Apostle, secular (ἀπόστολος)

Apostle, secular (ἀπόστολος)

Apostle, secular (ἀπόστολος)

In the 1st century, the Greek word ἀπόστολος (apóstolos) was primarily a secular term meaning a “sent one,” specifically referring to an official envoy, ambassador, or delegate commissioned to act on behalf of a higher authority. Unlike a simple messenger (angelos), an apostolos possessed the authority and credentials of the sender, making their actions and words directly representative of the one who sent them. 

Secular & Historical Contexts (1st Century)

• Ambassador/Envoy: An official representative sent to conduct business, often diplomatic or governmental in nature.
• Naval/Maritime Term: Derived from the verb apostellein (“to send off”), it was used to describe a fleet of ships or an admiral (the apostolos) sent out on a specific mission, such as to establish a colony or secure territory.
• Legal Documents: It could refer to a passport or, in a legal context, a document authorizing a ship to sail.
• Commercial Agent: A person sent with a specific commission to manage affairs, such as a collector of funds. 

Key Aspects of the Term

• Authority: The apostolos was not just a messenger but a legal delegate with the authority to act for the sender.
• Commission: They were sent with a specific mission to accomplish.
• Representation: When the apostolos acted, their actions were interpreted as those of the one who sent them. 

While the term is now overwhelmingly associated with the New Testament, in the wider Greco-Roman world of the 1st century, it was a recognized term for a high-level official emissary or a military-naval commander.