Grace Thompson
The words disciple and apostle are often used interchangeably in Christianity, but they have different meanings. Disciple is a broad term used to describe all the followers of Jesus, whether in a leadership position or not. The word comes from the Latin discipulus, meaning student or learner. A disciple is constantly learning, following, growing, and putting into practice Christian principles. Apostle, on the other hand, means one who is sent and is used to describe a select group of Jesus's followers who were given the authority to perform signs and share the revelations found in the New Testament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of "disciple" | "Student" or "learner" |
| Who is a disciple? | All followers of Jesus, whether in leadership or not |
| Definition of "apostle" | "To be sent" |
| Who is an apostle? | The 12 closest followers of Jesus who were sent out into the world to preach the Good News of salvation |
| Qualifications for being an apostle | Having been with Christ during His ministry, having personally witnessed Jesus after His resurrection, and having been empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles or signs |
| Interchangeability of the terms | The terms "disciple" and "apostle" are often interchanged but refer to different realities |
| "Disciple" in the Old Testament | The word "disciple" occurs only once in the English versions of the Old Testament (Isaiah 8:16) |
| "Disciple" in the New Testament | The word "disciple" is used almost exclusively in the New Testament, typically denoting the many "students" who surrounded Jesus and learned from his teachings |
| "Apostle" in the Old Testament | The word "apostle" is rarely used in the Old Testament |
| "Apostle" in the New Testament | The word "apostle" is found about eighty times in the New Testament and is used to refer to the 12 apostles who were sent into the world by Jesus |
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What You'll Learn
The meaning of 'disciple' and 'apostle'
The term "disciple" is derived from the Latin word "discipulus", which means "pupil" or "follower of Jesus Christ". It is a broad term used to describe all the followers of Jesus, whether they are in leadership or not. In other words, a disciple is a student or a learner of Jesus, who follows his teachings and assists in spreading his doctrines.
The term "apostle", on the other hand, has its root meaning in the Greek word "apostolos", which means "one who is sent off" or "to be sent". In a technical sense, it applies to the 12 closest followers of Jesus, whom he sent out into the world to preach the Gospel. These 12 apostles include James, John, Peter, Andrew, Matthew, and Judas.
In a broader sense, the term "apostle" can be used to describe anyone who has received a mission from God or Christ, including modern-day bishops and missionaries. The term has also been applied to various saints, such as Saint Patrick, the "Apostle of Ireland", and Saint Francis Xavier, the "Apostle of the East Indies".
While the term "disciple" refers to a follower or student, "apostle" refers to one who is sent on a mission. In this sense, an apostle is someone who has been given a special task or responsibility by Jesus or God.
In summary, a disciple is a follower of Jesus who accepts and spreads his teachings, while an apostle is someone who is sent on a mission by Jesus or God, often to preach the Gospel and establish churches.
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The number of disciples and apostles
The term "disciple" is a broad term used to describe all the followers of Jesus, whether in leadership or not. The root meaning of the word comes from being a "student" or a "learner". A disciple is someone who constantly learns, follows, grows, and puts into practice the principles and creeds of their belief system.
The term "apostle", on the other hand, has a more specific meaning. The root meaning of the term is "to be sent", and in a technical sense, it applies to the 12 closest followers of Jesus, whom he sent out into the world to preach the Good News of salvation. These 12 apostles are also referred to as "the Twelve" and include Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
However, it is important to note that the term "apostle" can also be applied in a broader sense. In the New Testament, the word "apostle" is used to refer to some inferior disciples who, under the direction of the original 12 apostles, preached the Gospel. These include Barnabas, Andronicus, Junias, Epaphroditus, and others.
In addition, there is an Eastern Christian tradition derived from the Gospel of Luke that suggests there were seventy apostles during the time of Jesus' ministry.
Therefore, while the specific number of disciples is not limited, the number of apostles is generally understood to be 12, with a broader understanding including a larger number of individuals who contributed to the spread of the Gospel.
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The qualifications of an apostle
The term "disciple" is a broad term used to describe all the followers of Jesus, whether in a leadership role or not. The root meaning of the word comes from being a "student" or a "learner". On the other hand, the term "apostle" is derived from the Greek word for "one who is sent" or "emissary" and can refer to someone sent on a mission. In a technical sense, it applies to the 12 closest followers of Jesus, whom he sent out into the world to preach the Good News of salvation.
