Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The two apostles who are referred to by the name Judas are two different individuals: Judas Iscariot (who is always referred to by that name in the gospels) and Judas of James (that is, Judas the son of James), who is also referred to as Thaddaeus/Lebbaeus (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:16), or as Judas (not Iscariot)(John 14:22).

January 19 2024 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Zachary Campbell

There are indeed four lists of Jesus' disciples in the New Testament, and they do present some differences. Here's a breakdown of the key points:

**Differences:**

* **Order:** While the disciples are always grouped in threes, the order within each group differs slightly between Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This could simply be due to differing perspectives or emphasis from each author.
* **Number:** Acts only lists 11 disciples, excluding Judas Iscariot after his death. This reflects the historical reality of the Apostles needing to replace him (Acts 1:21-26).
* **Judas:** Notably, there are two individuals named Judas listed:
* **Judas Iscariot:** Always mentioned with this epithet to distinguish him, he famously betrayed Jesus.
* **Judas (not Iscariot) / Thaddaeus / Lebbaeus:** This individual appears with different names depending on the Gospel. The most likely explanation is these names refer to the same person, perhaps to avoid confusion with the infamous Judas Iscariot.

**Context:**

* **Timeline:** It's important to remember these lists represent different moments in Jesus' ministry. They might not aim to give an exhaustive, fixed order of all disciples.
* **Individual focus:** Each Gospel has its own unique perspective and theological aims. Their lists might prioritize certain individuals relevant to their narrative.
* **Oral tradition:** Early Christian communities likely transmitted information orally before the Gospels were written. Slight variations could have arisen during this oral transmission.

**Historical context:**

* **Language:** The Gospels were written in Koine Greek, a language with varied dialects and name variations. This could contribute to seemingly different names for the same person.
* **Cultural understanding:** Understanding first-century Jewish naming practices is crucial. People often had multiple names or nicknames, depending on context.

**Therefore, the seemingly different lists do not imply contradictions.** They likely reflect differing perspectives, historical context, and the fluidity of names in the early Christian communities. Analyzing these lists in context provides a deeper understanding of the early Church and its diverse perspectives on Jesus' twelve closest disciples.

**Further Resources:**

* Why are the lists of disciples different in the Bible?: [[invalid URL removed]]([invalid URL removed])
* Apostles in the New Testament: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles_in_the_New_Testament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles_in_the_New_Testament)

February 14 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Shirley H Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

Everything in the Bible is there for a purpose.

In Matthew we see the disciples called. We see in 4:19, Jesus says, "I will make you fishers of men." I see Jesus telling them that their skill can be useful to God. But, He also says, "Follow Me." 

The lesson? Jesus is the priority of our life, my life, everyone's life.

In Mark, John the Baptist had already been arrested for his work. Jesus' new disciples see God manifested in Jesus. The preaching of the Kingdom and the rule of God should shine in the life of every believer.

Just as the disciples of John changed direction, our job is to speak out, no matter the cost. The Kingdom of God will be manifested. We are to be willing servants.

Jesus proved His authority over the scribes and the pharisees.

Peter's mother in law's story is also in Mark. Jesus can use everyone. She gets up from her sick bed and serves Christ. We are to be thankful for His work.

Another lesson from this book of Mark, is that no matter how tired Jesus was, He always took time to pray! 

Jesus would not allow demons to speak even though they knew Him.

In Luke 5, after Jesus preached, He saw two fishermen (disciples) washing their nets. He told them to launch out and drop their nets. They were tired, but they did it reluctantly. They knew Jesus was not a fisherman, what did HE know about their craft?

Sometimes, God will call you out of your comfort zone. But He will always be with you in the midst!

In Luke 5:8: Peter says, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.".Jesus loves each one the same. He died for OUR sins.

In John 1, we see Philip invited and Nathaniel told that the disciples had found the Messiah!

So Nathaniel met Jesus even though he was skeptical. After all, Jesus came from Nazareth! Jesus had called Nathaniel an Israelite. How did Jesus know? Jesus could look into hearts. He had omniscience!

In John (1:50,51), Jesus told the disciples that, "Hereafter, you shall see heaven open" - as Jesus speaks to His believers, I am sure all of us will experience this. The HEREAFTER is coming!

In the upper room, the disciples are gathered fro prayer. Judas is replaced by Matthias. Jesus appeared in His glorified body. Didn't they remember that Jesus had asked them in Like 24:36-43: "Why are you so troubled?"

We are to know God always has a plan, since before the beginning of time!

The book of Acts...
The apostle Paul arrives, and even then Peter declares that some things are hard to understand. But we must take these things by FAITH. Remember, Paul, was Saul!

The Church today, is called to spread the good news. We are to allow Him to live and move through us to bring more into the Faith.

February 13 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report