I went to a church not to long ago where the person who was preaching called themselves an Apostle and that doesn't sit too well with me. They were acting as if they were infallible. I am going to share something with you guys that may shock you: Not every leader is an Apostle. You cannot just give yourself that title. I do not care who you are, you cannot give yourself a title that Y'shua (Head of the church) has not given you. Here is what the guy who wrote my Bible said in the Glossary (It is the One New Man translation and not very common so you will not be able to look this stuff up online):
Apostle is the English spelling of the Greek word used to describe someone who is sent. There was a position in the ancient synagogues for someone who was sent there from another synagogue to another or to authorities in Jerusalem or to some school in order to get the correct interpretation of the Scripture. The Hebrew name of this office is Shelahim, a plural noun meaning the ones sent. The Apostles in the New Testament were sent from Jerusalem to outlying areas to bring correct interpretation to early Christian synagogues. Some of these Apostles were promoting themselves and not focusing on the Jerusalem agenda. Paul referred to them in 2 Cor. 11:12. "But what I am Doing, and I shall keep on doing, so that I will cut off the opportunity of those who want opportunity, so that in whom they are boasting they would have been found just like us. 13. For such false Apostles as these are deceitful workers disguising themselves as Apostles of Messiah. 14. And no wonder: for satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (Isa. 14:12) 15. Therefore it is not great of his, satan's, servants also are disguised as servants of righteousness: whose end will be according to their works" Today we have people in ministry who, like those false Apostles, do not submit to any authority, but claim to report only to GOD (Much like those Mega-church preachers.). Each one of us in ministry needs to be accountable to some organization or board so we do not go off in error like those Paul wrote about.
The first century Apostles did not have organization other than the council in Jerusalem; they simply went out, with more than one going to the same congregations. In the first century there were no churches, just synagogues and home congregations, even if a congregation was all non-Jewish. We know about Paul's submission to the council in Jerusalem, especially from Acts 15 and Acts 21:23. Just what Phoebe's responsibilities is not clear, but Paul refers to her in Rom. 16:1 as being from Cencrae, the sister city of Corinth, being set over others, even himself.
The Latin word for Apostle is missionare, meaning to send, which gives us a better handle on the role of the Apostle. Our Western minds require organizations with managers and organization charts, but that is not what the Middle Eastern mind requires, so a complex organization is no what Paul and other New Testament authors understood the word translated Apostles to mean.
I cannot call myself an Apostle unless the LORD calls me that first. Do not touch a title unless GOD has given it to you first and to do flaunt it to people for the sake of your pride.
Apostle is the English spelling of the Greek word used to describe someone who is sent. There was a position in the ancient synagogues for someone who was sent there from another synagogue to another or to authorities in Jerusalem or to some school in order to get the correct interpretation of the Scripture. The Hebrew name of this office is Shelahim, a plural noun meaning the ones sent. The Apostles in the New Testament were sent from Jerusalem to outlying areas to bring correct interpretation to early Christian synagogues. Some of these Apostles were promoting themselves and not focusing on the Jerusalem agenda. Paul referred to them in 2 Cor. 11:12. "But what I am Doing, and I shall keep on doing, so that I will cut off the opportunity of those who want opportunity, so that in whom they are boasting they would have been found just like us. 13. For such false Apostles as these are deceitful workers disguising themselves as Apostles of Messiah. 14. And no wonder: for satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (Isa. 14:12) 15. Therefore it is not great of his, satan's, servants also are disguised as servants of righteousness: whose end will be according to their works" Today we have people in ministry who, like those false Apostles, do not submit to any authority, but claim to report only to GOD (Much like those Mega-church preachers.). Each one of us in ministry needs to be accountable to some organization or board so we do not go off in error like those Paul wrote about.
The first century Apostles did not have organization other than the council in Jerusalem; they simply went out, with more than one going to the same congregations. In the first century there were no churches, just synagogues and home congregations, even if a congregation was all non-Jewish. We know about Paul's submission to the council in Jerusalem, especially from Acts 15 and Acts 21:23. Just what Phoebe's responsibilities is not clear, but Paul refers to her in Rom. 16:1 as being from Cencrae, the sister city of Corinth, being set over others, even himself.
The Latin word for Apostle is missionare, meaning to send, which gives us a better handle on the role of the Apostle. Our Western minds require organizations with managers and organization charts, but that is not what the Middle Eastern mind requires, so a complex organization is no what Paul and other New Testament authors understood the word translated Apostles to mean.
I cannot call myself an Apostle unless the LORD calls me that first. Do not touch a title unless GOD has given it to you first and to do flaunt it to people for the sake of your pride.
