ARE THERE APOSTLES OF CHRIST TODAY?

[sparkman]

The question is simple: are there apostles of Christ living today?

My answer will surprise my friends. YES.

There are FALSE APOSTLES. That's the only kind that are alive today.



Notice that I distinguish between Apostles of Christ and Apostles of the Church.

An Apostle of Christ is distinguished by the following:

(borrowed from the Cripplegate website)

In order to be an apostle, one had to meet at least three necessary qualifications: (1) an apostle had to be an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:22

; 10:39–41

; 1 Cor. 9:1

; 15:7–8

); (2) an apostle had to be directly appointed by Jesus Christ (Mark 3:14

; Luke 6:13

; Acts 1:2

, 24

; 10:41

; Gal. 1:1

); and (3) an apostle had to be able to confirm his mission and message with miraculous signs (Matt. 10:1–2

; Acts 1:5–8

; 2:43

; 4:33

; 5:12

; 8:14

; 2 Cor. 12:12

; Heb. 2:3–4

).

Link:

Are There Still Apostles Today? | The Cripplegate

Obviously NO ONE can meet these qualifications today. Therefore, there are no apostles of Christ today.

I acknowledge the valid use of the term "apostle" to describe "apostles of the Church" - church planters or missionaries who are sent by their church to plant churches. This is not the same as an Apostle of Christ, though....these are apostles of the Church.


The most common claim is : The five-fold ministry is defined in Scripture, therefore the office is still valid (Ephesians 4:11).

My response is: The ministry of the Apostles and prophets are perpetuated through their writings, which we have today in our Scriptures. Jesus, the apostles and prophets are the FOUNDATION of the church, and we are building on the foundation (Ephesians 2:20).

I belonged to a cultic group as a young man. The leader claimed to be both an apostle and prophet. He was an extremely vain, self-important individual. I find the same characteristics amongst those claiming to be apostles and prophets today.

They are vain men who strut around in a pompous display, and I have not met a single one of them who had a very good understanding of Scripture.

I caution them to repent of their foolishness, and humble themselves.

Anyways, what do you think? Feel free to vote.

 

[sparkman]

Here's a meme that's applicable to the topic.

Aren't people who make such claims afraid of playing games with God?

 

[OneFaith]

The question is simple: are there apostles of Christ living today?

My answer will surprise my friends. YES.

There are FALSE APOSTLES. That's the only kind that are alive today.



Notice that I distinguish between Apostles of Christ and Apostles of the Church.

An Apostle of Christ is distinguished by the following:

(borrowed from the Cripplegate website)

In order to be an apostle, one had to meet at least three necessary qualifications: (1) an apostle had to be an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:22

; 10:39–41

; 1 Cor. 9:1

; 15:7–8

); (2) an apostle had to be directly appointed by Jesus Christ (Mark 3:14

; Luke 6:13

; Acts 1:2

, 24

; 10:41

; Gal. 1:1

); and (3) an apostle had to be able to confirm his mission and message with miraculous signs (Matt. 10:1–2

; Acts 1:5–8

; 2:43

; 4:33

; 5:12

; 8:14

; 2 Cor. 12:12

; Heb. 2:3–4

).

Link:

Are There Still Apostles Today? | The Cripplegate

Obviously NO ONE can meet these qualifications today. Therefore, there are no apostles of Christ today.

I acknowledge the valid use of the term "apostle" to describe "apostles of the Church" - church planters or missionaries who are sent by their church to plant churches. This is not the same as an Apostle of Christ, though....these are apostles of the Church.


The most common claim is : The five-fold ministry is defined in Scripture, therefore the office is still valid (Ephesians 4:11).

My response is: The ministry of the Apostles and prophets are perpetuated through their writings, which we have today in our Scriptures. Jesus, the apostles and prophets are the FOUNDATION of the church, and we are building on the foundation (Ephesians 2:20).

I belonged to a cultic group as a young man. The leader claimed to be both an apostle and prophet. He was an extremely vain, self-important individual. I find the same characteristics amongst those claiming to be apostles and prophets today.

They are vain men who strut around in a pompous display, and I have not met a single one of them who had a very good understanding of Scripture.

I caution them to repent of their foolishness, and humble themselves.

Anyways, what do you think? Feel free to vote.

Not on the earth, but there are apostles today in paradise. And the qualifications you mentioned were false. See what happened was some of the apostles recognized the problem that Judas needed to be replaced. So they made up these qualifications in an attempt to fix God's problem. Does not every Christian do this? But God can fix His own problems.

If the qualifications given by the other apostles, not by God, were real, then Paul did not have a chance. Can you imagine how that interview would go? "Have you been with us from the beginning and witnessed Christ's death and resurrection?" No, but I killed many Christians in an attempt to get rid of Christianity. Do I qualify?"

No, there was only one qualification, yes just one- they must be hand-selected by Christ in person- no middle man. Jesus hand-selected Paul (not Matthias) to replace Judas, when He met him on the road to Damascus. The scriptures say "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the Will of God." He was "born out of season" meaning he wasn't chosen in the same timeframe as the other apostles. But he is an apostle. Good thing, since most of the New Testament was written through him.

