apostle
Loading your saved state.
apostle
In Christianity, one of the twelve disciples who were chosen and sent out by Jesus Christ to spread his teaching.
Petrus gilt als einer der wichtigsten Apostel.
Peter is considered one of the most important apostles.
In its original meaning, the context is almost always religious. The word is used in connection with Jesus, Christianity, or the Bible. People often speak of the 'zwölf Apostel' (twelve apostles).
In der Bibel wird die Geschichte der Apostel erzählt.
The story of the apostles is told in the Bible.
In the figurative meaning, the idea that someone supports is often expressed with the genitive. Someone is then an 'Apostel der/des...' (apostle of...) followed by a noun.
Der Architekt war ein Apostel des Minimalismus.
The architect was an advocate of minimalism.
The use of 'Apostel' for an advocate of an idea is elevated and more likely to be found in literary, journalistic, or intellectual texts. It is rarely used in normal everyday language.
In seinem Artikel tritt er als Apostel der Digitalisierung auf.
In his article, he appears as an advocate of digitalization.
supporter / trailer / pendant
'der Anhänger' and 'der Apostel' can both mean a person who supports an idea or doctrine. 'Anhänger' is more neutral and more general: an 'Anhänger' may simply agree with something or follow a group. 'Apostel' sounds stronger and more special. It means someone who spreads an idea with great zeal. In addition, 'Apostel' has an important religious meaning in Christianity. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with conviction. In everyday language, 'Anhänger' is usually the safer choice. 'Apostel' fits better in religious texts or when someone advocates for something almost like a missionary.
Im Büro gilt er als Apostel der gesunden Ernährung, weil er ständig dafür wirbt.
At the office, he is considered an advocate of healthy eating because he is constantly promoting it.
Er ist ein Anhänger der Idee, weniger Plastik im Alltag zu benutzen.
He is a supporter of the idea of using less plastic in everyday life.