Bartimaeus (biblical character)
Encyclopedia
Each of the three synoptic gospels
tells of Jesus
healing the blind near Jericho, as he passed through that town, shortly before his passion
.
Mark
tells only of a man named Bartimaeus (literally "Son of Timaeus") being present, as Jesus left Jericho, making him one of the few named people to be miraculously cured by Jesus
. Matthew
is a similar account of two blind men being healed outside of Jericho, but gives no names. Luke
also tells of two unnamed blind men, but seems to place the event instead as when Jesus approached Jericho.
These men together would be the second of two healings of blind men on Jesus' journey from the start of his travels from Bethsaida
(in Mark ) to Jerusalem, via Jericho. It is possible, though not certain, that Bartimaeus heard about the first healing, and so knew of Jesus' reputation.
, who believes that titles such as "Son of David
" were applied to Jesus only after the Crucifixion
and Resurrection
, argued that Mark and Matthew placed that healing with the proclamation "Son of David!" just before "Jesus' departure for Jerusalem, the long-foreshadowed site of his sufferings." The title "Son of David" is a messianic
name. Thus, Bartimaeus' exclamation was, according to Mark, the first public acknowledgement of the Christ
, after St. Peter's private confession at Mark .
who delivers Plato's most important cosmological and theological treatise, involving sight as the foundation of knowledge.
According to Bruce Robison, an Episcopal priest, Bartimaeus can be compared favorably to the Apostle
s and others in Mark's story; Bartimeaus is different from the others:
By throwing his cloak away in , Bartimaeus gave up all he had to follow Jesus.
Pope
Benedict XVI has compared the whole church to the blind Bartimaeus.
Synoptic Gospels
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels because they include many of the same stories, often in the same sequence, and sometimes exactly the same wording. This degree of parallelism in content, narrative arrangement, language, and sentence structures can only be...
tells of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
healing the blind near Jericho, as he passed through that town, shortly before his passion
Passion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
.
Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
tells only of a man named Bartimaeus (literally "Son of Timaeus") being present, as Jesus left Jericho, making him one of the few named people to be miraculously cured by Jesus
Miracles of Jesus
The miracles of Jesus are the supernatural deeds of Jesus, as recorded in Gospels, in the course of his ministry. According to the Gospel of John, only some of these were recorded. states that "Jesus did many other things as well...
. Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
is a similar account of two blind men being healed outside of Jericho, but gives no names. Luke
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
also tells of two unnamed blind men, but seems to place the event instead as when Jesus approached Jericho.
These men together would be the second of two healings of blind men on Jesus' journey from the start of his travels from Bethsaida
Bethsaida
Bethsaida is a place mentioned in the New Testament.- Bethsaida Julias :...
(in Mark ) to Jerusalem, via Jericho. It is possible, though not certain, that Bartimaeus heard about the first healing, and so knew of Jesus' reputation.
Son of David
Paula FredriksenPaula Fredriksen
Paula Fredriksen is a historian and a scholar of religious studies. She held the position of William Goodwin Aurelio Professor of the Appreciation of Scripture at Boston University through 2010 and is now the William Goodwin Aurelio Chair Emerita of the Appreciation of Scripture.She earned a Ph.D...
, who believes that titles such as "Son of David
Davidic line
The Davidic line refers to the tracing of lineage to the King David referred to in the Hebrew Bible, as well as the New Testament...
" were applied to Jesus only after the Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
and Resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
, argued that Mark and Matthew placed that healing with the proclamation "Son of David!" just before "Jesus' departure for Jerusalem, the long-foreshadowed site of his sufferings." The title "Son of David" is a messianic
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
name. Thus, Bartimaeus' exclamation was, according to Mark, the first public acknowledgement of the Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, after St. Peter's private confession at Mark .
Bartimaeus
The naming of Bartimaeus is unusual in several respects: (a) the fact that a name is given at all, (b) the strange Semitic-Greek hybrid, with (c) an explicit translation "Son of Thimaeus." Some scholars see this to confirm a reference to a historical person; however, other scholars see a special significance of the story in the figurative reference to Plato's ThimaeusTimaeus (dialogue)
Timaeus is one of Plato's dialogues, mostly in the form of a long monologue given by the title character, written circa 360 BC. The work puts forward speculation on the nature of the physical world and human beings. It is followed by the dialogue Critias.Speakers of the dialogue are Socrates,...
who delivers Plato's most important cosmological and theological treatise, involving sight as the foundation of knowledge.
According to Bruce Robison, an Episcopal priest, Bartimaeus can be compared favorably to the Apostle
Apostle (Christian)
The term apostle is derived from Classical Greek ἀπόστολος , meaning one who is sent away, from στέλλω + από . The literal meaning in English is therefore an "emissary", from the Latin mitto + ex...
s and others in Mark's story; Bartimeaus is different from the others:
By throwing his cloak away in , Bartimaeus gave up all he had to follow Jesus.
Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
Benedict XVI has compared the whole church to the blind Bartimaeus.