使徒与门徒：澄清困惑

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To understand the difference between an apostle and a disciple, we must look to the example of Jesus Christ and the early Church. At its core, a disciple is a follower and student of a teacher or master. In the Christian context, disciples are those who follow Jesus, learn from His teachings, and strive to imitate His life of love and service.

The word “disciple” comes from the Latin “discipulus,” meaning student or learner. We are all called to be disciples of Christ, to open our hearts to His message and allow it to transform our lives. As Jesus said, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples” (John 8:31). Discipleship is a lifelong journey of growing in faith, understanding, and obedience to God’s will.

An apostle, on the other hand, has a more specific role and calling. The term “apostle” comes from the Greek “apostolos,” meaning “one who is sent out.” While all apostles were first disciples, not all disciples became apostles. Apostles were chosen and commissioned by Jesus to be His representatives, to spread the Gospel, and to establish and lead the early Church.

The apostles had a unique authority and responsibility. They were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection, and were entrusted with the task of sharing this Good News with the world. As St. Paul wrote, “So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

It’s important to remember that both disciples and apostles play crucial roles in the life of the Church. While the apostles had a special mission, all of us are called to be disciples, to grow in our faith, and to share the love of Christ with others. I often remind the faithful that we are all missionary disciples, called to bring the joy of the Gospel to every corner of the world.

A disciple is a follower and learner, while an apostle is one specifically sent out with a mission. Both are vital to the life and growth of the Church, and both require a deep commitment to Christ and His teachings. Let us pray for the grace to be faithful disciples and, in our own way, apostles of Christ’s love in the world today.

When we consider the number of apostles compared to disciples, we must remember that these numbers reflect not just statistics, but the beautiful tapestry of faith and community that Jesus wove during His earthly ministry.

Let us begin with the apostles. The Gospels tell us that Jesus chose twelve apostles, a number rich in symbolism, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. These men were Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John the sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. After Judas’s betrayal, Matthias was chosen to take his place, maintaining the number at twelve (Acts 1:26).

But we must not limit our understanding of apostleship to only these twelve. The New Testament also recognizes others as apostles, most notably Paul, who referred to himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 1:1). Barnabas, too, is called an apostle (Acts 14:14), as are James the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19) and possibly others.

When it comes to disciples, the number is much larger and less defined. Jesus had many followers who could be considered disciples. The Gospels mention a group of seventy (or seventy-two) disciples whom Jesus sent out to preach (Luke 10:1-24). But beyond this, there were countless others who followed Jesus, learned from Him, and sought to live according to His teachings.

We read in the Acts of the Apostles that after Jesus’ ascension, the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly. At Pentecost alone, about three thousand people were baptized and added to their number (Acts 2:41). The community of disciples continued to grow, spreading beyond Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

It’s important to understand that while the number of apostles was limited, the call to discipleship is universal. Jesus invites all people to follow Him, to learn from Him, and to live in His love. As I often say, the Church is not an exclusive club for the few, but a home with open doors for all who seek God.

In our modern context, we might say that while there were dozens of apostles, there were thousands of disciples in the early Church, and now there are millions of disciples around the world. Each of us, through our baptism, is called to be a disciple of Christ, to grow in faith and to share that faith with others.

Let us not get caught up in numbers, but rather focus on the quality of our discipleship. Are we truly following Christ? Are we learning from His word and example? Are we allowing His love to transform our lives and the lives of those around us? These are the questions that matter most.

Remember, whether we count ourselves among the many or the few, what matters most is that we count ourselves as belonging to Christ, striving each day to be His faithful disciples in the world.

When we consider the special roles and authority of the apostles, we must remember that their calling was not for their own glory, but for the service of God’s people and the spreading of the Gospel.

The apostles were chosen by Jesus Himself and given a unique mission. As we read in the Gospel of Mark, “He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mark 3:14-15). This personal selection by Christ gave the apostles a special authority and responsibility.

The apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. This firsthand experience gave them a unique ability to testify to the truth of the Gospel. As Peter proclaimed, “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem” (Acts 10:39). This role as witnesses was crucial in the early spread of Christianity.

