Apostles:  Are they the same as disciples?

How is the word disciple defined in Scripture? The Greek word that has been translated disciple in the King James Version of the Bible is MATHETES which means student.  It speaks of someone who follows a certain teaching. For instance, we have many in the Bible who are spoken of as disciples of Christ.  They were all to some extent His students, people who were following His teaching.  However, the word can be used in relation to anyone.

Matthew 9:14

¹⁴ Then came to him [Jesus Christ] the disciples [MATHETES = students] of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? [Emphasis added]

There’s also the Greek word MANTHANO used, meaning to learn or understand.  It is a word used to indicate an increase in knowledge about something.  We find it used in the preceding verse to what we just noted.

Matthew 9:13

¹³ But go ye and learn [MANTHANO = to learn or increase in one’s knowledge] what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. [Emphasis added]

As believers today we’ve been commanded to be diligent about LEARNING what it means to rightly divide the Scriptures.  Only then can we gain a clear understanding of the promises and prohibitions that have been addressed to us today.

2 Timothy 2:15

¹⁵ Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]

Unfortunately, most churchgoers and even pastors and elders have no idea what this verse is talking about.  This is one of the most serious problems in all Christendom.  It leads to all kinds of confusion and misunderstanding about certain teachings in the Bible.  Much of the division of modern-day denominationalism has come about because of this.  Are you a disciple of Christ who understands this? If you don’t, you’ll find multiple articles on this website that will help you with that. Here’s the link to one that will be a good start on learning about that—

4Us2Us:  What does this mean?

The word disciple and its variant forms appear nearly three hundred times in the King James Version of the Bible.  The word MANTHANO mentioned above is where we get our word mathematics.  There are many references in the Bible concerning people being Christ’s disciples.

Matthew 10:24

²⁴ The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. [Emphasis added]

The word disciple is a reference to what every believer should be or become— a faithful and serious student of the Bible.  Many are referred to throughout the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Matthew 27:57

⁵⁷ When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: [Emphasis added]

Mark 2:15

¹⁵ And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. [Emphasis added]

Then we see how certain disciples became apostles.

Luke 6:13

¹³ And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and OF THEM he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; [Emphasis added]

But all who follow Christ’s teaching or that of others are spoken of as their disciples.

John 9:27-28

²⁷ He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

²⁸ Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. [Emphasis added]

After his salvation Saul of Tarsus [who became the apostle Paul] sought to meet with some of these disciples but because of his reputation as one who had persecuted Christians, initially they all feared him and wanted nothing to do with him.

Acts 9:13-16

¹³ Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man [Paul], how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

¹⁴ And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

¹⁵ But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

¹⁶ For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. [Emphasis added]

Many of these people who at first feared him soon became Paul’s disciples.  Eventually there were many who then followed Paul’s ministry and came to fully trust him and believe the things he taught. As so extra proof of this, he was at one point entrusted by them with a large offering for the poor saints in Judea.

Acts 11:29-30

²⁹ Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

³⁰ Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul [Paul]. [Emphasis added]

Throughout the later portion of Acts, we see how the word “disciples” refers to followers of the Apostle Paul’s ministry as well— Acts 13:52, Acts 14:20-22, Acts 14:28, Acts 15:10, Acts 18:23, Acts 18:27, et cetera. Its last appearance is Acts 20:1. However, the term is never mentioned even once in the Pauline epistles.

The term “apostle” and its related forms appears some 80 times—only in the “New Testament.” First and foremost, these would be the “twelve disciples” mentioned in Matthew 10:1, Matthew 11:1, Matthew 20:17, and Luke 9:1. The word “Apostle” is from the Greek word apostolos, meaning “one sent with authority.”  We see this on the occasion when they were first appointed.  Certain special powers were given to all of them to prove that their appointment was of God.

Matthew 10:1-6 

¹ And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

² Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

³ Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

⁴ Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [Emphasis added]

We then have other passages that give us additional information about this.

Again, Luke 6:13

¹³ And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; [Emphasis added]

We need to note that Jesus had many disciples and that it was of them that He chose His twelve apostles.  This tells us all His apostles were disciples but not all His disciples were apostles.  The apostles were all given special authority as well as special miraculous abilities.  Their message was the gospel of the kingdom which is also called the gospel of the circumcision.  Their titles were different but so was their message.  This was quite different from our gospel today which Paul called the gospel of the grace of God and, also, the gospel of the uncircumcision [the Gentiles].

Galatians 2:7 [a mistranslated verse in most other Bible translations]

⁷ But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; [Emphasis added]

For more information about these TWO different gospels, please see my other articles about this.  Here are the links to three of them—

Gospel:  Is OUR gospel in “the four gospels?

Gospels:  Did Peter & Paul preach the same gospel?

Gospel:  Where did Paul get the one he preached?

Note the command that was given to those who were commissioned with the gospel of the circumcision [also called the gospel of the kingdom].

Mathew 10:7-8

⁷ And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. [Emphasis added]

He’s not talking about a kingdom IN Heaven here; He’s talking about a kingdom OF Heaven that’ll be on Earth. The apostles were even commanded to pray for its coming.

