Apostle
In the Christian religion, the apostles (from the Greek: Απόστολος 'sent') They are the men chosen by Jesus of Nazareth to be "fishers of men", that is, to multiply his presence and spread his message. By extension, the term apostle has become an expression used to identify the propagator of a doctrine or religious belief, and even individuals who disseminate social and political ideas.
Definition of a Christian apostle
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to keep all the things that I have commanded them; and I will be with you always, until the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).
While it is widely accepted that the twelve disciples Jesus chose—to whom Matthias was later added and, eventually, Paul of Tarsus—were the original apostles, there is no consensus among the different Christian religions as to who else, to the present day, may use this title with the same original authority. Several churches, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the New Apostolic Church, believe by faith that they are led by modern-day apostles, who are chosen by God.
According to what appears in the Bible,[citation needed] there are five necessary characteristics to be called an "apostle":
- Have seen Jesus. (1 Corinthians 9:1).
- Signs, miracles and wonders. (Romans 15:18-19; 2 Corinthians 12:12)
- To be the founder of churches (not church pastor), as the Apostle Paul founded churches (for example, the church of Ephesus).
- Have the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12.
In the case of Paul of Tarsus it is not clear if he saw Jesus Christ, since it is only mentioned that he heard the voice of Jesus Christ and was blinded, but it is understood that he was personally chosen by Christ. Later, he signed his writings as "Paul, Apostle of the Gentiles" and was the protagonist of most of the book of the Acts of the Apostles.
On the other hand, an interpretation that tends to equate the term "disciple of Jesus" with that of "apostle" indicates that, although initially there were twelve, they were later extended to seventy (Luke 10,1) and then to more than five hundred disciples sent by Jesus Christ to bring the good news to the world and extend the Kingdom of God on Earth, to whom the title of apostle can be applied.[
In any case, an apostle must bear witness to the power of God through the performance of signs, wonders and miracles (healing of the sick, exorcisms, resurrections), and the preaching of the gospel.
The Twelve Apostles
According to the New Testament, the twelve definitive apostles were those who did not abandon Jesus when he told them in the Lord's Supper that they should eat his body and drink his blood to achieve eternal life (< span class="plainlinks">John):
Since then many of his disciples returned back and no longer walked with him.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, Do you want to go, too?
Simon Peter answered, Sir, who shall we go to? You have words of eternal life. And we have believed and known that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus answered them, Have I not chosen you the twelve, and one of you is a devil?
They were, in order of choice:
- Simon, son of Jonah or John (Simon bar Jonah or Šim`on bar-Yôn) (Mt 16:18), renamed by Jesus as Peter (Mr 3:16). Also known as Simon bar Jochanan (Aramaic) or Simon Peter.
- Santiago el Mayor, son of Zebedee. Also known by the name James.
- Andrew, Peter's brother and exile of John the Baptist.
- John, the youngest of the twelve, also the son of Zebedee (for example, the brother of James the Greater). Jesus called both Bo-aner'ges, which means 'sons of thunder'. (Mr 3:17)
- Felipe de Betsaida.
- Bartholomew, son of Talemai, also called Nathanael of Cana.
- Thomas, also called Didimo or Mellizo.
- Matthew, the publican or tax collector, also called Levi.
- Santiago el Menor, also known as Santiago, son of Alfeo.
- Simon the Canaanite, the Jealous or Zelote (guerrilla).
- Judas Tadeo is also called "Tadeo", or "Judas de Santiago". (Jn14:22)
- Judas Iscariot is also referred to as "Judas, son of Simon" (Jn 6:71; Jn13:26). Judas, because of his betrayal of Jesus, hanged himself (according to Matthew 27:5), or fell into the field, causing a mortal wound to his head (according to Acts 1:18) and following this he chose Matthias instead.
- Matías, the successor of Judas, chosen to the lot on the Mount of Blood. (Acts 1, 12-26).
According to their identification in the New Testament:
| Gospel of Matthew | Gospel of Mark | Gospel of Luke | Gospel of John | Acts of the Apostles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon ("Call Peter") | Simon | Simon | Simon Peter (“Cefas, called Peter”) | Pedro |
| Andrés ("Peter's brother") | Andrés | Andrés | Andrés | Andrés |
| Santiago ("son of Zebedee") | Santiago | Santiago | One of Zebedee's children | Santiago |
| Juan ("sister of Santiago") | Juan | Juan | One of the "sons of Zebedee" / The beloved disciple of Jesus | Juan |
| Felipe | Felipe | |||
| Bartolome | Bartolome | Bartolome | Natanael | Bartolome |
| Thomas | Thomas | Thomas | Thomas ("Didymus") | Thomas |
| Matthew ("the publican") | Matthew | Mateo/Levi | not mentioned | Matthew |
| Santiago ("Son of Alpheus") | Santiago | Santiago | not mentioned | Santiago |
| Tadeo | Tadeo | Judas de Santiago | Judas (not the Iscariot) | Judas de Santiago |
| Simon ("the Canaanite") | Simon ("the Canaanite") | Simon ("Zelotes") | not mentioned | Simon Zelote |
| Judas Iscariot | Judas Iscariot | Judas Iscariot | Judas ("son of Simon Iscariot") | (Judas is replaced by Matías) |
All of them were Galileans with the exception of Judas Iscariot, who is presumed to be from Judea (for some Iscariot would literally mean isqueriot, "from Queriot" south of the district of Judah; while some interpret it as as of Issachar).[citation needed] After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ and after Judas Iscariot committed suicide, the eleven remaining Apostles met and chose Matthias to complete the again the number of twelve Apostles sent to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Other Apostles of the Church
In the New Testament and in the Acts of the Apostles, other characters are called apostles, specifically: Paul of Tarsus and Barnabas. Others are assimilated into the apostolic college, though possibly not literally apostles in the same sense as Silas, Timothy, Titus, Andronicus, Joias.
