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The
question is are there Apostles for today, or did
they pass away with the 12 with the exception of Matthias who takes
Judas Iscariot’s places?
Easton’s Bible
Dictionary
“The
apostles
therefore could have had no successors. They are the
only authoritative teachers of the Christian doctrines.
The office of an apostle ceased with its first holders.”
Is that true?
Let’s see what the word
has to say.
Here is a list of the 12
(Mat 10:2-4) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these;
| Simon, who is
called Peter, |
Simon, |
| Andrew his brother;
|
Andrew his
brother |
| James the son of
Zebedee |
James |
| John his brother |
John, |
| Philip |
Philip |
| Bartholomew |
Bartholomew, |
| Thomas |
Thomas |
| Matthew the publican
|
Matthew |
| James the son of
Alphaeus |
James the son
of Alphaeus |
| Lebbaeus, whose
surname was Thaddaeus |
Judas the
brother of James |
| Simon the
Canaanite, |
Simon called
Zelotes, |
| Judas Iscariot, who
also betrayed him |
Judas Iscariot, |
Luk 6:13 - 16) And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
Matthias
(Act 1:15 – 17) 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,) 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. For
he
was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this
ministry.
(Act
1:20) For
it is written in the book of
Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and
let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another
take.
(Psa 109:8
KJV)
Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
(Act 1:21 –
26)
Wherefore of these men which have companied
with us all the time that the Lord
Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the
baptism of John, unto that same day that he
was taken up from us, must one be ordained
to be a witness with us of
his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas,
who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said,
Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of
these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and
apostleship, from which Judas by transgression
fell, that he might go to his own place. And
they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias;
and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Peter said to be
qualify for this ministry and apostleship
We see Peter said: must one be ordained
How many is one?
What about Paul he is an Apostle?
(Gal 1:1 KJV)
Paul, an
apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by
Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from
the dead;)
Some have suggested that
Paul was God’s choice as a replacement and that the
decision for Matthias was premature. The problem with this opinion is
that
OK; we see there
is a little problem with this understanding,
assessment on Apostles. So we need to look at a couple
other scriptures to get some more insight.
Gave some, Apostles
(1
Cor 12:28 KJV) And God hath set some in the church,
first apostles,
secondarily prophets,
thirdly teachers,
after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues.
(Eph 4:11)
And he gave
some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Hear we can see that God
has given the church some Apostles.
The question we need
to ask is how many is some
(Eph
4:8,11)
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high,
he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
… And he gave
some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Jesus appointed the
12 at the beginning of his ministry and Matthias
was added right after the ascension of Jesus. Paul’s conversion and
apostleship started about A.D. 35 that is about 5 years
after the ascension of Jesus.
So what is an
Apostle? An
ambassador of the Gospel
GK
= 652. apostolos, a
delegate; spec. an ambassador of the Gospel;
officially a commissioner of Christ ["apostle"] (with miraculous
powers)
Commission =
Is a group appointed for a single task
Apostle =
Is one sent on a mission to preached the
gospel of Christ.
(Rom 1:1 KJV)
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle, separated
unto the gospel
of God,
(Rom 15:19 – 20 KJV)
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power
of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and
round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached
the
gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to
preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build
upon another man's foundation:
(2
Cor 8:23 KJV)
Whether any do inquire of Titus, he
is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our
brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers
of the churches,
and the glory of Christ.
What did Peter
say the commission was for the 12 to do in Acts 1:22?
To be a witness of his resurrection
(Acts 4:33
KJV)
And with great power gave the
apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
So we can see in Ephesians
chapter four
that there is another group of apostles; those
commissined by Jesus, besides the original twelve
apostles.
How long are they
give for?
Let’s read on in
Ephesians chapter four.
(Eph 4:12 –
14)
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: Till
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 fulness of
Christ: That we henceforth
be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight
of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive;
So
we can see that apostles are given " Till we
all ", become mature
and a unified church, body of Christ.
Question: Is the church
walking in unity of the faith, is the church a perfect
man, is the church in the fullness of Christ, and is the
church no more children?
(Heb 5:14 –
6:1 KJV) But strong meat
belongeth to them that are of
full age, even those who by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil. Therefore
leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go
on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from
dead works, and of faith
toward God,
(1 Cor 3:3- 4
KJV)
For ye are yet carnal:
for whereas there is
among you envying, and strife,
and divisions,
are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
For while one
saith, I am of Paul;
and another, I am of Apollos;
are ye not carnal?
From
these
verses we can see that the church overall is still
carnal, it is not in the unity of the faith. Therefor
apostles are still for today and
also prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
they are all for today.
Let’s look at
some other apostles listed in the word.
Barnabas and Paul
(Acts 13:2
KJV)
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy
Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas
and Saul for the work whereunto I
have called them.
(Acts 14:14)
Which when the
apostles, Barnabas and Paul,
heard of, they rent their
clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
(Rom 1:1) Paul, a servant of Jesus
Christ, called to be an
apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
(Gal 2:9 KJV)
And when James, Cephas, and John, who
seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was
given unto me, they gave to me and
Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the
heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Titus and brethren
(2 Cor 8:23)
Whether any do inquire of
Titus, he is my partner
and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of,
they are the messengers of the churches, and
the glory of Christ.
(DRB) Either for Titus,
who is my companion and fellow
labourer towards you, or our brethren, the apostles of the
churches, the glory of Christ.
(YLT) whether--about
Titus--my partner and towards you fellow-worker,
whether--our brethren, apostles of assemblies--glory
of Christ;
(Titus 1:4 - 5
KJV)
To Titus, mine own son after
the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God
the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. For
this
cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the
things that are wanting, and ordain elders in
every city, as I had appointed thee:
(Gal 2:3 KJV)
But neither Titus, who was with me,
being a Greek, was
compelled to be circumcised:
(Gal 1:19)
But other of the apostles saw I none,
save James the Lord's brother.
(Gal 1:19 NLT)
And the only other apostle I
met at that time was James, our Lord's
brother.
Epaphroditus
(Phil 2:25)
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus,
my brother, and companion in labour, and
fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and
he that ministered to my wants.
(YLT) And I thought it necessary
Epaphroditus--my brother, and fellow-workman, and
fellow-soldier, and your apostle and
servant to my need--to send unto you,
In these verses we see at lest 7
apostles
|
Barnabas |
Paul |
Titus |
|
Epaphroditus |
James |
brethren |
Note: Some believe that Luke and
Apollos are the brethren
(1 Cor 3:5
KJV)
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos,
but ministers by whom ye believed, even
as
the Lord gave to every man?
(1 Cor 16:12
KJV) As touching our brother Apollos,
I greatly desired him to
come unto you with the brethren: but his will
was not at all to come at this time; but he will come
when he shall have convenient time.
(Titus 3:13
NKJV) Send Zenas
the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with
haste, that they may lack nothing.
(2 Tim 4:11
KJV) Only Luke
is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee:
for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Signs of an apostle
(2 Cor 12:12)
Truly the signs of an apostle were
wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders,
and mighty
deeds.
(Mark 16:17 -
18 KJV) And these signs shall follow them
that believe; In my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They
shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover.
False apostles
(2 Cor 11:13)
For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ.
(Rev 2:2)
I know thy works, and
thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not
bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried
them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Just as there are apostles today for Christ, there are also false apostles. Just like the church in the book of Revelation tested them to see if they where God's messengers or not, we need to test them today also.
