Term
Apostle
An office of the early church and counterpart to Old Testament prophets, serving as the primary agents through whom God gave New Testament Scripture.
Filed underNew Testament StudiesEcclesiology
Definition
A recognized office of the early church. Apostles are in several ways the New Testament counterpart to Old Testament prophets. They are the primary agents through whom God gave New Testament Scripture.
Connections
Follow this entry through the Lexicon.
- Broader than
- Related to
- "signs of a true apostle"Term
- BarnabasPersonAssociated with the apostles in Jerusalem and Antioch.
- PaulineTerm
- PetrineTerm
- Type of
- officeTerm
Sources
- 1.Wayne A. Grudem Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed.. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020). 3A.3Original citation: Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020, 3A.3.
Last revised August 14, 2026