apostle

apostle, apostolos, G652

June 28, 2022 by Krisan Marotta

Word Study: apostle, apostolos - Bible Study Tools | WednesdayintheWord.com

Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for apostle, apostolos

Strong’s number: G652

Greek Lexical Dictionary: Strong’s #652 – ἀπόστολος

Greek Word: ἀπόστολος, ου, ὁ

Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine

Transliteration: apostolos

Phonetic Spelling: (ap-os’-tol-os)

Quick Definition: a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle

Usage: a messenger, envoy, delegate, one commissioned by another to represent him in some way, especially a man sent out by Jesus Christ Himself to preach the Gospel; an apostle.

Etymology: from 649 /apostéllō, “to commission, send forth”

NASB Translation: apostle (19), apostles (52), apostles’ (5), messenger (1), messengers (1), is sent (1).

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New Testament usage

Strong’s #652 – ἀπόστολος is used in 78 verses

Mat 10:2; Mar 6:30; Luk 6:13; Luk 9:10; Luk 11:49; Luk 17:5; Luk 22:14; Luk 24:10; Joh 13:16; Act 1:2; Act 1:26; Act 2:37; Act 2:42; Act 2:43; Act 4:33; Act 4:35; Act 4:36; Act 4:37; Act 5:2; Act 5:12; Act 5:18; Act 5:29; Act 5:40; Act 6:6; Act 8:1; Act 8:14; Act 8:18; Act 9:27; Act 11:1; Act 14:4; Act 14:14; Act 15:2; Act 15:4; Act 15:6; Act 15:22; Act 15:23; Act 16:4; Rom 1:1; Rom 11:13; Rom 16:7; 1Co 1:1; 1Co 4:9; 1Co 9:1; 1Co 9:2; 1Co 9:5; 1Co 12:28; 1Co 12:29; 1Co 15:7; 1Co 15:9; 2Co 1:1; 2Co 8:23; 2Co 11:5; 2Co 11:13; 2Co 12:11; 2Co 12:12; Gal 1:1; Gal 1:17; Gal 1:19; Eph 1:1; Eph 2:20; Eph 3:5; Eph 4:11; Php 2:25; Col 1:1; 1Th 2:6; 1Ti 1:1; 1Ti 2:7; 2Ti 1:1; 2Ti 1:11; Tit 1:1; Heb 3:1; 1Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:1; 2Pe 3:2; Jud 1:17; Rev 2:2; Rev 18:20; Rev 21:14.

Not used in the Septuagint (LXX).

Englishman’s Concordance: ἀπόστολος (apostolos)

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Lexicons

Thayer’s G652: a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders, specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ; in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers (of Barnabas; of Timothy and Silvanus)

Strong’s G652: From G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): – apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

Mounce G652: apostle, representative, messenger, envoy; often used in a technical sense for the divinely appointed founders of the church

Related words: G649 (verb); G651(noun, feminine);

Hebrew Equivalent Word: Strong #: 7971 ‑ שָׁלַח (shaw‑lakh’);

PreceptsAustin: apostolos and here

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Dictionaries:

English Dictionary Definitions of Apostle

Nave’s Topical Bible: Apostles – Nave’s Topical Bible

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Apostle

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary: Apostle

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Apostle

Holman Bible Dictionary: Apostles

Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Apostles

Hastings’ Dictionary of the New Testament: Apostle

Watson’s Biblical & Theological Dictionary: Apostle

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Apostle

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia: Apostle and Apostleship

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature: Apostle

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Reference Works

What is an apostle?

How the Apostles died

Chronology of the Apostle Paul

What is a disciple?

01 Gospel of Matthew Introduction

01 1Peter Introduction: Meet the Author

01 1John 1:1-4 The Word of Life

08 1John 4:1-6 Marks of False Teachers

01 James 1:1 Who was James?

New Testament Canon: Why these books?

Old Testament Canon: Why these books?

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Where to next?

More Greek Word Studies

How do to a Word Study

Word Study Shortcuts

Bible Study 101: Learn to Study

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What is an apostle?

February 20, 2020 by Krisan Marotta

What makes an apostle of Jesus Christ an apostle? There are 4 qualifications.

The Greek word apostle means “messenger” or “one who is sent.” We might use the term ambassador or emissary today. Normally, the one sending delegates authority to the one being sent, giving the person sent the authority to speak for and represent the sender. In the secular world, this person could sign contracts and conduct business on behalf of the one sending him.

The apostles of Jesus Christ have the authority to speak for Jesus. They were given the authority to explain the teaching of Jesus and proclaim what he taught when he was not present.

²¹“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²²beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us–one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” – Acts 1:21-22

There are 4 qualifications to being an apostle of Jesus Christ.

