the Greek liturgy, is particularly used for a book containing the epistles of St Paul, printed in the order wherein they are to be read in churches, through the course of the year. Another book of the like kind, containing the Gospels, is called Ευαγγελιον, Gospel.—The apostle, of late days, has also contained the other canonical epistles, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Revelation. Hence it is also called Acts of the Apostles, Παρακλησια; that being the first book in it.

Apostle is also thought by many to have been the original name for bishops, before the denomination bishop was appropriated to their order. Thus Theodore says expressly, the same persons were anciently called promiscuously both bishops and presbyters, whilst those who are now called bishops were called apostles. In the arsenal of Bremen, there are twelve pieces of cannon called the Twelve Apostles, on a supposition that the whole world must be convinced, and acquiesce in the preaching of such apostles.

Apostles Creed: a formula, or summary of the Christian faith, drawn up, according to Ruffinus, by the apostles themselves: who, during their stay at Jerusalem, soon after the Lord's ascension, agreed upon this creed, as a rule of faith, and as a word of distinction by which they were to know friends from foes. Baronius, and some other authors, conjecture, that they did not compose it till the second year of the reign of Claudius, a little before their dispersion. As to their manner of composing it, some fancy, that each apostle pronounced his article, which is the reason of its being called symbolum apostolicum, it being made up of sentences jointly contributed, after the manner of persons paying each their club (symbolum) or share of a reckoning.

But there are reasons which may induce us to question whether the apostles composed any such creed as this. For, first, neither St Luke in the Acts, nor any other ecclesiastical writer before the 5th century, make any mention of an assembly of the apostles in order to the composing of a creed. Secondly, The fathers of the three first centuries, in disputing against the heretics, endeavoured to prove that the doctrine contained in this creed was the same which the apostles taught; but they never pretend that the apostles composed it. Thirdly, If the apostles had made this creed, it would have been the same in all churches, and in all ages; Apostolare and all authors would have cited it after the same manner. But the case is quite otherwise. In the second and third ages of the church, there were as many creeds as authors, and one and the same author sets down the creed after a different manner in several places of his works; which is an evidence that there was not at that time any creed which was reputed to be the apostles. In the fourth century Rufinus compares together the three ancient creeds of the churches of Aquileia, Rome, and the East, which differ very considerably in the terms. Besides, these creeds differed not only in the terms and expressions, but even in the articles, some of which were omitted in one or other of them; such as those of the descent into hell, the communion of the saints, and the life everlasting. From these reasons it may be gathered, that though this creed may be said to be that of the apostles in regard to the doctrines contained therein, yet it is not to be referred to them as the authors and first composers of it. Who was the true author of it, is not easy to determine; though its great antiquity may be inferred from hence, that the whole form, as it now stands in the English liturgy, is to be found in the works of St Ambrose and Rufinus, the former of whom flourished in the third century, and the latter in the fourth century.

The primitive Christians, in regard they always concealed this and their other mysteries, did not publicly recite the creed, except at the times of baptism; which, unless in cases of necessity, were only in Easter and Whitsuntide. The constant repeating of it was not introduced into the church till the end of the fifth century; about which time Petrus Gnapheus, bishop of Antioch, prescribed the recital of it every time divine service was performed.