Another key aspect of the apostles’ authority was their role in establishing and leading the early Church. We see this clearly in the Acts of the Apostles, where they make important decisions, settle disputes, and provide guidance to the growing community of believers. For example, it was the apostles who decided how to address the issue of Gentile converts and the Jewish law (Acts 15).

The apostles also had a special role in teaching and interpreting Jesus’ message. They were entrusted with the task of faithfully transmitting Christ’s teachings and applying them to new situations. As Paul wrote, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

The apostles were given the authority to perform miracles as a sign of God’s power working through them. We read numerous accounts in Acts of the apostles healing the sick and even raising the dead, always in the name of Jesus Christ.

The apostles also had a unique role in the formation of Scripture. Their teachings and writings, guided by the Holy Spirit, became the foundation of the New Testament. As the Church teaches, the apostles “handed on, by the spoken word of their preaching, by the example they gave, by the institutions they established, what they themselves had received” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 76).

Lastly, the apostles had a special authority to confer the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, a practice we continue today in the sacrament of Confirmation. We see this in Acts 8:14-17, where Peter and John lay hands on the Samaritan believers so they might receive the Holy Spirit.

It’s important to note, But that while the apostles had these special roles and authority, they were not set apart for their own sake, but for the building up of the entire Body of Christ. As Paul reminds us, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-12).

While we honor the unique role of the apostles, let us remember that we are all called to be disciples, to grow in faith, and to share the love of Christ with others. The authority given to the apostles was ultimately an authority of service, a model for all of us as we seek to follow Christ and build up His Church in our own time and place.

This question touches on the very heart of our Christian vocation. The answer is a resounding yes – one can be both an apostle and a disciple. In fact, I would say that to be a true apostle, one must first and always remain a disciple.

Let us look to the example of the first apostles. Before Jesus called them to be apostles, they were His disciples. They followed Him, learned from Him, and grew in their faith. Even after being commissioned as apostles, they continued to learn and grow in their understanding of Christ’s message and mission.

Consider Peter, the rock upon which Christ built His Church. Peter was both a devoted disciple and a commissioned apostle. He learned at the feet of Jesus, made mistakes, received correction, and continued to grow in faith and understanding even as he led the early Church. His journey reminds us that being an apostle does not mean one has “arrived” spiritually, but rather that one has been given a particular mission while continuing on the path of discipleship.

Paul, too, exemplifies this dual role. Though not one of the original twelve, Paul became an apostle through his encounter with the risen Christ. Yet he never ceased to be a disciple, constantly seeking to know Christ more deeply. As he wrote to the Philippians, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10). This is the heart of discipleship, even for one as prominent as the Apostle Paul.

In our own lives, we are all called to be disciples – followers of Christ who continually learn from Him and seek to imitate His love and service. Some are also called to apostolic roles, to be “sent out” in special ways to share the Gospel and build up the Church. But even those in leadership positions in the Church – bishops, priests, religious, and lay leaders – must always remain disciples at heart.

I often speak of the need for the Church to be a “field hospital,” reaching out to heal the wounds of our broken world. In this mission, we are all called to be both disciples and apostles. We are disciples as we continually learn from Christ and grow in our faith. We are apostles as we go out into the world, sharing the love and mercy of God with all we encounter.

Remember, that Jesus’ final command to His disciples was to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). In this Great Commission, we see the intertwining of discipleship and apostleship. We are sent out (as apostles) to help others become disciples.

Let us not think of these roles as mutually exclusive or as a hierarchy where apostleship is somehow “above” discipleship. Rather, let us see them as complementary aspects of our Christian life. We are always disciples, always learning, always growing closer to Christ. And we are always, in our own ways, apostles – sent out to share the Good News with a world in need of hope and love.

In your own life, I encourage you to nurture both these aspects. Deepen your discipleship through prayer, study of Scripture, and participation in the sacraments. And embrace your apostolic call by finding ways to share your faith, serve others, and build up the Body of Christ.

May we all, like Mary, be both faithful disciples who ponder God’s word in our hearts, and courageous apostles who proclaim, “My soul magnifies the Lord” to all the world.

This question invites us to reflect deeply on the nature of the Church and our own roles within it. The answer, I believe, is both simple and powerful: yes, there are both apostles and disciples in the modern Church, though perhaps not in the exact same form as in the early Christian community.

