Wrong believing and wrong thinking, will produce wrong confessions.
Many, if not most debates, opinions, reasoning, because of many coming to the word of God, and trying to understand it with their mind and it can not be done.
For example there was a post the other day concerning the ministry Gifts to the church.
Are Apostles and Prophets still for today in the church.
Very simply put id they are not you can not say that any scripture is true, for truth does not change, nor is it corruptible, and it is alive not dead.
Zaohagios said "To qualify for Apostle one must have seen Jesus after his resurrection" Says Who?
Who are the Apostles Paul is talking about when he is talking to the Ephesians? Eph 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. . .
Here's a definition from Websters 1816 Dictionary.
Apostle
APOS'TLE, n. [L. apostalus; Gr. to send away, to sent.]
A person deputed to execute some important business; but appropriately, a disciple of Christ commissioned to preach the gospel. Twelve persons were selected by Christ for this purpose; and Judas, one of the number, proving an apostate, his place was supplied by Matthias. Acts 1.
The title of apostle is applied to Christ himself, Heb 3. In the primitive ages of the church, other ministers were called apostles, Rom 16; as were persons sent to carry alms from one church to another, Phil 2. This title was also given to persons who first planted the Christian faith. Thus Dionysius of Corinth is called the apostle of France; and the Jesuit Missionaries are called apostles.
Among the Jews, the title was given to officers who were sent into distant provinces, as visitors or commissioners, to see the laws observed.
Apostle, in the Greek liturgy, is a book contained the epistles of St. Paul, printed in the order in which they are to be read in churches, through the year.ds
It would seem that the original 12 Apostles were Apostle with a capital A. Otherwise there are many who could be apostles.
When we receive the Holy Spirit, many are called, but few are chosen! The Old Testament Prophets were called by God only. The Apostles were chosen by Christ and walked with Christ and had a personal relationship with him including Paul. After he ascended into heaven, he left to us the Holy Spirit for us to have a personal relationship with him also. Christ left us with his gifts for us to carry on his works.
Also, I believe that the Book of Revelation was written to reveal to us in this last Generation future events which that will be fulfilled soon. Revelation 21 tells us about the future New Jerusalem. If you believe in New Jerusalem as a future event, then you must believe all of Revelation as future events that must happen as prophecy liteerally, not historically or the many other ways people try to translate scripture.
You can�t believe part of the Bible and you can�t break scripture just because you don�t understand something.
Ephesians 2:20 - (the household of God) built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone
Dual Prophecies are all through the Bible. It�s their to confirmed the word!
The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:14 (Case closed)
God says what he means and means what he says!
The Prophets didn�t have a personal relationship that we enjoy today, they were inspired with God�s speaking to them to reveal all things that God required of them to say. Many great prophesies has been fulfilled and more to come in Revelations. They represent God speaking commands that had a serious penalty if they were wrong.
Since this passage is found in the chapter which also addresses the Gifts of the Spirit, it is generally taught that the order given was one of establishment. God gave the apostles first, and then came the prophets and finally the teachers. The Apostles came to lay the foundation and this was completed by the Prophets, since the Church is said to be built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets.
Thus since apostles and prophets are no longer needed, the foundation having been laid effectively the only real ministry that still exists is the Teacher, or more specifically the Pastor-Teacher, since the two ministries are one according to
Eph 4:11.
The final appeal is given to the history of the Church, and the total absence of the members of the fivefold ministry, with the exception of the local minister or pastor.
Whilst it is not the intention in this summary to fully explain this passage, it is easy however to locate the Fivefold Ministry by separating verse 28 using the words - first, second, third, then and next.
You will then see the ministries mentioned in the following order, which is the true Scriptural priority order:
There are many great pastors, ministers and teachers that are doing the offices of Apostles and Prophets that wish not to be called Apostle or Prophet out of respect for their gifts and their calling. We should be like the Sheppard!
