Have you ever had a moment when words you’ve been used to using interchangeably suddenly took on very distinct and powerful meanings? It can feel like traveling to a different country that had been only a name on a map, and suddenly its sights, sounds, and smells are real and unforgettable. This happened to me when discovering how I had undervalued two biblical terms: disciple and apostle.
The Greek word translated as disciple is mathetes, meaning a learner or pupil. The New Testament’s use of it, however, means much more: “an adherent who accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct,” as The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament puts it. This designation was given to those who believed in Christ Jesus’ teachings: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31).
Apostle, from the Greek apostolos, means one sent, an ambassador or messenger. Texts like the following from Matthew show why readers might use the terms interchangeably yet miss the significant shift implied: “And when [Jesus] had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter …. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (10:1, 2, 5, 6, italics added).