Let us first consider disciples. In truth, all of us who follow Christ are called to be His disciples. Discipleship is not limited to a select few or to a particular time in history. Jesus’ invitation, “Come, follow me,” echoes through the centuries and reaches each of us today. To be a disciple means to learn from Christ, to imitate His love, and to grow in faith and understanding. In this sense, the Church today is filled with millions of disciples around the world, each striving to live out their faith in their daily lives.

But what about apostles? This is where we must broaden our understanding. While we do not have apostles today in the same sense as the original twelve chosen by Jesus, the apostolic mission continues in the Church. The bishops, as successors to the apostles, carry on their mission of teaching, sanctifying, and governing. They are, in a very real sense, apostles for our time, charged with preserving and passing on the faith, and leading the Church in its mission to evangelize the world.

But we must not limit our understanding of the apostolic mission to the hierarchy alone. Vatican II reminded us that all the baptized share in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices. In this light, we can see that all Christians are called to participate in the apostolic mission of the Church, each according to their particular vocation and gifts.

Consider the many ways in which ordinary Catholics live out this apostolic calling today:

• Missionaries who leave their homes to share the Gospel in far-off lands
• Catechists who teach the faith to children and adults
• Parents who pass on the faith to their children
• Social workers and volunteers who embody Christ’s love for the poor and marginalized
• Artists and writers who use their talents to illuminate the beauty of God’s truth
• Scientists and scholars who explore God’s creation and help us understand it better

他们每个人都以自己的方式践行着教会的使徒使命。他们被“派遣”（“使徒”的字面意思）去将基督的爱与真理带给世界。

在我们日益互联的世界中，社交媒体和数字技术为使徒工作开辟了新的途径。许多信徒正在利用这些平台分享他们的信仰，提供鼓励，并就生命的意义和我们信仰的真理进行对话。

重要的是要记住，在当今世界成为一名使徒并不一定意味着担任官方职位或头衔。这意味着践行我们受洗时的呼召，成为“地上的盐”和“世界的光”（马太福音 5:13-14）。这意味着愿意与他人分享我们的信仰，为认识基督所带来的喜乐和希望作见证。

同时，我们必须始终保持门徒的身份，不断学习并在信仰中成长。门徒和使徒这两个角色并非相互独立，而是深度交织在一起的。我们始终既在向基督学习，也在与他人分享我们所学到的东西。

我鼓励你们拥抱自己作为基督门徒的身份，以及在当今世界作为使徒的使命。通过祈祷、学习和参与圣事，寻求在信仰中成长。并寻找机会通过你的言语，更重要的是，通过你爱与服务的行动，与他人分享这份信仰。当你应对生活的挑战时，请记住你的旅程激励着你周围的人。献上 衷心的门徒祈祷 不仅为你自己，也为其他寻求加深信仰的人。我们可以共同创建一个植根于爱、支持和彼此积极服务的社区。

记住，教会既需要忠实的门徒，也需要勇敢的使徒。以你独特的方式，你被呼召成为这两者。愿上帝赐予你恩典，慷慨地回应这一呼召，以建立教会并改变我们的世界。

耶稣呼召许多人作为门徒跟随他，但从他们中间他选择了十二个人作为使徒。这种区别是重大的。正如我们在路加福音中所读到的，“到了天亮，他叫门徒来，就从他们中间挑选十二个人，称他们为使徒”（路加福音 6:13）。（《马太福音中的耶稣作为教师》，2023）

门徒的角色是学习和跟随。耶稣邀请所有愿意倾听的人成为他的门徒——向他学习，模仿他的生活方式，并将他的信息传达给他人。“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，天天背起他的十字架来跟从我，”耶稣教导说（路加福音 9:23）。这种门徒的呼召向所有人开放。

然而，使徒们被赋予了特殊的使命和权柄。耶稣“给他们能力、权柄，制伏一切的鬼，医治各样的病，又差遣他们去宣传神国的道，医治病人”（路加福音 9:1-2）。“使徒”这个词本身的意思就是“被派遣的人”。他们将成为教会的基础领袖和见证人。

