The Greek term apostolos can be used in two ways in the New Testament. One is restricted to the apostle of Jesus Christ. The other is used for a representative of a particular church. The use of apostolos in this secondary, derived sense is found in 2 Cor. 8:23 -- apostoloi ekklēsiōn. Let's see how various translations render this expression:
- NIV: "representatives of the churches"
- NLT: "sent by the churches"
- ESV: "messengers of the churches"
- ISV: "emissaries of the churches"
- Weymouth: "delegates from the churches"
- LB: "represent the assemblies here"
See also Phil. 2:25 (where Epaphroditus is called an apostolos of the church at Philippi), 2 Cor. 10:12-15, 2 Cor. 11:5, 13, and probably Rom. 16:7 (where Andronicus and Junias are referred to as apostoloi).
As always, remember that it is only the context that can determine which sense of apostolos is in view.