“Sending” terminology in the New Testament

In the new testament, the word “send” translates the Greek verbs apostello and pempo. The title Apostle comes from the noun apostolos.

At their most basic, pempo and apostello simply involve the movement of someone or something from one place to another. For example, apostello can be used of the movement of demons (Matt. 8:31; Mark 5:10); animals (Matt. 21:3; Mark 11:3); slaves (Matt. 21:34, 36); angels (Matt. 24:31); a sickle, with the purpose of harvest (Mark 4:29); a delegation (Luke 19:14) and spies (Luke 20:20). Pempo can also be used of sending demons (Mark 5:12); slaves (Luke 20:11, 12); an army (Matt. 22:7); Paul as prisoner (Acts 23:30; 25:25; 25:27); and the sickle to harvest in judgment (Rev 14:15, 18).

So, these terms are not in themselves religious or ‘theological’. Their religious use comes from the person who sends these apostles, these ‘sent ones’ – God – and the nature of the message they’re sent with – God’s authoritative message, his gospel.