What is an apostle?

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May 2, 2021
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#1
I'm new to all this so this may be a silly question. What is an apostle? After a quick google search I found this, Apostle, (from Greek apostolos, “person sent”) Then after a bible search just now it made reference a number of times to Paul 'an apostle' and Peter. Then it had a list starting with apostle Eph. 4:11. Was this list in a specific order like the highest position to lowest or was it meant to be random? Sorry for the questions, just interested to know who they are, or who you are. Would I be wrong in assuming that there would be some practicing ones here on ChristianChat?
 

Rosemaryx

Senior Member
May 3, 2017
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#2
Hi...
Am not 100 percent sure , but I believe an Apostle was someone who actually saw Christ...
...xox...
 
May 2, 2021
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#3
Thanks. I'll try to look that up in the bible book. Would you know where those references are Rosemaryx? Much appreciated.
 
May 2, 2021
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#4
I just found this, 1 corinthians 12...... 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Does this mean there is an order of importance, first apostle, second prophet .....? What do you apostles think because this is all new to me. What do you do as an apostle? Again, sorry for all the questions. My Christian friend doesn't know the answers to my questions so I thought I'd ask them on this forum which was the first one I found after a quick google search the other day.
 
Jan 12, 2019
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#5
I just found this, 1 corinthians 12...... 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Does this mean there is an order of importance, first apostle, second prophet .....? What do you apostles think because this is all new to me. What do you do as an apostle? Again, sorry for all the questions. My Christian friend doesn't know the answers to my questions so I thought I'd ask them on this forum which was the first one I found after a quick google search the other day.
If you follow strictly the criteria to be an apostle, you have to witness the resurrected Christ 1 Corinthians 9:1, you have to perform signs and wonders of an apostle 2 Corinthians 12:12, all these will disqualify anyone who claim to be an apostle today.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#6
"Who" is an apostle would be more in keeping with what you are inquiring about.

1. An apostle was a man specifically chosen by Christ to spread the Gospel. Some apostles had a special status (e.g. Peter, James, and John). But all twelve spent time with Christ during His ministry on earth for about 3 1/2 years.
2. The word apostle means "sent one". Jesus sent His apostles into all the world with the Gospel message. And they did do what they were commanded to do.
3. There are only twelve apostles of Christ, with the apostle Paul as a replacement for Judas Iscariot. Matthias was just a temporary fill-in.
4. Every apostle had personally seen the resurrected Christ.
5. Every apostle was enabled to perform signs, wonders, and miracles to authenticate the divine origin of the Gospel. But only a few apostles wrote the New Testament.
6. It is believed that all the apostles were martyred (killed for their witness).
7. Christ has promised His twelve apostles that when He comes into His Kingdom, they will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel.
8. The names of the twelve apostles are written in the 12 foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem.
 
Jan 12, 2019
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#7
3. There are only twelve apostles of Christ, with the apostle Paul as a replacement for Judas Iscariot. Matthias was just a temporary fill-in.
7. Christ has promised His twelve apostles that when He comes into His Kingdom, they will sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel.
8. The names of the twelve apostles are written in the 12 foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem.
Poor Matthias :ROFL:
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#8
After Acts 1, you never hear of Matthias. No doubt he did what he was supposed to do, but he was there only temporarily.
 
Jan 12, 2019
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#9
After Acts 1, you never hear of Matthias. No doubt he did what he was supposed to do, but he was there only temporarily.
There are many among the 12 who were not even mentioned in acts.

Why are they not temporary too?
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
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#10
The election of Mattias by lot was to fulfill Holy Scripture. Do not think by wallowing about in a lot of words this can be changed. Mattias is the replacement of Judas, or does anyone think God was kidding through His prophets?
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
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#11
I'm new to all this so this may be a silly question. What is an apostle? After a quick google search I found this, Apostle, (from Greek apostolos, “person sent”) Then after a bible search just now it made reference a number of times to Paul 'an apostle' and Peter. Then it had a list starting with apostle Eph. 4:11. Was this list in a specific order like the highest position to lowest or was it meant to be random? Sorry for the questions, just interested to know who they are, or who you are. Would I be wrong in assuming that there would be some practicing ones here on ChristianChat?
See chapter 3 (A) in This study...
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
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#12
The election of Mattias by lot was to fulfill Holy Scripture. Do not think by wallowing about in a lot of words this can be changed. Mattias is the replacement of Judas, or does anyone think God was kidding through His prophets?
Are you saying you have an OT prophesy about Matthias?

Matthias was man's choice. Paul was the one Jesus' chose personally & sent out. The Lord's choice shouldn't cause offence to Christians.
We have no record of Matthias complaining about it.
 
Jan 12, 2019
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#13
Are you saying you have an OT prophesy about Matthias?

Matthias was man's choice. Paul was the one Jesus' chose personally & sent out. The Lord's choice shouldn't cause offence to Christians.
We have no record of Matthias complaining about it.
We have no record of anyone in the scripture. Matthias or otherwise, even claiming that Matthias was only "temporary", so why would there be one of Matthias ever complaining?

As for Paul, Jesus chose him to reach to (Acts 22:21) and be the apostle of the gentiles (Romans 11:13), a different mission from the 12.
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
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#14
We have no record of anyone in the scripture. Matthias or otherwise, even claiming that Matthias was only "temporary", so why would there be one of Matthias ever complaining?

As for Paul, Jesus chose him to reach to (Acts 22:21) and be the apostle of the gentiles (Romans 11:13), a different mission from the 12.
If he didn't complain, no one should be doing so now. Jesus sent the 12 out to all nations.
 
Jan 12, 2019
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#15
If he didn't complain, no one should be doing so now. Jesus sent the 12 out to all nations.
My point was that its a new doctrine that Matthias was even a temporary appointment. How can he complain if it was never even temporary?

Under the prophetic timetable, Israel was to be saved first, before the rest of the world can be reached (Zechariah 8:23)
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
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#16
Are you saying you have an OT prophesy about Matthias?

Matthias was man's choice. Paul was the one Jesus' chose personally & sent out. The Lord's choice shouldn't cause offence to Christians.
We have no record of Matthias complaining about it.
It was the custom for ment to cast lots in order to know our Father-s will on a given question they could not answer themselvees. There are many occasions of casting lots to know God's will through out the OT.

I recall learning this in the Word but I cannot recall all the exact quotes. One is from Johan, another Joshua, one in Chronicles, and many more.

Lots were cast in order to inquire of God, not for gambling, not for chance.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
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#17
I'm new to all this so this may be a silly question. What is an apostle? After a quick google search I found this, Apostle, (from Greek apostolos, “person sent”) Then after a bible search just now it made reference a number of times to Paul 'an apostle' and Peter. Then it had a list starting with apostle Eph. 4:11. Was this list in a specific order like the highest position to lowest or was it meant to be random? Sorry for the questions, just interested to know who they are, or who you are. Would I be wrong in assuming that there would be some practicing ones here on ChristianChat?

Yep, it means " one who is Sent "a" apostle now there is the "A" Apostles those who were hand-picked by Jesus and were the Eyes witnesses of the Resurrected Lord.

Today some churches are very much about titles and they have apostles, bishops, etc.



This is my opinion, ok, you do not have to agree and yes I can be wrong as I said it is my opinion of over 25 years of ministry.
The title does not identify the person, the title is supposed to identify the work they are doing.

Are they doing the work of one who is sent? many want the title but don't actually do the work of the office they are called by.

That is how you know if they are what they say or the title by which they have taken.