What is the Difference Between Apostle and Disciple?

The main difference between an apostle and a disciple lies in their roles and the extent of their involvement with Jesus' teachings. Here are the key differences:

• Definition: A disciple is a student or learner who follows a teacher, while an apostle is a messenger or someone who is sent to deliver the teachings of the teacher to others.
• Relationship with Jesus: All apostles were disciples, but not all disciples were apostles. Disciples were followers of Christ who believed in him and followed his teachings. Apostles, on the other hand, were specifically chosen by Jesus to spread the gospel after his death and resurrection.
• Number: Jesus had many disciples throughout his ministry, but he chose only twelve apostles to be part of his inner circle. These twelve apostles were among Jesus' closest disciples and were given the responsibility to spread his message after his death.
• Role: Disciples were primarily learners who devoted themselves to learning from Jesus, while apostles were tasked with spreading Jesus' teachings and establishing the early Christian church.

In summary, a disciple is a follower of Christ who learns from his teachings, while an apostle is a disciple chosen specifically by Jesus to spread his teachings to others. All apostles were disciples, but not all disciples were apostles. The term disciple is used more widely and can describe people outside the original twelve, while the term apostle is reserved for the twelve individuals directly linked to Jesus.

Comparative Table: Apostle vs Disciple

Here is a table comparing the differences between an apostle and a disciple:

In summary, apostles were chosen by Jesus to spread his teachings after his death and resurrection, while disciples are followers of Jesus who believe in him as their Lord and Savior and hold onto his teachings.