Apostool, Samuel

Apostool, Samuel a Mennonite, was born in 1638, and was minister of a church of the Waterlanders (a branch of the Dutch Baptists) at Amsterdam. In 1662 he distinguished himself by his opposition to Hans Galenus, who taught that Christianity is not so much a body of opinions as a practical life. Apostool, on the contrary, insisted on the necessity of doctrine, and also of the especial views of the Mennonites. Galenus was charged with Socinianism and acquitted, and Apostool and his friends had to form a separate church. His followers were called Apostoolians. He lived up to nearly the end of the century. — Schyn, Hist. Mennon. p. 327; Hoefer, Biog. Gienrale, 2, 914; Mosheim, Ch. Hist. cent. 17, ch. 5, § 7. SEE GALENITES; SEE MENNONITES.