Ministry Gifts are a call from God in Ephesians 4:11
Responsibility Natural Manifestation
Apostle Doctrine and Discipline Enjoys building things, projects, businesses, ect.
Prophet Discern and Proclaiming Has a keen God's Word (sometimes
Problematic) sense
of Justice
Evangelist Present the tGospel Enjoys direct contact
of Christ tothe Lost with people. Most
are sucessful salesmen Pastor To care for the everyday Enjoys direct contact
needs of the church with people to come
family. to their home.
Teacher Instruct the Church in Is able to explain
the practical application complex issues in a
of God's word. way a child will
understand.
So now we have a basic understanding of what each office is all about. Now, when we turn on TBN and The Word Network and all these other Christian channels out there, we see that numerous individuals both male and female are now proclaiming these titles yet the large majority of them are finding themselves in the midst of public scandal, ridicule and are making the Christian Church the stock of the world.
Let�s go back in time for a minute. Do you remember when you were in gym class in elementary school and high school? They use to make everyone dress in scantly clad attire and do things in immodest apparel. Back in the day, you could go to your pastor and ask him to write you a letter to get you out of gym because of your strong convictions and beliefs that a child of God should not be participating in some of the things they had you doing in gym class. Your pastor would write that letter on church letterhead, stamp it and you would take it to your gym teacher or school principal and the school would find something else for you to do out of respect for your pastor and religious views. Fast forwarding to the �new age church� we have so many individuals (Pastors and Ministers) involved with the law (and not law enforcement) that if a pastor even wrote a letter on behalf of your child, the school would laugh at you and basically tell you �HA! You think this is going to get you out of gym? I just saw your Pastor on TV for embezzling money. I just saw your Pastor on the news molesting the very kids he is to protect, I�m not going to follow this piece of paper!� What shame and reproach we have brought on Gods House and His People. Yet you claim you�re called to me a pastor? Yet you claim you can see the future but beg everyone for money to support your ministry (which we find out through the media its really to support your drug habit).
I personally am sick and tired hearing these allegations about all these people who are not called into the ministry. Literally prostituting the people of God and causing more hurt than good. Please understand, it�s not everybody. There are some good men and women of God out there who are genuinely called into the ministry to edify and build up the Body of Christ. But I think its time for us to get a clear understanding of what being �called� is all about.
How do I know if I am truly called?
The following is taken into consideration (the order does not reflect the order of importance):
� Educational preparedness
� Experiential preparedness
� Ministerial and evangelical preparedness
� Personal (maybe subconscious) motivations
� Relational affirmations of family and friends
� Wise counsel of trusted mature Christians
� Leadership of the Holy Spirit
� Prayer (What is God continuing to say to me? Am I still on track?)
� The Word of God confirming all
� Health issues and necessary preferences
� Language skills and capacity to learn
� Cross-cultural readiness and flexibility
� Desires of my heart (be careful on this one)
� Is now the right time to go overseas? (Concerning missionaries or starting churches overseas like one mother church in Brooklyn and a daughter work in Africa just as an example.)
� Couples: are you both sensing the same calling?
How do I know what God wants me to do?
* Pray for discernment. If God has a specific (or more general) task for you, he�ll lay it on your heart. Spend time in prayer asking, and if God has something special in mind, he may just be waiting for you to ask. Ask.
Some deny that God communicates in this way, and I can only say that I�m sorry they�ve never experienced it. Maybe if they were to ask in faith they�d learn otherwise.
* Ask yourself what you�re good at.
You may be like Gideon or Moses and not feel up to what God wants out of you�and so it�s good to ask Godly people what they see in you, too. Many churches do gifts assessments, and part of a good program is to have others in the class tell you what they think you�re good at. Many people are surprised at what they�re told!
* You may have to train for the task given you. You may be gifted to teach but need training in Bible study or lesson preparation. Don�t confuse lack of preparation with the absence of a gift.
* It�s easy to fool yourself. I know people who feel they are called to teach, but they have NO gift of teaching. God gifts those he calls.
