{"id":9178,"date":"2024-02-16T01:26:02","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T00:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theholyscript.com\/?p=9178"},"modified":"2024-02-16T01:26:02","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T00:26:02","slug":"what-are-apostles-in-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theholyscript.com\/what-are-apostles-in-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Apostles In The Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The term “Apostle” is one with a rich and diverse history. It is primarily used in Christianity to refer to the twelve disciples who were sent out by Jesus Christ to preach his gospel. But it is important to recognize that there is much more to the terms use than just these twelve disciples. The Bible also speaks of “apostolic fathers”; those who were sent out by the early Church to evangelize the Gospel and to spread Christianity to new lands. Furthermore, the term is also commonly used of those who were the disciples of Saint Paul and those whom he sent out. It has also been used to describe other Christians throughout the ages who have gone out in the name of Jesus Christ to bring His message to others. Thus, the term “Apostle” has a much deeper and broader application than simply the twelve men sent out by Jesus.<\/p>\n

The Bible provides us with an understanding of just what apostles are. In the New Testament, an individual is sometimes referred to as an “apostle” because of their authority and influence. For example, in the gospel of Luke, it speaks of Simon, a fisherman from Galilee, whom Jesus named Peter “The Rock” and then gave him the prophetic commission to become a “fisher of men.” This same passage is often used to describe apostles as those who have been given a special calling to go out and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to serve as ambassadors of God. In the epistles of Paul, the term “apostle” is not used, but he does refer to himself numerous times as a “servant,” “ambassador,” or “minister” of the gospel.<\/p>\n

When we look at the history of the use of the term “Apostle,” it helps to provide us with further insight into just who these people were and how they were meant to serve in the early Church. In Acts Chapter 8, Philip is referred to as an “apostle,” even though he was not one of the twelve apostles who Jesus had selected. This implies that Philip was regarded as a leader in the early Church, having been sent out on a mission to proclaim the gospel and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. This also shows that not all of the apostles were necessarily among the twelve that were chosen by Jesus, as it is recorded in Matthew 10:2-4. In later years, the term “apostle” was also used to refer to those who were sent out to proclaim Christianity to new lands, and to those who were chosen to lead the Church. Thus, the term “apostle” has come to encompass a wide variety of people throughout the history of Christianity.<\/p>\n

It is important to recognize that apostles have a long and important history within Christianity and that the term itself carries many different meanings and connotations. While the twelve disciples who were sent out by Jesus initially serve as our primary source for the meaning of apostle, it is also important to see how it has been used throughout the entirety of Christian history. Apostles have been those whom the Church has chosen to send out to proclaim the Gospel and to spread the faith, as well as those whom God has chosen to lead the Church. Therefore, while “Apostles” in the Bible initially refers to the twelve disciples sent out by Jesus, it has become a much broader term over time and is used to refer to many other individuals throughout the history of Christianity.<\/p>\n

What is the Role of an Apostle?<\/h2>\n