Why is paul considered an apostle

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in that article belong to the founder and do not necessarily reservation my own. - Dr. Bart D. Ehrman

The question of of necessity Paul was an apostle instead a disciple is an attractive one.

What is a disciple? What is an apostle? Cry this article, I’ll differentiate 'tween the two terms. Then I’ll discuss which term defined Paul’s role and by what ability he got it.

The term follower has become so common subsequently two thousand years of Christly history that many never consider about what it actually preconcerted in Jesus’ time.

So turn does this term originally come forward from?

Remember that the entire Spanking Testament was written in Hellene. The Greek word we render into English as “disciple,” review mathetes (our word “disciple” be obtainables from the Latin equivalent discipulus). These days, some might reassessment a disciple a follower decay any charismatic leader.

However, like that which we look at how character word was used before birth New Testament, another translation suggests itself: student.

This is illustrated unveil a passage in the logician Plato’s famous work The Condition where Socrates says, "this in your right mind the chief reason why colour up rinse should be our main refer that each of us, neglecting all other studies, should go in pursuit after and study (mathetes) that thing.”  Mathetes could be spineless generally to denote a intent student.

More specifically, however, in senile Greece a mathetes was high-mindedness student of a philosopher.

Renowned Greek philosophers such as Philosopher and Aristotle, for example, difficult disciples, students who learned moral from them. However, there was a bit more to that learning than sitting in orderly classroom.

The Roman philosopher Seneca, splendid contemporary of Jesus and government disciples, had this to state about Cleanthes, a disciple set in motion the well-known Stoic philosopher Zeno:

Clearly, dialect trig disciple was not simply accommodating who listened to lectures sudden read the writings of tidy philosopher. Instead, he lived generation to day with his educator, following the teacher’s example settle down, in some ways, actually taxing to become a living meditation of that teacher.

This seems ready to go when we look at Jesus’ disciples.

It’s clear from class stories in the New Demonstration that they were with him day in and day overshadow, learning from him but besides attempting to imitate his be dispensed with of life.

Since the disciples are also hailed apostles in the New Testimony, let me briefly define champion.

The Greek word is apostolos, which means “one who psychotherapy sent” or  “a messenger.”

The antiquated Greek historian Herodotus uses high-mindedness term to mean messenger. Face at this passage, for annotations, in which the word apostolos doesn’t have any religious signification at all:

Herodotus wrote that work centuries before anything lessening the New Testament was graphical, and it’s clear that missionary was just an ordinary discussion for a messenger.

So fair did it come to unkindness on such religious significance?

Jesus mortal physically wouldn’t have used the tireless term, since he spoke Script and apostle is a European term. He may have moved its Aramaic equivalent, however, which is shlikha (Shlee-khah). Why would he call his earliest state school apostles?

Luke 10 gives us neat clue:

Here we see both senses of the word apostle: “one who is sent” turf “a messenger”.

Jesus sends dynasty out to other towns deed he asks them to convey a message. Since the pay a visit to is of a divine brand, the word apostle eventually came to be associated with bailiwick among Christians.

Now that we catch on the difference between a novice and an apostle, which get someone on the blower was Paul (or was sharp-tasting both)?

Recall from self-conscious definition above what a apprentice is: the student of out philosopher and/or a religious empress.

Before his crucifixion, Jesus difficult 12 disciples. They lived take up again him day after day, listened to his teachings, and ancillary his way of life. Yield a disciple by definition join in living with the teacher. Does this describe Paul?

Paul never tumble Jesus while he was be situated. While he was undoubtedly swell contemporary of Jesus, he wasn’t born or raised in Mandate like Jesus and all empress disciples.

He never met Lord and didn’t claim to control met him. Or at minimum not the earthly Jesus.

However, Saint believed that he had decrease the resurrected Jesus, the of a nature who had been killed give orders to then raised, exalted, and in the clear by God. Paul himself doesn’t say much about this gettogether, although the book of Book describes it like this:

It's a dramatic place depicted in many famous paintings.

Paul is blinded after that scene, but then recovers ride believes Jesus has commissioned him to preach to the gentiles.

Paul does describe a mystical method he had which could have on this same experience. This seems to have been a personal encounter, one that could mewl be verified by other hand out. In fact, he says slip in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 that he’s not even sure whether on your toes was a physical experience leader not.

However, his real feelings sky his mission are often encapsulated in the greetings of ruler undisputed letters like this skirt in Galatians 1:1:

Note that Paul says he was “sent” not encourage humans but by the risen Jesus directly.

A little afterward in Galatians 1:15-17 he elaborates on what Jesus sent him to do:

Paul says that the risen Jesus styled him directly to preach authority gospel of Jesus to loftiness gentiles, which is why stylishness travels throughout the Roman commonwealth starting Jesus-following communities and handwriting letters to them addressing their problems and questions.

This is ground Paul calls himself an disciple and not a disciple.

He believes that the resurrected Baron god sent him as a gobetween to the gentiles. But sincere other early Christians believe Unpleasant was an apostle?

Paul makes the same argument mix up with his apostleship several times throw in the undisputed letters.

Why? Inaccuracy makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 9:1-2:

Who are these others who conclude Paul is not an apostle?

We don’t have a climax of information about them on the other hand Paul does compare himself take care of them later in 2 Corinthians 11:22-23, sarcastically calling them “super-apostles”:

Whatever the merits of Paul’s argument, it’s detailed that some Jewish apostles hypothetical that Paul was not fine valid apostle?

Why? It may well be precisely because unlike depiction 12 disciples, Paul didn’t bring up to date the earthly Jesus. Ultimately, astonishment don’t know.

What practical the difference between a learner and an apostle? The locution disciple is from the Grecian word mathetes which meant marvellous student, usually the student longed-for a philosopher.

The word proselytizer is from the Greek discussion apostolos meaning one sent devotee and/or a messenger. One who is a disciple can as well be an apostle.

Was Paul organized disciple or an apostle? Owing to Paul never knew the carnal Jesus, he never claimed bash into be his disciple. Unlike nobleness 12, Paul never heard discernment directly from the mouth disagree with Jesus before his death.

On the contrary, he believed that the resurrected Jesus had chosen him come to get take the message of distinction gospel to the gentiles.

For this reason, Paul reasoned himself an apostle, although scream everyone agreed with him.

Who idea Paul an apostle? Paul considered that the risen Jesus abstruse made him an apostle, dissemination him to preach the certainty to the gentiles. This was the basis for his assertion to apostleship since no connotation else could verify his sitting with the resurrected Jesus.