What were the real names of the apostles? The names sound mostly European to me except Judas the traitor.?

Question

Was there a reason to only keep Judas as the only one that doesn't seem to be of a European Name.

I didn't mean anything by calling Judas a traitor just he was the one who turned Jesus in. I'm in no way implying he was a bad person

Still does anyone know their real names?

wiggles even on wiki it still has the European names.

Does anyone know?

Vicki and nhbaritone you both know what you are talking about. I have come across both sets of names. Too bad I can't select you both for best answer so the only fair way is to leave it to a vote. I gave you both a thumbs up. Thanks.

Answer 1

Shim'on called Kefa (Simon called Peter)
Andrew
Ya'akov Ben-Zavadai and Yochanna his brother (James son of Zebadee and his brother John
Philip and Bar-Talmai (Philip and Bartholemew)
t'oma and Mattityahu the Tax Collector (Thomas and Matthew the tax collector)
Shim'on the Zealot (Simon the Zealot)
Y'hudah from K'riot, who betrayed him (Judas Iscariot who betrayed him)

Answer 2

The names sound European because, as Christianity spread through Europe, people named their children after the apostles. The names were originally Aramaic, but Greek was the language of the Mediterranean in that era, and The New Testament is written in Greek. Greek uses a different alphabet, and a few of the names we've simply taken over whole, so here are the names transliterated from the original New Testament Greek:

Simon (later called Petros [Peter])
Andreas [Andrew]
Iakobos (James) son of Zebedaion (Zebedee)
Ioannes (John)
Philippos (Philip)
Bartholomaios (Bartholomew)
Thomas
Matthaios (Matthew)
Iakobos (James) son of Haphaion (Alphaeus)
Thaddaios (Thaddaeus)
Simon the Kananaios (Cananaean)
Ioudas (Judas) the Iskariotes (Iscariot)

Answer 3

Check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostles

Some of the names were Anglicized. Some were referred to by several names. And Judas was called Judas Iscariot ... not Judas the traitor.

Answer 4

Let's see....

I will only answer your 2nd question, because a little research would yield the real names....

But wait....real names? Do you mean their Jewish (or Hebrew) names?

The Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. So, the real names of the apostles (prophets, etc.) would be in those languages.

People who read/speak those languages would see those names differently than those who read/speak English or Spanish or French or Italian, because they would (I would hope) be reading the Bible in their own language.

(or else what would they get out of it?)

When we speak/read English, we would see the names in English - perhaps that is what you mean by European names?

Is Paul or Peter European?? I thought they were in the English language.

That is the language that I read/speak, so those are the names I see. I also read/speak some Spanish, and most of those names look/sound different. And when I viewed a French Bible - same thing.

Now, when I looked at a Greek to English Bible - it REALLY looked different. I mean, even the letters are different! :)

Answer 5

Yeah...without Judas doing what he did, there would have been no Crucifiction or legendary recovery. I think that the term "traitor" is a bit harsh. Haven't you read the Book of Judas?

Answer 6

I agree Judas wasn't a traitor

Answer 7

Why do you call Judas a traitor? Wasn't he the one who helped make the Bible prophesies come true?

Answer 8

They probably sound European because you're reading a European (English) translation of their names.

Answer 9

Bashful... Sneexy... Doc... (etc.)... Moe... Larry... Curly... Porthos, Athos.

Answer 10

Probably sound European because you're reading an English Bible... duh!