Apostolic

Apostolic refers to beliefs, texts, practices, or structures understood to be connected to the apostles, who were seen as foundational witnesses and teachers in the earliest Christian movement. In early Christian debates, labeling something apostolic functioned as a way to validate teaching by grounding it in recognized origins. The term was applied to writings, doctrines, and leadership models that claimed alignment with apostolic instruction. Over time, apostolic language became a tool for defining authority, setting boundaries, and shaping institutional continuity, especially as communities sought to distinguish accepted tradition from competing interpretations.