The qualifications for being an apostle included:
- Having been with Christ during His entire ministry: Candidates needed to have been with Jesus during the whole three years that Jesus was among them, from his baptism by John to his ascension into heaven. They needed to have witnessed Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and seen him resurrected from the dead.
- Empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles or signs: Apostles demonstrated what Paul calls in 2 Corinthians 12:12 “signs of a true apostle,” including "signs and wonders and mighty works." These miracles served to confirm and accredit the ministry of those whom God called to be his representatives.
- Appointed by Jesus: Apostles were personally appointed by Jesus and sent by him to carry out a specific mission.
It is important to note that the term "apostle" can be applied in a broader sense to all believers, as we are all sent on a mission to proclaim the Good News and to be an example to others. However, the specific qualifications for apostleship outlined above were unique to the original twelve apostles chosen by Jesus during his earthly ministry.
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The distinction between disciples and apostles
Disciples
The Greek word for "disciple" means "learner" or student, and it is used throughout the New Testament to refer to people who believed in Jesus and followed him. In this context, disciples are simply believers or Christians. In a broader sense, the term disciple can be applied to all followers of Jesus, regardless of their leadership status. This includes all Christians who are called to follow Jesus in their thoughts, words, and actions.
Apostles
The Greek word for "apostle" means "one who is sent" or "sent away from", and it can refer to an emissary or missionary. In the Bible, the term apostle is used more specifically to refer to a select group of early believers who were chosen by Jesus and given the authority to perform signs, spread the Gospel, and share the revelations found in the New Testament.
While there were many disciples, there were only twelve apostles, specifically chosen by Jesus for a special mission. These twelve apostles were given power and authority to teach, build churches, and carry out God's will in a unique way.
Overlap and Exceptions
It is important to note that every apostle was first a disciple, but not every disciple was an apostle. There is some overlap between the two groups, as they were both followers of Jesus. However, the apostles were distinguished by their additional authority and their role in spreading the Gospel and leading the newly founded Christian religious tradition.
There are a few exceptions to the qualifications for apostles, such as Paul, who did not accompany Jesus during his ministry but had a post-resurrection encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, after which he was chosen as an apostle to the Gentiles.
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The role of apostles and disciples in the Catholic Church
The terms "disciple" and "apostle" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings in the context of the Catholic Church.
Disciples
The word "disciple" is derived from the Latin "discipulus", meaning a "student" or "pupil". In the context of the Catholic Church, a disciple is someone who follows Jesus and His teachings. This term is used broadly to refer to all believers and followers of Jesus, regardless of their position or leadership status within the Church. In other words, anyone who believes in Jesus is considered His disciple. Being a disciple entails constantly learning, following, and putting into practice the principles and teachings of Jesus.
Apostles
On the other hand, the word "apostle" comes from the Greek "apostello", meaning "to send forth". In its strictest sense, the term "apostle" refers to the twelve closest followers of Jesus, specifically chosen and sent out by Him to preach the Gospel and spread His message. These original apostles included the twelve disciples, such as Peter, Andrew, James, and John, with Judas Iscariot being replaced by either Paul or Matthias after his betrayal.
However, the term "apostle" can also be applied in a broader sense. In this broader context, it can refer to individuals who were not among the original twelve but were chosen and sent out to carry out specific missions on behalf of the Church. These individuals, while not hand-picked by Jesus Himself, were still considered apostles due to their contributions to the spread of the Gospel. Examples include Barnabas, Timothy, Silas, and Epaphroditus.
Additionally, the term "apostle" can be applied to all Catholics in a metaphorical sense. While not everyone is physically sent out on a mission, all Catholics are called to proclaim the Good News and be examples to their brothers and sisters in faith. This understanding of the term highlights the role of Catholics in continuing the mission of Jesus and spreading His message.
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Frequently asked questions
The word "disciple" comes from the Latin "discipulus", meaning a
The word "apostle" comes from the Greek "apostello", meaning "to send forth". It is used in the New Testament to refer to the 12 closest followers of Jesus, who were sent into the world to preach the Gospel.
In a broad sense, the term "disciple" can be used to describe all followers of Jesus, whether they are in leadership or not. Therefore, all Catholics can be considered disciples.
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