What does apostolic mean?
'Apostolic' is an adjective describing anything connected with the apostles — the original followers of Jesus commissioned to spread his message — or with their teachings, writings, and era. In everyday religious language it appears in phrases such as 'the apostolic church' and in creeds that affirm belief in 'the holy catholic and apostolic church.' Historians use the term to label the Apostolic Age, the first century of Christianity when eyewitnesses of Jesus were still alive and foundational texts were written. In many traditions, including Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches, 'apostolic' also refers to apostolic succession: the claim that bishops today stand in an unbroken chain of ordination reaching back to the apostles themselves. Formal and reverent in tone, the word signals authority, continuity, and doctrinal fidelity, making it central to theological debate about what counts as authentic Christian teaching.
adjectiveRelating to the apostles of Jesus Christ or to their teachings, authority, or era; more broadly, characteristic of the early Christian church founded on the apostles' doctrine.
- Directly relating to the twelve apostles of Christ, their writings, teachings, or authority.
- Characteristic of the doctrine, practice, or spirit of the early Christian church of the apostolic age.
- (Of churches or traditions) claiming continuity with the apostles through apostolic succession, as in Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox usage.
"The creed affirms belief in the holy catholic and apostolic church."
"Scholars refer to the period before roughly 100 AD as the Apostolic Age, when the apostles themselves were still living."
"The new bishop's consecration was said to preserve an unbroken line of apostolic succession stretching back to Saint Peter."
The Nicene Creed's phrase 'one holy catholic and apostolic church' has kept this 2,000-year-old word in weekly use across the world ever since.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apostolic
'Apostolic' derives from the Greek 'apostolos,' meaning 'one sent forth' or messenger, formed from 'apostellein,' 'to send away.' The Greek term passed into Latin as 'apostolus' and then into Old French before entering English, where the adjective was established by the late Middle Ages alongside the noun 'apostle.' Related forms include 'apostolate' (the office or mission of an apostle) and 'apostleship.' The word's lineage thus reflects the transmission of early Christian vocabulary from Greek through Latin into the languages of Western Europe.
Related word forms
How apostolic is actually used
'Apostolic' is primarily a formal, religious, and scholarly term, appearing most often in theology, church history, and liturgical language. It carries connotations of antiquity, authority, and orthodoxy within Christian contexts. Outside religious writing it is rare, though it occasionally appears in historical discussion of the first-century church. The related noun 'apostolicity' denotes the quality of being apostolic.
Easily confused with apostolic
An apostate is someone who has abandoned or renounced a religious faith, whereas 'apostolic' describes things connected to the apostles and their teaching.
'Apocryphal' means of doubtful authenticity or spurious origin, while 'apostolic' means genuinely relating to the apostles.