"a sending, expedition; office or duty of one sent as a messenger or agent; office of an apostle, apostleship, Acts 1:25; Rom. 1:5; 1 Cor. 9:2; Gal. 2:8*"
Definition and meaning
a sending, expedition; office or duty of one sent as a messenger or agent; office of an apostle, apostleship, Acts 1:25; Rom. 1:5; 1 Cor. 9:2; Gal. 2:8*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀποστολή
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of apostole (G651) across the King James Bible.
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
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Common questions
Strong's G651 (apostole) is a Greek word that means: a sending, expedition; office or duty of one sent as a messenger or agent; office of an apostle, apostleship, Acts 1:25; Rom. 1:5; 1 Cor. 9:2; Gal. 2:8* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word apostole (G651) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G651 is apostole, a Greek word defined as: a sending, expedition; office or duty of one sent as a messenger or agent; office of an apostle, apostleship, Acts 1:25; Rom. 1:5; 1 Cor. 9:2; Gal. 2:. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
apostole is a Greek word found in the New Testament.