What is an apostle?

The Greek word ἀπόστολος means "a messenger," "one sent," and is used in this sense for any messenger in 2 Corinthians 8:23 and Philippians 2:25, and as "one sent" in John 13:16. It is also used in a much higher and more emphatic sense, implying a divine commission in the one sent — first of the Lord Himself, and then of the twelve disciples whom He chose to be with Him during His ministry here.

The Greek word "apostle" means "a sent one." But it means more than that, for it has the sense "sent from," and so the name "apostle" carries the authority of the one who sends him. Paul writes: "Paul, an apostle" — that is, "Paul, one sent from" — and then he adds, "not from men, nor by means of a man, but by means of Jesus Christ."

In Hebrews 3:1 we find the words, "Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession." ... He is the Apostle, the One sent from God, bringing God's Word to men; and the High Priest, the One interceding for men before God. He is the one Mediator. ... If we want to know how God spoke to men, we consider Him, the Apostle of our confession.

Twelve He chose specially, whom also He called apostles, "sent ones." ... Now God is active; He is sending His Son, and the Son is sending out apostles. The love of God is active in gathering souls. ... God's work of His grace must be done by His Son: not by angels, but by His own Son, as the Man Christ Jesus, and He sends men out from Himself.

There is a very clear difference. We read, "He called to Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve whom also He named apostles" (Luke 6:13). The word "disciple" means "one taught" or "trained." The word "apostle" means "one sent forth." Every true follower of the Lord was a disciple; only the twelve were sent forth by Him as apostles. Theirs was a special place, therefore, of authority and service.

A personal acquaintance with the whole ministry of the Lord was the original and a necessary qualification of an apostle. This was stated by Peter before the election of a successor to the traitor Judas: "So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning 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." By this close personal contact with the Lord they were especially fitted to be the witnesses of His earthly path.

One of the proofs of an apostle was that he had seen the Lord. In 1 Corinthians 9:1 Paul says, "Am I not an apostle? ... Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?" The twelve apostles had seen the Lord Jesus, a Man on earth, and had received their authority as apostles from Him then. Paul also truly had seen the Lord; but he had seen Him in the glory.

The Greek word is apostolon (our word apostle), and originally meant simply "a messenger, one sent on a mission," and is so used in John 13:16, and perhaps 2 Corinthians 8:23. But Luke 6:13 gives the Twelve a special significance that was extended to only a very few, and clearly not intended by Paul here. And yet Epaphroditus was more than just a messenger.

The work of the apostles and prophets was laying the foundation. ... If once the foundation of a house is laid, you do not want any new foundation. The point is this: they are no more needed. ... They have done their work — laid the foundation — and passed off the scene.

"Apostolic succession" is an invention of the worldly church mind, and makes as much sense as a builder talking of continuing the foundation from ground floor to roof. ... Without the apostles' writings, especially Paul's letters, we would have no clear knowledge of the church.