The origin, function and disappearance of the “Twelve”: Continuity from Jesus to the post-Easter community?

• Main Author: Dietrich-Alex Koch
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Published: AOSIS 2005-10-01
• Series: HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies
• Online Access: https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/445

The group of the Twelve is mentioned 28 times in the Synoptic Gospels. However, the Evangelists were not familiar with the historical role of the Twelve. Even the pre-Easter origin of Matthew 19:28/Luke 22:30 is debatable. On the other hand 1 Corinth 15:3b-5 provides a solid basis for the assumption of a pre-Easter origin of the Twelve. They functioned as a group representing the twelve tribes of Israel as the eschatological people of God. Reaffirmed in this role by the risen Lord they had for a short time a leading role in the early Christian community in Jerusalem. But their importance soon declined because after a short time the twelve former disciples from Galilee could no longer be representative of a rapidly expanding community. In the last decades of the first century the Twelve got a new importance on the literary level of the Gospels.