Who Were The 12 Apostles? (Supposed Contradiction)

One supposed contradiction is who the 12 Apostles were. We have four accounts: Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, and Acts 1:13. Matthew and Mark both report the same list(order changed to be in alphabetical order): Andrew, Bartholomew, James of Alphaeus, James of Zebedee, John, Judas, Matthew, Philip, Simon the Zealot, Simon/Peter(or Cephas), Thaddaeus and Thomas.

Luke reports a slightly different list: Andrew, Bartholomew, James, James of Alphaeus, John, Judas Iscariot, Judas of James, Matthew, Philip, Simon the Zealot, Simon/Peter, and Thomas.

Here is a Diagram for some convenience of understanding:

Places of contention are the following:

In Matthew and Mark, we see there are two people named James (James of Zebedee and James of Alphaeus). In Luke we read James and James of Alphaeus. A fair reading tells us the blank James is just James of Zebedee as the two other accounts use this title. Luke not adding one’s father is not a contradiction, just not a detail not added. If I were to say on Wednesday, “I went on a walk and danced yesterday”, then on Thursday I said: “I went on a walk on Tuesday” I did not contradict myself. I merely neglected to mention I had danced, but in neither account do I say I only walked, so thus there would be no contradiction.

A second contention is in Matthew and Mark, they say an Apostle was named Thaddaeus. Luke does not mention Thaddaeus; instead, he mentions someone named Judas of James. Is this a contradiction? Not necessarily, for people in the Bible can have many names. Thaddaeus may be his Roman name while Judas is his Hebrew name. Many scholars conclude this fact, Mary Fairchild – who has a degree in general biblical studies – writes: “Thaddeus or Thaddaeus, a surname for the name Lebbaeus (Matthew 10:3, KJV), which means “heart” or “courageous.” The picture is confused further when he is called Judas,” (Fairchild).

Luke (author of Acts) uses the names James (without the of Zebedee) and Judas of James; however, there is one new contention. There is no 12th name. The missing name is Judas Iscariot for at this time, Judas had already killed himself (Matthew 27). Later in Acts 1, they begin deciding the next apostle who would take his place: “So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles,” (Acts 1:23-26 NASB1995). Thus, there is no contradiction over the names of the apostles.

Works Cited:

Fairchild, Mary. "Meet Thaddeus: The Apostle With Many Names." Learn Religions, Apr. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/thaddeus-the-apostle-with-four-names-701072.

Image by St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church