One from each of the 12 tribes of Israel (Jacob) from the Old Testament, and the 12 apostles from the New Testament, make up the 24 elders around God's throne. So if anyone claims to be an apostle of Christ, they are claiming that they are one of twelve hand-picked in person by Christ Himself, oh and that they are over 2017 years old.

There are many disciples of Christ, I'm one of them, and we are all priests in Christ, but no one on earth today is an apostle of Christ.

 

[miknik5]

No


revelation 21 mentions only 12

 

[stillness]

Yes there is apostles prophets evangelist pastors and teachers. This generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled. I'm not here to win an argument. Not to enter into discussion either.

 

[stillness]

Yes there is apostles prophets evangelist pastors and teachers. This generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled. I'm not here to win an argument. Not to enter into discussion either.

The meaning of Apostle is sent with a mission, now referred as missionaries.

 

[valiant]

Yes there is apostles prophets evangelist pastors and teachers. This generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled. I'm not here to win an argument. Not to enter into discussion either.

Because some of the Apostles were still alive

There are general apostles (sent forth ones). But those are apostles of the church, NOT Apostles of Christ

 

[PennEd]

Although the 11 remaining Apostles did earnestly pray to Jesus, the Apostle Matthias, chosen to replace Judas, was not directly appointed by Jesus, or a Jesus manifested, but rather by divine lot.

Therefore the OP's prerequisite to be an Apostle is slightly off.

 

[miknik5]

Yes there is apostles prophets evangelist pastors and teachers. This generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled. I'm not here to win an argument. Not to enter into discussion either.

No...there are only witnesses who hold to one testimony

 

[miknik5]

The meaning of Apostle is sent with a mission, now referred as missionaries.

"Am I not an apostle. Have I not seen THE LORD?"

"Go"...Ye shall be MY WITNESSES

 

[Grace777x70]

25 different "apostles" were mentioned in the New Testament. There were only 12 "original apostles" who had been with the Lord for His earthly ministry and were "eye witnesses" of His resurrection.

How Many Apostles in the NT -- 12 or 25?

After His ascension - Jesus gave as gifts to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers until we are built up in Him.

Ephesians 4:10-13 (NASB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

[SUP]11 [/SUP] And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

[SUP]12 [/SUP] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

[SUP]13 [/SUP] until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

We need all 5 of these ministry gifts for the body of Christ to grow up to be what it truly is in Christ.


Apostle simply means "a sent one" or "one sent forth".

There are false apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Satan and his ministers come as "ministers of righteousness" and seem to be "light" but they are actually denying the work of Christ for their own self-effort and self-righteousness.

 

[miknik5]

25 different "apostles" were mentioned in the New Testament. There were only 12 "original apostles" who had been with the Lord for His earthly ministry and were "eye witnesses" of His resurrection.

How Many Apostles in the NT -- 12 or 25?

After His ascension - Jesus gave as gifts to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers until we are built up in Him.

Ephesians 4:10-13 (NASB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

[SUP]11 [/SUP] And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

[SUP]12 [/SUP] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

[SUP]13 [/SUP] until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

We need all 5 of these ministry gifts for the body of Christ to grow up to be what it truly is in Christ.


Apostle simply means "a sent one" or "one sent forth".

There are false apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Satan and his ministers come as "ministers of righteousness" and seem to be "light" but they are actually denying the work of Christ for their own self-effort and self-righteousness.

Do you think these apostles brought a new teaching from what the apostles had laid down from THE LORD?
They didn't

And those who believe and are born of HIS SPIRIT are told to "go" as HIS WITNESSES
and they won't be laying any other foundation (by bringing a new teaching or a new gospel) than the one already laid

 

[Grace777x70]

Do you think these apostles brought a new teaching from what the apostles had laid down from THE LORD?
They didn't

And those who believe and are born of HIS SPIRIT are told to "go" as HIS WITNESSES
and they won't be laying any other foundation (by bringing a new teaching or a new gospel) than the one already laid

The false apostles and teachers and pastors...etc will bring a different teaching then what the Lord Jesus has already done.

Those 12 apostles even though they were eye witnesses of the Lord's resurrection and life - had no idea what He was doing while on this earth. He told them in some form or other 17 times He was going to die - but they still didn't believe it or understand it.

Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit on the scriptures - we can create all kinds of doctrines and beliefs based on our natural human reasoning and from our church teachings as well - these may or may not be accurate.

None of us know all things as we should - Paul said "To him that thinks he knows something - he doesn't know it as he ought to know it."

As we get more revelation of Christ and the Father and the work of Christ - we grow in Him by the renewing of the mind.

Every believer in Christ needs to be under the influence of all 5 gifts that the Lord has given to the body of Christ in order to grow up properly in Him. That's my opinion but others can have a different one.

 

[miknik5]

The false apostles and teachers and pastors...etc will bring a different teaching then what the Lord Jesus has already done.

