Definition and Content of Apostles' Doctrine
The apostles' doctrine refers to the teachings and instructions given by Jesus Christ to his apostles, which they then preached and disseminated to others. This doctrine is rooted in the biblical account of Jesus' ministry and the apostles' role in continuing his work after his resurrection and ascension [1, 2].
The content of the apostles' doctrine is closely tied to the teachings of Jesus Christ. According to John Gill, the doctrine preached by the apostles was "not commands, but doctrines; and these not the doctrines of men; nor any of the divers and strange doctrines; but what are called in Scripture the doctrine of God, of Christ, of the apostles" [6]. The apostles' teaching was centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is described as "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God" [7].
In Acts 2:42, the early Christian community is described as continuing "steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown interpret this as the believers giving themselves up to the instructions of the apostles, which were essential for consolidating the large number of new disciples [3]. John Gill further explains that the apostles' doctrine was the same as the doctrine of Christ, and that it included teachings on peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation through Jesus Christ [9].
The early church fathers also emphasized the importance of the apostles' doctrine. Tertullian argued that all doctrine that comes through the church from the apostles, who were taught by God through Christ, is true [4]. Similarly, Augustine vindicated the doctrine of the apostles as opposed to idolatry, citing the prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ [5].
The apostles' doctrine was not a static or rigid set of teachings, but rather a dynamic and living tradition that was passed down through the early Christian community. Charles Hodge notes that the apostles, especially Paul, began with a regular process of proof that all people are under sin, and then presented the gospel as God's method of saving sinners [8].
The apostles' doctrine remains a foundational aspect of Christian theology, emphasizing the centrality of Jesus Christ and the gospel message. As the early church fathers and Reformers understood it, this doctrine continues to shape Christian thought and practice to this day.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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. 10:1-5; 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. 10:2-4; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14), and one in the Acts (1:13). No two of these lists”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Apostle — (one sent forth), in the New Testament originally the official name of those twelve of the disciples whom Jesus chose to send forth first to preach the gospel and to be with him during the course of his ministry on earth. The word also appears to have been used in a non-official sense to designate a much wider circle of Christian messengers and teachers See (2 Corinthians 8:23; Philemon 2:25) It is only of those who were officially designated apostles that we treat in the article. Their names are given in (Matthew 10:2-4) and Christ's charge to them in the r”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 2:42: continued steadfastly in--"attended constantly upon." the apostles' doctrine--"teaching"; giving themselves up to the instructions which, in their raw state, would be indispensable to the consolidation of the immense multitude suddenly admitted to visible discipleship. fellowship--in its largest sense. breaking of bread--not certainly in the Lord's Supper alone, but rather in frugal repasts taken together, with which the Lord's Supper was probably conjoined until abuses and persecution led to the discontinuance of the common meal. prayers--probab”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XXI.--ALL DOCTRINE TRUE WHICH COMES THROUGH THE CHURCH FROM THE APOSTLES, WHO WERE TAUGHT BY GOD THROUGH CHRIST. ALL OPINION WHICH HAS NO SUCH DIVINE ORIGIN AND APOSTOLIC TRADITION TO SHOW, IS I: From this, therefore, do we draw up our rule. Since the Lord Jesus Christ sent the apostles to preach, (our rule is) that no others ought to be received as preachers than those whom Christ appointed; for "no man knoweth the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him."(12) Nor does the Son seem to have revealed Him to any other than the apostles, who”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XXXII.--A STATEMENT IN VINDICATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE APOSTLES AS OPPOSED TO IDOLATRY, IN THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECIES. (part 2): all which, nevertheless, the prophets, whose books are now in the hands of the enemies of Christ, foretold so long before Christ became the Son of man? 50. From this, therefore, let them understand that the matter is not left obscure or doubtful even to the slowest and dullest minds: from this, I say, let these perverse applauders of Christ and execrators of the Christian religion understand that the discip”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 17:8: For I have given unto them the words,.... Not commands, but doctrines; and these not the doctrines of men; nor any of the divers and strange doctrines; but what are called in Scripture the doctrine of God, of Christ, of the apostles, are agreeably to the Scriptures, and according to godliness; and are styled the word of truth, of faith, of righteousness, of peace and reconciliation, of life and salvation, and of the Gospel; and which Christ gave to his disciples, and gifts along with them to preach them, and abilities to help them: which thou gavest me; for the words ”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 1:11: According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God,.... For no doctrine is sound, but what is agreeable to that: this is a very great encomium of the Gospel. The doctrine preached by the apostles was not only Gospel, or good news, and glad tidings, but the Gospel of God; of which he is the author, and which relates to his glory, the glory of all his perfections; which reveals his purposes, shows his covenant, and exhibits the blessings and promises of it; and is the Gospel of the blessed God, who is blessed in himself, and is the fountain of blessedness to others;”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 50: The Apostle, especially in his Epistle to the Romans, begins with a regular process of proof, that all, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under sin. Until this fact is admitted and acknowledged, there is no place for and no need of the Gospel, which is God’s method of saving sinners. Paul therefore begins by asserting God’s purpose to punish all sin. He then shows that the Gentiles are universally chargeable with the sin of impiety; that although knowing God, they neither worship him as God, nor are thankful. The natural, judicial, and theref”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 2:41: And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine,.... And which is the same with the doctrine of Christ, of which he is the author, preacher, and subject; the substance of which is peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by him: this the apostles received from Christ, and constantly taught in their ministry; for which reason, it is called theirs; and this these young converts had embraced gladly; and were not only believers of it, but persevering believers; they were constant hearers of it; they continually attended on the ministry of the apostles, and held ”