12 Disciples Strengths and Weaknesses

Our exploration of the “12 Disciples Strengths and Weaknesses” takes us on a journey to understand these revered figures in Christian history. Renowned and esteemed, the Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ are more than just religious icons; they are ordinary men, individuals marked by extraordinary virtues and equally human shortcomings.

This blog post aims to closely examine each disciple’s unique narrative as bearers of the Gospel, leading lives that were fervently committed to service. Drawing from scriptural references, we seek to further appreciate their invaluable legacy, deepen our understanding of their individuality, and comprehend the profound faith placed in us by God. Let’s begin this enlightening voyage!

Pagkatapos sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila,

Ngayong gabing ito ay lahat kayo ay mag-iiwan dahil sa akin, sapagkat nasusulat:

At sasaktan ko ang pastor, at ang mga tupa ng kawan ay magkakalat.

Datapuwa't pagkatapos na ako ay magbangon, ay mauuna ako sa iyo sa Galilea.

Hesus

Peter replied

"Kahit na ang lahat ay lumayo dahil sa iyo, hindi ko kailanman gagawin."

Peter

To understand more of the 12 disciples’ strengths and weaknesses we turn to the Holy Book but while the Bible speaks extensively on the strengths of some of the protagonists among the Lord’s apostles, there is however scarcely enough information to draw conclusions on the strengths and weaknesses of all 12 messengers of God.

Thankfully, we have perused through archives of reliable data, and biblical books to put together some of the notable strengths and faults of the 12 disciples of Christ.

Peter

Naiintindihan lamang na ang mga apostol tulad ni Saint Peter ay maaaring magkaroon ng mas mahusay na paglalahad kaysa sa karamihan sa iba pang mga apostol para sa halatang dahilan.

Magsimula tayo sa paraang tinapakan ni Cristo. Nagsisimula tayo saang unang alagad ng Panginoon.

Peter, also known as Cephas or Simon Peter was an apostle of the early church and is widely regarded as the first pope of God’s church.

Lakas ni Pedro

To a large extent, Peter is a bold charismatic leader among the apostles of Christ. His complete and utter belief in the Son of God projects higher levels of risk tolerance in comparison to most other apostles. His strength comes from a place of faith and a certain level of emotional attachment to the cause of the Son of God.

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

Ang isa sa mga kahinaan ni Pedro mula sa isang pang-modernong pananaw ay ang kanyang tila pagiging madaldal na kalikasan na maliwanag sabundok ng pagbabago ng anyo.

Nang magpakita ang mga lalaki sa bundok, nagsimula si Pedro

“Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter - Mark 9:5; Mark 9:6

In this context, little to no attention is given to Peter as the voice of God emanates from the clouds saying

‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’

Mark 9:7

Ang pagiging mapag-usap na ito ni Pedro ay lalong naging maliwanag kapag si Hesus ay inaakay mula sa Kanyang mga alagad.

Pagkatapos sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila,

“This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Hesus

Sumagot si Pedro,

"Kahit na ang lahat ay lumayo dahil sa iyo, hindi ko kailanman gagawin."

"Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang katotohanan,"

Peter

Sumagot si Jesus,

"Ngayong gabi mismo bago tumilaok ang tandang, tatanggihan mo ako ng tatlong beses."

Hesus

Ngunit ipinahayag ni Pedro,

"Kahit na kailangan kong mamatay kasama ka, hindi kita kailanman tatanggihan."

Peter

At ang lahat ng iba pang mga alagad ay ganito rin ang sinabi.

Tulad ng madalas na nangyayari sa mga may madaldal na pagkahilig, tila kumilos si Peter bago isipin ang kanyang mga kilos. Ang isang tipikal na halimbawa ay ang kanyang pagtatangka upang ihinto ang pag-aresto kay Jesus sa pamamagitan ng pagputol sa tainga ng isang lingkod.

Andrew

Ayon sa banal na kasulatan,Saint Andrew is the biological brother of Simon Peter. Also a fisherman, and originally a disciple of John the Baptist. (Mark 1:16; Mark 1:17; Mark 1:18).

Ang simbahan ng Byzantine ay tumutukoy sa kanya bilang

'Protokletos' na nangangahulugang 'unang tinawag'.

Byzantine church

Hindi tulad ng kanyang kapatid na si Peter, hindi gaanong naitala ang tungkol sa buhay ni Andrew. Mas kaunting mga quote ay maiugnay din kay Andrew sa paghahambing kay Peter na kanyang kapatid.

