the superscription of Matthew's Gospel.
Thomas
A Hebrew name, meaning twin, and translated by the Greek Didymus (Joh 11:16).
Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus, as in Mat 10:3
He is the Judas of Joh 14:22. Luther calls him der fromme Judas (the good Judas). The two surnames, Lebbaeus and Thaddaeus, mean the same thing - beloved child.
Simon the Canaanite
Properly, Cananaean. See on Mat 10:4 : “No name is more striking in the list than that of Simon the Zealot, for to none of the twelve could the contrast be so vivid between their former and their new position. What revolution of thought and heart could be greater than that which had thus changed into a follower of Jesus one of the fierce war-party of the day, which looked on the presence of Rome in the Holy Land as treason against the majesty of Jehovah, a party who were fanatical in their Jewish strictures and exclusiveness ?” (Geikie, “Life and Words of Christ”).