Apostle

The English word “Apostle” appears frequently in the New Testament, especially in the Gospels and Acts, as well as in Paul’s epistles. The New American Standard Bible translates the Greek term ἀπόστολος (apostolos) as “apostle.”

Thus, apostolos literally means “One who is sent,” “a messenger,” or “an envoy”, someone commissioned or sent forth with authority on behalf of another. It carries the idea of a representative or delegate acting under the sender’s authority.

Biblical Usage

General Meaning

In some contexts, apostolos refers generally to any messenger sent with a specific purpose.
For example in 2 Corinthians 8:23, “He is the messenger (apostolos) of the churches, a glory to Christ.”

Here, the term refers to a delegate or representative of the churches, not necessarily one of the Twelve Apostles.

Specific Meaning: The Twelve Apostles

In the New Testament, however, the term most often refers specifically to those men whom Jesus personally chose and commissioned to be His official representatives. Luke 6:13 says,  “And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles.”

These twelve were appointed to bear witness to Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, and to serve as the foundational leaders of the early Church (cf. Ephesians 2:20).

The Broader Apostolic Circle

The title apostolos is also applied in a broader sense to others who were sent by the risen Christ or by the churches for specific missionary or leadership roles:

• Paul frequently identified himself as “an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God” (see 1 Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:1).
• Barnabas is also referred to as an apostle in Acts 14:14.
• This broader sense underscores the ongoing missionary and authoritative function of “those sent out.”

The Function of an Apostle

From the New Testament perspective, an apostle was not merely a messenger but a commissioned representative with the sender’s authority. Jesus said in John 20:21, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

This reflects the pattern of divine sending from the Father to the Son, and from the Son to His appointed messengers. Apostles were entrusted with:

• Proclaiming the gospel (Mark 3:14; Acts 1:8)
• Establishing and governing churches (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5)
• Bearing authoritative witness to Christ’s resurrection (Acts 1:21–22)

Theological Significance

Theologically, the term apostolos emphasizes authority, mission, and representation:

• Authority — Apostles acted with Christ’s delegated authority (Matthew 10:1–2).
• Mission — Their task was to carry the gospel to the nations (Matthew 28:19–20).
• Representation — They embodied Christ’s presence and message in the world.

The apostles formed the foundation of the Church, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:20, “…having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.”

Summary

Aspect	Description
Greek Word	ἀπόστολος (apostolos)
Meaning	One who is sent; messenger; commissioned representative.
Root Verb	ἀποστέλλω (apostellō) — “to send forth”.
Key Passages	Luke 6:13; Acts 1:2; 1 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 2:20.
Primary Function	To represent and speak on behalf of Christ with authority.
Modern Application	Though the original apostolic office is unique, all believers are “sent ones” in a derivative sense (John 20:21; 2 Corinthians 5:20).

Conclusion

The biblical word “Apostle” (ἀπόστολος) denotes far more than a title, it describes a divine commission. An apostle is a person sent with authority to represent another, especially Christ Himself. In the New Testament, apostles were foundational witnesses of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, commissioned to spread His gospel and establish His Church. While the office of apostle in the strict sense was unique to the early Church, the principle of being “sent” continues in the mission of all believers today. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us.”