(The office or mission of an apostle)

Религия: апостольство

1) General subject: apostleship, apostolate

2) Religion: apostleship (High mission, rank, dignity or function of an apostle), apostolate (The office or mission of an apostle), apostolicity

1) Общая лексика: апостольная миссия, апостольство

2) Церковный термин: апостольский сан (папы римского)

3) Религия: (An association of persons dedicated to the propagation of a religion or a doctrine) апостолы, (The office or mission of an apostle) апостольство

4) Христианство: апостольская миссия, миссия апостольская

ἀπόστολος, ου, ὁ (s. ἀποστέλλω). In older Gk. (Lysias, Demosth.) and later (e.g. Posidon.: 87 Fgm. 53 p. 257, 21 Jac. [Strabo 3, 5, 5]) ὁ ἀ. is a naval expedition, prob. also its commander (Anecd. Gr. 217, 26). τὸ ἀπόστολον with (Pla., Ep. 7, 346a) or without (Vi. Hom. 19) πλοῖον means a ship ready for departure. In its single occurrence in Jos. (Ant. 17, 300; it is not found elsewh. in Jewish-Gk. lit.) it prob. means ‘sending out’; in pap mostly ‘bill of lading’ (s. Preisigke, Fachwörter 1915), less freq. ‘certificate of clearance (at a port)’ (BGU V §64 [II A.D.]=Gnomon des Idios Logos). It can also be ‘letter of authorization (relating to shipping)’: Mitt-Wilck. I/2, 443, 10 (15 A.D.); PHerm 6, 11f (cp. Dig. 49, 6, 1 litteras dimissorias sive apostolos). In contrast, in isolated cases it refers to persons who are dispatched for a specific purpose, and the context determines the status or function expressed in such Eng. terms as ‘ambassador, delegate, messenger’ (Hdt. 1, 21; 5, 38; Synesius, Providence 2, 3 p. 122a ἀπόστολοι of ordinary messengers; Sb 7241, 48; BGU 1741, 6 [64 B.C.]; 3 Km 14:6A; Is 18:2 Sym.). Cp. KLake, The Word Ἀ.: Beginn. I 5, ’33, 46–52. It is this isolated usage that is preferred in the NT w. nuances peculiar to its lit. But the extensive use of ἀποστέλλω in documents relating to pers. of merit engaged in administrative service prob. encouraged NT use of the noun, thus in effect disavowing assoc. w. the type of itinerant philosophers that evoked the kind of pejorative term applied by Paul’s audience Ac 17:18.

① of messengers without extraordinary status delegate, envoy, messenger (opp. ὁ πέμψας) J 13:16. Of Epaphroditus, messenger of the Philippians Phil 2:25.—2 Cor 8:23.

② of messengers with extraordinary status, esp. of God’s messenger, envoy (cp. Epict. 3, 22, 23 of Cynic wise men: ἄγγελος ἀπὸ τ. Διὸς ἀπέσταλται).

ⓐ of prophets Lk 11:49; Rv 18:20; cp. 2:2; Eph 3:5.

ⓑ of Christ (w. ἀρχιερεύς) Hb 3:1 (cp. ApcEsdr 2:1 p. 25, 29 T.; Just., A I, 12, 9; the extra-Christian firman Sb 7240, 4f οὐκ ἔστιν θεὸς εἰ μὴ ὁ θεὸς μόνος. Μααμετ ἀπόστολος θεοῦ). GWetter, ‘D. Sohn Gottes’ 1916, 26ff.

