Spotlight on Symbols #6

 Apostles’ Shields

 Bartholomew

On the first shield is an open Bible with a knife and represents the life and ministry of Bartholomew.  The Bible is in remembrance of Bartholomew’s faith in the Word of God which he expressed in his testimony concerning Jesus, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel” (Jn 1:49). 

Tradition has it that Bartholomew was flayed alive, so a knife used for the skinning of animals lies over the open Bible to remind us that the faith once for all delivered to us by the saints is one which cost them their blood.  It is thus a precious faith for which we must contend (Jude 3).