Sarah Mitchell
Jesus Christ was born, lived, and died as a Jew. However, during his life, he began a protest movement within Judaism, which led to the emergence of a new religion, Christianity. The followers of Christ, or Christians, believe that he is the Messiah or Christ, as foretold by prophets in the Jewish religion. The apostles were the primary disciples and closest followers of Jesus Christ, and they became the primary teachers of his gospel message. The term apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos, meaning messenger or envoy. The twelve apostles include Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas. While Jesus himself was not a Catholic, Catholics claim to follow him and believe that he founded the Church of Rome.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Apostles | 12 |
| Names of the Apostles | Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon (the Zealot), Judas Iscariot, Matthias |
| Qualifications to be 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 |
| Role of the Apostles | To preach and baptize all nations, to teach, to heal the sick, to drive out demons, to make disciples |
| Authority of the Apostles | Given by Jesus, to make laws, judge on religious matters, enforce obligations, administer the sacred rites, provide successors |
| Death of the Apostles | Many of the apostles were martyred, including St. Peter, St. Paul, St. James, St. Thomas, St. Andrew, St. Bartholomew, St. Philip, St. Matthew, St. Simon, and St. Jude |
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What You'll Learn
Jesus was ethnically and religiously Jewish
The twelve apostles were the primary disciples of Jesus and his closest followers during his life and ministry in the 1st century AD. They were Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon (the Zealot), and Judas. The term 'apostle' comes from the Greek 'apostolos', meaning 'one who is sent forth' or 'envoy'.
Jesus was born into an ethnic and religious Jewish family. He was descended from the Davidic line, as prophesied in the Old Testament. The Gospels, especially the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament, contain accounts of his life. Jesus practised the Jewish religion and based his teachings on the Torah, the five books said to have been given by God to Moses. He travelled to Jerusalem to observe Passover and held a last meal with his disciples, which is the origin of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Jesus's teachings and his role as the Messiah were not accepted by all Jews, and some Christians later broke away from the Church that Jesus founded. To distinguish this Church from the breakaway groups, it was called the 'universal' Church, or the Catholic Church, which would be open to people of all races, not just ethnic Jews.
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Jesus' apostles were also Jewish
The twelve apostles, also known as the twelve disciples, were the primary disciples of Jesus during his life and ministry in the 1st century AD. They were his closest followers and became the primary teachers of his gospel message. The twelve apostles were Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon (the Zealot), and Judas.
There is good reason to believe that all of Jesus' apostles were Jewish. Firstly, some of the apostles had Greek names, which was not uncommon among Jewish people in the eastern Mediterranean region of that time due to the dominance of Hellenistic culture. Secondly, the apostles worshipped in the Jewish temple with Jesus and celebrated the Passover meal and other Jewish feasts with him.
Furthermore, the issue of whether Gentiles (non-Jews) should be baptized and allowed into the Church was a matter of internal debate among the early Christians, as seen in Acts chapters 10 and 11. If one of the Twelve Apostles had been a Gentile, this controversy would likely not have arisen. Additionally, the term "apostle" comes from the Greek "apostolos," meaning "one who is sent forth" or "messenger," which further emphasizes their role in spreading Jesus' teachings.
While the apostles were all Jewish, Jesus had other followers or disciples who were not. For example, the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28) and the Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13) were likely non-Jewish disciples of Jesus.
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Jesus' apostles were also Christians
The apostles of Jesus Christ were his closest followers and disciples. They were chosen by Jesus to spread his teachings and continue his ministry after his death and resurrection. The Bible teaches us that the original apostles of Jesus were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon (the Zealot), and Judas Iscariot.
The term "apostle" comes from the Greek "apóstolos", which means "messenger, envoy". However, the term has a stronger connotation than simply a messenger and is more akin to a "delegate". The apostles were also known as the "Twelve Disciples" or "The Twelve". They were chosen by Jesus to spread his teachings and continue his ministry after his death and resurrection.
The apostles played a significant role in the growth of Christianity. They travelled the ancient world, preaching the gospel and converting thousands of people to the faith. They were also responsible for guiding the early Christian church. For example, Peter, also known as Simon, was a leader in the early church and is known for his boldness and faith. He is credited with preaching the first sermon on the day of Pentecost, where thousands of people were converted to Christianity.
The apostles were also instrumental in spreading the teachings of Jesus to all nations. After Jesus' resurrection, he sent eleven of them (as Judas Iscariot had died) by the Great Commission to spread his message. Paul, who was not one of the original twelve, also described himself as an "apostle to the Gentiles", tasked with spreading the gospel message after his conversion on the road to Damascus.
