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使徒与门徒的基本定义是什么？
要理解使徒和门徒之间的区别，我们必须以耶稣基督和早期教会为榜样。 门徒的核心是教师或大师的追随者和学生。 在基督教的背景下，门徒是那些跟随耶稣，从他的教导中学习，并努力模仿他爱和服务的生活的人。
The word “disciple” comes from the Latin “discipulus,” meaning student or learner. We are all called to be disciples of Christ, to open our hearts to His message and allow it to transform our lives. As Jesus said, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples” (John 8:31). Discipleship is a lifelong journey of growing in faith, understanding, and obedience to God’s will.
An apostle, on the other hand, has a more specific role and calling. The term “apostle” comes from the Greek “apostolos,” meaning “one who is sent out.” While all apostles were first disciples, not all disciples became apostles. Apostles were chosen and commissioned by Jesus to be His representatives, to spread the Gospel, and to establish and lead the early Church.
The apostles had a unique authority and responsibility. They were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection, and were entrusted with the task of sharing this Good News with the world. As St. Paul wrote, “So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
It’s important to remember that both disciples and apostles play crucial roles in the life of the Church. While the apostles had a special mission, all of us are called to be disciples, to grow in our faith, and to share the love of Christ with others. I often remind the faithful that we are all missionary disciples, called to bring the joy of the Gospel to every corner of the world.
A disciple is a follower and learner, while an apostle is one specifically sent out with a mission. Both are vital to the life and growth of the Church, and both require a deep commitment to Christ and His teachings. Let us pray for the grace to be faithful disciples and, in our own way, apostles of Christ’s love in the world today.
与门徒相比有多少使徒？
当我们考虑使徒的数量与门徒相比时，我们必须记住，这些数字不仅反映了统计数据，而且反映了耶稣在地上事工时编织的美丽的信仰和社区挂毯。
Let us begin with the apostles. The Gospels tell us that Jesus chose twelve apostles, a number rich in symbolism, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. These men were Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John the sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. After Judas’s betrayal, Matthias was chosen to take his place, maintaining the number at twelve (Acts 1:26).
But we must not limit our understanding of apostleship to only these twelve. The New Testament also recognizes others as apostles, most notably Paul, who referred to himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 1:1). Barnabas, too, is called an apostle (Acts 14:14), as are James the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19) and possibly others.
说到门徒，这个数字要大得多，定义更少。 耶稣有许多追随者可以被视为门徒。 福音书提到一群耶稣派去传道的七十（或七十二）门徒（路加福音10:1-24）。 但除此之外，还有无数人跟随耶稣，向他学习，并寻求按照他的教导生活。
We read in the Acts of the Apostles that after Jesus’ ascension, the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly. At Pentecost alone, about three thousand people were baptized and added to their number (Acts 2:41). The community of disciples continued to grow, spreading beyond Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
It’s important to understand that while the number of apostles was limited, the call to discipleship is universal. Jesus invites all people to follow Him, to learn from Him, and to live in His love. As I often say, the Church is not an exclusive club for the few, but a home with open doors for all who seek God.
在我们的现代背景下，我们可以说，虽然有几十个使徒，在早期教会有成千上万的门徒，现在世界各地有数百万门徒。 我们每个人，通过我们的洗礼，被召唤成为基督的门徒，在信心中成长，并与他人分享这种信仰。
让我们不要被数字所吸引，而是关注我们门徒的质量。 我們真的跟隨基督嗎？ 我们从他的话语和榜样中学习吗？ 我们是否允许他的爱改变我们的生活和我们周围的人的生活？ 这些是最重要的问题。
記住，無論我們是多數還是少數，最重要的是我們把自己視為屬於基督，每天努力成為他在世上忠心的門徒。
使徒们有什么特殊的角色或权威，门徒没有？
When we consider the special roles and authority of the apostles, we must remember that their calling was not for their own glory, but for the service of God’s people and the spreading of the Gospel.
