Believe it or not there is some confusion among Christians as to what the term "apostle" means or who can be an apostle. Let's start with the definition.
From G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle"), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, HE THAT IS SENT.
The meaning is "one who is sent" with the authority of the sender. It is NOT an office like a Bishop, Pastor or Elder. If being an "apostle" was an office or leadership position within a church then there would be qualifications listed like there is for an "Elder" or "Bishop", or Deacon. But there is not. There has been some very bad teachings concerning this little word.
There were all together 13 Apostles OF Christ, then finally down to 12. Judas as we know betrayed Christ and killed himself. So who was the replacement for Judas? Who later became an Apostle "OF" Christ? This means that it is Christ who must appoint that person directly and personally in order to be HIS Apostle.
All an "apostle" is ...is someone "who is sent" to do something with the authority "OF" the person who personally sent them.
No one today can be an Apostle "OF" Jesus Christ. We can be an apostle but not "OF" Jesus Christ. We are Disciples of Christ but not Apostles "OF" Christ. If your Pastor"s name is Joe and let's say he sent you to deliver a message to another church or to buy something at Home Depot, then you have become your Pastor's "apostle" until you have completed your mission. You are an apostle "OF" Joe. It is just that simple.
There has been much confusion about this word "apostle" mainly among Charismatics, Word of Faith Movement, etc. and even by the Roman Catholic Church who twist the meaning of the word to support what is called "Apostolic Succession". This means that an Apostle of Christ had the power to make someone an Apostle "OF" Jesus Christ and that power could be continued making Apostles of Christ. That is simply a bad teaching and totally unbiblical. Only Jesus Christ has the power to make Himself more Apostles and that He never did and won't do as He only picked 13, minus Judas who was replaced by Paul making only 12. Here is more proof that there can be no more Apostles OF Christ.
Rev 21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. NKJV
How many Apostles "OF" the Lamb? TWELVE [12]...only 12.
Please quit nit-picking each other. The 3 of yall know that the 3 of yall LOVE THE LORD! That is what matters! If Ella believes God still gives out spiritual gifts, then so be it. It will not change her salvation, and vice versa with Leon and Walter.
If we are in the end days, we as Christians need to come together in love for one another. I don't claim to know hardly anything about specific scripture, but I feel strongly that God doesn't want us to bicker like this.
Ella doesn't compose her posts as Walter or Leon do; each one types differently. Please exercise understanding when reading each others posts; take into consideration Ella's brand of humor and the way she attaches emotion to the Word, Walter's being exact and factual, and Leon's....being Leon. (Sorry Leon, I couldn't put it to words, but it's not a bad thing!) We are all different, but yet we are all the same.
This verse keeps popping into my mind as I've typed this post:
For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever, believeth in Him, shall not parish, but have everlasting life.
I mean no harm by this, but rather I love each of you in Christ.
The disciples did something we as Christinas don't do to today. They, as believers were in one place, in one accord, and they were praying for the outpouring of God's Spirit.
One of the future characteristics of the future reign of Christ is the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter recognized that the outpouring anticipated an even greater outpouring yet to come.
The frequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit in this age are the source of the great spiritual revivals and spiritual awakenings. Because of the great blessings received in times of revival, Christians have often used descriptions from the future kingdom age to describe their experiences. While the believer looks forward to this coming kingdom of Christ, he/she may also pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in revival today.
The most important message of Scripture is summarized in the word gospel, which means Good News. The gospel is both a proposition and a person. As a proposition, it embraces the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. But the gospel is also a person, the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every Christian is responsible for sharing the Good News with others.
A spiritual gift is a sovereignly given ability to minister to others in the power of the Holy Spirit of God, with an evident manifestation of the Holy Spirit through the Christian as he/she serves God. Every Christian should use their gifts to serve God in some area of ministry that calls for the gift (s) they possess. The enabling gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to all Christians and includes faith, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and discernment. These gifts are given to help the believer to do the works of the ministry through the Holy Spirit. Every Christian should be filled with the Holy Spirit in order that he/she may have God's power to serve Him. One must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit in order to receive what God has for him/her. God says His promise is to all who believe, and they shall receive.
