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Bible Encyclopedias
Simon the Canaanite; Simon the Cananaean; Simon the Zealot
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
( Σίμων Καναναῖος ,
According to the "Gospel of the Ebionites" or" Gospel of the Twelve Apostles" (of the 2nd century and mentioned by Origen) Simon received his call to the apostleship along with Andrew and Peter, the sons of Zebedee, Thaddaeus and Judas Iscariot at the Sea of Tiberias (compare Matthew 4:18-22; see also Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen , 24-27).
Although Simon, like the majority of the apostles, was probably a Galilean, the designation "Cananaean" is regarded as of political rather than of geographical significance (compare Luke's rendering). The Zealots were a faction, headed by Judas of Galilee, who "in the days of the enrollment" (compare Acts 5:37; Luke 2:1 , Luke 2:2 ) bitterly opposed the threatened increase of taxation at the census of Quirinius, and would have hastened by the sword the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.
Simon has been identified with Simon the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55 ), but there also are reasons in favor of identifying him with Nathanael.
Thus (1) all the arguments adduced in favor of the Bartholomew-Nathanael identification (see
(2) The identity is definitely stated in the Genealogies of the Twelve Apostles (see
(3) The invitation of Philip to Nathanael (compare John 1:45 ) was one which would naturally be addressed to a follower of the Zealots, who based their cause on the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.
(4) As Alpheus, the father of James, is generally regarded as the same as Clopas or Cleopas (see JAMES ,
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Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Simon the Canaanite; Simon the Cananaean; Simon the Zealot'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​isb/​s/simon-the-canaanite-simon-the-cananaean-simon-the-zealot.html. 1915.