Lakas ni Andrew

Andrew was a lover of truth, and he followed it wherever it led. It is important to note that he was a disciple of John the Baptist, before following Jesus. Based on biblical accounts, Andrew was the first disciple to identify Christ and called his brother Peter to meet Jesus (Juan 1:41).

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

Ang mga pagsasamantala ni Andrew ay hindi eksakto kasing malalim kaysa sa kanyang kapatid na si Pedro sa Bibliya. Samakatuwid, walang eksaktong impormasyon tungkol sa kanya upang tapusin ang kanyang mga kahinaan.

However, it is important to note that like all other apostles of Christ, Andrew abandoned Jesus Christ during the trial and crucifixion.

Si Andrew ay tila isang simpleng tao, na may layuning isipan, at ang nilikha nitong silid para sa isa pang maliwanag na kahinaan na naitala sa Bibliya.

Nang nangangaral si Jesus at kailangang pakainin ang kongregasyon, hiniling Niya sa kanyang mga alagad na lumibot upang makita kung ano ang maaaring makuha.

"Isa sa Kanyang mga alagad, si Andres, kapatid ni Simon Pedro, ay nagsabi sa Kanya,

‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?’” (Juan 6:8; Juan 6:9)

Dito, ipinapakita ni Andrew ang mga hadlang ng objectivity sa harap ng kabanalan. Kahit na naniniwala siya, siya ay isang tao na nagpumilit na ganap na maniwala sa kapangyarihan ni Cristo na Anak ng Diyos.

James the Greater

Saint James Son of Zebedee is one of the closest of Christ’s apostles.

Siya kasama sina Juan at Pedro ay nananatiling pinakatanyag sa lahat ng mga alagad ni Cristo ayon sa mga rekord ng Bibliya.

These three disciples were present at Gethsemane (Mateo 26:36; Mateo 26:37; Matthew 26:38; Matthew 26:39; Matthew 26:40; Matthew 26:41; Matthew 26:42; Matthew 26:43; Matthew 26:44; Matthew 26:45; Matthew 26:46.), the transfiguration (Mateo 17:1; Mateo 17:2; Mateo 17:3; Matthew 17:4; Matthew 17:5; Matthew 17:6; Matthew 17:7; Matthew 17:8), and the raising of the little girl (Luke 8:51)

Mga kalakasan ni James the Greater

An extremely loyal disciple of Christ was James such that who was willing to take fanatical actions against those who would dare question the authority of his Christ. It is therefore little wonder why James and his brother were named “Boanerges” by Jesus. ‘James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder)’ (Mark 3:17)

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

James the Great had a fanatical manner of resolving issues and had to be called to order on a few occasions. For him, the gospel didn’t exactly apply to earthly things as he was often a physical representation of the Biblical phrase “the violent taketh it by force”.

Yet another side of James and his brother John who are both sons of Zebedee comes forth when they try to secure a place for themselves forever with the Lord.

"At sina Santiago at Juan, ang dalawang anak ni Zebedeo, ay lumapit sa Kanya, na sinasabi sa Kanya,

'Guro, nais naming gawin Mo sa amin ang anumang hiniling namin sa Inyo.'

James and John

At sinabi Niya sa kanila,

'Ano ang gusto mong gawin Ko para sa iyo?'

Hesus

At sinabi nila sa Kanya,

'Pahintulutan kaming makaupo sa Iyong kaluwalhatian, isa sa kanan, at isa sa iyong kaliwa.'

James and John

Ngunit sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila,

'Hindi mo alam kung ano ang hinihingi mo. Kaya mo bang uminom ng tasa na iniinom ko, o mabautismuhan sa bautismo na bininyagan ako? '

Hesus

At sinabi nila sa Kanya,

'Kaya natin.'

James and John

At sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus,

‘The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’”

Jesus - Mark 10:35; Mark 10:36; Mark 10:37; Mark 10:38; Mark 10:39; Mark 10:40

Ang kilos na ito ni James at ng kanyang kapatid ay nagbunga ng sama ng loob mula sa ibang mga alagad at nagmumungkahi na maaaring may nagmamalasakit na hilig si James kasama ang panatismo.

John

Saint John was the second son of Zebedee, a brother to James the Greater who happened to be ang unang martir sa mga apostol.

Maaaring mukhang ang mga anak na lalaki ni Zebedee ay medyo mayaman dahil mayroon silang mga lingkod.

