ἀπόστολος, -ου, ὁ
(< ἀποστέλλω), [in LXX; III Ki 14:6 A (שְׁלִיחַ)*;]
1. a fleet, an expedition (Dem.).
2. a messenger, one sent on a mission (Hdt., LXX, III Ki 14:6, and π.; v. M, Pr., 37 f.; MM, s.v.; M, Th., i, 2:7 and reff.): Jo 13:16, II Co 8:23, Phl 2:25.
3. In NT, an Apostle of Christ
(a) with special ref. to the Twelve: Mt 10:2, Mk 3:14, Lk 11:49, Eph 3:5, Re 18:20, al., equality with whom is claimed by St. Paul, Ga 1:1, 11 ff, I Ti 2:7, a1.;
(b) in a wider sense of prominent Christian teachers, as Barnabas, Ac 14:14, apparently also Silvanus and Timothy, I Th 2:6, and perhaps Andronicus and Junias (Junia?), Ro 16:7 (v. ICC, in l.); of false teachers, claiming apostleship: II Co 11:5, 13, Re 2:2. (On the different uses of the term in NT, v. Lft., Gal., 92-101; Cremer, 530; DB, i, 126; DCG, i, 105; Enc. Br., ii, 196 ff.)