An apostle had to be personally commissioned by Jesus.
An apostle had to be personally taught by Jesus.
An apostle had to be given a complete and full understanding of Jesus’ teaching by the Holy Spirit.
An apostle had to be confirmed by miraculous signs. Anyone can claim to speak for Jesus. We know the apostles have the authority to speak for Jesus because they performed miraculous signs in Jesus name.

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Who are the apostles?

The apostles of Jesus Christ are the 12 (Acts 1:12-13; Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:16-18; Luke 6:13-16) plus Paul and James, the brother of Jesus.

Peter (aka Simon, Simon Peter, Cephas; Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-18)
Andrew (Peter’s brother; Mat 4:18-22)
John, the son of Zebedee, James’s brother (Mark 1:19-20)
James, the son of Zebedee, John’s brother (Mark 1:19-20)
Philip (Mat 10:3; Mark 3:18)
Bartholomew (aka Nathanael)
Thomas (aka Didymus; the Twin)
Matthew (aka Levi), the tax collector (Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:13-17)
James, the son of Alphaeus (aka James the Less)
Simon, the Zealot (Mat 10:4; Luk 6:15)
Thaddaeus (aka Judas the son of James) (Act 1:13)
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ (Matt 26:14-16) and is replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:26)

Also:

Paul (aka Saul) (Galatians 1:11-13; Acts 9)
James, the Lord’s brother (1Cor 15:7; Galatians 1:19), though James does not call himself an apostle.

The four lists of the Twelve follow certain patterns. Each list can be divided into the same 4 groups. Each group begins with the same apostle, but the order within the group varies.

Group 1: Simon Peter, Andrew, James & John, the sons of Zebedee
Group 2: Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew
Group 3: James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot

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Use of the word apostle in the New Testament

ἀπόστολος apostolos; Strong’s G652; from the verb G649; a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle: – apostle (19), apostles (52), apostles’ (5), messenger (1), messengers (1), is sent (1)

apostle (19v) – Rom 1:1; Rom 11:13; 1Co 1:1; 1Co 9:1; 1Co 9:2; 1Co 15:9; 2Co 1:1; 2Co 12:12; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Ti 1:1; 1Ti 2:7; 2Ti 1:1; 2Ti 1:11; Tit 1:1; Heb 3:1; 1Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:1

apostles (57v) – Mat 10:2; Mar 6:30; Luk 6:13; Luk 9:10; Luk 11:49; Luk 17:5; Luk 22:14; Luk 24:10; Act 1:2; Act 1:26; Act 2:37; Act 2:42; Act 2:43; Act 4:33; Act 4:35; Act 4:36; Act 4:37; Act 5:2; Act 5:12; Act 5:18; Act 5:29; Act 5:40; Act 6:6; Act 8:1; Act 8:14; Act 8:18; Act 9:27; Act 11:1; Act 14:4; Act 14:14; Act 15:2; Act 15:4; Act 15:6; Act 15:22; Act 15:23; Act 16:4; Rom 16:7; 1Co 4:9; 1Co 9:5; 1Co 12:28; 1Co 12:29; 1Co 15:7; 1Co 15:9; 2Co 11:5; 2Co 11:13; 2Co 12:11; Gal 1:17; Gal 1:19; Eph 2:20; Eph 3:5; Eph 4:11; 1Th 2:6; 2Pe 3:2; Jud 1:17; Rev 2:2; Rev 18:20; Rev 21:14

