Subject: Apostles4-2day |
Bible Note: Dear RWC, There is already a "healthy" debate on this very issue that is taking place already on the Forum. You can find it under the Scripture 1 Cor. 12:27, thread entited, "why the difference in order" (I think..) or just do a "search" for the "five fold ministry" and you should find the thread(s) instantly. Here is a recent post from that thread.. -------------------------- Here are more definitions of the gift of "Apostleship" as defined.. "apostles. A term used particularly of the 12 disciples who had seen the risen Christ (Acts 1:22), including Matthias, who replaced Judas. Later, Paul was uniquely set apart as the apostle to the Gentiles (Gal. 1:15-17) and was numbered with the other apostles. He, too, miraculously encountered Jesus at his conversion on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-9; Gal. 1:15-17). Those apostles were chosen directly by Christ, so as to be called "apostles of Christ" (Gal. 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1). They were given 3 basic responsibilities: 1) to lay the foundation of the church (2:20); 2) to receive, declare and write God's Word (3:5; Acts 11:28; 21:10,11); and 3) to give confirmation of that Word through signs, wonders, and miracles (2 Cor. 12:12; cf. Acts 8:6,7; Heb. 2:3,4). The term "apostle" is used in more general ways of other men in the early church, such as Barnabas (Acts 14:4), Silas, Timothy, (1 Thess. 2:6) and others (Rom. 16:7; Phil. 2:25). They are called "apostles of the churches" (2 Cor. 8:23), rather than "apostles of Jesus Christ" like the 13. They were not self-perpetuating, nor was any apostle who died replaced." The MacArthur NKJV Study Bible pg. 1809 --Nolan |