APHIAH to APOSTLES
Contents
APHIAH
A Benjamite 1Sa 9:1
APHIK
(Judg. 1:31); Aphek (Josh. 13:4; 19:30), stronghold.
(1.) A city of the tribe of Asher. It was the scene of the licentious worship of the Syrian Aphrodite. The ruins of the temple, "magnificent ruins" in a "spot of strange wildness and beauty", are still seen at Afka, on the northwest slopes of Lebanon, near the source of the river Adonis (now Nahr Ibrahim), 12 miles east of Gebal.
(2.) A city of the tribe of Issachar, near to Jezreel (1 Sam. 4:1; 29:1; comp. 1 Sam 28:4).
(3.) A town on the road from Damascus to Palestine, in the level plain east of Jordan, near which Benhadad was defeated by the Israelites (1 Kings 20:26, 30; 2 Kings 13:17). It has been identified with the modern Fik, 6 miles east of the Sea of Galilee, opposite Tiberias.
See APHEK
APHRAH
A city Mic 1:10
Perhaps identical with OPHRAH 1Ch 4:14
APHSES
A governor of the temple 1Ch 24:15
APOLLONIAONIA
A city of Macedonia Ac 17:1 Apocalypse the Greek name of the Book of Revelation (q.v.).
APOCRYPHA
hidden, spurious, the name given to certain ancient books which found a place in the LXX. and Latin Vulgate versions of the Old Testament, and were appended to all the great translations made from them in the sixteenth century, but which have no claim to be regarded as in any sense parts of the inspired Word.
(1.) They are not once quoted by the New Testament writers, who frequently quote from the LXX. Our Lord and his apostles confirmed by their authority the ordinary Jewish canon, which was the same in all respects as we now have it.
(2.) These books were written not in Hebrew but in Greek, and during the "period of silence," from the time of Malachi, after which oracles and direct revelations from God ceased till the Christian era.
(3.) The contents of the books themselves show that they were no part of Scripture. The Old Testament Apocrypha consists of fourteen books, the chief of which are the Books of the Maccabees (q.v.), the Books of Esdras, the Book of Wisdom, the Book of Baruch, the Book of Esther, Ecclesiasticus, Tobit, Judith, etc.
The New Testament Apocrypha consists of a very extensive literature, which bears distinct evidences of its nonapostolic origin, and is utterly unworthy of regard.
APOLLONIA
a city of Macedonia between Amphipolis and Thessalonica, from which it was distant about 36 miles. Paul and Silas passed through it on their way to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1).
APOLLOS
a Jew "born at Alexandria," a man well versed in the Scriptures and eloquent (Acts 18:24; R.V., "learned").
He came to Ephesus (about A.D. 49), where he spake "boldly" in the synagogue (Acts 18:26), although he did not know as yet that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. Aquila and Priscilla instructed him more perfectly in "the way of God", i.e., in the knowledge of Christ. He then proceeded to Corinth, where he met Paul (Acts 18:27; 19:1).
He was there very useful in watering the good seed Paul had sown (1 Cor. 1:12), and in gaining many to Christ. His disciples were much attached to him (1 Cor. 3:47, 22). He was with Paul at Ephesus when he wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians; and Paul makes kindly reference to him in his letter to Titus 3:13).
Some have supposed, although without sufficient ground, that he was the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
An eloquent, Christian convert at Corinth Ac 18:24,28; 19:1; 1Co 1:12; 3:47 Refuses to return to Rome 1Co 16:12 Paul writes Titus about Tit 3:13
APOLLYON
destroyer, the name given to the king of the hosts represented by the locusts (Rev. 9:11). It is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Abaddon (q.v.).
Angel of the bottomless pit Re 9:11
APOSTASY
Described Deut 13:13; Heb 3:12 Caused by persecution Mt 24:9,10; Lk 8:13 Caused by worldliness 2Ti 4:10
Guilt and punishment of Zep 1:46; Heb 10:25,31, 39; 2Pe 2:17, 20,22 Cautions against Heb 3:12; 2Pe 3:17 Shall abound in the latter days Mt 24:12; 2Th 2:3; 1Ti 4:13
See ANTICHRIST
UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO Deut 32:15; 1Ch 28:9; Isa 1:28; 65:11,16; Jer 17:56; Eze 3:20; 33:12, 18:24, 26; 13, 18; Mt 13:20,21; 24:10, 12; Mr 4:5,17; Lk 8:13; 11:24,26; Jn 15:6; Ac 7:39,43; 1Co 9:27; 2Th 2:3, 11,12; 1Ti 4:12; 2Ti 3:19; 4:34; Heb 6:48; 2Pe 2:1, 15, 10:26,29; 17, 20,22; 3:17; Jude 1:46
INSTANCES OF Israelites Ex 32; Nu 14 .Saul 1Sa 15:26,29; 18:12; 28:15, 18 .Amaziah 2Ch 25:14, 27 .Disciples Jn 6:66 .Judas Mt 26:14,16; 27:35; Lk 22:36, Mr 14:10,11; 4748; Ac 1:16,18 .Hymenaeus and Alexander 1Ti 1:19,20 .Phygellus and Hermogenes 2Ti 1:15 .