messengers – 2Co 8:23; messenger – Php 2:25

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Mentions in Scripture

Simon Peter: Mat 4:18; Mat 8:14; Mat 10:2; Mat 14:28; Mat 14:29; Mat 15:15; Mat 16:16; Mat 16:18; Mat 16:22; Mat 16:23; Mat 17:1; Mat 17:4; Mat 17:24; Mat 18:21; Mat 19:27; Mat 26:33; Mat 26:35; Mat 26:37; Mat 26:40; Mat 26:58; Mat 26:69; Mat 26:73; Mat 26:75; Mar 3:16; Mar 5:37; Mar 8:29; Mar 8:32; Mar 8:33; Mar 9:2; Mar 9:5; Mar 10:28; Mar 11:21; Mar 13:3; Mar 14:29; Mar 14:33; Mar 14:37; Mar 14:54; Mar 14:66; Mar 14:67; Mar 14:70; Mar 14:72; Mar 16:7; Luk 5:8; Luk 6:14; Luk 8:45; Luk 8:51; Luk 9:20; Luk 9:28; Luk 9:32; Luk 9:33; Luk 12:41; Luk 18:28; Luk 22:8; Luk 22:33; Luk 22:34; Luk 22:54; Luk 22:55; Luk 22:58; Luk 22:60; Luk 22:61; Luk 24:12; Joh 1:40; Joh 1:42; Joh 1:44; Joh 6:8; Joh 6:68; Joh 13:6; Joh 13:8; Joh 13:9; Joh 13:24; Joh 13:36; Joh 13:37; Joh 18:10; Joh 18:11; Joh 18:15; Joh 18:16; Joh 18:17; Joh 18:18; Joh 18:25; Joh 18:26; Joh 18:27; Joh 20:2; Joh 20:3; Joh 20:4; Joh 20:6; Joh 21:2; Joh 21:3; Joh 21:7; Joh 21:11; Joh 21:15; Joh 21:17; Joh 21:20; Joh 21:21; Act 1:13; Act 1:15; Act 2:14; Act 2:37; Act 2:38; Act 3:1; Act 3:3; Act 3:4; Act 3:6; Act 3:11; Act 3:12; Act 4:8; Act 4:13; Act 4:19; Act 5:3; Act 5:8; Act 5:9; Act 5:15; Act 5:29; Act 8:14; Act 8:20; Act 9:32; Act 9:34; Act 9:38; Act 9:39; Act 9:40; Act 10:5; Act 10:9; Act 10:13; Act 10:14; Act 10:17; Act 10:18; Act 10:19; Act 10:21; Act 10:25; Act 10:26; Act 10:32; Act 10:34; Act 10:44; Act 10:45; Act 10:46; Act 11:2; Act 11:4; Act 11:7; Act 11:13; Act 12:3; Act 12:5; Act 12:6; Act 12:7; Act 12:11; Act 12:14; Act 12:16; Act 12:18; Act 15:7; Gal 2:7; Gal 2:8; 1Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:1.

Andrew: Mat 4:18; Mat 10:2; Mar 1:16; Mar 1:29; Mar 3:18; Mar 13:3; Luk 6:14; Joh 1:40; Joh 1:44; Joh 6:8; Joh 12:22; Act 1:13.

James & John, the sons of Zebedee: Mat 4:21; Mat 10:2; Mat 17:1; Mat 27:56; Mar 1:19; Mar 1:29; Mar 3:17; Mar 5:37; Mar 9:2; Mar 10:35; Mar 10:41; Mar 13:3; Mar 14:33; Luk 5:10; Luk 6:14; Luk 6:16; Luk 8:51; Luk 9:28; Luk 9:54; Act 1:13; Act 12:2.

Philip: Mat 10:3; Mat 14:3; Mar 3:18; Mar 6:17; Luk 3:1; Luk 6:14; Joh 1:43; Joh 1:44; Joh 1:45; Joh 1:46; Joh 1:48; Joh 6:5; Joh 6:7; Joh 12:21; Joh 12:22; Joh 14:8; Joh 14:9; Act 1:13; Act 6:5; Act 8:5; Act 8:6; Act 8:12; Act 8:13; Act 8:26; Act 8:29; Act 8:30; Act 8:31; Act 8:34; Act 8:35; Act 8:38; Act 8:39; Act 8:40; Act 21:8.

Bartholomew: Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:14; Act 1:13. aka Nathanael: Joh 1:45; Joh 1:46; Joh 1:47; Joh 1:48; Joh 1:49; Joh 21:2.

Thomas: Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:15; Joh 11:16; Joh 14:5; Joh 20:24; Joh 20:26; Joh 20:27; Joh 20:28; Joh 21:2; Act 1:13.

Matthew: Mat 9:9; Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:15; Act 1:13.

James son of Alphaeus: Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:15; Act 1:13.

Thaddaeus: Mat 10:3; Mar 3:18; aka Judas, son of James: Luke 6:16; Joh 14:22; Act 1:13;

Simon the Zealot: Mat 10:4; Mar 3:18; Luk 6:15; Act 1:13.

Judas Iscariot: Mat 10:4; Mat 26:14; Mat 26:25; Mat 26:47; Mat 27:3; Mar 3:19; Mar 14:10; Mar 14:43; Luk 6:16; Luk 22:3; Luk 22:47; Luk 22:48; Joh 6:71; Joh 12:4; Joh 13:2; Joh 13:26; Joh 13:29; Joh 18:2; Joh 18:3; Joh 18:5; Act 1:13; Act 1:16; Act 1:25; Act 9:11.

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Resources on Apostle:

English Dictionary Definitions of Apostle

Nave’s Topical Bible: Apostles – Nave’s Topical Bible

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Apostle

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary: Apostle

Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Apostle

Holman Bible Dictionary: Apostles

Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Apostles

Hastings’ Dictionary of the New Testament: Apostle

Watson’s Biblical & Theological Dictionary: Apostle

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Apostle

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia: Apostle and Apostleship

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature: Apostle

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Why I reject Emergent Theology

January 10, 2014 by Krisan Marotta

Emergent Theology | WednesdayintheWord.com

A young seminary friend of mine is enamored by a theology full of holes. While claiming this new, improved gospel is “taught everywhere” in Scripture, he offers no specific passage that teaches it. Meanwhile, he keeps a running list of at least 15 significant conundrums his theory creates and several “problem passages that seem to disprove it.” He labors under the struggle.

