mojuang

I always thought i knew them but these gospellers seem to have been too careless.could you guys out there please fill me in?

David Vestal

Let's see...
1) Peter AKA Simon Peter
2) Andrew
3) James son of Zebedee
4) John son of Zebedee
5) Philip
6) Simon the Canaanite
7) Simon Zelotes
8) Levi son of Alphaeus
9) Matthew
10) James son of Alphaeus
11) Bartholomew
12) Nathanael
13) Thomas AKA Didymus
14) Thaddeus
15) Lebbaeus
16) Judas brother of James
17) Judas Iscariot

Did I forget anyone? Church tradition conflates these to get the number down to 12, but there's no evidence that they should.

Ben C Smith

What are these two doing in separate slots? It is not Canaanite; it is Cananean, which is Aramaic for zealot (Greek zelotes). See J. P. Meier, volume 3 of A Marginal Jew (or via: amazon.co.uk), page 205.

Ben.

Atheos

What about Matthias and Barsabas Justus? Both of these fulfilled the requirements of being a "disciple" according to Acts 1. It gives the impression Team Yeshua had a pretty good farm system in place. Acts 1:26 says Matthias got called up to the big leagues when they put Judas on the permanent DL due to a spilled gut. 12 evidently was a magic number. Not quite as good as 13 (once Paul joined in) but important for some reason.

Toto

Peter Kirby's The Seven Apostles is an attempt to list the various traditions in excruciating detail.

TextExcavation List has a clear list from the gospels and a discussion of the differences.

But what about Mary Magdalene?

Ted Hoffman

Sanders says it was symbolic.

spamandham

They are the 12 constellations, known in the ancient world as the 12 helpers of the sun/son, who also represent the 12 tribes of Israel (which were based on the same concept). The 12 constellations are in turn based on the 12 new moons (or full moons depending on culture) in a year. Except, there aren't 12 exact new moons in a year, so some years end up with 13.

Which is why the 12 tribes are actually 13 ( http://www.philosophyforum.net/Relig...3%20Tribes.htm ), just as the '12 disciples' are actually 13 (judas replaced by mathias).

mojuang

does this mean they were 17 or 13 or many but the mystical number had to be 12?:huh:

mojuang

indeed she ought to be included.

mojuang

thanks for the sites Toto.