ⓒ but predominately in the NT (of the apologists, only Just.) of a group of highly honored believers w. a special function as God’s envoys. Also Judaism had a figure known as apostle (שָׁלִיחַ; Schürer III 124f w. sources and lit.; Billerb. III 1926, 2–4; JTruron, Theology 51, ’48, 166–70; 341–43; GDix, ibid. 249–56; 385f; JBühner, art. ἄ. in EDNT I 142–46). In Christian circles, at first ἀ. denoted one who proclaimed the gospel, and was not strictly limited: Paul freq. calls himself an ἀ.: Ro 1:1; 11:13; 1 Cor 1:1; 9:1f; 15:9; 2 Cor 1:1; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Ti 1:1; 2:7; 2 Ti 1:1; Tit 1:1.—1 Cl 47:1. Of Barnabas Ac 14:14; 15:2. Of Andronicus and Junia (less prob. Junias, s. Ἰουνία) Ro 16:7. Of James, the Lord’s brother Gal 1:19. Of Peter 1 Pt 1:1; 2 Pt 1:1. Then esp. of the 12 apostles οἱ δώδεκα ἀ. (cp. ParJer 9:20; AscIs 3:21; 4:3) Mt 10:2; Mk 3:14; Lk 22:14 (v.l. οἱ δώδεκα); cp. 6:13; 9:10; 17:5; Ac 1:26 (P-HMenoud, RHPR 37 ’57, 71–80); Rv 21:14; PtK 3 p. 15, 18. Peter and the apostles Ac 2:37; 5:29. Paul and apostles Pol 9:1 (cp. AcPlTh Aa I, 235 app. of Thecla). Gener. the apostles Mk 6:30; Lk 24:10; 1 Cor 4:9; 9:5; 15:7; 2 Cor 11:13; 1 Th 2:7; Ac 1:2; 2:42f; 4:33, 35, 37; 5:2, 12, 18, 34 v.l., 40; 6:6; 8:1, 14, 18; 9:27; 11:1; 14:4; 2 Pt 3:2; Jd 17; IEph 11:2; IMg 7:1; 13:2; ITr 2:2; 3:1; 7:1; IPhld 5:1; ISm 8:1; D ins; 11:3, 6. As a governing board, w. the elders Ac 15:2, 4, 6, 22f; 16:4. As possessors of the most important spiritual gift 1 Cor 12:28f. Proclaimers of the gospel 1 Cl 42:1f; B 5:9; Hs 9, 17, 1. Prophesying strife 1 Cl 44:1. Working miracles 2 Cor 12:12. W. overseers, teachers and attendants Hv 3, 5, 1; Hs 9, 15, 4; w. teachers Hs 9, 25, 2; w. teachers, preaching to those who had fallen asleep Hs 9, 16, 5; w. var. Christian officials IMg 6:1; w. prophets Eph 2:20; D 11:3; Pol 6:3. Christ and the apostles as the foundation of the church IMg 13:1; ITr 12; 2; cp. Eph 2:20. οἱ ἀ. and ἡ ἐκκλησία w. the three patriarchs and the prophets IPhld 9:1. The Holy Scriptures named w. the ap. 2 Cl 14:2 (sim. ApcSed 14:10 p. 136, 17 Ja.). Paul ironically refers to his opponents (or the original apostles; s. s.v. ὑπερλίαν) as οἱ ὑπερλίαν ἀ. the super-apostles 2 Cor 11:5; 12:11. The orig. apostles he calls οἱ πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀ. Gal 1:17; AcPlCor 2:4.—Harnack, Mission⁴ I 1923, 332ff (Eng. tr. I 319–31). WSeufert, D. Urspr. u. d. Bed. d. Apostolates 1887; EHaupt, Z. Verständnis d. Apostolates im NT 1896; EMonnier, La notion de l’Apostolat des origines à Irénée 1903; PBatiffol, RB n.s. 3, 1906, 520–32; Wlh., Einleitung², 1911, 138–47; EBurton, AJT 16, 1912, 561–88, Gal comm. 1921, 363–84; RSchütz, Apostel u. Jünger 1921; EMeyer I 265ff; III 255ff. HVogelstein, Development of the Apostolate in Judaism, etc.: HUCA 2, 1925, 99–123; JWagenmann, D. Stellg. d. Ap. Pls neben den Zwölf 1926; WMundle, D. Apostelbild der AG: ZNW 27, 1928, 36–54; KRengstorf, TW I 406–46 (s. critique by HConzelmann, The Theol. of St. Luke ’60, 216, n. 1), Apost. u. Predigtamt ’34; J-LLeuba, Rech. exégét. rel. à l’apostolat dans le NT, diss. Neuchâtel ’36; PSaintyves, Deux mythes évangéliques, Les 12 apôtres et les 72 disciples ’38; GSass, Apostelamt u. Kirche … paulin. Apostelbegr. ’39; EKäsemann, ZNW 40, ’41, 33–71; RLiechtenhan, D. urchr. Mission ’46; ESchweizer, D. Leben d. Herrn in d. Gemeinde u. ihren Diensten ’46; AFridrichsen, The Apostle and His Message ’47; HvCampenhausen, D. urchristl. Apostelbegr.: StTh 1, ’47, 96–130; HMosbech, ibid. 2, ’48, 166–200; ELohse, Ursprung u. Prägung des christl. Apostolates: TZ 9, ’53, 259–75; GKlein, Die 12 Apostel, ’60; FHahn, Mission in the NT, tr. FClarke, ’65; WSchmithals, The Office of the Apostle, tr. JSteely, ’69; KKertelge, Das Apostelamt des Paulus, BZ 14, ’70, 161–81. S. also ἐκκλησία end, esp. Holl and Kattenbusch; also HBetz, Hermeneia: Gal ’79, 74f (w. additional lit.); FAgnew, On the Origin of the Term ἀπόστολος: CBQ 38, ’76, 49–53 (survey of debate); KHaacker, NovT 30, ’88, 9–38 (Acts). Ins evidence (s. e.g. SIG index) relating to the verb ἀποστέλλω is almost gener. ignored in debate about the meaning of the noun.—DELG s.v. στέλλω A. EDNT. M-M. TW. Spicq.

