Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BARTIMAEUS

(Gk. Bartimaíos)

The blind beggar who calls out, “Son of David, have mercy on me,” and whose sight Jesus restores after leaving Jericho (Mark 10:46-52). Bartimaeus is not a proper name but an identification, “son of Timaeus.”

The Bartimaeus story concludes the central section of Mark’s Gospel (Mark 8:22–10:52), which begins with Jesus’ encounter at Bethsaida with another blind individual (8:22-26). Both pericopes not only concern the restoration of physical sight but also are highly symbolic of the ideal disciple. Bartimaeus comes to see and believe in Jesus, but he also “followed him on the way” to Jerusalem and the cross (Mark 10:52).

The Markan Bartimaeus narrative is paralleled with minor differences in Matt. 20:29-34 (two blind men) and Luke 18:35-43 (as Jesus enters Jericho), but these Evangelists do not identify the blind person(s).

Bibliography. P. J. Achtemeier, “ ‘And He Followed Him’: Miracles and Discipleship in Mark 10:46-52,” Semeia 11 (1978): 115-45.

Felix Just, S.J.

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BARTIMAEUS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)