The Biblical Basis for Apostles Today<\/strong><\/h2>\nby Don Walker<\/em><\/p>\nIn the synoptic gospels, the term apostle is used of the 12 disciples personally commissioned by our Lord to be the vanguard of those sent to proclaim the gospel \u2014 initially to Jerusalem, then to all the nations of the earth.\u00a0 In the New Testament epistles, apostles are mentioned in two contexts: Paul, in Ephesians 4:11-16, outlines the equipping gifts (Greek word-\u201cdoma\u201d), addressing their place and function in the Church; and in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul makes reference to the various ministries (apostles, administrators, workers of miracles, interpreters of tongues, etc.).\u00a0 It is these two references which provide for us the link between the apostles of the New Testament era and those throughout Church history, even unto our present day.<\/p>\n
There are over 80 references to apostles and at least 22 individual apostles mentioned in the New Testament.\u00a0 (By contrast, there are only four prophets mentioned by name, only one evangelist, and one teacher.)\u00a0 In addition to Jesus, the Chief Apostle (Heb. 3:1), and the Twelve chosen by Him, we have the following: Matthias-chosen to replace Judas (Acts 1:24-26), Barnabas (Acts 14:4,14), Paul (Acts 14:4,14), Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25), Silas (1 Thess. 1:1, 2:6), Timothy (1Thess. 1:1, 2:6), James, the Lord\u2019s brother (Gal. 1:19, 2:9), Andronicus (Rom. 16:7), Junias (Rom. 16:7).<\/p>\n
In addition to these, there are others who, by inference, could be added to the list: Apollos (I Cor. 4:6-13), Titus (II Cor. 8:23), two unnamed brethren (II Cor. 8:23), Erastus (Acts 19:22), Tychius (II Tim. 4:12), Judas (called Barsabbas)\u00a0 (Acts 15:22-23).<\/p>\n
Paul is undoubtedly unique among the apostles.\u00a0 Unfortunately, because we know more about his apostleship than any other in the New Testament, we make him the model.\u00a0 This fails to take into account the unusual nature of his ministry.\u00a0 For this reason, before we can continue, we must consider some of the important factors involved in his New Testament Role.<\/p>\n
Paul humbly, but consistently, attests to his apostleship in most of his epistles.\u00a0 He did not consider himself, in terms of this apostolic ministry, to be in any way inferior to the \u201cTwelve\u201d (2 Cor. 11:15, 12:11-12).\u00a0 He referred to himself as \u201cone born out of due season\u201d in relationship to the Twelve (1 Cor. 15:5-8).\u00a0 Paul qualified his having \u201cseen\u201d the Lord on the same level as those who were actual \u201ceyewitnesses\u201d of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 9:1-2, 15:8).\u00a0 Paul\u2019s apostleship was confirmed with miraculous signs and wonders (Acts 14:27, 15:3-12; 2 Cor. 12:12).\u00a0 The Council at Jerusalem recognized Paul\u2019s apostolic ministry (Gal. 2:7-8).\u00a0 Paul wrote 13, possibly 14, books of the New Testament.\u00a0 Revelation was given unto him unlike any other apostle, except maybe John.\u00a0 Even Peter said Paul wrote things hard to be understood, but acknowledged his writings as being inspired scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16).\u00a0 Paul was able to say with authority, \u201cI received of the Lord that which I delivered to you\u201d \u2014 not of the other apostles, who added nothing to him as far as apostolic revelation was concerned\u00a0 (1 Cor. 11:23, 15:3; Gal. 1:11-12, 2:1-9; Eph. 3:1-12).<\/p>\n
If all apostles were required to have the same credentials as Paul, the field becomes quite narrow.\u00a0 But there were other apostles in Paul\u2019s day, some about which we know little or nothing.\u00a0 Were they any less apostolic than Paul was?\u00a0 Certainly they did not carry the ministry Paul did, but they did function as apostles.<\/p>\n
Not all apostles were writers of scripture (Epaphroditus, for example, or most of the \u201cTwelve\u201d.) Nor is their sufficient evidence to conclude that all apostles were necessarily \u201ceyewitnesses\u201d to the Resurrection.\u00a0 For example, there is no scriptural indication that Timothy was such a witness.\u00a0 The argument that apostles must be eyewitness of Jesus, based upon Paul\u2019s statement, \u201cAm I not an apostle?\u00a0 Have I not seen Jesus our Lord\u201d (1Cor. 9:1) is offered by some as a \u201cproof text\u201d opposing apostolic ministry in the Church today.\u00a0 In actuality, the text seems to show that Paul\u2019s reference to seeing Jesus is only included as a secondary credential, not as proof of his apostleship.<\/p>\n
I would contend that apostles have always been in the Church throughout her history. They often times were not called \u201capostles,\u201d but there is no other way to describe their function. These men were spiritual fathers and master builders. Some pioneered missionary works in unreached lands; others lead movements and established churches. The spheres of influence may have varied with each, but the apostolic function was apparent.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Biblical Basis for Apostles Today by Don Walker In the synoptic gospels, the term apostle is used of the 12 disciples personally commissioned by our Lord to be the vanguard of those sent to proclaim the gospel \u2014 initially to Jerusalem, then to all the nations of the earth.\u00a0 In the New Testament epistles, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1268,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[562],"class_list":["post-15550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctrine","tag-prophecy"],"yoast_head":"\n
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My qualifications and training reflect this integrated background: \u2192 British MB BS medical degree (equivalent to an MD in the USA) \u2192 Postgraduate qualifications in Psychiatry (MRCPsych) and Pharmaceutical Medicine (MFFM, DipPharmMed) \u2192 Theological training courses run by Newfrontiers","sameAs":["http:\/\/patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/adrianwarnockpage\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/adrianwarnock"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/author\/awarnock\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1268"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15550\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/adrianwarnock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}