An apostle is one who is “sent” by Jesus Christ. The word is used to refer especially to the inner circle of Christ's twelve disciples, but is also used specifically to refer to Paul, who was commissioned as an apostle by the risen Christ. The term is also applied more loosely to certain other leading Christians in the NT period.
Jesus Christ as an apostle
Hebrews 3:1 This is the only place where the word “apostle” is used of Jesus Christ, though many passages refer to him as “sent”; John 20:21 Jesus Christ, as God's “sent one”, sets the standard and pattern for all who are likewise “sent” (i.e., for all apostolic ministry). See also Matthew 10:40; Mark 9:37; John 5:23–24, John 12:44–45
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
The twelve apostles called by Jesus Christ
Their appointment
Mark 3:13–19 parallels Matthew 10:1–4, Luke 6:12–16
Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John ( whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
Their number
John 6:70 “the Twelve” is frequently used to designate these specially chosen disciples. The number twelve evokes the twelve tribes of Israel. See also Matthew 19:28, Matthew 20:17; Mark 11:11; Luke 8:1; Acts 6:2; 1 Corinthians 15:5; Revelation 21:14
Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
Their commissioning by the risen Christ
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The replacement for Judas
See also Acts 1:15–26 The symbolic number (twelve) is thus preserved.
The qualifications for being an apostle
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Paul as an apostle
His self-designation
Galatians 1:1 See also Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:7
Paul, an apostle — sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead —
His commissioning by Jesus Christ
Acts 26:12–18 Although not one of the Twelve, Paul saw the risen Christ and was directly commissioned by him, sent especially to the Gentiles; 1 Corinthians 15:3–10; Galatians 2:8
Paul's apostleship and the church
1 Corinthians 9:1–2 In Paul's case the sense of title or office and the ministry and function virtually coincide. He is an apostle both because he has seen and been commissioned by the risen Christ and because he functioned as an apostle by founding churches.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord? Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Other apostles
Barnabas
Here apostles'' may refer to their ministry as missionary evangelists or to their role assent'' by the church at Antioch: Acts 14:4, Acts 14:14
James, the Lord's brother
1 Corinthians 15:7 The most natural meaning of the words is that James is an apostle. This interpretation is confirmed by other references to James; Galatians 1:19, Galatians 2:9
Andronicus and Junias
Silas
``Apostles'' of the churches
2 Corinthians 8:23 “representatives” is the translation here for “apostles”; Philippians 2:25 “messenger” is the translation here for “apostle”
False apostles
2 Corinthians 11:5 Paul ironically refers to his opponents as “super-apostles”; 2 Corinthians 11:13, 2 Corinthians 12:11; Revelation 2:2
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.