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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forApostlesThe Greek term apostolos means a " messenger " or a " delegate." In the Greek translation of the Old Testament it is given by Aquila (IL Kings xiv. 6) and by Symmsichus (Isaiah xviii. 2) as the equivalent of the Hebrew word shaliah, " one sent." After the destruction of Jerusalem the Hebrew term was used of those officials who collected from the dispersed the taxes due to the Jewish Patriarch (see Emil Schurer, Gesch. des Jud. Volkes, 11. 532, 548). The Greek term is used especially of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus as his constant disciples and deputed by him to preach the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God (Mark iii. 14, Luke vi. 13; Mark vi. 30, Luke ix. 10). The number twelve seems to have been suggested by the number of the tribes of Israel. The original apostles, as given in Matthew (x. 2), Mark(iii. 16), Luke (vi. 14), and Acts (i. 13) were : Simon, surnamed Peter; James of Zebedee, and John, the brother of James, surnamed Boanerges (q.v.); Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James of Alpheus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot. After the betrayal by Judas Iscariot, or Judas the man of Kerioth, Matthias was elected to fill his place. After-wards Paul claimed equality with these apostles on the ground that he had received a direct revelation and commission from Christ. He describes himself (Galatians i. 1) as " Paul an Apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead." Of the Gospel he says, " neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but (it came to me) through revelation of Jesus Christ " (Galatians i. 12; cp. ii. 8, I. Corinthians i. 17, ix. 1, II. Corinthians iii. 2, etc.). Paul’s claims were recognised, and the original inner circle seems to have been enlarged so as to include the " Apostle of the Gentiles " (Romans xi. 13). But the title seems in a restricted sense to have been conferred on a small outer circle including Barnabas (Acts xiv. 14), Silvans (I. Thessalonians ii. 6), Andronicus and Junias (Romans xvi. 7). In a still more restricted sense reference is made to apostles in Luke xi. 49, Ephesians iii. 5, Revelation xviii. 20. The early work known as " The Teaching " shows In fact that in the sub-apostolic age there were a number of " apostles " who traveled about from one place to another as itinerant teachers or missionaries. The original apostles, however, had the unique advantage of being personally associated with Jesus, and, it is claimed, that they were witnesses of his resurrection (Acts i. 2I f.). They were in a sense his representatives (p. Acts iii. 16, ix. 34). When new officers were chosen for the early Christian community we are told that these " they set before the apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them " (Acts vi. 6). See Encycl. Bibl.; Grimm-Thayer, Greek-English Lem. of the N.T., 1896; Prot. Dict. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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