The Role of Apostolic Ministry
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For some unfathomable reason, apostles are now called missionaries. A missionary is someone who goes to a place where there is no church and begins to witness to the locals. The missionary's role is to found the church, appoint elders and teach the basics. Then the church is left to grow by itself. The missionary may, and probably should, return at times to check on the spiritual health of the church. In the meantime, the missionary is elsewhere founding more churches.
"Missionary" is simply the Latin version of "apostle". An apostle is one who is sent. If we compare the ministry of the apostles in the NT we will see the parallels. The term apostle is much abused these days and too many so-called apostles are self appointed. This is contrary to God's word, as the calling of Barnabus and Paul shows in Acts 13. All ministry is the calling of God, not of man. Those who claim otherwise maybe sincere, but they are sincerely wrong.
i believe the apostles are o my the twelve men chosen by Jesus to witness the gospel and establish the church on earth. And there aren’t any more apostles today but we have thier witness. Which is the New Testament of the Bible still speaking today .
i think the Bible teaches that an apostle has to be chosen by Jesus in person and see him after he was raised to life and also be called and chosen to be an apostle like the eleven and Paul later were
people claiming apostleship today don’t seem to meet the requirements of an apostle as described by Paul having witnessed the risen lord in person and been called to be an apostle and witness of the gospel to the world . The apostles also had power like Jesus did to heal and raise the dead and be bitten by a deadly viper and not die or get sick ect which we see some of those things in acts
I’m not an expert or anything but another guy here with an opinion , but my opinion is that there are only twelve apostles that Jesus himself chose Judas having been removed and Paul chosen to replace him
matthias wasn’t chosen by Jesus in person like Paul but by Peter before they received the Holy Ghost
i agree with you - except that it wasn't Peter who chose Matthias.
Peter brought up the idea that Judas should be replaced, and then the 120 disciples who were all gathered together proposed two men they thought were qualified, and they cast lots to determine which it should be.
the word apostle can be used a couple of different ways, but there are certainly no apostles today in the sense of the twelve.
they were given supernatural power and authority that no one has had since they departed.
so the role of the current day 'apostolic movement' in my opinion is to spread error.
“they were given supernatural power and authority that no one has had since they departed.”
amen it’s why the belief still remains even today it was real and powerful and was God confirming thier word
“Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
John 6:70 KJV
“how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”
Hebrews 2:3-4 KJV
“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
2 Corinthians 12:12
Compare what Jesus did with the disciples for healings and miracles. Also compare with others they had laid hands on who also had been given the authority to perform signs and wonders. Look at what the miracles and healings were.
Is that what we see now?
As Justin Peters said recently..(paraphrasing)..the fact we are still debating about this shows the claimed signs and wonders now are mostly false.
Miracles and healing would need to mirror what Jesus and the apostles were doing.
Do you think the apostolic ministry has a relevant and legitimate role today and currently?
The current day 'apostolic movement' is about feeding egos, not the sheep
There were only 12 Apostles of the Lamb. Together, they were a irrefutable witness of the baptism, ministry, death, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
“You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship..."
It should be noted: another apostle listed in scripture did not meet these requirements. Therefore, he could not be numbered among the 12. No matter his contribution to the scriptural testimony (God does not esteem men like men esteem themselves) he could not have given eye-witness testimony of the ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
Of course I'm talking about Barnabas.
"But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out..."
Paul was another apostle who was not among the 12 Apostles of the Lamb. Paul even wrote as much:
In Acts 6 this is recorded: "Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables."
The twelve now included Matthias.
Then Paul wrote this: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve..."
Paul did not number himself among the twelve. He, like Barnabas, Timothy, Silvanus, were other apostles mentioned in the Bible, not Apostles of the Lamb as seen in Revelation:
"Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
Of course the apostolic gift is foundational as is the prophetic gift. God intended that those gifts work together. Why? Because it is given to the prophets to hear God directly (vital to the life of a believer) and to teach others to hear God. And it is given to the apostles to know and establish the administration and organization of the church and to correct any weakness thereof. God did not remove the need for people skilled with these gifts. Indeed, as the world rushes to the end, knowing what God is doing and how He is doing it will become more and more important to those who are spiritual.
Last note: although demonstrations of power may be necessary, the life of an apostle will primarily be identified as one who builds up the Body of Christ, loves and supports the saints, and devotion to the Lord in all things. Humility and reverence for the Lord will follow him. Many would testify of his kindness and grace.
However, like the Lord, apostles may often create conflict: primarily strife between the spiritually minded and the worldly. A faithful apostle will be lied about, ridiculed, and slandered. Assured of his place in Christ, he will likely remain silent as others disparage him.
“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
“You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship..."
It should be noted: another apostle listed in scripture did not meet these requirements. Therefore, he could not be numbered among the 12. No matter his contribution to the scriptural testimony (God does not esteem men like men esteem themselves) he could not have given eye-witness testimony of the ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
Of course I'm talking about Barnabas.
"But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out..."
Paul was another apostle who was not among the 12 Apostles of the Lamb. Paul even wrote as much:
In Acts 6 this is recorded: "Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables."
The twelve now included Matthias.
Then Paul wrote this: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve..."
