Apostle

Apostle
Apostle A*pos"tle, n. [OE. apostle, apostel, postle, AS. apostol, L. apostolus, fr. Gr. ? messenger, one sent forth or away, fr. ? to send off or away; ? from + ? to send; akin to G. stellen to set, E. stall: cf. F. ap[^o]tre, Of. apostre, apostle, apostele, apostole.] 1. Literally: One sent forth; a messenger. Specifically: One of the twelve disciples of Christ, specially chosen as his companions and witnesses, and sent forth to preach the gospel. [1913 Webster]

He called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles. --Luke vi. 13. [1913 Webster]

Note: The title of apostle is also applied to others, who, though not of the number of the Twelve, yet were equal with them in office and dignity; as, ``Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.'' --1 Cor. i. 1. In --Heb. iii. 1, the name is given to Christ himself, as having been sent from heaven to publish the gospel. In the primitive church, other ministers were called apostles --(Rom. xvi. 7). [1913 Webster]

2. The missionary who first plants the Christian faith in any part of the world; also, one who initiates any great moral reform, or first advocates any important belief; one who has extraordinary success as a missionary or reformer; as, Dionysius of Corinth is called the apostle of France, John Eliot the apostle to the Indians, Theobald Mathew the apostle of temperance. [1913 Webster]

3. (Civ. & Admiralty Law) A brief letter dimissory sent by a court appealed from to the superior court, stating the case, etc.; a paper sent up on appeals in the admiralty courts. --Wharton. Burrill. [1913 Webster]

{Apostles' creed}, a creed of unknown origin, which was formerly ascribed to the apostles. It certainly dates back to the beginning of the sixth century, and some assert that it can be found in the writings of Ambrose in the fourth century.

{Apostle spoon} (Antiq.), a spoon of silver, with the handle terminating in the figure of an apostle. One or more were offered by sponsors at baptism as a present to the godchild. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • APOSTLE — (Gr. messenger ), in early Christian usage, term applied to the disciples of jesus whom he had sent out to preach his message, and occasionally also applied to other missionaries of the early period. Outside the New Testament the noun ἁπόστολος… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • apostle — (n.) O.E. apostol messenger, especially the 12 witnesses sent forth by Jesus to preach his Gospel, from L.L. apostolus, from Gk. apostolos messenger, person sent forth, from apostellein send away, send forth, from apo from (see APO (Cf. apo )) +… …   Etymology dictionary

  • apostle — ► NOUN 1) (Apostle) each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ. 2) an enthusiastic and pioneering supporter of an idea or cause. ORIGIN Greek apostolos messenger …   English terms dictionary

  • apostle — [ə päs′əl] n. [ME < OE apostol < LL(Ec) apostolus < Gr apostolos, person sent forth < apostellein < apo , from + stellein, to send: see STILL1] 1. a person sent out on a special mission 2. [usually A ] any of the twelve disciples… …   English World dictionary

  • apostle — index disciple, partisan Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • apostle — [n] preacher; supporter advocate, champion, companion, converter, evangelist, follower, herald, messenger, missionary, pioneer, propagandist, proponent, proselytizer, witness; concepts 359,361 …   New thesaurus

  • Apostle — An apostle is a messenger and ambassador.Apostle and apostles may also refer to:In religion: * The Twelve Apostles, 12 of Jesus disciples chosen by him and given the Great Commission * The Seventy Disciples, referred to as Seventy Apostles by the …   Wikipedia

  • apostle — apostlehood, apostleship, n. /euh pos euhl/, n. 1. any of the early followers of Jesus who carried the Christian message into the world. 2. (sometimes cap.) any of the original 12 disciples called by Jesus to preach the gospel: Simon Peter, the… …   Universalium

  • Apostle —    A person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Heb. 3:1; John 20:21). It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he… …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

  • apostle — a|pos|tle [əˈpɔsəl US əˈpa: ] n [Date: 900 1000; : Late Latin; Origin: apostolus, from Greek, bringer of messages, apostle , from apostellein to send away , from apo ( APOCALYPSE) + stellein to send ] 1.) one of the 12 people chosen by Jesus… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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