Apostle
The term apostle carries immense weight in Christian theology, signifying a messenger of profound importance, one sent with divine authority and a specific mission. While its usage in the New Testament can be nuanced, it primarily refers to a select group of individuals uniquely commissioned by Jesus Christ to lay the foundational truths of the church and bear authoritative witness to his resurrection.
Understanding the role of an apostle is crucial for grasping the origins of Christian doctrine, the authority of the New Testament, and the nature of the church’s early expansion. It speaks to God’s deliberate plan for establishing his kingdom through chosen human instruments.
1. Etymology and biblical foundation
1.1 Original languages and transliteration
The English word apostle comes directly from the Greek apostolos (ἀπόστολος). This term is derived from the verb apostellō (ἀποστέλλω), meaning “to send out” or “to send away.” In classical Greek, an apostolos could refer to a naval expedition, a fleet, or simply a messenger or envoy. The key idea is that of being sent with a specific commission or authority, representing the sender. It is not merely someone who goes, but someone who is sent on behalf of another, carrying their authority and message.
1.2 First occurrences and canonical usage
While the concept of a “sent one” appears in the Old Testament (e.g., prophets sent by God), the term apostolos gains its specific theological significance in the New Testament. Jesus first uses it to designate the twelve disciples he chose and sent out to preach the Kingdom of God and heal the sick (Mark 3:14-15; Luke 6:13). This initial commissioning establishes the core meaning: these individuals are not self-appointed but divinely chosen and authorized. After his resurrection, Jesus expands this commission, sending his disciples to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:18-20), solidifying their role as authoritative witnesses and founders of the church.
2. Meaning across the Old Testament
2.1 Key passages and contexts
While the specific Greek term apostolos is not found in the Hebrew Old Testament, the concept of a divinely “sent” messenger is pervasive. Prophets like Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah were clearly sent by God with a message for his people. Moses, for example, was sent to Pharaoh and to Israel with God’s law and deliverance (Exod 3:10). The prophets often began their messages with “Thus says the Lord,” emphasizing their role as God’s authorized spokespersons. These Old Testament figures prefigure the New Testament apostles in their divine commissioning and authoritative proclamation of God’s word.
2.2 Theological development
The Old Testament’s emphasis on God sending his messengers to reveal his will and call his people to repentance lays the groundwork for understanding the New Testament apostle. The authority of the prophets rested not in themselves but in the God who sent them. Their words were considered God’s words. This theological framework helps us appreciate the unique authority given to the apostles of Christ. They were not merely teachers or evangelists; they were God’s specially chosen envoys, entrusted with the definitive revelation of Christ and the establishment of his new covenant community. Their mission was to bridge the Old Testament promises with their New Testament fulfillment in Jesus.
3. Fulfillment in the New Testament
3.1 Christological reading
Jesus Christ himself is presented as the ultimate “Apostle” in Hebrews 3:1, where he is called “the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess.” He is the one supremely sent by the Father to accomplish salvation and reveal God’s nature. His entire ministry is an act of being sent. This understanding of Jesus as the primary Apostle provides the foundation for the authority of his chosen twelve. They are apostles because they are sent by the Apostle, bearing his message and authority. Their mission is a direct extension of Christ’s own mission, making them foundational to the new covenant church.
3.2 Apostolic teaching and church usage
In the New Testament, the term apostle is used in a few distinct ways. Primarily, it refers to the Twelve (minus Judas, replaced by Matthias in Acts 1:26), who were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection and personally commissioned by him. Paul also claims apostleship, arguing that he met the criteria of having seen the risen Lord and received a direct commission from him (1 Cor 9:1; Gal 1:1). These apostles had unique authority to establish doctrine, write Scripture, and organize the early church (Eph 2:20). There is also a broader sense in which others, like Barnabas (Acts 14:14) or even Junia (Rom 16:7), are called “apostles” or “messengers” of the churches, indicating those sent on specific missions, though not with the same foundational authority as the Twelve and Paul.
4. Practical and devotional significance
4.1 Doctrinal implications
The doctrine of apostleship highlights the unique, unrepeatable foundation of the church. The apostles, particularly the Twelve and Paul, served as the authoritative eyewitnesses and interpreters of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Their teaching, preserved in the New Testament, forms the bedrock of Christian faith and practice. This means that the church’s doctrine is fixed and does not evolve beyond the apostolic deposit. While the church continues to send out missionaries and evangelists, these roles are distinct from the foundational, revelatory apostleship of the New Testament era. We build upon the foundation they laid, we do not add to it.
4.2 Application for faith and life
For believers today, the apostles’ legacy provides both assurance and a call to faithfulness. We can trust the New Testament as God’s authoritative word because it comes from those uniquely commissioned by Christ. Our faith is rooted in historical events and divinely inspired interpretation. We are called to uphold the “apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42) and to live out the gospel they proclaimed. While we are not apostles in the foundational sense, we are all “sent ones” in a broader sense, commissioned to share the good news of Jesus Christ in our own contexts, building on the unshakeable foundation laid by the original apostles.
5. Conclusion
The apostle stands as a pivotal figure in God’s redemptive plan, a divinely appointed messenger sent with the authority of Christ himself. From the initial calling of the Twelve to Paul’s dramatic conversion, these individuals were instrumental in establishing the church and articulating the gospel. Their unique role as eyewitnesses to the risen Lord and recipients of direct revelation ensures that the Christian faith has an unshakeable foundation. We continue to benefit from their faithful witness, preserved in the New Testament, which guides us in understanding and living out the truth of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Apostle sent from God.