The apostles were chosen by Jesus Himself and given a unique mission. As we read in the Gospel of Mark, “He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mark 3:14-15). This personal selection by Christ gave the apostles a special authority and responsibility.
The apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. This firsthand experience gave them a unique ability to testify to the truth of the Gospel. As Peter proclaimed, “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem” (Acts 10:39). This role as witnesses was crucial in the early spread of Christianity.
Another key aspect of the apostles’ authority was their role in establishing and leading the early Church. We see this clearly in the Acts of the Apostles, where they make important decisions, settle disputes, and provide guidance to the growing community of believers. For example, it was the apostles who decided how to address the issue of Gentile converts and the Jewish law (Acts 15).
The apostles also had a special role in teaching and interpreting Jesus’ message. They were entrusted with the task of faithfully transmitting Christ’s teachings and applying them to new situations. As Paul wrote, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
The apostles were given the authority to perform miracles as a sign of God’s power working through them. We read numerous accounts in Acts of the apostles healing the sick and even raising the dead, always in the name of Jesus Christ.
The apostles also had a unique role in the formation of Scripture. Their teachings and writings, guided by the Holy Spirit, became the foundation of the New Testament. As the Church teaches, the apostles “handed on, by the spoken word of their preaching, by the example they gave, by the institutions they established, what they themselves had received” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 76).
最后，使徒们有特殊的权柄，通过双手赋予圣灵，我们今天在确认的圣礼中继续这种做法。 我们在使徒行传8:14-17中看到这一点，彼得和约翰把手放在撒玛利亚人的信徒身上，这样他们就可以接受圣灵。
It’s important to note, But that while the apostles had these special roles and authority, they were not set apart for their own sake, but for the building up of the entire Body of Christ. As Paul reminds us, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-12).
当我们尊重使徒的独特角色时，让我们记住，我们都被召唤成为门徒，在信心中成长，并与他人分享基督的爱。 给予使徒的权威最终是一种服务权威，是我们所有人的榜样，因为我们寻求跟随基督并在我们自己的时间和地点建立他的教会。
有人可以既是使徒又是门徒吗？
这个问题触及了我们基督教使命的核心。 答案是一个响亮的肯定 - 一个人既可以是使徒，也可以是门徒。 事实上，我要说，要成为一个真正的使徒，必须首先并且永远是门徒。
Let us look to the example of the first apostles. Before Jesus called them to be apostles, they were His disciples. They followed Him, learned from Him, and grew in their faith. Even after being commissioned as apostles, they continued to learn and grow in their understanding of Christ’s message and mission.
Consider Peter, the rock upon which Christ built His Church. Peter was both a devoted disciple and a commissioned apostle. He learned at the feet of Jesus, made mistakes, received correction, and continued to grow in faith and understanding even as he led the early Church. His journey reminds us that being an apostle does not mean one has “arrived” spiritually, but rather that one has been given a particular mission while continuing on the path of discipleship.
Paul, too, exemplifies this dual role. Though not one of the original twelve, Paul became an apostle through his encounter with the risen Christ. Yet he never ceased to be a disciple, constantly seeking to know Christ more deeply. As he wrote to the Philippians, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10). This is the heart of discipleship, even for one as prominent as the Apostle Paul.
In our own lives, we are all called to be disciples – followers of Christ who continually learn from Him and seek to imitate His love and service. Some are also called to apostolic roles, to be “sent out” in special ways to share the Gospel and build up the Church. But even those in leadership positions in the Church – bishops, priests, religious, and lay leaders – must always remain disciples at heart.
I often speak of the need for the Church to be a “field hospital,” reaching out to heal the wounds of our broken world. In this mission, we are all called to be both disciples and apostles. We are disciples as we continually learn from Christ and grow in our faith. We are apostles as we go out into the world, sharing the love and mercy of God with all we encounter.
Remember, that Jesus’ final command to His disciples was to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). In this Great Commission, we see the intertwining of discipleship and apostleship. We are sent out (as apostles) to help others become disciples.
