Is There A Difference between Apostle and Disciple?

[Jesus is YHWH]

The Apostle Paul makes a statement about two different kinds of apostles Galatians 1:1 ESV. "Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—".

He distinguishes between two different types of apostles, one is given authority through man, the other has his authority from Jesus Christ.

And the office of Apostle is the one who was appointed by Christ and was an eyewitness of His Resurrection. This is the one Paul was talking about in Ephesians 4 when He declares that Christ/God himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 

[Albion]

The Apostle Paul makes a statement about two different kinds of apostles Galatians 1:1 ESV. "Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—".

He distinguishes between two different types of apostles, one is given authority through man, the other has his authority from Jesus Christ.

Not really. And note that Paul is not saying that there are other Apostles who WERE chosen by men; he is simply stating that his own authority as an Apostle did not come from men but from God himself.

The Twelve were chosen and commissioned personally by Christ, who is God...and Paul was, according to the Bible, also chosen directly and commissioned directly by God when he was stricken from his horse while on the road to Damascus.

 

[Tree of Life]

Hello you,

When Jesus Christ chose his disciples, who ended up being hand picked by Yeshua, the Apostles, where they the ones given an authority to perform miracles? (This is excludes the later chosen disciple - that was cast lots for joining in with the group.)

Is there a difference between an Apostle and Disciple?

Were the 12 Jewish hand picked Apostles different than everyone else because they had been chosen; predestined?

Yes the 12 Apostles are absolutely unique in their role in the church. They alone had the authority to write or oversee the writings of the New Testament.

 

[Albion]

Yes the 12 Apostles are absolutely unique in their role in the church. They alone had the authority to write or oversee the writings of the New Testament.

Where does that leave Paul, who wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else?

 

[Jesus is YHWH]

Where does that leave Paul, who wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else?

An Apostle of Apostles !

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Hello you,

When Jesus Christ chose his disciples, who ended up being hand picked by Yeshua, the Apostles, where they the ones given an authority to perform miracles? (This is excludes the later chosen disciple - that was cast lots for joining in with the group.)

Is there a difference between an Apostle and Disciple?

Were the 12 Jewish hand picked Apostles different than everyone else because they had been chosen; predestined?

Yes there is a difference. It is explained in Ephesians 2:19-21. Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the Chief cornerstone and the Apostles and Prophets are the Foundation. Disciples, saints,citizens are in the Holy Temple known as the Kingdom of God. Be blessed.

 

[Tree of Life]

Where does that leave Paul, who wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else?

Paul was an Apostle, although "born late", as he says. He was not one of the twelve but he shared their authority as one hand-picked by Jesus.

 

[Norbert L]

Not really. And note that Paul is not saying that there are other Apostles who WERE chosen by men; he is simply stating that his own authority as an Apostle did not come from men but from God himself.

I understand that in this statement of Paul's, it is ambiguous about whether or not he had certain men in the back of his mind.

However I base my view upon what else was happening in that same letter of his and in 2 Corinthians. "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?" Galatians 3:1 "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:13

So given this evidence mentioned in the scriptures, it can be concluded there are these two types of apostles. You may disagree but that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

[ViaCrucis]

Hello you,

When Jesus Christ chose his disciples, who ended up being hand picked by Yeshua, the Apostles, where they the ones given an authority to perform miracles? (This is excludes the later chosen disciple - that was cast lots for joining in with the group.)

Is there a difference between an Apostle and Disciple?

Were the 12 Jewish hand picked Apostles different than everyone else because they had been chosen; predestined?

All apostles were disciples.
Not all disciples are apostles.

Anyone who follows Jesus is a disciple, which is why the earliest name given to Christians as a group is "the disciples" in the New Testament. With the term "Christian" coming later, and probably originated as a slur, but was very quickly adopted as an in-name.

The twelve apostles were the core inner circle of Jesus' followers. But, also, there were more than just twelve apostles, the New Testament mentions a number of apostles outside of the Twelve--Paul, Apollos, Silas, Barnabas, Junia, and Andronicus are all called apostles in the New Testament. Additionally, Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot as one of the Twelve.

Tradition remembers even more, such as Luke, Timothy, Linus, John Mark, James the Lord's brother, and many more (see the Seventy).

Also, we have Mary Magdalene who very much like the Twelve was one of Jesus' inner circle and while is never called "apostle" in the strict sense, is traditionally called Isoapostolos, meaning "Equal to the Apostles".

Also, just to add, there haven't been any apostles since the first century. Apostolic authority has been preserved in the Church through the pastoral office, as the apostles very specifically hand-picked people to succeed them, and historically the succession of bishops from the apostles was one of the major claims of authenticity to apostolic Christianity over and against various heretical sects (such as the various Gnostic cults).

-CryptoLutheran

 

[mlepfitjw]

Perhaps we also should note that it's only been recently that some denominations, etc. have selected the term "Apostle" for use by their own leaders.

"Evangelist" would seem to be a better one to use, but I think it doesn't have the luster or Biblical "ring" of the word Apostle.

The actual successors of the Apostles were and are the men who were specifically chosen by the Twelve to continue the work of the Apostles and who then passed it on to others.

Apostleship doesn’t pass on it dies with with them. No authority is passed on after their death. That is what I believe.


To be an apostle you have to have been predestined and chosen, we see those who were predestined to follow Jesus and they contently obliged to follow.

 

[Aaron_Bethlhm]

Hello you,

When Jesus Christ chose his disciples, who ended up being hand picked by Yeshua, the Apostles, where they the ones given an authority to perform miracles? (This is excludes the later chosen disciple - that was cast lots for joining in with the group.)

