The 13th apostle is not an officially established title, as the Bible only lists 12 apostles (Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon, Judas (son of James), and Judas Iscariot).
However, there have been different figures throughout Christianity’s history who have been labelled the 13th apostle by different denominations and sects.
In early church writings, Paul is sometimes referred to as the 13th apostle due to his evangelism and prominent role in the spread of Christianity. Additionally, certain Catholics and Eastern Orthodox denominations consider Mary Magdalene a 13th apostle based on her role in the gospel and in the early Church.
Other figures such as Matthias, Barnabas, Apollos, Priscilla, Mary (mother of Jesus), and John the Beloved have also been identified as 13th apostles. Ultimately, understanding the 13th apostle is a matter of doctrinal preference and personal interpretation.
Why is Judas called the 13th disciple?
Judas is widely referred to as the 13th disciple because he was the last of Jesus’ twelve disciples to be added to the group. Judas betrayed Jesus and is generally remembered as having a negative connotation in the narrative of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Despite having a part in Jesus’ crucifixion, some people still consider Judas to have been a true disciple of Jesus since he had been there from the start.
Judas was the only disciple to possess the name of “Iscariot” which means “man of Kerioth” at the time of his allegiance to Jesus. Furthermore, his name wasn’t always indicative of his negative characteristics and associations.
In Jesus’ time, the name Judas simply meant “praise” due to its Greek translation, “Iouda,” which originates from either “Judah” or “Yehudah” in Hebrew.
The name of the thirteenth disciple is often argued with disagreement among scholars and the Bible. Some believe that Judas represents the symbolic power of opposition between faith and rejection of faith.
Others believe that Judas was a necessary part of the crucifixion narrative which leads us to salvation. No matter how Judas is interpreted, he will remain the 13th disciple due to his position in the group.
How many of the 13 apostles are left?
None of the original 13 apostles are still alive today. All of them have died, leaving no living apostles from the time of Jesus and the bible. The apostles were Jesus’ closest disciples and were the first to spread the Christian faith after Jesus’ death.
Paul, who was not one of the original apostles but was accepted as an apostle by the other disciples, is considered to be the last living person of the original 12 apostles. Paul died around 64-67 CE.
Since then, there have been no living apostles. The term “apostle” is now used more generally to refer to missionaries of the Christian faith and is not limited to 12.
Who was the only female apostle in the Bible?
The only female apostle in the Bible is Junia or “Junias” as it appears in some translations. She is mentioned in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:7): “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me”.
Junia is named alongside Andronicus as a fellow apostle, and their Christian faith is established as being pre-emptive to Paul’s own. Other English translations have referred to Junia as a female (NRSV for example).
Some translations have alternatively used the masculine form of the name, “Junias”, which suggests a male Apostle Junias. In all likelihood, the Romans would have referred to Junia as a female, lending support to the belief that she was the only female Apostle in the Bible.
Which apostle replaced Judas?
The apostle who replaced Judas was Matthias. According to Acts 1:15-26, when Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and then hanged himself, the apostles chose Matthias to take his place. To make their selection, they prayed to God and then cast lots, which Matthias won.
Matthias was a witness of the whole ministry of Jesus and was also present at the ascension of Jesus. He is believed to have preached the Gospel with enthusiasm in Judea and other areas of the ancient world.
Some ancient sources even suggest he traveled as far as present-day Ethiopia, although this is impossible to verify.
What is the meaning of 13 in the Bible?
The number 13 in the Bible can hold a variety of meanings. It can represent the 12 disciples plus Jesus, the 12 tribes of Israel plus Judah, the 12 sons of Jacob plus Rachel, and the 12 New Testament authors plus Paul.
Additionally, it can symbolize the completeness of God’s word, since it appears in the count of books in the Bible as well as within the verse structure. The number 13 can also be seen to represent holiness and perfection, as it appears in various references to the “Passover of the Lord” in the Book of Exodus.
Furthermore, it is sometimes used to refer to the church, since it is the total number of letters in the first three words of Hebrews 12: “Until we all come”. Finally, 13 can have a spiritual significance in relation to Jesus’ crucifixion, since Jesus was seen to have died at the age of 33, and 33 is composed of the two numerals 3 and 3, which together sum to the number 13.
Why are there only 8 of the 12 apostles left?
The remaining 8 apostles are the only ones mentioned in the bible. According to Christian tradition, Jesus chose 12 disciples to accompany him, and 120 early followers to spread his teachings after his death.
Tradition states that the Twelve Apostles were fishermen on the sea of Galilee, who were called by Jesus to follow him. Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James and Judas Iscariot were the original twelve apostles.
Of the twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, so he can no longer be counted as one of the apostles. According to some biblical references, James the son of Alphaeus and Matthew also died during Jesus’ lifetime.
James was killed by Herod Agrippa according to Acts 12:2, while Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia according to church tradition. This leaves eight of the original twelve apostles alive today.
These eight apostles are Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Simon the Zealot. They were all witnesses to Jesus’ teachings and miracles, and were directly involved in the establishment of the early Church.
To this day, they are remembered as key figures in the growth of Christianity.
What was the name of the 13 disciples?
The names of Jesus’ twelve apostles were Simon Peter, Andrew, James (son of Zebedee), John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot.
Additionally, Paul is often categorized as the thirteenth apostle.
Who is the 13 Apostle at the Last Supper?
The 13 apostles at the Last Supper were the inner core of Jesus’ closest followers. They were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (Levi), James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot, and Judas son of James (also known as Thaddaeus).
In total, Jesus had around seventy disciples, but these twelve (especially Peter, James, John, and Judas Iscariot) were considered his closest confidants and the ones who would compose the founding members of his church.