耶稣对使徒们说：“父怎样差遣了我，我也照样差遣你们”（约翰福音 20:21）。他向他们吹了一口气，说：“你们受圣灵。你们赦免谁的罪，谁的罪就赦免了；你们留下谁的罪，谁的罪就留下了”（约翰福音 20:22-23）。这表明赋予使徒们一种独特的权柄。

然而我们必须记住，耶稣呼召使徒和门徒去完成同一个根本的使命——爱上帝和邻人，宣扬福音，并使万民作他的门徒。使徒们担任领导角色，但所有人都应根据各自的恩赐参与教会的使命。

在早期教会中，我们看到“使徒”和“门徒”这些术语的理解和应用逐渐发展。在《使徒行传》和保罗的书信中，我们可以洞察早期基督徒是如何看待这些角色的。

最初，“使徒”一词专门指耶稣挑选的十二门徒，马提亚取代了犹大（使徒行传 1:26）。这些人是耶稣事工和复活的目击者。正如彼得所宣称的，使徒的一个要求是，他必须“从约翰施洗起，直到主离开我们被接上升的日子为止，始终同我们作伴”（使徒行传 1:21-22）。（Hermina，2023）

但我们看到“使徒”一词在某种程度上有所扩展，包括了在异象中遇见复活基督的保罗，以及可能像巴拿巴那样的人（使徒行传 14:14）。保罗为他的使徒身份辩护说：“我不是使徒吗？我不是见过我们的主耶稣吗？”（哥林多前书 9:1）。

早期教会承认使徒们独特的权柄。我们读到信徒们“都恒心遵守使徒的教训”（使徒行传 2:42）。使徒们行了许多神迹奇事（使徒行传 5:12），当争议出现时，是使徒们聚集在一起为整个教会做出决定（使徒行传 15）。

与此同时，“门徒”成为了所有信徒的通称。在《使徒行传》中，我们读到“门徒的数目增多”（使徒行传 6:1），指的是不断增长的基督徒群体。所有相信基督的人都被视为他的门徒。

然而，我们不能认为这是一种僵化的等级制度。早期教会是一个相互服务和共同使命的社区。正如保罗所写：“你们就是基督的身子，并且各自作肢体”（哥林多前书 12:27）。每个成员在建立教会和传播福音方面都有自己的角色。

使徒和门徒之间的区别提醒我们，虽然我们在教会有不同的角色，但我们都被呼召去跟随基督并参与他的使命。让我们谦卑地拥抱我们作为门徒的呼召，并尊重从使徒传下来的教导权柄，共同努力建立上帝的国度。

教会教父，即那些在使徒之后跟随的早期基督教领袖和神学家，对使徒和门徒在教会生活中的角色进行了深刻的反思。他们的教导帮助我们理解早期基督教社区是如何看待这些重要区别的。

教会教父们强调了使徒作为基督的目击者和教会奠基人的独特角色。2世纪写作的爱任纽强调了使徒统绪的重要性，称使徒们已将教会委托给主教作为他们的继任者。他写道：“我们可以列举那些被使徒任命为教会主教的人，以及他们直到我们这个时代的继任者。”（Langhu，2022）

Clement of Rome, writing even earlier, around 95 AD, spoke of how the apostles had appointed leaders in every place where they preached, ensuring the continuity of the Church’s ministry. He emphasized that this was done “with the full knowledge of Christ.”(Staniforth & Louth, 1968)

然而，教父们也承认所有基督徒都被呼召成为基督的门徒。3世纪的俄利根对门徒训练进行了广泛的论述，强调成为真正的门徒不仅意味着学习基督的教导，还意味着模仿他的生活并背起自己的十字架。

教父们将使徒视为所有信徒的门徒榜样。4世纪讲道的金口若望经常劝勉他的会众在热心、对基督的爱以及为福音受苦的意愿上模仿使徒。（Thompson, 2019, pp. 41–56）

重要的是，教父们并不认为使徒和门徒之间的区别造成了圣洁的等级制度。所有人都被呼召去完成同一个爱与服务的根本使命。正如奥古斯丁优美地表达的那样：“成为门徒意味着什么？意味着成为一名学习者。我们要学习什么？学习跟随基督。”