Let us not think of these roles as mutually exclusive or as a hierarchy where apostleship is somehow “above” discipleship. Rather, let us see them as complementary aspects of our Christian life. We are always disciples, always learning, always growing closer to Christ. And we are always, in our own ways, apostles – sent out to share the Good News with a world in need of hope and love.
在你自己的生活中，我鼓励你培养这两个方面。 通过祷告、研究经文和参与圣礼加深你的门徒精神。 接受你的使徒呼召，寻找分享你的信仰，服侍他人和建立基督的身体的方法。
May we all, like Mary, be both faithful disciples who ponder God’s word in our hearts, and courageous apostles who proclaim, “My soul magnifies the Lord” to all the world.
今天在现代教会里有使徒和门徒吗？
这个问题邀请我们深入思考教会的本质和我们自己在其中的角色。 我认为答案既简单又有力： 是的，现代教会中既有使徒，也有门徒，虽然可能与早期基督教团体的完全不同。
Let us first consider disciples. In truth, all of us who follow Christ are called to be His disciples. Discipleship is not limited to a select few or to a particular time in history. Jesus’ invitation, “Come, follow me,” echoes through the centuries and reaches each of us today. To be a disciple means to learn from Christ, to imitate His love, and to grow in faith and understanding. In this sense, the Church today is filled with millions of disciples around the world, each striving to live out their faith in their daily lives.
使徒呢？ 这就是我们必须扩大我们的理解的地方。 虽然我们今天没有耶稣所拣选的十二个使徒，但使徒的使命在教会中仍在继续。 主教们，作为使徒的继任者，继续他们的教学，成圣和治理的使命。 从非常真实的意义上说，他们是我们这个时代的使徒，负责保存和传承信仰，并领导教会传福音世界的使命。
But we must not limit our understanding of the apostolic mission to the hierarchy alone. Vatican II reminded us that all the baptized share in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices. In this light, we can see that all Christians are called to participate in the apostolic mission of the Church, each according to their particular vocation and gifts.
想想普通天主教徒活出今天这个使徒召唤的多种方式：
离开家园的传教士在遥远的土地上分享福音
教问答者向儿童和成人传授信仰
把信仰传给孩子的父母
Social workers and volunteers who embody Christ’s love for the poor and marginalized
Artists and writers who use their talents to illuminate the beauty of God’s truth
Scientists and scholars who explore God’s creation and help us understand it better
Each of these, in their own way, is living out the apostolic mission of the Church. They are “sent out” (the literal meaning of “apostle”) to bring Christ’s love and truth to the world.
在我们日益互联的世界中，社交媒体和数字技术为使徒工作开辟了新的途径。 许多信徒使用这些平台来分享他们的信仰，提供鼓励，并参与关于生命的意义和我们信仰的真理的对话。
It’s important to remember that being an apostle in today’s world doesn’t necessarily mean holding an official position or title. It means living out our baptismal call to be “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). It means being willing to share our faith with others, to give witness to the joy and hope that come from knowing Christ.
同时，我们必须始终保持门徒，不断学习和成长在我们的信仰中。 这两个角色--门徒和使徒--不是分开的，而是紧密相连的。 我們總是向基督學習，也與他人分享我們所學到的東西。
I encourage you to embrace both your identity as a disciple of Christ and your mission as an apostle in today’s world. Seek to grow in your faith through prayer, study, and participation in the sacraments. And look for opportunities to share that faith with others, through your words and, even more importantly, through your actions of love and service. As you navigate the challenges of life, remember that your journey inspires those around you. Offer 衷心祈求门徒 不仅是为了你自己，也是为了那些寻求加深信仰的人。 我们可以共同创造一个根植于彼此的爱，支持和积极服务的社区。
请记住，教会既需要忠实的门徒，也需要勇敢的使徒。 以你自己独特的方式，你被称为两者。 愿上帝赐给你恩典，慷慨地回应这个呼召，为教会的建设和我们世界的转变。
耶稣对使徒与门徒的角色有何教导？
Jesus called many to follow him as disciples, but from among them he chose twelve to be apostles. This distinction is major. As we read in the Gospel of Luke, “When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles” (Luke 6:13).(Jesus as Teacher in the Gospel of Matthew, 2023)
The role of disciple was one of learning and following. Jesus invited all who would listen to become his disciples – to learn from him, to imitate his way of life, and to carry his message to others. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me,” Jesus taught (Luke 9:23). This call to discipleship was open to all.
