What does it take to be an apostle?Pastor-Teacher What does it take to be an apostle?Name: Paul. This slave by the name of Paul is a “called apostle”. κλητὸς ἀπόστολοςkleetos apostolosPaul had a lot of enemies, and they constantly maligned him and persecuted him. So here and in several of his other letters Paul takes pains to emphasize that he is most definitely an authentic apostle and so designated by Christ Himself. He is writing this letter as an apostle, a fully authorized representative of Christ with an approved message. apostolos is the Greek word that is translated here “apostle”. It is a transliteration. apostolos was first used for a high-ranking admiral or general officer chosen by counsel to command an Athenian fleet on a military expedition. The governor of the founded colony was called an apostolos. So the word apostolos connotes command responsibility. The word apostolos in the New Testament is used to mean a delegate, a messenger, one sent with orders and with full authority. An apostle is somebody, a messenger, who is sent on a mission. An apostle is a man entrusted with a mission, and the powers to carry it out are conferred upon him. An apostle is one chosen and sent with a special mission as the fully authorized representative of the sender. The person sent is as the person who sends, Eze 3:4-7, Joh 13:16-20. John 13:20 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." An apostle is one chosen and sent with a special mission as the fully authorized representative of the sender. John 13:20 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." The apostolos has a charge and a calling to represent the person and cause of Another. What are the qualifications of an apostle in the Church Age? What characteristics have to be there? 1 Peter 3:15 1. Saw the resurrected Christ. a. He saw the resurrected Christ on the Damascus Road, Act 9:3-6, 22:6-11, 26:13-18.
Rev 21:14 So when it comes time for the apostles to the Church, there are eleven that the Lord designated before His ascension, and one more has to be called, and that’s Paul.
The temporary gifts included miracles, tongues, and healing. He did so in order that you might believe the message the apostle brought - the good news of salvation by faith in Christ, and the mystery doctrine of the Church Age. 4. The apostles authenticated (vouched for) one another. The authority behind Paul’s epistles is equal to the authority behind the Old Testament Scriptures, namely the authority of God. 5. Each apostle is given authority and a commission to do certain foundational things for the infant Church. The spiritual gift of apostleship is the first and highest of all spiritual gifts ever given. The spiritual gift of apostleship carried the highest authority God has ever delegated in the Church Age. 1 Cor 12:28 a. The formation of the canon of Scripture, the New Testament. Unless a document purported to be a Gospel or an Epistle and could be traced back to an apostle, either directly or indirectly with apostolic authority, it should not be included. b. Leadership in the pre-canon period of the Church Age. the establishment of local churches, the maintenance of a true systematic theology with dispensational emphasis, the establishment of local churches, the maintenance of a true systematic theology with dispensational emphasis,
They were given the power to recognize spiritual gifts in others. They were given the authority to teach and provide doctrine and establish people in the truth. They were given the authority to set the order of the churches: they ordained pastors. They decided questions when disputes arose. The apostles claimed they spoke with authority from God and as Christ’s representatives, and so the people should listen to them not as mere men but as men who spoke from God. He was teaching as the chosen vessel of the Lord Jesus Christ. |