| People called "Apostol." | Biblical quote | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Barnabas | Acts14:14 | - |
| Andronic and Junia | Rom 16:7 | Paul called them "estimated among the apostles." This has been interpreted in two ways:
The Greek name (Iounian) could be the accustive form of Junia (female) or Junias (male). Older manuscripts simply write Junias; however, "Junia" was a more common name at the time, and "Junias" was not. Different groups prefer one or another translation. The Orthodox tradition accepts Junia as a woman; while the Vulgate and the translations of the Reformation, like Queen Valera, accept Junias as a man. The second interpertation believes that Paul is only mentioning them as apostles' acquaintances. Historically it is impossible to demonstrate any of those interpretations. |
| Silas | 1 Tess. 1:1, 2:6 | Known as one with Timothy and Paul, he also performs the functioning of an apostle as Paul's companion in Paul's second missionary journey in Acts 15:40. |
| Timothy | 1 Tess. 1:1, 2:6 | Timothy is known as an apostle with Silas and Paul. However, in 2 Cor. 1: 1 he is only called "brother" when Paul refers to himself as "an apostle of Christ." Timothy performs many of the functions of an apostle in the commission of Paul in 1.o and 2.o Timothy, though in those epistles Paul refers to him as his "son" in faith. |
| Apollo | 1 Cor. 4:9 | Included among "us apostles" together with Paul and Cephas (Pedro). (see also: 4: 6, 3:22 and 3: 4–6). |
The Church uses the title apostle before the name of those who receive the service of the apostolate and are in charge of the Church and the expansion of the Kingdom of God. As the term apostle refers to sent one, sometimes the mention of where or to whom he is sent is added: Thus, the Apostle Paul is the Apostle of the Gentiles.
The Catholic Church has subsequently used the nickname apostle —in a more general sense— for other propagators of its faith (for example, Saint Francis Xavier is the Apostle of the Indies), but the title is not placed before the name (we do not say the apostle Francisco Javier). Other examples are San José de Anchieta (Apostle of Brazil), San Junípero Serra (Apostle of California) and San Pedro de Betancur (Apostle of Guatemala), among others.
Apostles today
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, both in its Latin and Eastern branches, claims to guard the historic apostolic succession through its bishops. Thus the Bishop of Rome is the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Byzantium is the successor of the Apostle Saint Andrew. No episcopal ordination is valid if the candidate has not been ordained by another bishop who has apostolic succession. And so on until going back to the apostles.
The Light of the World Church
La Luz del Mundo affirms that an apostle guides his church and that he was chosen directly by Jesus Christ, in his eternal plan, through direct dialogue. They believe that his church is unique, since its foundations rest on the choice of the apostles made by Jesus himself, according to the biblical quote in Ephesians 2:20. The apostles of La Luz del Mundo have a lifetime position, that is, that only after their death will they cease to be apostles. They must be married and have direct authority to choose new associates to work in the ministry. They cannot resign, because it is a position delivered directly by God. They have the power to communicate with God to celebrate the Lord's Supper each year and forgive sins.
The New Apostolic Church
The New Apostolic Church believes that it is led by apostles until the end of time. Their faith in said affirmation lies in the fact that they consider the actions of the Apostles of Christ essential for him to return to earth to look for his people, for an eternity in the glory of heaven.
His belief is that although the Apostles of the primitive circle passed away years after Jesus' ascension, in the 18th century the Holy Spirit was poured out again by which new men were called to continue the work in the vineyard. For the new apostolics, the ministry of the apostle occupies a central place in their particular theology, since, according to the biblical account, they believe that the apostles are essential to lead the people in the end time, until the promise of the Son of God is fulfilled.
Currently, the institutional head of the New Apostolic Church is Jean-Luc Schneider (1959), considered Chief Apostle by said Church.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that the authority of the original twelve Apostles is a distinguishing feature of the true Church established by Jesus in ancient and modern times. Members believe that this authority was lost after the death of the original Apostles of Christ, and that it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith during the spring and summer of 1830. Since that time, the Church affirms and testifies that this authority or apostolic office is transmitted in succession until today, in order of seniority, from his call and election. In the Church, the office of Apostle has the particular, but not limited, function of being a "special witness" of Christ before the world.
Before the death of one of the apostles, the organization is updated with the call of another to maintain the Quorum of Twelve, as they believe that Jesus Christ established it. In terms of church government, they are second only in authority to the First Presidency, whose members are usually former members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Currently, members of the quorums of the Seventy are General Authorities of the Church who receive apostolic authority but are not ordained to the office of Apostle. They dedicate all their time to the ministry.
Protestant denominations
For Protestant Christians, apostle designates a person who founds a denomination or an autonomous ecclesiastical organization, in order to "expand the kingdom of God". It is, along with prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher, one of the five ministries established by Jesus.
Other uses of the term "apostle"
"Apostle" is also used to designate the propagator of any kind of doctrine or religious belief. It also applies to individuals who advocate and disseminate significant social or political ideas. Thus, we know José Martí as the "apostle of the independence of Cuba" or Gandhi as the "apostle of non-violence".