Lakas ni Juan

Like his brother James, John had an unquenchable zeal to work in the vineyard of Christ. And among all the apostles of Jesus Christ, John is said to be the disciple Jesus loved the most (Juan 13:23; John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7; John 21:20).

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

Ngunit para sa regalong Banal na Espiritu, si Juan ay madaling maging panatiko. Ang isang tipikal na halimbawa ng mga naturang pagkahilig ay pinapalabas ang ulo nito pagkatapos lamang ng Pagbabagong-anyo.

Upon seeing this cold welcome from the Samaritans, James and John tried to persuade Jesus to do something ruthless. “Lord,” they ask, “do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (Luke 9:54).

It is little wonder, that James and John were called the “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus Christ. Ironically, John would grow to become an apostle of love after the death and ascension of Christ.

Philip

Saint Philip seems to share certain similarities with Andrew as their Greek names suggest a Greek heritage. This made it even clearer as Philip acts as a spokesman for the Greeks at the Passover.

Nakita ni Philip ang kanyang sarili bilang isang pinuno at kinatawan ng potensyal na mga mananampalatayang Griyego at madalas na tila sinusubukan na magtanong ng mga katanungan mula sa isang pananaw na Griyego na naaayon sa kanyang medyo nagtanong.

“For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom;”

1 Corinthians 1:22

Lakas ni Philip

Philip oozes an independent man who thinks for himself and is inquisitive about how the Lord’s message applies to the Greeks especially.

Philip is an early believer in the coming Christ, however, his practical manner of thought often causes him to make human, divine matters. He found Nathanael and told him about the Messiah.

"Si Felipe ay mula sa Betsaida, ng bayan nina Andres at Pedro. Natagpuan ni Felipe si Natanael at sinabi sa kaniya,

‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” (John 1:44; John 1:45).

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

Ang maliwanag na kahinaan ni Philip ay ang kanyang kakulangan sa kaalaman sa mga bagay ng Diyos. Mukhang alam na alam niya ang kanyang mga pagkukulang sa bagay na ito at maaaring ipaliwanag nito kung bakit sa palagay niya ay matalino na kumunsulta kay Andrew nang hangarin ng mga Griyego na makita si Jesus.

Bartholomew

Napakaliit ang nalalaman tungkol saSaint Bartholomewbiblikal at kung hindi man. Sa katunayan, may mga naniniwala na sina Nathanael at Bartholomew na maging isa at iisang indibidwal.

This may be attributed to the use of either Nathanael or Bartholomew along with similar characters in the gospels. For instance, the gospels according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke often mention Bartholomew and Philip in context (Lucas 6:14; Matthew 10:3; Marcos 3:18).

Gayunpaman, sa ika-apat na ebanghelyo, sina Nathanael at Philip ay binanggit nang walang pagbanggit kay Bartholomew.

Lakas ng Bartholomew

Bartholomew is a man behind the scenes whose belief in God and His Son Jesus Christ is mostly personal. In today’s world, he would be one who would be difficult to identify as a man of God but for his character and manner of life.

Ang kanyang hangarin sa mga bagay ng Diyos ay malinaw na ipinakita nang sinabi ni Jesus sa kanya

‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!’ (John 1:47).

Hesus

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

While very little is written about the Apostle Bartholomew, one statement often comes to play. When Andrew who hails from the same city of Bethsaida as Bartholomew tells of the new Messiah, and his Galilean origin, Bartholomew is quick to express scornful disbelief saying

“Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

Bartholomew

Mateo

Saint Matthew, ang maniningil ng buwis ay isa sa mga kilalang apostol ni Cristo. Ang pagtawag ni Mateo sa pagiging alagad ay kinasimutan ng kongregasyon, maging ang ilan sa mga alagad.

Ang kanyang tawag ay nagsisilbing indikasyon ng pagpayag ng Diyos na tanggapin tayo anuman ang panlabas na ugali.

Calling Matthew a tax collector must have pricked the Jews as tax collectors had a reputation for being wicked men engaging in all manners of fraudulent activities and oppression.

Lakas ni Mateo

Matthew is a resolute individual as is the case with most people tasked with gathering taxes. His willingness to drop absolutely everything and follow Jesus Christ exhibits this trait in the best possible way.

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

Very little is spoken about the apostle Matthew from Biblical references. Apart from his call by Jesus Christ, he is not mentioned again throughout the New Testament.

