Apostle
Alternate meaning: See Apostle (Mormonism)
The Christian Apostles were Jewish men who were (as indicated by the Greek word apostolos) "sent forth", by Jesus to preach Christianity to both Jews and Gentiles, across the world.
The original 12 apostles
According to the Gospels of Mark (3:16-19) and Matthew (10:2-4), the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Christ near the beginning of his ministry were:
The list in the Gospel of Luke omits Thaddaeus (6:13-16), but includes Judas, son of James; Thaddaeus is also called "Judas the Zealot" in some Old Latin translations of Matthew 10:3.
The Gospel of John, unlike the Synoptic Gospels, does not offer a list of apostles, nor does the author even state their number. However, the following apostles appear in the fourth gospel: Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, Thomas, Judas "not Judas Iscariot", Judas Iscariot, the 'Beloved Disciple' (usually thought to be John himself), and "the sons of Zebedee (James and John)".
The 12th apostle
Judas Iscariot having betrayed Christ, and then in guilt hanged himself before Christ's resurrection, the apostles were then eleven in number.. According to Acts 1:23-26, between the ascension of Christ, and the day of Pentecost, the remaining apostles selected a twelfth apostle by casting lots. The lot fell upon Matthias, who then became the last of the "twelve apostles."
Additional apostles
In his writings, Paul also described himself as an apostle (e.g. Romans 1:1 and other letters); specifically he referred to himself as 'the Apostle to the Gentiles' (Romans 11:13). He also described some of his companions as apostles (Romans 16:7).
The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews refers to Jesus as the first apostle of the Christian confession.
In the eighth century, the Anglo-Saxon Saint Boniface was named the "Apostle to the Germans." In the ninth century, saints Cyril and Methodius earned the title "Apostles to the Slavs." The word Apostle, in this sense, is precisely equivalent to a missionary of a Christian church.
Some saints are given the title "equal-to-the-apostles." The myrrh-bearing women, who went to anoint Christ's body and first learned of his resurrection, are sometimes called the "apostles to the apostles" because they were sent by Jesus to tell the apostles of his resurrection.
Many Charismatic churches consider apostleship to be a gift of the Holy Spirit still given today (based on 1 Corinthians 12:28). The gift is associated with church leadership or church planting.
See also apostolic succession -- New Testament
Referenced By
101 AD | Andrew | Anti-Modernist oath | Antonio Gaudi/Sagrada Familia | Apollonius | Apollonius of Tyana | Apostle Andrew | Apostle Peter | Apostolic See | Apostolic Succession | Appollonius | Articles about Mormonism | Bartholomew | Behistun | Behistun Inscription | Behistun inscriptions | Bernini | Bishop of Antioch | Bishop of Rome | Catholic priest | Cephas Washburn | Christianity: Denominations | Creed | Creeds | Detailed timeline for Jesus Christ | Epistle | Epistle of Jude | First among equals | Frank C. Laubach | Frank Laubach | Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church | Gian Lorenzo Bernini | Gianlorenzo Bernini | Glossolalia | Great Apostasy | History of Christianity | Holy Orders | Holy See | Holy See, The | Howard W. Hunter | ISO 3166-1:VA | Ignatius of Antioch | Jesus Christ as the Messiah | John the Apostle | List of Patriarchs of Antioch | List of articles about Mormonism | List of religious topics | List of religious topics (G-M) | List of religious topics (N-S) | List of religious topics (T-Z) | Lorenzo Valla | Mountain Meadows Massacre | Ordination | Oxford Movement | Papacy | Patriarch Proclus of Constantinople | Patriarch of Antioch | Patriarch of Rome | Peter | Polycarp | Pope | Pope Alexander I | Popes | Primus inter pares | Proclus (patriarch) | Proclus of Constantinople | Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | Restorationism | Sagrada Familia | Saint Andrew | Saint Andrew's day | Saint Bartholomew's Day | Saint Matthias | Saint Peter | San Paolo Fuori le Mura | Simon Peter | Solemnity | St. Andrew | St. Paul outside the Walls | St. Peter | St Andrew | Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia | The Holy Father | The Papacy | The Pope | Tractarian | Tractarianism | Tractarians | True & Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days | True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days | Wilford Woodruff | Xenoglossia | Zebedee
|