Seek outside advice to be sure you haven�t turned a personal wish into a mission from God.
Gifted people generally enjoy using their gifts. But some few people enjoy things they are very poor at. Ask an honest person.
Seek the desires of your heart!
* You may need help from others (Moses needed Aaron). Don�t be afraid to recruit others to help�God doesn�t necessarily call you to go it alone. Jesus sent his missionaries out two by two. He gave Gideon a small army. Paul traveled with a group of missionaries.
* Don�t be afraid of pushing for things outside your or the church�s comfort zone. Sometimes God wants a change.
* On the other hand, never, ever despise the ordinary.
(Luke 9:4 Then he said to them, �Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all�he is the greatest.�
Simply caring for a child can be the Lord�s calling. My mother oversees our cradle roll class on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. She recruits and trains the teachers. She prepares the lessons. She buys the toys she uses as props. It�s a gift, an obsession�and it�s a calling.
* Pray a lot. If you feel God has something in mind for you, then you aren�t through praying. Rather, like Jesus, it�s time to get serious about your prayer life.
* Expect to have a hard time at times. Paul got beaten, shipwrecked, rejected � . Pharaoh didn�t listen to Moses. David was nearly killed by Saul and spent years in the wilderness before he took the throne. Be patient. Persevere.
* Study hard to be sure what you�re doing is true to the word. God never calls you to violate his word.
* Some among us will never accept the idea that God is alive and active today by any means other than his word. It�s tragic that some think this way, as they miss out on so many blessings. Don�t worry about it. Just do what you�re supposed to do.
* And if at times you feel a little driven�even obsessed�even when you can�t figure out your next step or things are going badly. Well, that�s very likely the Spirit pushing. Let him push.
(Gal. 5:25) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
* Oh, and did I mention that it�s important to pray? That�s really important.
Common Misconceptions:
God wants pre-conceived ideas about His ministry � to come to a halt! For example, to show an extreme teaching of the gift of a prophet, it is taught that the role of the prophet is like certain Old Testament prophets who �tell it like it is�. In other words a prophet becomes unpopular and even offensive but will declare judgment in truth. The teaching will even give permission to be rude and contentious for the sake of truth. It is never the wisdom of God to categorize what a prophet will say or how he may say it. The gift of a prophet is very simple; he is simply a forerunner of standing in the counsel of God concerning certain truth and is then equipped and responsible to speak forth this counsel. Soon as you say that it has to be spoken a certain way or it has to be a certain truth � you are missing it. The true prophet will only tell what he hears in the counsel of God that is revealed IN SCRIPTURE.
The true prophet fears God and trembles every time he handles the scriptures and yet speaks as an oracle of God with authority. Since there is NO OFFICE OF PROPHET, only a gift of prophet, there is no office authority. There is not church government concerning a prophet. However there is authority for prophets concerning the authority of the message being presented. A prophet in itself is a gift with no authority but when you speak what God has said then all of heaven stands behind that word. That is why a prophet speaks with authority when God commissions him. The false prophet will be cocky and that is the perversion of authority. The false prophet speaks what he hasn�t heard and exerts authority not given to him. Paul had authority because of the apostolic word that was with him not because of a position of authority. Scripturally examine how Paul talked with churches that he fathered in the faith such as the Corinthian Church. He did not come to correct them as a boss, he corrected them with pleadings of the truth. This truth can make one tremble because it contains Jesus� authority but for those that do not accept truth it has no authority to change. Examine how Paul exercised the authority of the gift and yet he possessed no church government office. Church government in the early church yielded to the authority of the gift by producing fruit of repentance.
A mature prophet will rarely tell you of their supernatural experiences. For example, if they went to heaven, you will know little of it. Why? The fear of God in them cannot afford to bring attention to anyone other than Jesus. The prophet knows the revelation of Jesus and His words are the subject matter. The prophet knows that telling the people of their great visitation can manipulate. The mature prophet simply fears God in these areas. Many of today�s prophets know little of this type of fear and humility. They are not forerunners until they do.