Karamihan sa pangkalahatan ay sumasang-ayon na si Mateo ay dapat na isang sakim na tao na nakikita na ito ang pamantayan sa loob ng kanyang mga lupon ng trabaho, subalit, walang nagmumungkahi nito maliban sa katotohanan na siya ay isang maniningil ng buwis.

Thomas

Saint Thomas remains one of the most interesting characters among the apostles, for he is popularly known for his pessimism after the resurrection of Christ.

Gayunpaman, ang patok na binanggit na bahagi ng Thomas na ito ay hindi gumagawa ng hustisya sa lalaki na siya ay dati.

Lakas ni Thomas

Si Thomas na taliwas sa kanyang pesimistikong pagkahilig ay ang nag-iisang disipulo na naghimok kay Jesucristo sa kanyang hangaring bisitahin ang Betania at pagalingin si Lazaro sa kabila ng lumalaking panganib sa buhay ni Hesus.

Sinabi ni Didymus na tinawag din siya

“Let us also go; that we may die with him.”

Didymus

sa pagsalungat sa ibang mga alagad na mas gugustuhin na manatili.

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

Ang pagiging pesimismo ni Thomas at kawalan ng pag-unawa ay tila kanyang mga kahinaan. Halimbawa, ang kanyang katanungan kay Jesus noong gabi bago ipinako sa krus ang Panginoon ay binabasa

“Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”(John 14:5).

Thomas

Ipinapakita nito ang kanyang kawalan ng pagkaunawa at pesimismo tulad ng nasagot na ni Jesus ang isang katulad na katanungan.

"Sinabi sa kanya ni Simon Pedro,

'Lord, saan ka pupunta?'

Simon Pedro

Sumagot si Jesus,

‘Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow later.’”( John 13:36).

Hesus

Ang kanyang mga tanyag na pananaw na pesimista ay maaaring makita dito:

Nang maghahapon na, sa araw na yaon, ng unang araw ng linggo, at pagsara ng mga pinto kung saan naroon ang mga alagad, dahil sa takot sa mga Judio, si Jesus ay dumating at tumayo sa gitna nila, at sinabi sa kanila,

'Sumaiyo ang kapayapaan.'

Hesus

At nang masabi Niya ito, ipinakita Niya sa kanilang kapwa ang Kanyang mga kamay at Kanyang tagiliran. Ang mga alagad, samakatuwid, ay nagalak nang makita nila ang Panginoon. Sinabi nga sa kanila ni Jesus,

'Sumaiyo ang kapayapaan; tulad ng pagsugo sa akin ng Ama, ay sinusugo rin kita. '

Hesus

At nang masabi Niya ito, ay huminga siya sa kanila, at sinabi sa kanila,

'Tanggapin ang Banal na Espiritu. Kung pinatawad mo ang mga kasalanan ng kanino man, ang kanilang mga kasalanan ay pinatawad sa kanila; kung panatilihin mo ang mga kasalanan ng anuman, napanatili ang mga iyon. '

Hesus

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples, therefore, were saying to him,

‘We have seen the Lord!’

The other disciples

But he said to them,

‘Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’” (John 20:25)

Thomas

Judas Iscariote

Judas Iscariotemasasabing pinakamatalino sa lahat ng mga apostol ni Cristo, subalit, siya lamang ang hindi taga-Galilea.

His position as treasurer may be attributed to his wits.

Sa kasamaang palad, tila ang kanyang katalinuhan ang naging dahilan ng kanyang pagbagsak.

Lakas ni Judas Iscariot

Si Judas ay malawak na may kaalaman at matalino. Ngunit tungkol doon.

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

Evidently, Judas may not have been a true believer in Christ. And was there for whatever he could gain. It is little wonder why Jesus called him the son of Perdition (John 17:12).

Isang maliwanag na pananaw sa kung paano gumana ang isip ni Hudas:

"Si Jesus, samakatuwid, anim na araw bago ang Paskuwa, ay napunta sa Betania kung saan naroon si Lazaro, na binuhay ni Jesus mula sa mga patay. Kaya't ginawan nila Siya ng isang hapunan doon, at si Marta ay naglilingkod, ngunit si Lazaro ay isa sa mga nakaupo sa hapag kasama niya.

Mary, therefore, took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Datapuwa't si Judas Iscariote, na isa sa Kanyang mga alagad, na nagnanais na magtaksil sa Kanya, ay nagsabi,

Bakit hindi ipinagbili ang pabango na ito sa tatlong daang denario, at ibinibigay sa mga mahihirap na tao?