The apostles were fully committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ and were willing to make sacrifices for their mission. Many of them faced persecution and martyrdom for their faith. For example, James, the brother of Jesus, was martyred by stoning in Jerusalem in the AD 60s. Thomas preached in India and suffered martyrdom there. Andrew was martyred via a form of crucifixion around AD 60.
In conclusion, the apostles of Jesus Christ were not only his closest followers but also dedicated Christians who played a crucial role in the establishment and growth of the Christian faith. They were chosen by Jesus to spread his message and continued to do so even after his death, facing persecution and martyrdom for their unwavering commitment to their mission.
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Jesus founded a church, but not a denomination
The argument that Jesus founded a church, but not a denomination, is a viewpoint that is held by members of the Churches of Christ. This movement bases its doctrine and practice solely on the Bible, rather than recognising denominational hierarchies. Members of the Churches of Christ believe that Jesus founded only one church and that the current divisions among Christians do not reflect God's will.
The term "church" appears in the Bible in reference to the church founded by Jesus. In the New Testament, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). Here, the rock refers to the acknowledgement that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Bible also refers to the church as the "house of God" (1 Tim. 3:15) and the "body of Christ" (Ephesians 1:22–23).
The apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles, were the primary disciples of Jesus and became the primary teachers of his gospel message. The term "apostle" comes from the Greek "apóstolos", meaning "messenger, envoy". In the Catholic tradition, the apostles James, son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were brothers and sons of Alphaeus, whose wife, Mary, was the sister of Jesus's mother.
Jesus sent the Twelve Apostles to preach and heal, giving them instructions such as, "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). After his resurrection, Jesus sent eleven of the apostles (excluding Judas Iscariot, who had died) to spread his teachings to all nations.
The belief that Jesus founded a church, but not a denomination, is supported by the idea that any church built on a name, religious doctrine, or form of church government is built on the wrong foundation and will not stand. Instead, the true church is built on Jesus Christ and the acknowledgement that he is the Son of God. This belief is reflected in the desire of members of the Churches of Christ to avoid names that associate the church with a particular man or doctrine, such as Lutheran or Wesleyan.
While the specific term "denomination" may not have been used, the concept of unity among Christians is evident in Jesus's words in John 17:21, "that they may all be one, [...] that they may be one in us". Thus, the argument that Jesus founded a church, but not a denomination, emphasizes the unity of the church that Jesus established, as reflected in the belief that all divisions among Christians are contrary to God's will.
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Jesus' apostles were his closest followers
Jesus Christ had twelve apostles, who were his closest followers and disciples. They were chosen by Jesus to spread his teachings and continue his ministry after his death and resurrection. The word "apostle" comes from the Greek "apostolos", meaning "one who is sent out" or "delegate". The twelve apostles were chosen by Jesus to be his closest followers and to carry on his teachings after his death and resurrection.
The twelve apostles are: Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon (the Zealot), and Judas. Peter, also known as Simon, was a fisherman and one of Jesus' closest disciples. He was a leader in the early Christian church and is known for his boldness and faith. Andrew was Peter's brother and among the first disciples to follow Jesus. He is mentioned as being present during significant events, such as feeding the 5,000 and the Last Supper. James was the son of Zebedee and a brother of the apostle John, who was also a fisherman. James was present at several important events in Jesus' life, such as the Transfiguration and the raising of Jairus' daughter.
The apostles played a crucial role in the early Christian church and were central figures in the history, spread, and development of early Christianity. They were entrusted with the mission of preaching the Gospel and making disciples of all nations, regardless of whether they were Jews or Gentiles. After the resurrection of Jesus, eleven apostles were sent out by the Great Commission to spread his teachings to all nations. The twelfth apostle, Matthias, was chosen by the remaining apostles after the Ascension of Jesus and before Pentecost.
In addition to the twelve apostles, there were other individuals who were considered apostles, such as Paul, who described himself as an "apostle to the Gentiles". The term "apostle" can also refer to other early Christian leaders who were not part of the original twelve but were chosen by Jesus and commissioned to spread the Gospel.
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Frequently asked questions
Jesus was ethnically and religiously Jewish. However, his universal message and vision are reflected in the definition of the word 'catholic'.
The apostles were the primary disciples of Jesus and were all Jews. However, if you believe that they recognized Jesus as the Messiah, then you could say that they were Catholic.
The apostles, or the Twelve Apostles, were the primary disciples and closest followers of Jesus. They include Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon (the Zealot), and Judas.
Jesus sent the apostles in pairs to towns in Galilee to heal the sick and drive out demons. They were also sent to spread his teachings to all nations.
Many of the apostles were martyred, including St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Andrew, St. James, St. Thomas, St. Bartholomew, St. Philip, St. Matthew, St. Simon, and St. Jude (Thaddeus).