APOSTLE
a person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Heb. 3:1; John 20:21).
It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel, "the twelve," as they are called (Matt. 10:15; Mark 3:14; 6:7; Luke 6:13; 9:1). We have four lists of the apostles, one by each of the synoptic evangelists (Matt. 10:24; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14), and one in the Acts 1:13. No two of these lists, however, perfectly coincide.
Our Lord gave them the "keys of the kingdom," and by the gift of his Spirit fitted them to be the founders and governors of his church (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, 27; 16:7,15). To them, as representing his church, he gave the commission to "preach the gospel to every creature" (Matt. 28:18,20).
After his ascension he communicated to them, according to his promise, supernatural gifts to qualify them for the discharge of their duties (Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 2:16; 2:7, 10, 13; 2 Cor. 5:20; 1 Cor. 11:2). Judas Iscariot, one of "the twelve," fell by transgression, and Matthias was substituted in his place (Acts 1:21). Saul of Tarsus was afterwards added to their number (Acts 9:3,20; 20:4; 26:15,18; 1 Tim. 1:12; 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11).
Luke has given some account of Peter, John, and the two Jameses (Acts 12:2, 17; 15:13; 21:18), but beyond this we know nothing from authentic history of the rest of the original twelve. After the martyrdom of James the Greater (Acts 12:2), James the Less usually resided at Jerusalem, while Paul, "the apostle of the uncircumcision," usually travelled as a missionary among the Gentiles (Gal. 2:8).
It was characteristic of the apostles and necessary
(1) that they should have seen the Lord, and been able to testify of him and of his resurrection from personal knowledge (John 15:27; Acts 1:21,22; 1 Cor. 9:1; Acts 22:14, 15).
(2.) They must have been immediately called to that office by Christ (Luke 6:13; Gal. 1:1).
(3.) It was essential that they should be infallibly inspired, and thus secured against all error and mistake in their public teaching, whether by word or by writing (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Thess. 2:13).
(4.) Another qualification was the power of working miracles (Mark 16:20; Acts 2:43; 1 Cor. 12:8,11). The apostles therefore could have had no successors. They are the only authoritative teachers of the Christian doctrines. The office of an apostle ceased with its first holders.
In 2 Cor. 8:23 and Phil. 2:25 the word "messenger" is the rendering of the same Greek word, elsewhere rendered "apostle."
An appellation of Jesus Heb 3:1
See APOSTLES
APOSTLES
A title distinguishing the twelve disciples, whom Jesus selected to be intimately associated with himself Lk 6:13 Names of Mt 10:24; Mr 3:16,19; Lk 6:13,16; Ac 1:13, 26
Selection of Mt 4:18,22; 9:9,10; 10:24; Mr 3:13,19; Lk 6:13,16; Jn 1:43 Commission of Mt 10; Mt 28:19,20; Mr 3:14,15; 6:7,11; 16:15; Lk 9:15; 22:28,30; Jn 20:23; 21:15,19; Ac 1; 2; Ac 10:42
Unlearned Mt 11:25; Ac 4:13 Miraculous power given to Mt 10:1; Mr 3:15; 6:7; 16:17; Lk 9:12; 10:9, 17; Ac 2:4, 43; 5:12,16; 1Co 14:18; 2Co 12:12
Authority of .See COMMISSION OF, above and Mt 16:19; 18:18; 19:28 Inspiration of Mt 10:27; 16:17,19; Lk 24:45; Ac 1:2; 13:9
Duties of .See COMMISSION OF, above, and Lk 24:48; Ac 1:8, Jn 15:27; 21,22; 2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 5:32; 10:39,41; 13:31; 2Pe 1:16, 18; 1Jo 1:13
See MINISTER
Moral state of, before Pentecost Mt 17:17; 18:3; 20:22; Lk 9:54,55 Slow to receive Jesus, as Messiah Mt 14:33 Forsake Jesus Mr 14:50
Fail to comprehend the nature and mission of Jesus, and the nature of the kingdom he came to establish Mt 8:25,27; 16:8,12, 15:23; 21, 22; 19:25; Mr 4:13; 6:51, 52; 9:9, 10, 8:17, 18; 31, 32; 10:13, 14; Lk 9:44, 45; 18:34; 24:19, 21; Jn 4:32, 33; 10:6; 11:12, 13; 12:16; 13:68; 16:6, 17, 14:59, 22; 18, 32; 20:9; 21:12; Ac 1:6
See BARNABAS
See MATTHIAS
See MINISTER
See PAUL
FALSE 2Co 11:13; Re 2:2
See TEACHERS, FALSE