apostleship

Apostleship refers to the office or vocation of an apostle, a term derived from the Greek apostolos, meaning “one who is sent.” In Christian usage, apostles are early leaders who announced the gospel, bore witness to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and established communities of believers. The role encompasses commissioning others, teaching the faith, baptizing, and providing founding leadership for churches. The apostolic message was regarded as authoritative and was transmitted through what Christians call the apostolic tradition.

In the New Testament, the Twelve Apostles are the central group chosen by Jesus to inaugurate this mission. They function as primary witnesses to Jesus and as the core body responsible for transmitting his teachings. The Apostle Paul is also regarded as an apostle, though not among the Twelve; his missionary work and writings played a decisive role in shaping early Christian doctrine and practice.

Variations by Christian tradition affect how apostle ship is understood and practiced. Catholic and Orthodox churches emphasize apostolic succession, whereby church leadership is transmitted through an unbroken chain of ordinations from the Twelve. In these traditions, the term “apostle” may be reserved for the Twelve and Paul, while bishops carry the pastoral authority founded on that apostolic foundation. Many Protestant groups acknowledge the Twelve and Paul as genuine apostles but differ on the existence and importance of a broader contemporary “office of apostle.” Some Pentecostal and Charismatic communities teach the existence of modern apostles who exercise leadership and oversight over multiple churches, while others reject new apostles as a later development.

Overall, apostleship concerns mission, authority, and the transmission of Christian teaching, with its exact scope varying across traditions.