How many apostles?

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How many apostles does the Bible mention?

  • 12

    Votes: 2 11.1%
  • 13

    Votes: 1 5.6%
  • more

    Votes: 14 77.8%
  • not sure

    Votes: 1 5.6%

  • Total voters
    18
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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#81
99 minus 1......oh wait.....that is bottles of beer on the wall............. ;)

Yeah I know.....

My problem with Matthias....he was chosen to take the place of Judas by Peter and company by LOT....Can anyone show me where were they instructed to do so by God....PAUL took the place of Judas and was hand chosen by the Lord.....after the account in Acts where Matthias is chosen is he ever mentioned again.....????
 

MarcR

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2015
5,486
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#82
There are 12 apostles. Paul (not Matthias) replaced Judas. Just because a human calls someone an apostle that does not make him one.

I think you take too much upon yourself when you decide that the 11 were mistaken when they selected Matthias.

There is no Scriptural record of God correcting them.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
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#83
I think you take too much upon yourself when you decide that the 11 were mistaken when they selected Matthias.

There is no Scriptural record of God correcting them.
And in all fairness...no scriptural record that they were instructed by God to choose Matthias as well.....and no record of him after the fact......

Just to be fair my friend ;)
 

MarcR

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2015
5,486
183
63
#84
And in all fairness...no scriptural record that they were instructed by God to choose Matthias as well.....and no record of him after the fact......

Just to be fair my friend ;)

MATTHIAS

(Ματθίας, a contraction of Matithiah or Matthew, a form frequently met with in Josephus [see below]), one of the constant attendants from the first upon our Lord's ministry, who was chosen by lot, in preference to Joseph Barsabas, into the number of the apostles, to supply the vacancy caused by the treachery and suicide of Judas (Acts 1:23-26). A.D. 29. We may accept as probable the opinion which is shared by Eusebius (H. E. lib. 1:12) and Epiphanius (1:20) that he was one of the seventy disciples. He is said to have preached the Gospel in Ethiopia (Niceph. 2:40; according to Sophronius, "in altera Ethiopia," i.e. Colchis; comp. Cellar. Notit. 2:309), or Cappadocia according to Cave, and to have at last suffered martyrdom (comp. Menalog. Graec. 3:198). According to another tradition, he preached in Judlea, and was stoned to death by the Jews (see Prionii Vitae Apostol. p. 178; Acta Sanctomrum, Feb. 24; comp. Augusti, Denkwuidiqgk. 3:241). There was early an apocryphal gospel bearing his name (Eusebius, H. E. 3:25, 3; Clemens Alex. Strom. 2:163; 7:318; Grabii Spicileg. patr. 2:1, p. 117; Fabric. Cod. apocr. N. T. 1:782 sq.).

"Different opinions have prevailed as to the manner of the election of Matthias. The most natural construction of the words of Scripture seems to be this: After the address of Peter, the whole assembled body of the brethren, amounting in number to about 120 (Acts 1:15), proceeded to nominate two, namely, Joseph, surnamed Barsabas, and Matthias, who answered the requirements of an apostle: the subsequent selection between the two was referred in prayer to him who, knowing the hearts of men, knew which of them was the fitter to be his witness and apostle. The brethren then, under the heavenly guidance which they had invoked, proceeded to give forth their lots, probably by each writing the name of one of the candidates on a tablet, and casting it into the urn. The urn was then shaken, and the name that first came out decided the election. Lightfoot (Hor. Heb. Luc. 1:9) describes another way of casting lots which was used in assigning to the priests their several parts in the service of the Temple. The apostles, it will be remembered, had not yet received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and this solemn mode of casting the lots, in accordance with a practice enjoined in the Levitical law (Lev 16:8), is to be regarded as a way of referring the decision to God (comp. Prov 16:33). Chrysostom remarks that it was never repeated after the descent of the Holy Spirit. The election of Matthias is discussed by bishop Beveridge (Works, vol. 1, serm. 2)." It would seem, however, that Paul was the divine appointee to fill the vacancy in the college of the apostles. Monographs in Latin on his election have been written by Scharff (Viteb. 1652), Bittelmaier (ib. 1676), and Hammerschmid (Prag. 1760).
(from McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
 
Feb 7, 2017
1,605
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#85
This depends on what is meant to be apostle. Only twelve apostles was used to constitute the foundation of the Church (Rev 21.14). However, everyone that is raised by Jesus to preach the gospel from city to city is an apostle of the Lamb (unfortunately, people call them missionary, term that isn't found in the Holy Scripture).
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
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#86
...the word "apostles" appears 59 times in the Bible.

The Greek word apostle with no other meaning added means "sent one". Used 473 times in the Old Testament.


The first time God performed that work that worked in an individual to both will and do His good pleasure as one sent or moved by the Holy Spirit is recorded below.

Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

The twelve is not in respect to thier person or personality as a qualification is set aside to be used in a parable to represent the bride of Christ as the residents of the city of Christ the new heavenly Jerusalem... not in respect the the temporal, the earthly Jerusalem

Again nothing to do with the person of Judas who was used to represent those who fall back under the letter of the law. Just as Dan the tribe missing in the description of twelve used as a metaphor in parables to describe the church.

Falling back or backward is used that way throughout the scripture to identify those under the fiery judgment.

They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Joh 18:7

Dan to represent the letter of the law

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. Gen 49:16


I emphasize to fall back or backward again is used many time in respect to those who walk by sight after the flesh

Psalms 40:14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

Psalms 70:2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Isaiah 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Isaiah 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Isaiah 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

Jeremiah 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

Jeremiah 15:6 Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

Lamentations 1:8 Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.

 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
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#87
There is no doubt that Paul was the 13th apostle - that said, Matthias replacing Judas as one sent to the 12 tribes comports with the symbolic figure of the city in revelation:

Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Paul does not figure in with the above as he speaks of himself as "one untimely born".

1 Cor 15:8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

No spoon for Paul...:p