True Church Government
Wisdom dictates that in this subject we must not put God in a box and say �this is a pastor� and �this is a prophet� and if one does not match up with the described way of what a prophet is and does, then he must not be a prophet. This type of thinking will keep you in the dark about what God is doing concerning His 5-fold ministry gifts of ministry. To cause you to break out of the mentality that the 5-fold ministry gifts of Ephesians are church government positions � consider this. You can have a gift of a shepherd (pastor) and yet never be called to church government as a superintendent or deacon of a church. In other words you can have this gift and never be what we call in today�s English a pastor/bishop or deacon of a church. If you were to have a shepherd (pastor) gift you could function in that gift through writing, traveling ministry, or any other way of expressing that gift that God calls you to. However, we do have scriptures that say that superintendents (bishops) have a gift of shepherding. Jesus is called in 1 Peter the superintendent (bishop) AND shepherd (pastor) of our heart � thereby linking the two together; BUT THIS IS NOT EXCLUSIVE. The role of feeding the flock and being overseers is given to elders in 1Peter. The elders are church government and I see them as not separate in the scriptures from superintendents and deacons but instead elders are comprised of both superintendents (bishops) and deacons. The church has a lot to learn about true church government and I see things returning to the order that is witnessed in the days when Peter was an elder.
Our terminology has been confusing concerning church government and ministry. I use the word superintendent instead of the word bishop for good reason. The KJV uses the word �bishop� to describe the church government position that in most churches is called pastor (but pastor is simply a gift not an office). The Greek word for bishop is more closely related to our English word �superintendent�. What is important is what the word means to the general public, the un-churched that we are trying to reach. What does the word bishop mean to them? It is defined by years of what the Catholic Church has showed by example. When they hear the word they think of religious garments and rituals of the organization. Therefore this becomes the current definition instead of the activity of superintending the house of God. What does the word pastor mean to the public? Much of the time it is defined as the head of a church that stands behind a pulpit as though he is the CEO or president of that organization. In reality the word �pastor� is translated shepherd every time except in Ephesians. Pastoring is a gifting and not an office, position, activity or a head of a church. We confuse the world with our titles and terminology. I am not saying to abandon all titles and the terminology of pastor and bishop, though God may require this of you at some time; I am saying we must demonstrate to the world true church government by not intermingling gifts with positions
What about those who do not have 5-fold ministry gifts?
Keep in mind; there are those who have an exclusive calling to the five-fold �gift ministry� and God calls them to fulfill a constant role in the context of the gift. However, there is no one in the body that is excluded from being a minister. If you become mature in Jesus Christ � you will be a minister, period. When you open your mouth at work, at home, or school, you are ministering something. Proverbs has much to say about that which we speak, it produces life or death; it produces gold or wood. To see what we are talking about, observe how Paul teaches in Timothy and Titus about the qualifications of bishops (Greek � superintendents) and deacons (ministry servants); in a strict sense these two offices belong to these specific callings and they refer to church government only, however in God�s application we should all receive and walk in these sayings.
I apologize however I know without a shadow of a doubt, someone is going to stumble on my post and realize what callings they truly possess within the body of Christ. I hope and pray that my words have not fallen on death ears, but will be received with gladness as we all strive to please Jesus and His Church.
Understanding the Gift of Prophecy
The gifts of tongues with Prophecy being the most important are active in some churches today. All gifts should be used in honor and praise to God.
We see in my church many spiritual gifts being preformed quite often! They are alive and working quite often! It confirms to us that God is present and uplifts the believers and confirms to the unbelievers during worship.