You show much wisdom for one so young. You are exactly right. I will not be drawn into these unfruitful discussions again. I knew better from the beginning.
The Apostle is 1st mentioned in Psalms 68 as a Gift. This is important to note whenever the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament as it is here, to show significance to the understanding of the Apostle Paul's describing the purpose and function of apostles. Here are Paul's words including the quote from Psalms 68:8. Apostles are described as Gifts of Christ for the church. it goes on to describe the function of Apostles.
Ephesians 4:7-12,
"7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ�s gift. 8 Therefore He says:
� When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.�[Ps 68:8]
9 (Now this, �He ascended��what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ' NKJV
Here it says HE (Jesus) ascended after HE descended into the lower parts of the earth. Most believe this to be the work of the cross, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Himself. Apostleship is therefore a gift given by Christ for building the church.
What is the function of an Apostle, may be a better question than what or who might be one. Jesus gave some to be Apostles after His resurrection. Paul was an Apostles. James the brother of Jesus is said to be an Apostle, Galatians 1:19.
The Blue letter Bible describes Apostles:
1) a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders
a) specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ
b) in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers
1) of Barnabas
2) of Timothy and Silvanus
Jesus gave gifts to men, does not exclude women because the word for man is inclusive of all mankind as humans which most women are. Therefore, Mary at the tomb was "sent" by the risen Lord to tell the disciples that Christ had risen from the dead. Other women were with Jesus and the disciples as well.
But the real test of an Apostle should be the work of an Apostle. Anyone that is too hung up on the "Title" Apostle IMO is missing the point. Whether or not you receive an Apostolic title is up to God. But the need to build the church is still here. And we still need those that function as Apostles even if we do not agree what they should be called. We are not perfect. This is the work still to be fulfilled from Ephesians 4:12-13,
" 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Much of what your post says is true but the most important ingredient if you will is mainly the simple definition, which you posted.
An "apostle" is "one who is sent" with the authority of the sender.
What is the difference between being an "Apostle "OF" Jesus Christ and a person being an apostle "OF" John Doe?
The word "OF" is the determining factor as to whose apostle one is.
Jesus only appointed 12 Apostles for the Great Commission. He cannot and will not appoint any more. None of us can claim any rights to being an apostle "OF" Christ, because Jesus must hand pick a person to be HIS Apostle. Are there apostles today? Yes but they are not apostles "OF" Christ.
Regarding the supernatural gifts....that is for another thread but briefly.....there were specific "Supernatural Gifts" that the only way a person could receive them was through the laying on of the hands of one of the 12 Apostles "OF" Jesus Christ. Additionally only the Apostles "OF" Jesus Christ were the conduits of the Holy Spirit in imparting specific Supernatural gifts to other believers. After the Apostles "OF" Christ died, those gifts no longer were passed on and consequently vanished.
The problems in the various interpretations of people on this matter stems from a lack of understanding Greek grammar. The English in this passage lends to a very poor understanding. I will lay out how the Greek properly renders the meaning of this passage in Mark which will demonstrate how some badly misinterpret this.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Above we have a command given to the Apostles to preach the Gospel. I am not saying this does not apply to us today as Matt 28:19-20, a parallel passage, extends this command to all of us. However we have keep the context in THIS passage where it belongs.
Next.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
The grammar in the Greek applies this as a general application to everyone.
Next.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Verse 17 above is where some people try to apply this to us today. The Greek does not support that. In the Greek grammar the above text of verse 17 is only applicable to those who "believed AT THAT TIME". It is those who received the direct preaching of the Apostles of Christ and who received the supernatural gifts THROUGH the Apostles laying on of their hands upon them AT THAT TIME. This can in no way apply to us today as the grammar of the Greek forbids that interpretation.
For those who believe differently than what the grammar of the Greek states then it is not the Holy Spirit that is teaching you as the Holy Spirit cannot contradict God's written word. God determined what the author wrote and God determined the grammar usage.
Next. I have interjected in brackets [the Apostles] to further explain what the Greek grammar is saying.
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them,[ the Apostles] He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And THEY [the Apostles] went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with THEM [ the Apostles] and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. NKJV
