An Apostle?

For many people the title of ‘Apostle’ is surrounded in mysticism even though the title is making more and more in-roads in the church today following after the re-emergence of the ‘prophet’. Unfortunately there is still a lot of confusion and even suspicion of anyone with either of these titles and many times those with these titles do more harm than good when offering explanations. I have done some YouTube videos on the subject of the apostle, but given the title of my blog being what it is, I figured that some explanations here were appropriate.

First, the word ‘apostle’ simply means ‘a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders’. It is simply a descriptive title explaining a calling. Jesus gathered 12 disciples together and designated them ‘apostles’ and then sent them out – Luke 6:13. One of the myths is that these were the only disciples to ever be called apostles and the only ones to be allowed to be called to be apostles, but there is absolutely NO scriptural evidence to support these claims. These were certainly the first, but not the last or only disciples to be apostles. Furthermore, one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament scriptures is the apostle Paul who was not one of the original 12 and many over-look Acts chapters 14-15 that records both Paul AND Barnabas as apostles. Part of the reason that Barnabas doesn’t receive the same recognition is a lack of writing from or about him and the exclusion of the Epistle of Barnabas, which is a letter ascribed to the apostle Barnabas. Once we establish that there were more than twelve apostles, it should remove the fallacy that there can only be 12 and that no one else can hold this ‘sacred’ office. Like many things in the church and society in general our beliefs are not a result of study, but the result of empty tradition.

One of the facts that I like to point out in this discussion of the apostle to illustrate the myth and lack of real investigation and truth is the title of ‘pastor’. Would it be surprising to read that the word ‘pastor’ is used ONCE in the entire New Testament scriptures, in Ephesians 4? That’s right, the most recognized title in the church today is the least used of all five listed in Ephesians 4. The Greek word translated ‘pastor’ in Ephesians 4 is used 18 times in the New Testament, but in every other place it occurs it is translated ‘shepherd’ and 13 of those 17 times it refers directly or indirectly to Jesus and the 4 other times occur in Luke chapter 2, referring to the shepherds that visited the baby Jesus. Now ask yourself how the office title used once in all of the New Testament has become the most ACCEPTED and RECOGNIZED title in the church today. Then ask yourself if what Paul wrote about in Ephesians 4 is true. The text records that Jesus gave ALL FIVE offices to prepare the body of Christ for works of service and that without all these offices in place, the church is immature and easily swayed by ‘the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful plotting’. The apostle Paul further explains in 1 Corinthians 12 that there are offices or parts of the body that are absolutely necessary and there are no parts that we can dismiss or get rid of and the first three listed are the apostle, prophet and teacher.

Because the offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist and teacher have all been replaced by the all powerful, one-size fits all office of the pastor our churches are weak, misguided and fractioned. One of the main arguments given is that we have the bible now and therefore we don’t need the apostle or prophet and furthermore, everyone is an evangelist, because of the ‘great commission’ and because of the bad press and behavior of many ‘tele-evangelists’ this office is further minimized. And the office of teacher has been reduced to either a simple attribute of the pastoral gifts or is some type of volunteer Sunday school teacher or bible study leader with no real recognition of the distinct office or anointing of the teacher.

So what are the simple purposes of all these offices that demonstrates their necessity? The apostle lays a foundation of faith and relationship within the body and with God (Romans 15:20, 1 Corinthians 3:10-12, Ephesians 2:20). The prophets reveals or confirms callings, giftings and future events (Acts 21:10-11). The evangelist attracts people to themselves and to God through signs, wonders and miracles (Acts 8). The pastor is the protector of the body and also the chief administrator that leads the body to good sources of spiritual food (John 10). Lastly, the teacher has an anointing to impart the revelation of truth, the necessity and nuances of relationship within the body and with God through the power of words.

The apostle Paul was an evangelist, apostle and teacher specifically sent to the gentiles (2 Timothy 1:11). He wrote specifically that as an apostle, the main operation was laying a foundation (see above references). Some have dismissed the office of the apostle today saying that we have the foundation of the scriptures and that was the foundation that Paul was speaking of but this is simply not accurate. In the early beginnings of the church, they almost always had all five offices working together in every local body. Paul was not the only apostle that the churches he often wrote to had, he just happened to be the first foundation layer in many locations. The first letter to the Thessalonians is considered one of the first of the ‘Pauline’ letters, but it was authored by Paul, Silas and Timothy and in chapter 2, verse 6 there is a reference within the context that says ‘As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you…’ The plural apostles of Christ and the ‘we’ that follows points to all three authors of the letter and not just to Paul. This then means that Silas and Timothy were apostles along with Barnabas and the references continue with Peter. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles (2 Peter 3:2). Again, the reference is to YOUR apostles, not to Peter or the twelve and this along with many other references demonstrates that the office of the apostle was an ever present necessity in every local body.

There is much more information and study that I could cover, but I simply wanted to give some highlights and let the reader take it from there. I will state, as Paul did (1 Corinthians 9:2), that I am not an apostle to others, only to those who God has called me to. I don’t care to compare myself with others who call themselves apostles and I don’t care if people accept this title. I wrote this for those that have difficulty with the title because of tradition or misunderstanding, but can benefit from reading some of the other articles that I have. Ultimately, I am not trying to prove that I am an apostle. The gift makes the way for the giver and I will let the Lord make the way.