Most Christians associate the word “apostle” with the leaders of early Christianity. But few realize there is far more to its meaning and origins.
In Who Are the Apostles?, author Rev. Dr. Robert Scudieri offers a rich history of the term, from its original Greek concept, to the office among the Jewish people, and to the profound changes to the idea made by Jesus himself.
This remarkable book then traces the lives of Jesus’s twelve apostles, where they traveled, which countries they evangelized, and where they planted new churches. He examines the various traits that made them uniquely suited for their work and compares those qualities to today’s missionaries—especially the missionaries to America —and the unique calling they have to reach every ethnic group.
In the vein of Augustus to Constantine by Robert M. Grant, The Apostolic Imperative by Carl E. Braaten, and Evangelism in the Early Church by Michael Green, this extraordinary resource seeks to not only honor the Christian missionaries both past and present, but also to reach out to those who might be unfamiliar with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
what people are saying...
“Who were the Apostles” by Rev. Dr. Robert Scudieri, is a scholarly, yet lay discussion of the roles of the Apostles from before Jesus’ time to current day missionaries. While authentic in nature, by quoting Scripture, Dr, Scudieri also paraphrases, based on many years of experience as a Minister, giving a modern day meaning of the roles of the Apostles, which should be as applicable today, as well as the future. This small book, just larger than a pamphlet, is pack with insight, and should appeal to both to scholars, leaders and followers of all religions, as well as non-followers. It doesn’t take long to get a clear answer to Dr. Scudieri’s burning questions about the Apostles, and their call to duty. I am certainly grateful for the opportunity of reading it, and as a result, feel enlightened. I highly recommend it.
Amazon Customer
Who Are the Apostles was a pleasure to read. The detailed history of the apostles made my devotional reading of the Scriptures an even greater joy. The book is full of an array of biblical quotes, historical writings and church traditions that help fill out the life and mission of the twelve apostles within the context of the traditional Jewish use of apostles. The book is well documented with ample bibliography and suggested further readings.
Rev. R.V. Selle
The Apostolic Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Missionary
How God gave a girl from a small town in New Mexico a purpose in life
as a missionary to America
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This is a book about mission. The new edition of THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH traces the history of the phrase "apostolic church" in the third article of the Nicene Creed - and how and when the "mission" meaning was erased, but also how it still survives. The book begins by presenting research into the concept of "apostle" in ancient Greek history (the word first appears as a naval term), and then delves into the office of the Jewish "apostle." Jesus did not invent the word apostle. Jesus' apostles did much the same as the Jewish apostles, except for one thing which the Jewish apostles never attempted. The book then considers the broader use of the term apostle in the New Testament, something which has been glossed over in the past, but for which there is a long history in ancient times. Mission work by apostles in the second century is then considered, apostles that succeeded the Twelve Apostles, who evolved into a kind of "Great Sanhedrin," (After the Jewish Great Sanhedrin) in Jerusalem. These other apostles brought the Christian faith all over the world. Christian mission work in the second and third centuries is looked at, and the reason for the change in title from "apostle" to "missionary" is uncovered. The phrase "apostolic church" appears before the Council of Nicaea, in other Christian missionary creeds. Their history is shared.At the Council of Nicaea a process of converting the emphasis of the phrase is accomplished. The book takes a long look at the history of the council, and how the meaning of "apostolic church" was narrowed.The last part of the book suggests ways to recover the full meaning of "apostolic church."Questions for discussion follow after each major part of the book.