Difference between revisions of "Apostles"

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In [[Christianity]], '''apostles''' (Ancient Greek: ἀπόστολος apostolos, one sent forth as a messenger)[1] were missionaries among the leaders in the Early Church and, in the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]], Jesus Christ himself.[2][3][4] The term was also used, especially by the [[Gospel of Luke]], for "the Twelve," Jesus' inner circle of [[disciples]] (students).[2] They were, according to the [[Acts of the Apostles]] and Christian [[tradition]], disciples whom [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] had chosen, named, and trained in order to send them on a specific mission: the establishment of the Christian Church by evangelism and the spreading of the [[Gospel|"good news"]], after being sent the [[Holy Spirit]] as "helper" (paraclete) in this task at [[Pentecost]].[5]
 
In [[Christianity]], '''apostles''' (Ancient Greek: ἀπόστολος apostolos, one sent forth as a messenger)[1] were missionaries among the leaders in the Early Church and, in the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]], Jesus Christ himself.[2][3][4] The term was also used, especially by the [[Gospel of Luke]], for "the Twelve," Jesus' inner circle of [[disciples]] (students).[2] They were, according to the [[Acts of the Apostles]] and Christian [[tradition]], disciples whom [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] had chosen, named, and trained in order to send them on a specific mission: the establishment of the Christian Church by evangelism and the spreading of the [[Gospel|"good news"]], after being sent the [[Holy Spirit]] as "helper" (paraclete) in this task at [[Pentecost]].[5]
 
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<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Apostleship''''', follow [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Apostleship this link].</center>
 
Traditionally, the Twelve include [[Peter]], Prince of the Apostles;[6] [[Andrew]], [[James]] the Greater, James the Lesser, [[John]], [[Philip]], [[Nathaniel|Bartholomew]], [[Matthew]], [[Thomas]], [[Thaddeus]], [[Simon]], and [[Judas Iscariot]]. Judas had been one of the Twelve, but he betrayed Jesus and killed himself.[7] With Judas gone, Matthias became one of the Twelve.[8]  
 
Traditionally, the Twelve include [[Peter]], Prince of the Apostles;[6] [[Andrew]], [[James]] the Greater, James the Lesser, [[John]], [[Philip]], [[Nathaniel|Bartholomew]], [[Matthew]], [[Thomas]], [[Thaddeus]], [[Simon]], and [[Judas Iscariot]]. Judas had been one of the Twelve, but he betrayed Jesus and killed himself.[7] With Judas gone, Matthias became one of the Twelve.[8]  
  

Revision as of 19:36, 16 November 2009

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In Christianity, apostles (Ancient Greek: ἀπόστολος apostolos, one sent forth as a messenger)[1] were missionaries among the leaders in the Early Church and, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, Jesus Christ himself.[2][3][4] The term was also used, especially by the Gospel of Luke, for "the Twelve," Jesus' inner circle of disciples (students).[2] They were, according to the Acts of the Apostles and Christian tradition, disciples whom Jesus of Nazareth had chosen, named, and trained in order to send them on a specific mission: the establishment of the Christian Church by evangelism and the spreading of the "good news", after being sent the Holy Spirit as "helper" (paraclete) in this task at Pentecost.[5]

For lessons on the topic of Apostleship, follow this link.

Traditionally, the Twelve include Peter, Prince of the Apostles;[6] Andrew, James the Greater, James the Lesser, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot. Judas had been one of the Twelve, but he betrayed Jesus and killed himself.[7] With Judas gone, Matthias became one of the Twelve.[8]

In the Synoptic Gspelos, Mark names the Twelve, Matthew follows Mark, and Luke substitutes Jude for Mark's Thaddeus. John refers to the Twelve without naming them all, adds the name Nathanael, and uses the term "beloved disciple" (presumably for John). Jesus' inner circle of twelve disciples probably corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel. In the Synoptics, Jesus selects Peter, James, and John to witness his divine Transfiguration and to be with him when he prays at Gethsemane. In Mark, the Twelve are obtuse, failing to understand the importance of Jesus' miracles and parables.[9] The book of Acts recounts the deeds of the apostles in the years after Jesus' crucifixion.

Saint Paul claimed the role of Apostle to the Gentiles and, assuming Peter's role, became Apostle to the Jews (see also Circumcision controversy in early Christianity, Incident at Antioch, and Primacy of Simon Peter). He claimed a special commission from the risen Jesus, separate from the Great Commission given to the Twelve. Paul's mentor Barnabas is also termed an apostle. Paul did not restrict the term apostle to the Twelve, either because he didn't know it or resisted it.[2] This restricted usage appears in Revelation.[2][10] In modern usage, major missionaries are sometimes termed apostles, as in Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.[2]

The period of Early Christianity during the lifetimes of the apostles is called the Apostolic Age.[11] In the second century, association with the apostles was esteemed as evidence of authority and orthodoxy. Paul's epistles were accepted as scripture (Development of the New Testament canon), and all four gospels were associated with apostles, as were other New Testament works. Various Christian texts, such as the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions, were attributed to the Twelve Apostles. Bishops traced their lines of succession back to individual apostles, who were said to have established churches across great territories. Christian bishops have traditionally claimed authority deriving, by apostolic succession, from the Twelve.[2] Early church fathers came to be associated with apostles, such as Pope Clement I with Saint Peter . A medieval creed popular in the West was said to have been composed by the apostles themselves called the Apostles' Creed.

