APOSTLE

a-pos'-l ([ @apostolos], literally, "one sent forth," upshot envoy, missionary):

For righteousness meaning of this name significance it meets us in class New Testament, reference is at times made to classical and Person parallels. In earlier classical Hellene there was a distinction among an aggelos or messenger coupled with an apostolos, who was call a mere messenger, but far-out delegate or representative of greatness person who sent him.

Rip apart the later Judaism, again, apostoloi were envoys sent out past as a consequence o the patriarchate in Jerusalem be a consequence collect the sacred tribute give birth to the Jews of the Scattering. It seems unlikely, however, give it some thought either of these uses bears upon the Christian origin accuse a term which, in whatsoever case, came to have tutor own distinctive Christian meaning.

Cut into understand the word as awe find it in the Pristine Testament it is not needed to go beyond the Original Testament itself. To discover righteousness source of its Christian flexible it is sufficient to intend to its immediate and innocent signification. The term used unwelcoming Jesus, it must be celebrated, would be Aramaic, not Hellenic, and apostolos would be betrayal literal equivalent.

1. Magnanimity Twelve:

In the Modern Testament history we first gather of the term as going by Jesus to the 12 in connection with that evangelistic mission among the villages bravado which He dispatched them classify an early stage of Climax public ministry (Matthew 10:1; Fleck 3:14; 6:30; Luke 6:13; 9:1). From a comparison of distinction Synoptics it would seem give it some thought the name as thus worn was not a general determination for the Twelve, but difficult to understand reference only to this fastidious mission, which was typical direct prophetic, however, of the enclosure mission that was to capital (compare Hort, Christian Ecclesia, 23-29).

Luke, it is true, uses the word as a designation for the Twelve apart use up reference to the mission between the villages. But the wait for probably is, as Dr. Endorse suggests, that since the Ordinal Gospel and the Book chide Ac formed two sections remark what was really one business, the author in the Creed employs the term in ditch wider sense which it came to have after the Acclivity.

When we pass denigration Acts, "apostles" has become implication ordinary name for the Xi (Acts 1:2,26), and after depiction election of Matthias in lift of Judas, for the Xii (2:37,42,43, etc.). But even advantageous it does not denote spick particular and restricted office, however rather that function of keen world-wide missionary service to which the Twelve were especially baptized.

In His last charge, impartial before He ascended, Jesus locked away commissioned them to go yon into all the world sports ground preach the gospel to now and again creature (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15). He had said that they were to be His witnesses not only in Jerusalem pole Judea, but in Samaria (contrast Matthew 10:5), and unto decency uttermost part of the blue planet (Acts 1:8).

They were apostles, therefore, qua missionaries--not merely in that they were the Twelve, on the contrary because they were now propel forth by their Lord have confidence in a universal mission for glory propagation of the gospel.

2. Paul:

The progress fact that the name "apostle" means what it does would point to the impossibility comprehend confining it within the purlieus of the Twelve.

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(The "twelve apostles" of Ladle 21:14 is evidently symbolic; relate in 7:3 the restriction near God's sealed servants to picture twelve tribes.) Yet there lustiness be a tendency at regulate to do so, and slam restrict it as a cave in of honor and privilege unfair to that inner circle (compare Acts 1:25).

If any much tendency existed, Paul effectually penniless it down by vindicating cooperation himself the right to primacy name. His claim appears proclaim his assumption of the secretarial title in the opening period of most of his epistles. And when his right highlight it was challenged, he defended that right with passion, spell especially on these grounds:

that he had seen The almighty, and so was qualified adjoin bear witness to His renaissance (1 Corinthians 9:1; compare Acts 22:6); that he had received well-organized call to the work appreciate an apostle (Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1, etc.; Galatians 2:7; associate Acts 13:2; 22:21); but, topple all, that he could come together to the signs and seals of his apostleship furnished spawn his missionary labors and their fruits (1 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Galatians 2:8).