This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy...." (Acts 2:16-18 quoting Joel 2:28-29)
Amazingly, Peter classifies the Pentecost expression of tongues as a variety of the prophetic gift. The New Testament Scriptures make it clear that the Spirit is a universal gift to the church, and that prophecy is the characteristic gift of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul indicated that the gift of prophecy was for every believer: "For you can all prophesy one by one..." (1 Corinthians 14:31; see also vss. 5, 24). As we desire the renewal of the church this expectation of the universality of prophecy among God's people fills us with hope.[1]
If we take Paul's letter to the Corinthians seriously, we must come to the conclusion that the gift of prophecy is indispensable to the church. When we try to build churches without this gift being active, it is like trying to walk across America on crutches: it can be done, but it is certainly the hard way. The importance of the gift of prophecy is seen from from Paul's urgency for it. He commands the Corinthians to "earnestly desire to prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:39; see also 12:31 and 14:1). In all the various lists and discussions of the gifts in Paul's letters the only constant gift is prophecy.[2] Whenever Paul makes an attempt to classify the gifts in terms of importance, prophecy is given preference over all the rest (1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:19f). Only in the two passages where Paul speaks of gifted men (prophets) rather than of the gift (prophecy) do prophets fall into second place behind apostles (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11; cf. Ephesians 2:20).[3]
As God led me in my study of the gift of prophecy, I was convicted by the Apostle's command: "Earnestly desire to prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:39; see also 12:31; 14:1). My zeal (Greek zeloo) to prophesy or encourage prophecy in the church certainly was not conformed to the Word. But as I discovered what God intends prophecy to do for His church, my desire and faith for the gift increased. Why is prophecy so important? Just what is its purpose?
Its several functions may all be subsumed under the purpose of building up the Church. Since love for the brethren is to be the motive for desiring the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 13), the purpose is to build up the brethren. The Greek word oikodome was first used of building houses, temples, and pyramids, but quickly moved to a figurative sense in secular Greek.[4] In the context of spiritual gifts it means "building" as a process, "construction" and is "figurative of spiritual strengthening, edifying, edification, building up."[5] The Spirit of Christ is fulfilling Jesus' promise, "I will build (oikodomeo) my church ..." (Mt 16:18). The Spirit is in the business of constructing people and the community. The ways in which prophecy builds up the body are spelled out in detail in 1 Corinthians 14.
Exhortation and Encouragement
Exhortation and assurance are two common purposes of prophecy. Paul contrasts tongues (a Godward speaking) with prophecy (a manward message): "He who prophesies speaks to men for their upbuilding (oikodome) and encouragement (paraklesis) and consolation (paramuthia; 1 Corinthians 14:3)."
Exhortation to obedience and service as well as encouragement and comfort from the Spirit to those experiencing pain and trouble are one aspect of the Spirit's building up of the church through prophecy.
A Specific Revelation for the Occasion
Revelation is the particular characteristic of prophecy which sets it off from preaching and teaching. Indeed, one of the primary ways the Spirit builds up the church is by means of prophecy's revelation. Although the gift of prophecy has a great breadth, we should not imagine that its primary purpose is the setting forth of doctrine, even though "instruction" was part of its original function (1 Corinthians 14:19). Rather, the gift of prophecy was a revelation from God with a word for the particular moment.[10] Cecil Robeck observes,
Prophecy appears to be given with an existential value in mind. It is given through a specific individual, to a specific individual or group of individuals, at a specific place, and within a specific time frame. Within that context it may be said to have a specific message with specific value.[11] A glance at the prophets mentioned in the early church certainly underlines this conclusion. Agabus' two recorded prophecies were specific predictions, revelations (Acts 11:27-30; 21:10-11). At the Antioch church the Spirit spoke through a prophet to confirm Paul and Barnabas in their missionary calling (Acts 13:1-2). Grudem observes, "Prophecy, then, is superior to the other gifts because the revelation on which it depends allows it to be suited to the specific needs of the moment, needs which may only be known to God."[12]
The great value of prophecy to the church today is the contemporary Word of God to encourage and guide His people.[13] The prophetic message is "a word fitly spoken" (Proverbs 25:11), directly from God, "good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29).