Why believe a theory with such a flimsy foundation?

I prefer to abandon my pet theories when they clash with the teachings of Scripture. A basic tenet of my Bible study methodology is: when my understanding differs from what Scripture teaches, my understanding is wrong and Scripture is right, and my understanding must change. You could even say changing my understanding is the goal.

My friend’s continued striving to make his tenuous theory work puzzled me until I read Rutledge Etheridge series on Emergent Theology (ET). [Part 1: An Unconditionally Conditional Faith; Part 2: Understanding Emergent Theology; Part 3: (Dis)ingenuous]

My ET-influenced friend is bouncing erratically on a theological trampoline.

Etheridge writes:

Rob Bell, perhaps the most famous name associated with ET, gives some illustrative imagery. He thinks of biblical doctrines as springs on a trampoline as opposed to bricks in a wall. Springs are sturdy but flexible; they can be adjusted as necessary, allowing users to jump and to feel the joy of flight. Bell sees such movement as analogous to a healthy relationship to God, a faith not grounded by the dead weight of inflexible, brick like doctrine. Practitioners of “brickianity”, however, are doomed to a frustrating faith, vulnerable to collapse. Their indubitable, inerrant doctrines are stacked upon one another such that if one brick falls, the whole fortress comes crashing down.

Bell writes: “What if tomorrow someone digs up definitive proof that Jesus had a real, earthly, biological father named Larry . . . and archaeologists prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the virgin birth was really just a bit of mythologizing . . . ? What if that spring was seriously questioned? . . . Could a person still love God? Could you still be a Christian? Is the way of Jesus still the best possible way to live? Or, does the whole thing fall apart?” He goes on to write: “I affirm the historic Christian faith, which includes the virgin birth and the Trinity and the inspiration of the Bible and much more . . . But if the whole faith falls apart when we reexamine and rethink one spring, then it wasn’t that strong in the first place, was it?” (Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005), p.026.)Rutledge Etheridge

Well, yes, if the whole thing was a lie, then it wasn’t truth. “The way of Jesus” may still be the “best possible way to live” but if it is proved a lie why should I believe it?

ET does not overtly deny cherished Christian truth. Rather, it denies the certainty with which we may know it. ET is open not only for the reevaluation of truth, but for the reformulation and redefinition of truth. The truth is out there, but as today’s conventional wisdom asks: “Who are we to say that we can know it?”Rutledge Etheridge

Who are we to say that we can know truth?

I am a nobody from nowhere. If I devise my own theology, you should rightly ignore it. But the apostles are ‘not nobody’.

In Ephesians 1:1, Paul introduces himself “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” An apostle is a one sent out to represent the king in the king’s absence and to do the king’s will. Paul claims to be an authorized representative of King Jesus in His absence.

Further, Paul emphasizes that he has this authority by the will of God. He didn’t get elected; he didn’t lobby for the job; he didn’t earn it or study for it; no committee voted him in based on his stellar tenure track. Rather God called him and gave him the job.

Paul confronts his readers (and us) with the issue of his authority. He claims to have a been given a unique and special authority by God himself to teach and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is saying in effect, God told me this is true and He authorized me to tell it to you.

Paul is in a very good position to say this is truth and that is not.

True, many modern scholars reject Paul’s authority. I myself believe him. But either way, you have to confront the choice.

Standing in the middle of the road is not an option. It is not intellectually consistent to say Paul has apostolic authority and I am free to disagree with him whenever I don’t like what he says.

Neither is claiming Scripture cannot be understood with certainty an excuse. Why would the author and creator of the universe communicate with us in a way that we could never know anything for certain? In Scripture, God communicates to us through normal human language. Indeed, why would He communicate to us at all unless He expected us to hear and understand?

The gospel taught by Jesus and faithfully transmitted to us through his apostles is not a spring open to adjustment. It is a solid cornerstone upon which we can build a sure foundation.

For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” – 1 Peter 2:6

Photo taken by Anne van de Beek and used here under Flickr Creative Commons.

apostle

New Testament usage

Englishman’s Concordance: ἀπόστολος (apostolos)

Lexicons

Dictionaries:

Reference Works

Where to next?

What makes an apostle of Jesus Christ an apostle? There are 4 qualifications.

Who are the apostles?

Use of the word apostle in the New Testament

Mentions in Scripture

Resources on Apostle:

Where to next?

Why believe a theory with such a flimsy foundation?

My ET-influenced friend is bouncing erratically on a theological trampoline.

Who are we to say that we can know truth?

Paul is in a very good position to say this is truth and that is not.

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