Paul did not number himself among the twelve. He, like Barnabas, Timothy, Silvanus, were other apostles mentioned in the Bible, not Apostles of the Lamb as seen in Revelation:
"Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
Of course the apostolic gift is foundational as is the prophetic gift. God intended that those gifts work together. Why? Because it is given to the prophets to hear God directly (vital to the life of a believer) and to teach others to hear God. And it is given to the apostles to know and establish the administration and organization of the church and to correct any weakness thereof. God did not remove the need for people skilled with these gifts. Indeed, as the world rushes to the end, knowing what God is doing and how He is doing it will become more and more important to those who are spiritual.
Last note: although demonstrations of power may be necessary, the life of an apostle will primarily be identified as one who builds up the Body of Christ, loves and supports the saints, and devotion to the Lord in all things. Humility and reverence for the Lord will follow him. Many would testify of his kindness and grace.
However, like the Lord, apostles may often create conflict: primarily strife between the spiritually minded and the worldly. A faithful apostle will be lied about, ridiculed, and slandered. Assured of his place in Christ, he will likely remain silent as others disparage him.
???
Well, there's Paul and the Apostle who replaced Judas Iscariot. So that's at least 14.
a·pos·tle
[əˈpäs(ə)l]
noun
- each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ.
- any important early Christian teacher, especially St. Paul:
"Kiril and Metodije, the apostles of the Slavs"
Similar:
disciple
follower
missionary
evangelist
- the first successful Christian missionary in a country or to a people:
"Kiril and Metodije, the apostles of the Slavs"
Similar:
disciple
follower
missionary
evangelist
- a vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular policy, idea, or cause:
"Leo Buscaglia, leading apostle of love and okayness"
- any important early Christian teacher, especially St. Paul:
Apostle, is one that had been there, when Jesus was there, and saw it all, the resurrection included.
The disciples wanted Judas replaced and even threw dice, fro who would be taking Judas Iscariot's place
In the Bible, the act of "throwing dice for a new disciple" refers to the story in Acts where the disciples, after Judas' betrayal, cast lots (essentially throwing dice) to choose Matthias as the new apostle to replace him, using this method to seek God's guidance in selecting the right person to fill the vacancy.
Acts 1:23-26
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. ...
Paul who was Saul got called by God over it all. Such perplexities mysteries of God not yet understood as some now are understood or not yet, such as in Genesis 3 about crushing the head and biting the feet
Genesis 3:15
and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Fulfilled in the risen Christ after first his one time willing death took away sin first. (John 1:29) in Father's sight for us to get given free of charge new life once anyone decides to believe God in this transaction of Son for them too
Death took away Sin in Father's sight for us to now be able to enter Father's throne of grace in confidence and get given the new life offered in the risen Son for us to be new in and stop self-work form it (being dead to self daily), being given it in love and mercy first, how can anyone not respond in thanksgiving and praise when see all sin taken away as far as the east is from the west for them too (Psalm 103:12) and offered a new Heart in (Ezekiel 36:26)?
I agree with most of what has been said, so I will make this a general reply.
Yes, the term "apostle" has come to mean those who knew Jesus personally + Paul, who was especially called by Christ to focus his evangelism on the Gentiles, and some of whom were authors of the NT canon of Scripture.
Thus, it is too confusing to call contemporary disciples "apostles", even though in a sense all disciples are sent/"apostled" to witness for the Lord per the Great Commision and 1PT 3:15-16.
Yes, the term "apostle" has come to mean those who knew Jesus personally + Paul, who was especially called by Christ to focus his evangelism on the Gentiles, and some of whom were authors of the NT canon of Scripture.
Thus, it is too confusing to call contemporary disciples "apostles", even though in a sense all disciples are sent/"apostled" to witness for the Lord per the Great Commision and 1PT 3:15-16.
Yeah, there are disinctions to make. For eg..
Mark 16:17-18 KJV
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
The application of these verses doesn't translate to today. I dont know of any case of serpents being handled and drinking deadly things that do not affect the person doing it.
The application is seen in already happened events in scripture.
So it relates to the extraordinary authority given to the apostles.
Good way to slowly work into it.
Hearing God directly is so extremely important. I used to ask ministers when the last time they heard from God was. I haven't asked in years but I never heard an answer that satisfied me. One pastor told me the last time he'd heard clearly from God was over 30 years ago when God told him who to marry. He has been leading a church for many years without hearing God. I think that's a legitimate concern. And order and unity are definitely important. The functions of all the New Testament ministries are still currently relevant despite the belief that some of the ministers themselves are no longer relevant.
You said, "The life of an apostle will primarily be identified as one who builds up the Body of Christ, loves and supports the saints, and devotion to the Lord in all things. Humility and reverence for the Lord will follow him. Many would testify of his kindness and grace." I agree. I think you can say that God genuinely loves people and you can see in people who function in the apostle's role a noticeable manifestation of God's love or a certain way of life that attracts everyone's attention-- both the attention of angels (good and bad) and the attention of people.
My advice would be stay away from them, they're liars and are leading people astray. This movement has a lot in common with the Manifest Sons of God. Steer clear.
There are Apostles (captial A) and apostles (lower case). The Greek apóstolos means "one sent forth." There are no more Apostles, but theoretically there can still be apostles who are sent forth from congregations with various missions. Those today who pretend to be Apostles are just after power and control.
Actually, that passage is not in the two most reliable NT manuscripts, so there is no compelling reason to revere it as apostolic anyway.