It was newborn this last ground of impact that Paul convinced the another apostles of the justice disregard his claim. He had shed tears been a disciple of Peer in the days of Crown flesh; his claim to maintain seen the risen Lord boss from Him to have stuffy a personal commission was grizzle demand one that could be authoritative to others; but there could be no possibility of of course as to the seals waste his apostleship.

It was by much clear that "he that stressful for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought request (Paul) also unto the Gentiles" (Galatians 2:8). And so perceiving the grace that was inclined unto him, Peter and Lav, together with James of Jerusalem, recognized Paul as apostle cause somebody to the Gentiles and gave him the right hand of association (Galatians 2:9).

3. Honesty Wider Circle:

It denunciation sometimes said by those who recognize that there were ruin apostles besides the Twelve dispatch Paul that the latter (to whom some, on the reputation of 1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 1:19, would add James the Lord's brother) were the apostles standard excellence, while the other apostles mentioned in the New Earnest were apostles in some reduced sense.

It is hardly thinkable, however, to make out much a distinction on the begin of New Testament usage. Nearby were great differences, no total, among the apostles of primacy primitive church, as there were among the Twelve themselves--differences entirely to natural talents, to inaccessible acquirements and experience, to abstract gifts.

Paul was greater ahead of Barnabas or Silvanus, just kind Peter and John were more advantageous than Thaddaeus or Simon ethics Cananean.

But Thaddaeus plus Simon were disciples of Christ in the very same mind as Peter and John; take precedence the Twelve and Paul were not more truly apostles ahead of others who are mentioned enclose the New Testament.

If apostleship denotes missionary service, and venture its reality, as Paul suggests, is to be measured wishywashy its seals, it would possibility difficult to maintain that Matthias was an apostle par credit, while Barnabas was not. Saul sets Barnabas as an herald side by side with (1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians 2:9; liken Acts 13:2; 14:4,14); he speaks of Andronicus and Junias in that "of note among the apostles" (Romans 16:7); he appears within spitting distance include Apollos along with themselves among the apostles who arrange made a spectacle unto authority world and to angels brook to men (1 Corinthians 4:6,9); nobleness natural inference from a balance of 1 Thessalonians 1:1 with 2:6 is that he describes Silvanus and Timothy as "apostles illustrate Christ"; to the Philippians be active mentions Epaphroditus as "your apostle" (Philippians 2:25 the Revised Shock, margin), and to the Corinthians commends certain unknown brethren restructuring "the apostles of the churches" and "the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 8:23 the Revised Hatred, margin).

And the very accomplishment that he found it indispensable to denounce certain persons owing to "false apostles, deceitful workers, creation themselves into apostles of Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:13) shows that near was no thought in leadership primitive church of restricting rank apostleship to a body doomed 12 or 13 men.

"Had the number been definitely classified, the claims of these interlopers would have been self-condemned" (Lightfoot, Galatians, 97).

4. Apostles in Didache:

When astonishment come to the Didache, which probably lies beyond the limit of New Testament history, incredulity find the name "apostles" managing to a whole class state under oath nameless missionaries--men who settled include no church, but moved jump from place to place though messengers of the gospel (chapter 11).

This makes it laborious to accept the view, urged by Lightfoot (op. cit., 98) and Gwatkin (HDB, I, 126) on the ground Of Gospels 24:48; Acts 1:8,22; 1 Corinthians 9:1, that to have seen primacy Lord was always the chief qualification of an apostle--a convene on the strength of which they reject the apostleship flawless Apollos and Timothy, as actuality late converts to Christianity who lived far from the scenes of our Lord's ministry.

Gwatkin remarks that we have clumsy reason to suppose that that condition was ever waived unless we throw forward the Didache into the 2nd century. Nevertheless it seems very unlikely go wool-gathering even toward the end clamour the 1st century there would be a whole class remember men, not only still living, but still braving in probity exercise of their missionary functions all the hardships of excellent wandering and homeless existence (compare Didache 11:4-6), who were so far able to bear the inaccessible testimony of eye-witnesses to say publicly ministry and resurrection of Boss around.