Conviction
A specific revelation can be particularly powerful in bringing conviction of sin and of God's presence to unbelievers or backsliders who are present in a church gathering. Paul suggests to the Corinthians how prophecy can work in this way:
If all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). For the outsider, prophecy can be a powerful sign of God's presence among His people.
Problems with individuals in the body or with the body itself may also be pinpointed by the gift of prophecy. James Dunn observes, "Prophecy prevents a man pretending to be other than he is--prevents the believer hiding behind a mask of pretended righteouness, of apparent spirituality. At any time the prophetic word may expose him for what he is."[14] Thus prophecy builds up the church by converting the unbeliever and purifying the believer.
The variety of ways the church is built up by prophecy accentuate its necessity for the present day church. Words of comfort and assurance, words of pleading, words of exhortation and admonition, words of exposure and correction--all of these are designed by the Spirit to bring and maintain renewal in Christ's church.
We cannot afford to despise the gift of prophecy. Nor can we allow its capacity for misuse and misunderstanding prevent us from embracing it. Rather we must diligently seek to curb its abuses by the guidelines of Scripture and "test all things" (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21), so that the great constructive value of prophecy may be experienced by our churches.[15] Through this unique spiritual gift the church is enabled to grow, mature and move forward according to the will of God. "Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy ... so that the church may be edified" (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5).
I've posted this before. The topic has been brought back up so here it is again!
The original Twelve
Simon
Andrew
James
John
Philip
Bartholomew
Thomas
Mathew
James
Thaddaeus
Simon the Zealot
Judas Iscariot
Matthias the 13th Apostle (chosen by the remaining eleven apostles)
Acts 1:26
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The scripture does not say that there was a big hurry to choose a new apostle. You can�t read your own theology into the text. If you read your own viewpoint into the text you will always get the wrong interpretation. The Jews used the method of lots to determine who would be the new apostle. Their belief was that God would use divine intervention so that the correct person drew the correct lot thus settling the matter.
The other Apostles
Andronicus and Junia
Romans 16:7 (KJV)
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
This verse does not indicate that they were popular among the apostles. Rather, it implies they were apostles, known by the apostles. We do not know much about Andronicus and Junia. Perhaps Junia was the wife of Andronicus. Junia is the feminine of Junius. If Junia is indeed a female, then Junia is the only instance of a female apostle in the bible.
Apollos
1 Cor. 4:4-9 (KJV)
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. [5] Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. [6] And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. [7] For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? [8] Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. [9] For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
Paul includes Apollos along with himself in the apostolate.
Barnabas
Acts 14:14 (KJV)
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
Barnabas was the first person to treat Paul as a friend after Paul�s conversion.
Epaphroditus
Philip. 2:25 (KJV)
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
The word messenger is apostolos in the Greek language.
James, the Lord�s brother
Galatians 1:19 (KJV)
But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Paul
The apostle Paul
Two Unnamed Apostles
2 Cor. 8:23 (KJV)
Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
The word messenger is apostolos in the Greek language.
Silvanus and Timotheus
1 Thes. 1:1; 2:6 (KJV)
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thes. 2:6 (KJV)
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
Paul includes Silvanus and Timotheus as apostles along with himself.
We cannot discount the apostleship of Matthias based on the silence of the scriptures concerning him. Just because we do not have much to read about him does not mean that such silence, in itself, is evidence that his election to apostleship was unsanctioned and unendorsed by the Lord. Very few of the disciples in the Upper Room were famous. Scripture says not a single word for more than half of the apostles after Pentecost. For example, scripture has little to say about Simon the Zealot. Yet we do not discount him as an apostle.
As for Peter making a mistake, where is the reproof of a �bad decision� in the scriptures? Where does it say the decision was made in haste? It does not exist. It was a suggestion by Peter to the others in the room. They all agreed to the decision to cast lots.
Binding and Loosing
Matthew 18:15 (KJV)
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Brother in this context is meant as a fellow believer
[16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Verse 16 is referring to establishing a fact in a Jewish court
Deut. 19:15 (KJV)
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
[17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Let him be cast out of the church at least for a while as a heathen or tax collector.