θριαμβεύω 1 aor. ἐθριάμβευσα (Ctesias; Polyb.; Diod S 16, 90, 2; Dionys. Hal.; Epict. 3, 24, 85 al.; not a Lat. loanw.—s. B-D-F §5, 1 and L-S-J-M s.v. θρίαμβος II). The verb θ. appears only in 2 Cor 2:14 and Col 2:15. The principal interpretations follow:

① lead in a triumphal procession, in imagery (cp. Seneca, On Benefits 2, 11, 1) of the Roman military triumph (Lat. triumphare; Plut., Rom. 33, 4; Arat. 1052 [54, 8]; Appian, Mithrid. 77 §338; 103 §482; Jos., Bell. 7, 123–57; cp. Theophyl. Sim., Ep. 68), w. acc. τινά someone as a captive.

ⓐ of Paul τῷ θεῷ χάρις τῷ πάντοτε θριαμβεύοντι ἡμᾶς ἐν τ. Χριστῷ thanks be to God, who continually leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession (REB) 2 Cor 2:14. The rhetorical pattern of the Ep. appears to favor this interpr.

ⓑ of God’s victory over hostile forces θριαμβεύσας αὐτοὺς ἐν αὐτῷ in connection with him (Christ) God exhibits them (the hostile transcendent powers) in triumph Col 2:15.

② to lead in triumph, in imagery of Roman generals leading their troops in triumph (s. Jos., Bell.7, 5, 4–6), so numerous scholars and versions 2 Cor 2:14 τῷ θεῷ χάρις κτλ. thanks be to God, who always leads us as partners in triumph in Christ. Since there is no lexical support for this interpr. (L-S-J-M cites the pass. but without external support), others see a shift of mng. from ‘lead in triumph’ to the sense

③ cause to triumph. This interpr. (KJV, Beza, Calvin, Klöpper, Schmiedel, Belser, GGodet, Sickenberger ad loc.; sim. Weizsäcker.) remains unexampled in Gk. usage (appeal to Ctesias: 688 Fgm. 13 [Pers. 13] p. 461, 8 Jac. in this sense is very questionable, s. 6 below).

④ triumph over is preferred by many for Col 2:15 (Mel., P. 102, 781 of Christ ἐγὼ ὁ καταλύσας τὸν θάνατον καὶ θριαμβεύσας τὸν ἐχθρόν.—Pass.: διʼ … σταυροῦ … ἐθριαμβεύθη σατανᾶς Serap. of Thmuis, Euch. 25, 2).

⑤ expose to shame (Marshall; s. also Lietzmann, HNT ad loc. and app.; cp. Ctesias [s. 3 above; the textual sequence is in question] θριαμβεύσας τὸν μάγον ‘after he had publicly unmasked the magician’), in which case the triumphal aspect is submerged in a metaphor expressing the low esteem in which God permits the apostle’s office to be held. Col 2:15 can also be understood in this way. (The idea that the term θρ. itself expresses the paradox of a disgraced apostle and a victorious mission [Williamson s. 6 below] is semantically untenable.) ἀναστενάζων, ὅτι ἐθριαμβεύετο ὑπὸ τῆς πόλεως, groaning that he had become the city’s object of ridicule AcPl Ha 4, 12f.

⑥ display, publicize, make known (Ctesias: 688 Fgm. 16 [Pers. 58 of the head and right hand of a slain enemy] p. 472, 30 Jac.; s. Ltzm., Hdb. ad loc.; ἐκθριαμβίζω BGU 1061 [14 B.C.]), a semantic shift affirmed by Egan for both NT pass (παύσασθε λόγους ἀλλοτρίους θριαμβεύοντες ‘cease [openly] expressing these strange opinions’ Tat. 26, 1).—Windisch leaves the choice open between 3 and 6.—LWilliamson, Jr., Int 22, ’68, 317–32; REgan, NovT 19, ’77, 34–62; Field, Notes 181f; RPope, ET 21, 1910, 19–21; 112–14; AKinsey, ibid. 282f; FPrat, RSR 3, 1912, 201–29; HVersnel, Triumphus ’70; PMarshall, NovT 25, ’83, 302–17; CBreytenbach, Neot. 24, ’90, 250–71; JScott, NTS 42, ’96, 260–81; cp. TSchmidt, NTS 41, ’95, 1–18, on Mk 15:16–32.—Against triumphal imagery, JMcDonald, JSNT 17, ’83, 35–50.—DELG s.v. θρίαμβος. M-M. EDNT. TW.