disciples & apostles
In this week’s reading from the Gospel According to Matthew 10:1-2 (NABRE), Jesus sends out his 12 main followers without him, and the text shifts from calling them disciples to calling them apostles. This is an important shift in role and responsibility that has considerable bearing on what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ even today.
The English word disciple comes from the Latin discipulus, which means pupil or learner. The Greek word μαθητής (mathetes) shares the same root meaning. A disciple is a student. Calling Jesus’ followers disciples suggests a relationship where he is their teacher. This sort of relationship was common and expected for the times. Even today many people first come to Jesus as a teacher.
The word apostle comes from the Greek word ἀπόστολος (apostolos), which means “one who is sent out” or “messenger.” In this passage, Jesus sends out 12 who had been his disciples, and they’re now called apostles. We likewise are not meant to only be perpetual students in our relationship with Jesus. At some point, we’re meant to graduate and to head out into the world to spread and share what we’ve learned. The 12 apostles are the first sent out in this way, but they are not meant to be the last. The entire Church is sent out into the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ, and each us as we mature in our relationship with Jesus share this commission.
you also may like our study of the Gospel According to John
The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth, a 25-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, examines the Fourth Gospel’s view of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, with special emphasis on the institution of the sacraments of the Church as the means by which Christians are purified and made holy. This recently revised study includes maps and additional commentary, and takes a closer look at the way in which Jesus relates to individual men and women. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.
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