See 1 Cor. 5:1-5 and 2 Cor. 2:5-11
[18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
The words bind and loose are literally �prohibit� and �permit.� The terms were used in 1st century Judaism to mean �prohibit� and �permit.� Josephus mentions in War of the Jews 1:5:2 that the Pharisees �became themselves the real administrators of the public affairs; they banished and reduced whom they pleased; they bound and loosed [men] at their pleasure��
Jesus used the familiar terms himself in Matt 16:19 and Matt 18:18. By these words He practically invested them with the same authority as that which he found belonging to the scribes and Pharisees who �bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.� That is, loose them as they have the power to do.
Jesus is also granting His disciples the same authority as the Levitical priests and the judge who shall be in those days (Deut. 17:8-12) to make decisions for the new community of believers in Christ. However Christ does instruct His disciples to obey the commandments of the Pharisees in Matt 23:2-3 because they sit in the seat of Moses.
V.19, Jesus is saying �if two or more of you agree on any religious or community issue, then your decision for them that asked the question will be as if it came directly from my Father in heaven.� Jesus strengthens this by promising his own presence in these situations.
Vs 20 Is a reference to Malachi 3:16
�Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.�
Concerning Peter
Acts 1:15-16 (KJV)
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) [16] Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
What did David say by divine influence of the Holy Ghost? Peter is referring to prophesy concerning Judas!
Psalm 109:8 (KJV)
Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
Peter and the approximate 120 are not out of line for casting lots. We know that God has the final say according to his word when casting lots. The prophecy concerning Judas is completed. And with the authority given to the disciples to bind (permit) and loose (loose) they have found a replacement for Judas.
Acts 1:26 (KJV)
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The Word of God says that Matthias was numbered with the eleven apostles.
So there were more than 14 Apostles! At what point in history did God decide to take away those gifts and callings? There is nobody here that can answer that because it hasnt happened!
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
This verse does not indicate that they were popular among the apostles. Rather, it implies they were apostles, known by the apostles. We do not know much about Andronicus and Junia. Perhaps Junia was the wife of Andronicus. Junia is the feminine of Junius. If Junia is indeed a female, then Junia is the only instance of a female apostle in the bible.
You are wrong here. the word note among means known among. The Greek word for note means of note, notable. It is derived from the word remarkable.
I respect everyone beliefs, but if you believe the whole Bible
but have a hard time believing the whole Bible, just stay in the word and seek the Truth in every word he has to tell us.
Ask your pastor about scripture, the wise will understand!
If your beliefs has not changed in the Truth, send up a message to our Father and ask him to redesign New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 for all the other apostles that you approve of. I guess you must believe he figured it wrong or something. I lay my burdens at his feet! He has the answers, I am just a sheep listening for my sheppard!
As for the Prophets, I do believe one is coming along with another one to unite us in the Body of Christ at the beginning of the 7 years of tribulation in ending right before the 7th Trumphet which is the Day of the Lord!
Don't miss out on that one and be ready for the day is drawing when they both are killed and lay in the streets for 3 days. God will put his breath into them and they will rise and be caught up in heaven right in front of our eyes,
it will be witnesses on all TV Channels for the world to see what is getting ready to happen.
Revelation 11:
Watch out for them woes! One more to come quickly!
Ephesians 2:20 - (the household of God) built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone
The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Wrong thinking is anything that is not confirmed by the written word of God in the Bible. Since we are to have the mind of Christ then we think His thoughts. Our thoughts, which we often consider to be our own, are most often influenced by spirits either from God, from Satan of from our flesh nature.
John said to test the spirits (our thoughts): He said:
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world (1 John 4:1-3).
Being mentioned or not being mentioned has nothing to do with anyone's significance, it is the bold declaration of error that says you had to see Jesus ascend to be an Apostle
stock of the world.