ἀπόστολος, -ου, ὁ (ἀοστέλλω), [in LXX; 3Ki.14:6 A (שָׁלַח) *;] 1) a fleet, an expedition (Dem.). 2) a messenger, one sent on a mission (Hdt, LXX, l.with, and π; see M,
Pr., 37 f; MM, see word; M,
Th., i, 2:7 and reff.): Jhn.13:16, 2Co.8:23 Php.2:25. 3) In NT, an Apostle of Christ (a) with special ref. to the Twelve: Mat.10:2, Mrk.3:14, Luk.11:49, Eph.3:5, Rev.18:20, al, equality with whom is claimed by St. Paul, Gal.1:1, 11 ff, 1Ti.2:7, a1; (b) in a wider sense of prominent Christian teachers, as Barnabas, Act.14:14, apparently also Silvanus and Timothy, 1Th.2:6, and perhaps Andronicus and Junias (Junia?), Rom.16:7 (see
ICC, in l); of false teachers,
claiming apostleship: 2Co.11:5 11:13, Rev.2:2. (On the different uses of the term in NT, see Lit,
Gal., 92-101; Cremer, 530;
DB, i, 126;
DCG, i, 105; Enc. Br, ii, 196 ff.) (
AS)