The apostles, But were given a special commission and authority. Jesus “gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1-2). The very word “apostle” means “one who is sent.” They were to be the foundational leaders and witnesses of the Church.
To the apostles Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:22-23). This indicates a unique authority given to the apostles.
Yet we must remember, that Jesus called both apostles and disciples to the same fundamental vocation – to love God and neighbor, to proclaim the Good News, and to make disciples of all nations. The apostles had a leadership role, but all were to participate in the mission of the Church according to their gifts.
早期教会如何区分使徒和门徒？
In the early Church we see a gradual development in how the terms “apostle” and “disciple” were understood and applied. In the book of Acts and the letters of Paul, we find insights into how the first Christians viewed these roles.
Initially, the term “apostle” referred specifically to the Twelve chosen by Jesus, with Matthias replacing Judas (Acts 1:26). These men were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry and resurrection. As Peter declared, a requirement for an apostle was that he had “been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us” (Acts 1:21-22).(Hermina, 2023)
But we see the term “apostle” expanded somewhat to include Paul, who encountered the risen Christ in a vision, and perhaps others like Barnabas (Acts 14:14). Paul defended his apostleship, saying, “Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” (1 Corinthians 9:1).
The early Church recognized the unique authority of the apostles. We read that the believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42). The apostles performed many signs and wonders (Acts 5:12), and when a controversy arose, it was the apostles who gathered to make a decision for the whole Church (Acts 15).
“Disciple,” meanwhile, became a general term for all believers. In Acts we read that “the number of disciples was increasing” (Acts 6:1), referring to the growing community of Christians. All who believed in Christ were considered his disciples.
Yet, we must not think of this as a rigid hierarchy. The early Church was a community of mutual service and shared mission. As Paul wrote, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Each member had a role to play in building up the Church and spreading the Gospel.
The distinction between apostles and disciples reminds us that while we have different roles in the Church, we are all called to follow Christ and participate in his mission. Let us embrace our calling as disciples with humility, and respect the teaching authority passed down from the apostles, as we work together to build God’s kingdom.
教父们对使徒和门徒的教导是什么？
教会的父亲，那些早期基督教领袖和跟随使徒的神学家，深刻地反思了使徒和门徒在教会生活中的角色。 他们的教导帮助我们理解早期基督教社区如何看待这些重要的区别。
The Church Fathers emphasized the unique role of the apostles as eyewitnesses to Christ and founders of the Church. Irenaeus, writing in the 2nd century, stressed the importance of apostolic succession, saying that the apostles had entrusted the Church to the bishops as their successors. He wrote, “We can enumerate those who were appointed by the apostles as bishops in the churches, and their successors down to our own time.”(Langhu, 2022)
Clement of Rome, writing even earlier, around 95 AD, spoke of how the apostles had appointed leaders in every place where they preached, ensuring the continuity of the Church’s ministry. He emphasized that this was done “with the full knowledge of Christ.”(Staniforth & Louth, 1968)
Yet the Fathers also recognized that all Christians were called to be disciples of Christ. Origen, in the 3rd century, wrote extensively on discipleship, emphasizing that to be a true disciple meant not just learning Christ’s teachings, but imitating his life and carrying one’s cross.
父亲们把使徒看作所有信徒的门徒的模范。 John Chrysostom，在4世纪讲道，经常劝告他的会众效仿使徒们的热情，他们对基督的爱，以及他们愿意为福音受苦。
Importantly, the Fathers did not see the distinction between apostles and disciples as creating a hierarchy of holiness. All were called to the same fundamental vocation of love and service. As Augustine beautifully expressed it, “What does it mean to be a disciple? It means to be a learner. And what are we to learn? To follow Christ.”
