What does apostolical mean?
Apostolical is an adjective meaning relating to the apostles — the original followers of Jesus Christ commissioned to spread his teachings — or to their doctrines, authority, and historical period. It appears most often in Christian theology and church history, where it describes things believed to descend from the apostles themselves: apostolical succession refers to the unbroken chain of ordination linking today's bishops to the first apostles, while apostolical times denotes the earliest era of the church. The word carries a formal, scholarly connotation and is largely confined to ecclesiastical writing; in contemporary English the shorter form 'apostolic' has become standard, making 'apostolical' feel distinctly traditional or archaic. Derived from Greek via Latin, it shares its root with words such as apostle and apostleship. For readers of older sermons, histories, and doctrinal works, recognizing apostolical clarifies references to the foundational authority of the primitive church.
adjectiveRelating to the apostles of Jesus Christ or to their teachings, authority, or era; characteristic of the early Christian church founded by them.
- Relating to the apostles or their teachings, authority, or mission.
- Characteristic of or belonging to the early Christian church of the apostolic age.
- (Of church order or doctrine) derived from or claimed to derive from the apostles, as in apostolical succession.
"The bishop traced his ordination through an unbroken apostolical lineage reaching back to Saint Peter."
"The seminary's curriculum emphasized the writings of the apostolical fathers alongside later theology."
"Critics argued that the new rite lacked any genuine apostolical foundation."
Before 'apostolic' became the standard form, English writers for centuries used this longer cousin — and it still survives in phrases like 'apostolical succession' in older theological texts.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apostolical
Apostolical derives from Greek 'apostolos', meaning 'one sent forth' or messenger, formed from 'stello' ('to send'). The term passed into Latin as 'apostolicus' and entered English in the medieval and early modern period, when it was used in theological contexts concerning the apostles and their authority. It is closely related to 'apostle', 'apostolate', and 'apostleship', all stemming from the same Greek root, and functions as a longer variant of the more common modern adjective 'apostolic'.
Related word forms
How apostolical is actually used
A formal, chiefly ecclesiastical and historical term, found mostly in religious scholarship, liturgical discussion, and older theological literature. In modern usage 'apostolic' has largely displaced it, so 'apostolical' often signals an older text or deliberately archaic register.
Easily confused with apostolical
Apostolic and apostolical are essentially variant spellings of the same adjective meaning 'relating to the apostles', with apostolical being the older, now less common form.