Meet the Apostles

All Christians are familiar with the fact that there were twelve original apostles. The names Peter, John, James, "Doubting Thomas," Judas Iscariot, etc. are household words. However, many Christians would be hard-pressed to name all twelve of the original apostles, impeded in part by the fact that at least two apostles have different names in different New Testament books. Even more difficult would be the task of naming the other people (excepting Paul) in the New Testament that have the word "apostle" associated with them. This book will look at all of the apostles mentioned in the New Testament, using "Biblical and Legendary Sources" such as the New Testament, and the works of Eusebius, Hippolytus, Irenaeus, and Flavius Josephus. Part One of this book will focus on "The Twelve" apostles chosen by Jesus. Part Two of this book focuses on apostles named in the New Testament outside of the Twelve, including Paul, James the Just (the brother of Jesus), Barnabas, Matthias, Andronicus and Junias. An appendix, "Leadership in the Early Church," compares and contrasts the role of the apostles with other leaders, such as deacons, bishops and elders.