Judas Iscariote

Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer [steal a little bit at a time] what was put into it.” (John 12:1; John 12:2; John 12:3; John 12:4; John 12:5; John 12:6).

It is important to note that his love for money made him fall short of the glory of Christ, and allowed Satan a path through which to use him.

James, Anak ni Alfeo

Si James na anak ni Alfeo ay itinuring naSaint James the Less or Little which may have indicated a difference in age or height with James the son of Zebedee who was referred to as James the Great.

Lakas ni James the Less

James’ presence during the last supper is indicative of his relevance to the ministry of God’s word. It is also possible that he was the first to see Jesus after the resurrection. He’s widely regarded as a rather faithful apostle among all apostles.

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

Not much is known about James the less. It is however evident that he fled along with other disciples on the eve of Christ’s crucifixion.

Simon the Zealot

There’s a bit of controversy as to who Saint Simon the Zealot was.

Ang ilan ay nagmumungkahi na siya ay miyembro ng isang suwail na sekta ng mga Hudyo na tinawag na Zealots, ang iba naman ay nagsabing ang pamagat na masigasig ay maaaring iginawad upang makilala lamang ang kanyang kasigasig sa mga bagay ni Cristo.

In other Bible translations, he is often referred to as Simon the Canaanite.

The Zealots were a sect of Jews that vehemently opposed the Roman governance of the Jews. In today’s terms, the Romans may have referred to them as terrorists, as they were often known to slip through crowds during festivities and slit the throats of targets with a Sicari (a short curved knife) and disappear.

Lakas ni Simon na Zealot

Simon the Zealot was resolute in these dealings. He took a step back from his past life and followed Jesus Christ till the very end.

Ang kanyang mga Kahinaan

As was the case with other disciples, Simon the Zealot abandoned Christ on the night before his crucifixion. He also seemed to lack leadership qualities but made up for it as a cult-like follower of whatever he believed in.

Si Hudas na Anak ni Santiago

Si Judas, ang anak ni Santiago ay tinukoy din bilangSanto Hudas na Zealot.

Lakas ni Jude

Judas is an enthusiastically inquisitive fellow.

'Panginoon, ano ang nangyari na ibubunyag mo ang Iyong Sarili sa amin, at hindi sa mundo?'

Jude

Jesus answered and said to him,

Kung ang sinoman ay magmamahal sa Akin, tutuparin niya ang Aking salita; at ang Aking Ama ay mamahalin, at Kami ay lalapit sa kanya, at maninirahan sa Kanya.

Ang hindi umiibig sa Akin ay hindi tumutupad ng Aking mga salita, at ang salitang inyong naririnig ay hindi Akin, kundi ng Ama na nagsugo sa Akin.

Hesus

Judas the Zealot was a lover of Christ and his teachings.

Ang mga bagay na ito ay sinalita ko sa iyo habang nananatili ako sa iyo. '"

Ang Kahinaan niya

He like most disciples abandoned Christ on the eve of the crucifixion and went into hiding.

Conclusion

Ang artikulong ito sa lakas at kahinaan ng 12 disipulo ay tumatagal ng isang natatanging landas patungo sa pagpapakita ng sangkatauhan ngang labindalawang apostolni Cristo, at kung paano maaaring maapektuhan ng mga pagkadilim na ito ang kanilang kaugnayan sa Anak ng Diyos, at kanilang paniniwala sa pagdating ng Mesiyas.

Kinakailangan ang tala ng mga ebanghelyo at iba pang napatunayan na mga papel na pang-agham upang patunayan na ang mga apostol na ito ay talagang mga kalalakihan na nakikipagpunyagi sa mga karaniwang hamon tulad ng ginagawa natin ngayon.

Ang kanilang pakikipagtagpo kay Cristo ay nagpapakita ng landas mula sa isang buhay na di-kasakdalan, na ipinapakita ang mga pagkakamali ng 12 disipulo hanggang sapag-aaral at kumpletong pananampalatayaat sa wakas, paniniwala kay Jesucristo.

Resources 12 Disciples Strengths and Weaknesses

https://tnk1250.wordpress.com/2014/08/19/five-flaws-of-the-disipyo/
https: //www.engr.colostate.edu/~echong/apologetics/denials.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope
https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2006/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20060614.html
https://theriverchurch.cc/devotions/archives/3468
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_Jesus
https://study.com/academy/lesson/andrew-the-apostle-biography-facts-death.html
http://biblesaints.blogspot.com/2011/06/saint-peter-talkative-fisherman-apostle.html