Those 12 apostles even though they were eye witnesses of the Lord's resurrection and life - had no idea what He was doing while on this earth. He told them in some form or other 17 times He was going to die - but they still didn't believe it or understand it.

Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit on the scriptures - we can create all kinds of doctrines and beliefs based on our natural human reasoning and from our church teachings as well - these may or may not be accurate.

None of us know all things as we should - Paul said "To him that thinks he knows something - he doesn't know it as he ought to know it."

As we get more revelation of Christ and the Father and the work of Christ - we grow in Him by the renewing of the mind.

Every believer in Christ needs to be under the influence of all 5 gifts that the Lord has given to the body of Christ in order to grow up properly in Him. That's my opinion but others can have a different one.

What would be more revelation?

See? that was the reason why Paul said anyone thinks he knows doesn't know as he should

for the very reason they were becoming puffed up, accumulating to themselves "supposed wisdom" and going beyond what is written

its also why Paul said they should be one a fool so as to become wuse

we have all we need in CHRIST and the unity of the faith means that we understand that and come to rest in the knowledge of HIM

Those who have grown up into the head keep their eyes on THE LORD...they know HIM (are known of HIM) and are able to discern HIS VOICE from the yeasty input of men who aren't born of HIS SPIRIT

In fact, anyone who brings something more than CHRIST and the message of THE CROSS which is THE WISDOM of GOD, clearly makes manifest that he doesn't know as he should know

 

[miknik5]

I do not agree that there are any apostles or prophets today

only witnesses who were called and told to "go" testifying and pointing all men to CHRIST

 

[Grace777x70]

What would be more revelation?

See? that was the reason why Paul said anyone thinks he knows doesn't know as he should

for the very reason they were becoming puffed up, accumulating to themselves "supposed wisdom" and going beyond what is written

its also why Paul said they should be one a fool so as to become wuse

we have all we need in CHRIST and the unity of the faith means that we understand that and come to rest in the knowledge of HIM

Those who have grown up into the head keep their eyes on THE LORD...they know HIM (are known of HIM) and are able to discern HIS VOICE from the yeasty input of men who aren't born of HIS SPIRIT

In fact, anyone who brings something more than CHRIST and the message of THE CROSS which is THE WISDOM of GOD, clearly makes manifest that he doesn't know as he should know

More revelation in that - we can receive more light and understanding of what Christ has already done in His finished work.

Apollos is a great example of this. He too was an apostle according to Paul - 1 Cor. 4:6-9

In Acts 18 - Aquila and Priscilla " expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. "


Acts 18:24-26 (KJV)
[SUP]24 [/SUP] And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

[SUP]25 [/SUP] This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

[SUP]26 [/SUP] And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

I firmly believe we haven't even scratched the surface of the magnitude of what our Lord has done for us in His work on the cross and resurrection.

 

[Stephen63]

Man wrote a book, saying there's two types of apostles.

Never mind that it's not in the Bible.

No wonder the church is so "wishy-washy"..... they'll believe a man over the Word of God.

Ephesians 4:11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some aspastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, evenChrist, 16from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

"He" is Jesus.

BTW, I've looked, & I don't read anywhere where Jesus stopped this.

Those of you with your judgments of what Jesus is no longer doing, go & get on your knees & ask Jesus what in the world He's doing.

I know..... it won't happen, because those authorities don't have the spine to do it.

They will say, "I wouldn't approach Jesus that way, that's just not right."

But they will step in shoes of authority & tell His people how He doesn't do things anymore.

Seems that that's just not right, either.

There's an old saying: "God said it, I believe it, & that settles it".

It's a lie.

The truth: "God said it, & that settles it, whether you believe it or not".

Go back & reread the NT with that in mind.

 

[miknik5]

More revelation in that - we can receive more light and understanding of what Christ has already done in His finished work.

Apollos is a great example of this. He too was an apostle according to Paul - 1 Cor. 4:6-9

In Acts 18 - Aquila and Priscilla " expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. "


Acts 18:24-26 (KJV)
[SUP]24 [/SUP] And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

[SUP]25 [/SUP] This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

[SUP]26 [/SUP] And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

I firmly believe we haven't even scratched the surface of the magnitude of what our Lord has done for us in His work on the cross and resurrection.

Because Apollos had not been baptized into Christ and had not received THE SPIRIT

The one born of HIS SPIRIT can discern all things
and priscilla discerned something off in apollos' preaching sndbinstructed him roghtlybin the truth
if you move on to acts 19, you'll see Paul took it upon himself in his great concern for the souls of men, to go see apollos' disciples to correct them as well

 

[miknik5]

What HE did for us at the cross is everything

read 1 John 2
be careful that what you began in remains in you. If what you began in remains in you, you too will remain in both the father and the son
and this is what HE promised us
even Eternal Life

many "go out"
and in doing so progress above The HEAD of THE BODY and therefore are no longer in THE BODY

See 2 John 1

 

[miknik5]

Another thing Paul prayed for the baby churches in his care was that GOD would give them THE SPIRIT of wisdom andvknowkwdgevto better understand their great salvation in CHRIST JESUS