Matthew 6:9-10

⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [Emphasis added]

The confusion about this is endless. The misunderstanding and division this has created is enormous.  The establishment of denominationalism has been a part of the outcome.

Matthew 10:7-8

⁷ And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. [Emphasis added]

Are any of these miracles being performed today? Some people claim there is.  But are they correct? Not at all! All this ended in the first century because the people of Israel rejected their King who could have given them their kingdom of Heaven on Earth.  But all that has been put off to a future day.  However, for a few years these people got a taste of it.

Acts 2:42-43

⁴² And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

⁴³ And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. [Emphasis added]

Then when it became evident that Israel was not going to accept her Messiah God interrupted things and introduced an entirely new program through the apostle Paul.  To do this, even the apostle Paul could perform miraculous deeds to convince people that his gospel and message was of God.  Here are some of Paul’s words about it.

2 Corinthians 12:12

¹² Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. [Emphasis added]

Peter claimed to have this apostolic authority in both of his epistles.

1 Peter 1:1

¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, [Emphasis added]

2 Peter 1:1

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: [Emphasis added]

Many years after the Twelve Apostles were ordained, Barnabas and Paul [Saul of Tarsus] are called apostles.

Acts 14:14

¹⁴ Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, [Emphasis added]

Then we have Paul’s important comment about him being the apostle of the Gentiles.

Romans 11:13

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify [MEGALUNO = magnify, make great, or “make a bit deal over”] mine office: [Emphasis added]

Not until many years after Paul’s salvation and appointment in Acts 9 do we see the revelation of the details of what had then happened.

Acts 26:16-18

¹⁶ But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee [Paul] for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

¹⁷ Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

¹⁸ To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. [Emphasis added]

For a full explanation of the phrase in verse eighteen saying “that they may receive forgiveness of sins,” please see my article about it.  Here’s the link to it—

Forgiveness:  What is the “gotcha” passage?

Paul speaks of his apostleship so often—Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 4:9; 9:1-2; 15:9; 2 Corinthians 11:5; 12:11; Galatians 1:1; 2:8; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 2;6; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:1, 11, and Titus 1:1. He does not mention it in Philippians, 2 Thessalonians, or Philemon.  It seems he only mentioned it when he felt it was most needed for rebuke and correction.  Under Paul were some we might speak of as secondary apostles for it appears from what’s written that they were all under his authority.  These men are mentioned in his writings— 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; 4:11. All the spiritual gifts these men had faded away when the canon of Scripture [the Bible] was completed about 2,000 years ago.  You’ll find an article about that on this website—

Spiritual Gifts:  Do they exist today?

As we noted earlier in this article the word apostle is used in the Bible for one who is sent of God with authority.  Though we don’t normally think of Jesus Christ as an apostle, the Bible does speak of Him as, in a sense, having been one.  The God-man Jesus Christ was surely the highest ranking messenger of God.

Hebrews 3:1

¹ Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; [Emphasis added]

On so many occasions the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of “Him that sent me [Matthew 10:40; Mark 9:37; Luke 4:18; 9:48; 10:16; John 4:34; 5:24,30,36-37; 6:38-40,44,57; 7:16,28-29,33; 8:16,18,26,29,42; 9:4;11:42; 12:44-45,49; 13:20; 14:24; 15:21; 16:5; 17:18,21,23,25; 20:21].  The most important statement about this is probably this one—

Matthew 15:24

²⁴ But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [Emphasis added]

Most of Christendom today has still not learned and applied the meaning of this important statement.  It is the Apostle Paul who gives us the words of Christ that are specifically directed to us today, not ANY of the other writers of Scripture.

1 Corinthians 14:37-38

³⁷ If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

³⁸ But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. [Emphasis added]

All the other writings of Scripture are said to be for our learning, not necessarily for our obedience.

Romans 15:4

⁴ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. [Emphasis added]

The apostle Paul speaks plainly about his role in our lives.

Again, Romans 11:13

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [Emphasis added]

For more information about Paul as OUR apostle, please see my articles about this on this website.  Here are the links to two of them—

Paul:  Do we make too much of him?

Paul:  Who exactly is this man to us?

It was this man, our apostle, who was sent especially for us in our time.  What a wonderful difference it would make if all Christendom understood this!

Our Lord made statements about His Twelve Apostles that also relate to Paul.

Matthew 10:40

⁴⁰ He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. [Emphasis added]

And because of the importance of it—one more time—

Romans 11:13

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [Emphasis added]

Sometimes the hardest part of teaching correct doctrine is to help people unlearn things that have become deeply seated in their thinking.  In this case, it’s the fact that Peter is not our apostle today.  It is Paul who is our apostle today.  If we’re to understand God’s will for us, we must focus most of all on his teaching.  As I mentioned earlier in this article, I’ve written articles about this that you’ll find on this website.  I highly encourage you to read and study all of them—

Paul:  Was he the rightful replacement for Judas Iscariot?

Peter & Paul:  Was their message the same message?

All this information may seem overwhelming to some, but I assure you it’ll be worth your time to obey the command to study all these things diligently.

Again, 2 Timothy 2:15

¹⁵ Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]

It is understanding and applying this principle of “right division” that’ll cause you to understand and appreciate other parts of the Bible as you never have before.  How very exciting that is!