Pastor vs. Apostle — What's the Difference?

A person providing spiritual care and guidance.

One of the 12 chief disciples of Jesus Christ.

A shepherd.

A messenger or representative.

A minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation.

A person sent on a special religious mission.

A clergyman serving a particular parish.

An apostle (), in its most literal sense, is an emissary, from Greek ἀπόστολος (apóstolos), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (apostéllein), "to send off". The purpose of such sending off is usually to convey a message, and thus "messenger" is a common alternative translation; other common translations include "ambassador" and "envoy".The term derives from the Greek of the New Testament and was used for Jesus's original Twelve Apostles (including Peter, James, and John), as well as a wider group of early Christian figures, including Paul, Barnabas, and Junia.

A shepherd; someone who tends to a flock of animals.

Each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ.

A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" {singular}, or "Ps" {plural}), is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and Anglicanism, pastors are always ordained.

Apostle One of a group made up especially of the 12 disciples chosen by Jesus to preach the gospel.

A Christian minister or priest having spiritual charge over a congregation or other group.

A missionary of the early Christian Church.

A layperson having spiritual charge over a person or group.

A leader of the first Christian mission to a country or region.

(Archaic) A shepherd.

One of the 12 members of the administrative council in the Mormon Church.

To serve or act as pastor of.

One who pioneers an important reform movement, cause, or belief

Someone with spiritual authority over a group of people

A passionate adherent; a strong supporter.

(Protestantism) A minister or priest in a church.

A missionary, or leader of a religious mission, especially one in the early Christian Church (but see Apostle).

The main priest serving a parish.

A pioneer or early advocate of a particular cause, prophet of a belief.

A bird, the rosy starling.

A top-ranking ecclesiastical official in the twelve seat administrative council of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

To serve a congregation as pastor

A person who is plucked, that is, refused an academic degree.

A shepherd; one who has the care of flocks and herds.

(legal) A letter dismissory.

A guardian; a keeper; specifically (Eccl.), a minister having the charge of a church and parish.

(legal) A note sent to an appeals court presenting the appeal in summary.

A species of starling (Pastor roseus), native of the plains of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. Its head is crested and glossy greenish black, and its back is rosy. It feeds largely upon locusts.

(legal) The trial court record sent to an appeal court concerning an appeal.

A person authorized to conduct religious worship

Literally: One sent forth; a messenger. Specifically: One of the twelve disciples of Christ, specially chosen as his companions and witnesses, and sent forth to preach the gospel.

Only the rose-colored starlings; in some classifications considered a separate genus

The missionary who first plants the Christian faith in any part of the world; also, one who initiates any great moral reform, or first advocates any important belief; one who has extraordinary success as a missionary or reformer; as, Dionysius of Corinth is called the apostle of France, John Eliot the apostle to the Indians, Theobald Mathew the apostle of temperance.

A Christian spiritual leader.

A brief letter dimissory sent by a court appealed from to the superior court, stating the case, etc.; a paper sent up on appeals in the admiralty courts.

An ardent early supporter of a cause or reform;

Any important early teacher of Christianity or a Christian missionary to a people

(New Testament) one of the original 12 disciples chosen by Christ to preach his gospel

A pioneering Christian evangelist.

A strong supporter of an idea or cause.

No, while both are religious leaders, their roles and historical contexts differ.

Most Christian denominations have Pastors or equivalent roles, but titles may vary.

Paul is traditionally known as an Apostle, specifically to the Gentiles.

In some denominations, yes. But traditionally, the roles and titles are distinct.

The term "Apostle" originally referred to the 12, but Paul and others were also considered Apostles.

In many denominations, yes. However, some denominations restrict pastoral roles to men.

It refers to churches that emphasize the teachings and practices of the original Apostles.

Different denominations have varied methods, from congregational votes to denominational assignments.

A Pastor primarily guides, teaches, and provides spiritual care to a congregation.

The original 12 Apostles were disciples chosen by Jesus, including Peter, James, and John.

Yes, "Pastor" originates from the Latin for "shepherd," emphasizing spiritual guidance.

Many of the original Apostles are recognized as saints, but not every Apostle is designated as such.

Usually through theological education and ordination within a specific denomination.

Paul's writings form a large part of the New Testament and shape Christian theology.

Historically, Apostles played foundational roles in establishing and spreading early Christian churches.