A*pos"tle (&?;), n. [OE. apostle,
apostel, postle, AS. apostol, L. apostolus, fr.
Gr. &?; messenger, one sent forth or away, fr. &?; to send off or away; &?;
from + &?; to send; akin to G. stellen to set, E. stall: cf.
F. apôtre, Of. apostre, apostle,
apostele, apostole.] 1. Literally: One
sent forth; a messenger. Specifically: One of the twelve disciples of
Christ, specially chosen as his companions and witnesses, and sent forth to
preach the gospel.
He called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose
twelve, whom also he named apostles.
Luke vi. 13.
&fist; The title of apostle is also applied to others, who,
though not of the number of the Twelve, yet were equal with them in office
and dignity; as, "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ."
1 Cor. i. 1. In Heb. iii. 1, the name is given to Christ
himself, as having been sent from heaven to publish the gospel. In the
primitive church, other ministers were called apostles (Rom. xvi.
7).
2. The missionary who first plants the Christian
faith in any part of the world; also, one who initiates any great moral
reform, or first advocates any important belief; one who has extraordinary
success as a missionary or reformer; as, Dionysius of Corinth is called the
apostle of France, John Eliot the apostle to the Indians,
Theobald Mathew the apostle of temperance.
3. (Civ. & Admiralty Law) A brief letter
dimissory sent by a court appealed from to the superior court, stating the
case, etc.; a paper sent up on appeals in the admiralty courts.
Wharton. Burrill.
Apostles' creed, a creed of unknown origin, which
was formerly ascribed to the apostles. It certainly dates back to the
beginning of the sixth century, and some assert that it can be found in the
writings of Ambrose in the fourth century. -- Apostle
spoon (Antiq.), a spoon of silver, with the handle
terminating in the figure of an apostle. One or more were offered by
sponsors at baptism as a present to the godchild. B.
Jonson.
