Apostle
/əˈpɑːsl/
nounC2
Definition
An apostle is someone chosen and sent to share and teach religious messages, often with authority. In Christianity, apostles are the first followers of Jesus who spread his teachings to others. The word can also mean a strong supporter or promoter of any important idea or cause.
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See It in Action
One of the early followers of Jesus sent to teach Christianity
- •The twelve apostles traveled to spread Jesus’ message.
- •Peter was a well-known apostle in the New Testament.
- •The apostles helped start the Christian church.
A strong supporter or promoter of an important idea or cause
- •She became an apostle of environmental protection.
- •He was an apostle for peace and justice in his community.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "apostle" like "teacher," but with a special mission to share important beliefs with many people
- ✓Picture a person walking from village to village, telling stories and lessons about faith and hope
- ✓It's the feeling of responsibility and trust when you are asked to carry a very important message to others
- ✓Sounds like "a-POSTLE" → imagine a postman delivering letters, but these letters are messages of belief and hope
- ✓In stories, apostles are like heroes who spread good news and help others understand new ideas
- ✓NOT like "preacher" (who speaks mostly in one place), apostles travel and bring messages to many different places
- ✓NOT like "follower" (who listens), apostles are leaders who teach and guide others
- ✓NOT like "missionary" (modern term for spreading religion), "apostle" is often used for original or first teachers in a religion
Try Other Words
- •Disciple: a follower who learns from a teacher (Use when focusing on learning rather than sending out messages)
- •Missionary: someone who travels to spread religion (Use when talking about modern religious spreading, especially outside original group)
- •Envoy: a person sent on a special mission (Use in formal or diplomatic contexts, less about religion)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from Greek "apostolos" meaning "one who is sent away"
- •Etymology: Greek origin, combining "apo-" (away) + "stellein" (to send)
- •Historical development: Used in the Bible for Jesus’ chosen followers sent to teach others; later used for important religious teachers
- •Modern usage: Mainly used in religious contexts, sometimes metaphorically for strong promoters of ideas
Reflect & Connect
•How does being an apostle compare to being a regular teacher or leader in your life?
•Can someone be an apostle for ideas that are not religious? What would that look like?
Fill in the blanks
1.The apostles were chosen because they had the ___ to share Jesus’ teachings with many people.
2.Unlike a follower, an apostle takes the ___ to teach others and spread important messages.
3.She became an apostle of healthy living, encouraging people to ___ better habits.
4.Apostles often traveled far, so their work required ___ and courage.
5.The word apostle sounds like "a-POSTLE," which helps us remember it means someone ___ a message.
6.A missionary is similar to an apostle, but missionaries usually work in ___ regions or new places.
7.When someone is called an apostle of peace, it means they strongly ___ for peace in their community.