教父们也承认使徒事工在教会中持续的作用，不限于原来的十二。 他们认为主教和祭司继续使徒的使命，同时强调所有信徒都有责任见证基督。
女人在圣经中是否被称为使徒或门徒？
这是一个重要的问题，涉及妇女在早期教会中的作用和我们对门徒和使徒的理解。 让我们敞开心扉，寻求理解圣经向我们揭示的内容。
In the Gospels, we see that Jesus had many women among his followers. Luke tells us of “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources” (Luke 8:2-3). These women were clearly disciples of Jesus, learning from him and supporting his ministry.(Sugiharto & Sirait, 2022)
At the crucifixion, when many of the male disciples had fled, it was women who remained faithful. The Gospels record that women were the first witnesses to the resurrection, commissioned by the risen Christ to tell the other disciples. In this sense, they functioned as “apostles to the apostles,” bearing the news of the resurrection.(Mensah, 2022)
In the early Church, we see women playing major roles. In Acts, we read of Priscilla, who along with her husband Aquila, instructed Apollos in “the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26). This suggests a teaching role for women in the early Christian community.
Most notably, in Romans 16:7, Paul refers to a woman named Junia as “outstanding among the apostles.” While there has been debate over the translation and interpretation of this verse, many scholars believe it indicates that Junia was considered an apostle in the early Church.(Reimer, 1995)
We also see women referred to as disciples. In Acts 9:36, we read of “a disciple named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas).” This is a clear instance of a woman being explicitly called a disciple.
这些经文表明，在早期教会中，门徒甚至使徒的角色不受性别的限制。 女性在跟随耶稣，传播福音和建立基督教社区方面发挥了至关重要的作用。
But we must be careful not to impose our modern categories onto the ancient text. The early Church was navigating complex cultural and social realities as it sought to live out the radical equality proclaimed in Christ: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
如何理解今天基督徒的差异？
Let us remember that we are all called to be disciples of Christ. This is the fundamental vocation of every Christian – to follow Jesus, to learn from him, and to imitate his life of love and service. As disciples, we are continually in a process of formation, growing in our faith and understanding. This calls us to humility and openness, always ready to learn and be transformed by Christ’s teaching and example.(Richard, 2021)
At the same time, we are all called to be “apostolic” in the sense of being sent into the world to share the Good News. As Jesus said to his disciples after the resurrection, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). This apostolic dimension of our faith challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones, to be witnesses to Christ in our families, workplaces, and communities.
了解使徒在建立教会的特殊作用有助于我们理解传统和使徒继承的重要性。 它提醒我們，我們的信仰不是我們發明的，而是傳給我們的寶貴禮物。 这应该激励我们深深地尊重教会的教导，并渴望与使徒的继任者保持共融。
Yet, let us not fall into the trap of thinking that only those in ordained ministry have an apostolic role. The Second Vatican Council reminded us of the universal call to holiness and mission. All the baptized share in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices. We are all called to participate in the Church’s mission according to our gifts and state in life.(Hill, 2020)
早期教会中女门徒和使徒的例子挑战我们确保教会的所有成员，不分性别，都有权使用她们的恩赐来服务福音。 我们必须努力克服任何不公正的歧视，承认妇女对教会生活和使命的重要贡献。
最后，理解这些区别应该加深我们在教会内部多样性中的合一感。 正如保羅所教導的，我們是一個有許多部分的身體，每個部分都有自己的功能，但都為共同利益而共同努力（哥林多前書12）。 让我们庆祝教会内各种职业和事工，同时记住，我们都团结在跟随基督和让世界知道他的基本呼召。
愿这种理解激励我们更充分地接受我们作为基督门徒的身份，以及我们作为他在世上见证人的使命。 让我们带着喜乐走出去，对圣灵的力量充满信心，建立教会，并将上帝的爱传播给我们遇到的所有人。
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