教父们也承认使徒事工在教会中的持续作用，并不局限于最初的十二门徒。他们认为主教和神父在继续使徒的使命，同时也强调所有信徒都分担为基督作见证的责任。

这是一个重要的问题，涉及女性在早期教会中的角色以及我们对门徒训练和使徒职分的理解。让我们以开放的心态来探讨这个问题，寻求理解圣经向我们揭示的内容。

In the Gospels, we see that Jesus had many women among his followers. Luke tells us of “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources” (Luke 8:2-3). These women were clearly disciples of Jesus, learning from him and supporting his ministry.(Sugiharto & Sirait, 2022)

在十字架受难时，当许多男性门徒逃跑时，是女性保持了忠诚。福音书记录说，女性是复活的第一见证人，受复活的基督委托去告诉其他门徒。从这个意义上说，她们充当了“使徒的使徒”，传达了复活的消息。（Mensah, 2022）

在早期教会中，我们看到女性扮演着重要角色。在《使徒行传》中，我们读到百基拉，她和她的丈夫亚居拉一起，向亚波罗“更详细地讲解神的道”（使徒行传 18:26）。这表明女性在早期基督教社区中具有教导的角色。

最值得注意的是，在罗马书 16:7 中，保罗提到一位名叫犹尼亚的女性为“在使徒中很有名望的”。虽然对这节经文的翻译和解释一直存在争论，但许多学者认为这表明犹尼亚在早期教会中被视为使徒。（Reimer, 1995）

我们也看到女性被称为门徒。在使徒行传 9:36 中，我们读到“有一个女门徒，名叫大比大（翻出来就是多加）”。这是一个女性被明确称为门徒的清晰例子。

这些段落表明，在早期教会中，门徒甚至使徒的角色并不受性别限制。女性在跟随耶稣、传播福音和建立基督教社区方面发挥了至关重要的作用。

但我们必须小心，不要将我们现代的分类强加于古代文本。早期教会正在应对复杂的文化和社会现实，因为它试图践行在基督里宣告的彻底平等：“并不分犹太人、希腊人，自主的、为奴的，或男或女，因为你们在基督耶稣里都成为一了”（加拉太书 3:28）。

让我们记住，我们都被呼召成为基督的门徒。这是每一位基督徒的基本使命——跟随耶稣，向他学习，并模仿他爱与服务的生活。作为门徒，我们处于不断的塑造过程中，在信仰和理解上不断成长。这呼召我们保持谦卑和开放，随时准备学习并被基督的教导和榜样所改变。（Richard, 2021）

同时，我们都被呼召成为“使徒性的”，即被派遣到世界去分享福音。正如耶稣在复活后对他的门徒所说：“父怎样差遣了我，我也照样差遣你们”（约翰福音 20:21）。我们信仰的这一使徒维度挑战我们走出舒适区，在我们的家庭、工作场所和社区中为基督作见证。

了解使徒在建立教会方面的特殊作用，有助于我们认识到传统和使徒统绪的重要性。它提醒我们，我们的信仰不是我们发明的东西，而是一份传给我们的宝贵礼物。这应该激发我们对教会教导的深切尊重，以及与使徒继任者保持共融的愿望。

然而，我们不要陷入认为只有圣职人员才具有使徒角色的陷阱。第二次梵蒂冈大公会议提醒我们普遍的圣洁和使命呼召。所有受洗者都分享基督的司祭、先知和君王职分。我们都被呼召根据我们的恩赐和生活状态参与教会的使命。（Hill, 2020）

早期教会中女性门徒和使徒的榜样挑战我们，确保教会的所有成员，无论性别如何，都能被授权使用他们的恩赐来服务福音。我们必须努力克服任何不公正的歧视，并承认女性对教会生活和使命的重要贡献。

最后，理解这些区别应该加深我们在教会内合一与多元的意识。正如保罗所教导的，我们是一个身体，有许多肢体，每个肢体都有自己的功能，但都为了共同的利益而共同努力（哥林多前书 12）。让我们庆祝教会内各种各样的圣召和事工，同时记住我们都在跟随基督并使他为世人所知的基本呼召中合而为一。

愿这种理解激励我们更充分地拥抱我们作为基督门徒的身份，以及我们作为他在世上见证人的使命。让我们怀着喜乐，满怀对圣灵大能的信心，去建立教会，并将上帝的爱传播给我们遇到的每一个人。