Posts on the ancient apostles and disciples
Judas Iscariot was privileged to be one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus Christ. He is known primarily for betraying Jesus to the unbelieving Jewish authorities in exchange for thirty pieces of silver. His actions led to Jesus’ immediate arrest by a mob of the corrupted temple agents which included apostate Rabbis, and a … Read more
Although Simon is listed among the Twelve Chosen, he is one of two disciples who are not featured individually in any specific narrative in the New Testament. The name Simon is of Hebrew origin and it means one who harkens or listens. In three of the four Gospel accounts, Simon the Zealot is listed as … Read more
Jude the Half Brother of Jesus by Joseph’s First wife Saint Jude the Apostle (or Judah) is also known as Thaddaeus Luke 6:16. Jude is the author of The Epistle of Jude. He is almost universally understood to be one of the four half-brothers of Jesus Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3, from Joseph’s first wife. In … Read more
It is likely the observant Jewish couple Alphaeus and Mary lived in Capernaum and had at least three sons, the Apostle Matthew, the Evangelist (the Gospel writer) Link to Matthew, Joseph (or Jose in Mark’s Gospel), and the Apostle James the Lesser (meaning younger or shorter). The Apostle “James the Son of Alphaeus” is listed … Read more
One of the evidences that the Bible was divinely authored by God, and not by a committee of 40 to 60 (or more) cleaver people spanning over a millennium or two, is that it (The Bible) has a single primary literary theme and a single literary voice. Despite having many narratives with many, many sub-themes … Read more
Like so many of Jesus’ disciples, Thomas was a Galilean. Though he is listed as an Apostle of Christ in all four of the Gospels Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, and John 21:2, the specific event when he was called to be a disciple is not mentioned in the Scriptures. Thomas was an eyewitness … Read more
Matthew was Raised in the Seaside Village of Capernaum Matthew and his brothers were raised in the small coastal fishing village located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, called Capernaum. Many Bible scholars agree that his parents, Alphaeus & Mary, the Mother of James the Lesser were a devout and observant Jewish … Read more
Nathanael was born in Cana, a small town on a plain west of the Sea of Galilee. His father was named Tolmai. The Confusion about Nathanael Bartholomew’s Name Explained His given or first name, Nathanael, is of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the Hebrew root words natan, which literally means to give, and El, … Read more
Philip Was From the Seaside Fishing Village of Bethsaida Bethsaida is a coastal village located on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The name of the town, Bethsaida is Aramaic for house of fishing. It was the home town of Philip the Pragmatic Apostle, and his friend the Apostle Nathanael Bartholomew, who was … Read more
James was from The Seaside Village of Capernaum The Apostle James, the Greater, was born in the little fishing village of Capernaum which is located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. He was one of the two sons of Zebedee, the Fisherman, and his wife Salome who was also called Mary. Like … Read more
A Christian worldview is a “God’s eye” view of our world. Creation is both visible (the physical world) and invisible (the metaphysical, “spiritual” world). Ancient Christianity understands that the visible and invisible worlds are coexistent, transcendent and indistinguishable.
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