Notes

  1. Harris, Stephen L., Understanding the Bible. Palo Alto: Mayfield. 1985. p. 371.
  2. "Apostle." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005.
  3. "Apostle." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005.
  4. Hebrews 3:1.
  5. Acts 1-2
  6. "Peter, St." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005.
  7. In Matthew 27:5, Judas hangs himself. In Acts 1:18, Judas falls and bursts open, not unequivocally a suicide. "Judas Iscariot." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005.
  8. (Acts 1:15-26)
  9. Harris, Stephen L., Understanding the Bible. Palo Alto: Mayfield. 1985. "Mark" pp. 285-296.
  10. Revelation 21:14.
  11. "Apostolic Age." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005.
  12. As was not uncommon for Jews at the time, some of them had two names, one Hebrew/Aramaic and the other Greek. Hence the lists of Jesus' Twelve Apostles contains 14 names not 12; the 4 Greek names are Andrew, Philip, Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus. Reference: John P. Meier's A Marginal Jew.
  13. At least by their "shining" example, see e.g., "The Lord says:... I will also give you for a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth" Isaiah 49:6; "For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" Isaiah 2:2-4 / Micah 4:1-3.
  14. βασιλειαν Luke 22:29 without article, hence "kingship", "sovereignty"; contrary to the occurrence in Luke 22:30 with the article, thus there meaning "kingdom".
  15. θρονων (Luke 22:30), the symbol of sovereignty, not a tribunal (βημα, as e.g. in (Matthew 27:19).
  16. κρινοντες (Luke 22:30), "judging" not in the sense of passing judgement and sentencing, but in the sense of upholding order ("Justice of the Peace"), usually on behalf of the absent king, like the Judges (κριται) in pre-monarchic times (e.g. in the title of The Book of Judges , Isaiah 1:26, Greek edition).
  17. (Luke 22:29-30)
  18. cf. also Acts 15:1-31, Galatians 2:7-9, Acts 1:4-8, Acts 10:1-11:18.
  19. Catholic Encyclopedia: The Brethern of the Lord: "His [James the brother of the Lord] identity with James the Less (Mark 15:40) and the Apostle James, the son of Alpheus (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18), although contested by many Protestant critics, may also be considered as certain."
  20. Catholic Encyclopedia.
  21. May, Herbert G. and Bruce M. Metzger. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha. 1977.
  22. Crossan, J. D. and Reed, J. L., In Search of Paul, Harper San Francisco (2004), pp. 115-116. ISBN 0-06-051457-4.
  23. Ehrman, Bart. Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene: The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend. Oxford University Press, USA. 2006. ISBN 0-19-530013-0.
  24. This is the title on the dust jacket, whereas on the title page the full title is given as "The Origins of the Church – The Apostles and Their Co-Workers".

==Reference

  • Navarre RSV Holy Bible. Four Courts Press, Dublin, Ireland, 1999.
  • Albright, W.F. and C.S. Mann. "Matthew." The Anchor Bible Series. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1971.
  • Pope Benedict XVI, "The Apostles",[24] published 2007, in the US: ISBN 978-1-59276-405-1; different edition published in the UK under the title: "Christ and His Church – Seeing the face of Jesus in the Church of the Apostles", ISBN 978-1-86082-441-8.
  • Carson, D.A. "The Limits of Functional Equivalence in Bible Translation - and other Limits Too." The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God's Word to the World. edited by Glen G Scorgie, Mark L. Strauss, Steven M. Voth.
  • Carter, Warren. "Matthew 4:18-22 and Matthean Discipleship: An Audience-Oriented Perspective." Catholic Bible Quarterly. Vol. 59. No. 1. 1997.
  • Clarke, Howard W. The Gospel of Matthew and its Readers: A Historical Introduction to the First Gospel. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2003.
  • "Fishers of Men." A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature. David Lyle Jeffrey, general editor. Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 1992.
  • France, R.T. The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 1985.
  • Manek, Jindrich. "Fishers of Men." Novum Testamentum. 1958 pg. 138
  • Schweizer, Eduard. The Good News According to Matthew. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1975
  • Wuellner, Wilhelm H. The Meaning of "Fishers of Men". Westminster Press, 1967.
  • The Lost Gospel - The Book of Q. by Burton L Mack

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