Philip
maleNew TestamentMeaning: “Lover of horses”
An apostle from Bethsaida who brought Nathanael to Jesus and to whom Jesus said, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me?"
Biography
Philip, of Bethsaida in Galilee — the town of Peter and Andrew — was one of the first apostles Jesus called: "Follow me" (John 1:43). (He is distinct from Philip the evangelist of Acts 6–8.)
Bringing others to Jesus
Immediately after his own call, Philip found Nathanael and urged him, "Come and see" (John 1:45–46), bringing him to Christ. Before the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus tested Philip — "Whence shall we buy bread...?" — and Philip calculated that two hundred pennyworth would not be enough (John 6:5–7). Later, certain Greeks came to Philip wanting to see Jesus (John 12:21).
"Shew us the Father"
At the Last Supper Philip asked, "Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us." Jesus answered with a profound revelation of His unity with the Father: "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father... Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?" (John 14:8–11).
Life Timeline
Called by Jesus; brings Nathanael to Him
Asks Jesus to show them the Father
Themes & lessons from Philip
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Philip appears.
People they appear with
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
11 verses in 1 bookJohn11 verses
John 1:43
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
John 1:44
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
John 1:45
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
John 1:46
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
John 1:48
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
John 6:5
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
John 6:7
Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
John 12:21
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
John 12:22
Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
John 14:8
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
John 14:9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Frequently asked about Philip
Who was Philip in the Bible?
An apostle from Bethsaida who brought Nathanael to Jesus and to whom Jesus said, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me?"
What does the name Philip mean?
The name Philip means “Lover of horses”.
What did Philip do in the Bible?
Philip served as apostle.
Where does Philip appear in the Bible?
Philip is mentioned 11 times across 1 book: John.
What can we learn from Philip?
The story of Philip touches on themes of nathanael, andrew, apostles, christ is god — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Philip's life.
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