{Thou art the Son of God} (su ei ho huios tou theou).
Whether Nathanael had heard the Baptist say this of Jesus
( 1:34 ) we do not know, apparently not, but Nathanael was a
student of the Old Testament as Philip implied ( 1:45 ) and was
quick to put together his knowledge, the statement of Philip, and
the manifest supernatural knowledge of Jesus as just shown. There
is no reason for toning down the noble confession of Nathanael in
the light of Christ's claim in verse  51 . Cf. the confession of
Peter in  6:69  Mt 16:16  and Martha's in  Joh 11:27 . Nathanael
goes further. {Thou art King of Israel} (Basileus ei tou
Isra(886c)). To us this seems an anti-climax, but not so to
Nathanael for both are Messianic titles in  Ps 2  and Jesus is
greeted in the Triumphal Entry as the King of Israel ( Joh
12:13 ).