Apostle

Apostle (Gr. apostolos, 'one sent forth'), a messenger, but especially used to denote the twelve disciples whom Jesus sent forth to preach the gospel—twelve probably because there were twelve tribes. Their names were Simon Peter, Andrew, John (the son of Zebedee), James (his brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (identified with Levi), James (the son of Alphæus), Thaddæus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot. (The lists in Matt. x., Mark iii., Luke vi., and Acts i., are the same, with the exception that for Thaddæus in Matthew and Mark, we have Judas in Luke and Acts.) Peter and Andrew and James and John have a certain pre-eminence; and Peter and the two sons of Zebedee enjoyed a special measure of their master's love and confidence. The apostles were mainly men of very humble rank, distinguished rather by their character and religious zeal, than by intellectual ability or special training. Subsequently, Matthias was chosen in the room of Judas; and still later, Paul was called to the apostleship. The apostles were twice commissioned to go forth on their work of evangelisation; first during the Galilean ministry, when their labours were restricted to the Jews. The second time was shortly before the Lord's ascension, when they were sent to 'teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' On the day of Pentecost, the apostles received miraculous gifts. It has been held that it was as essential to their office that they should have seen the Lord (1 Cor. xv. 8); that they were inspired (John xvi. 13; Gal. i. 11, 12); and that they had the power of working miracles (2 Cor. xii. 12). Scripture tells nothing about the later life or labours of most of them, and there is no historical foundation for the tradition that the first apostles divided the then known world between them, and that all save St John died a martyr's death. Early tradition, however, connects Philip with Phrygia. Thomas with Parthia, Andrew with Scythia, Bartholomew with India. When controversy arose about the relation of the church to the heathen world, Paul 'the apostle of the Gentiles,' spoke of the office of Peter, as 'the apostleship of the circumcision' (Gal. ii. 7-9). The church did not maintain the office of apostle in its ministry, though it has been contended that the office of the Bishop (q.v.) represents it. The see of Rome calls itself apostolic, as having been occupied by St Peter. The Catholic Apostolic Church has revived the title of apostle. It is also usual to speak of the founder of the Christian Church in a country as the apostle of that country; thus, Gregory is the apostle of Armenia; Boniface, of the Germans; Augustine, of the English; St Patrick, of Ireland; Columba, of the Scots; Cuthbert, of Northumbria; St Francis Xavier, of India; and, more recently, Eliot is spoken of as the apostle of the Indians.