Is there a difference between an Apostle and Disciple?

Were the 12 Jewish hand picked Apostles different than everyone else because they had been chosen; predestined?

I think in Ephesians is described God's Plan/ Apostle's, etc , very good....

 

[Dave L]

Only the 12 Apostles had the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts listed in 1 Corinthians. But they passed it on to some disciples by laying on of their hands. But the disciples could not pass it on. The exception was the outpouring of the Spirit 7 years later at Cornelius' house. All disciples had the indwelling of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost but the Baptism and gifts were a different time and place from the 2nd century on.

 

[Albion]

Apostleship doesn’t pass on it dies with with them. No authority is passed on after their death. That is what I believe.

You're entitled and have denominations to point to which share your view about that. However, most Christians belong to denominations which do believe in what is called "Apostolic Succession" by which the Apostles commissioned their successors and they theirs down through the ages.

They don't call these modern successors by the term Apostle, however, in respect of the special standing of the men called personally by Christ (or Paul or Matthias, both of whom were elevated to Apostle according to the Holy Bible).

To be an apostle you have to have been predestined and chosen, we see those who were predestined to follow Jesus and they contently obliged to follow.

I don't get where that idea might come from.

 

[mlepfitjw]

They did pass the Holy Spirit on, but things changed after 70ad. I believe Jesus told his apostles only that they would be able to do many miracles not us though, I could be wrong good mention @Dave L

 

[mlepfitjw]

You're entitled and have denominations to point to which share your view about that. However, most Christians belong to denominations which do believe in what is called "Apostolic Succession" by which the Apostles commissioned their successors and they theirs down through the ages.

They don't call these modern successors by the term Apostle, however, in respect of the special standing of the men called personally by Christ (or Paul or Matthias, both of whom were elevated to Apostle according to the Holy Bible).



I don't get where that idea might come from.

Okay.

 

[Albion]

They did pass the Holy Spirit on, but things changed after 70ad.

It's not a passing on of the Holy Spirit but the authority of a church leader.

 

[mlepfitjw]

All apostles were disciples.
Not all disciples are apostles.

Anyone who follows Jesus is a disciple, which is why the earliest name given to Christians as a group is "the disciples" in the New Testament. With the term "Christian" coming later, and probably originated as a slur, but was very quickly adopted as an in-name.

The twelve apostles were the core inner circle of Jesus' followers. But, also, there were more than just twelve apostles, the New Testament mentions a number of apostles outside of the Twelve--Paul, Apollos, Silas, Barnabas, Junia, and Andronicus are all called apostles in the New Testament. Additionally, Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot as one of the Twelve.

Tradition remembers even more, such as Luke, Timothy, Linus, John Mark, James the Lord's brother, and many more (see the Seventy).

Also, we have Mary Magdalene who very much like the Twelve was one of Jesus' inner circle and while is never called "apostle" in the strict sense, is traditionally called Isoapostolos, meaning "Equal to the Apostles".

Also, just to add, there haven't been any apostles since the first century. Apostolic authority has been preserved in the Church through the pastoral office, as the apostles very specifically hand-picked people to succeed them, and historically the succession of bishops from the apostles was one of the major claims of authenticity to apostolic Christianity over and against various heretical sects (such as the various Gnostic cults).

-CryptoLutheran

It's not a passing on of the Holy Spirit but the authority of a church leader.

Hey you both, few questions come to mind and I thank you both for mentioning them.

So what happens to those people that Paul encouraged and told to stay strong in faith until the day of the Lord had come to pick up his bride back in those days?


Do those things happen as Paul has so promised to the churches that were addressed in the New Testament letters?

Or do we have blameless bishops today in the church teaching and living what Paul had commanded those people in those days to live as? Waiting to also see the day of the Lord?

these are my final thoughts.

 

[Albion]

Hey you both, few questions come to mind and I thank you both for mentioning them.

So what happens to those people that Paul encouraged and told to stay strong in faith until the day of the Lord had come to pick up his bride back in those days?

Do those things happen as Paul has so promised to the churches that were addressed in the New Testament letters?

How does this relate to our discussion?

Or do we have blameless bishops today in the church teaching and living what Paul had commanded those people in those days to live as? Waiting to also see the day of the Lord?

One would hope so. Bishops are mortals, you know, so some are wonderful and others not so much so, just like the elders or pastors in a church which doesn't practice Apostolic Succession.

 

[mlepfitjw]

You are right, @Albion

Oh okay, well I need to get off here, if you don’t want to answer those questions it’s okay. I believe it helps look at a different time period and a more context of what the mission of the apostles were on, through what Jesus told them to do, and to keep church blamless and ready for his return.

however it is moot point to mention as it leads away from the discussion.

So apostles where chosen by Jesus who were predestined to have followed him, and disciples are those who learned about the faith from the apostles and also encouraged others to stay in faith in the most dire of times.

Apostles where chosen, and disciples learned about the faith and what was to be done to keep themselves pure.

 

[ViaCrucis]

So apostles where chosen by Jesus who were predestined to have followed him

Chosen by Jesus? Yes--though there is the case of the Apostle Matthias who was chosen by the surviving eleven to succeed Judas Iscariot, so "personally handpicked by Jesus" isn't a strict criterion.

That they were somehow predestined in a special sense--apart from God's unconditional election of all believers--doesn't hold up to scrutiny. All who belong to Christ were predestined, by God's gracious election, not just the apostles.

You were predestined in Christ.

-CryptoLutheran