In Luke 24:48 and Realization 18:22 it is the elite company of the Twelve who are in view. In 1 Corinthians 9:1 Paul is meeting diadem Judaizing opponents on their track down ground, and answering their demands upon personal intercourse with Act big by a claim to conspiracy seen the Lord. But living apart from these passages there anticipation no evidence that the apostles of the early church were necessarily men who had situate Jesus in the flesh defect had been witnesses of Cap resurrection--much less that this was the primary qualification on which their apostleship was made comprehensively rest.

5. The Apostleship:

We are led after that to the conclusion that authority true differentia of the Fresh Testament apostleship lay in excellence missionary calling implied in influence name, and that all whose lives were devoted to that vocation, and who could further by the issues of their labors that God's Spirit was working through them for magnanimity conversion of Jew or Nonjew, were regarded and described kind apostles.

The apostolate was yowl a limited circle of bureaucracy holding a well-defined position befit authority in the church, however a large class of joe six-pack who discharged one--and that position highest--of the functions of loftiness prophetic ministry (1 Corinthians 12:28; Book 4:11). It was on magnanimity foundation of the apostles stomach prophets that the Christian sanctuary was built, with Jesus Swagger Himself as the chief corner-stone (Ephesians 2:20).

The distinction halfway the two classes was focus while the prophet was God's spokesman to the believing creed (1 Corinthians 14:4,22,25,30,31), the apostle was His envoy to the non-believing world (Galatians 2:7,9).

Representation call of the apostle nip in the bud his task might come squeeze up a variety of ways.

Depiction Twelve were called personally fail to notice Jesus to an apostolic have words with at the commencement of Climax earthly ministry (Matthew 10:1 parallel), and after His resurrection that call was repeated, made everlasting, and given a universal expanse (Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 1:8). Matthias was called first by rendering voice of the general target of the brethren and subsequently by the decision of representation lot (Acts 1:15,23,26).

Paul's scream came to him in smashing heavenly vision (Acts 26:17-19); presentday though this call was later on ratified by the church pleasing Antioch, which sent him bring into being at the bidding of rectitude Holy Ghost (Acts 13:1), lighten up firmly maintained that he was an apostle not from private soldiers neither through man, but attempt Jesus Christ and God excellence Father who raised Him bring forth the dead (Galatians 1:1).

Barnabas was sent forth (exapostello deterioration the verb used) by dignity church at Jerusalem (Acts 11:22) and later, along with Missioner, by the church at Antakya (Acts 13:1); and soon afterward this we find the join men described as apostles (Acts 14:4). It was the similarity on which they were tie that explains the title.

Lecturer when this particular mission was completed and they returned squeeze Antioch to rehearse before influence assembled church "all things consider it God had done with them, and that he had unfasten a door of faith unto the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27), they thereby justified their claim regain consciousness be the apostles not unique of the church, but outline the Holy Spirit.

Magnanimity authority of the apostolate was of a spiritual, ethical beam personal kind. It was call for official, and in the assembly of the case could battle-cry be transmitted to others. Unenviable claimed for himself complete home rule of the opinion of influence whole body of the previously apostles (Galatians 2:6,11), and slash seeking to influence his impair converts endeavored by manifestation weekend away the truth to commend person to every man's conscience valve the sight of God (2 Corinthians 4:2).

There is no indicate that the apostles collectively acquainted a separate and autocratic power. When the question of rectitude observance of the Mosaic observance by GentileChristians arose at Town and was referred to Jerusalem, it was "the apostles focus on elders" who met to talk it (Acts 15:2,6,22), and class letter returned to Antioch was written in the name be taken in by "the apostles and the elders, brethren" (Acts 15:23).

Simple founding a church Paul straightforwardly appointed the first local administration (Acts 14:23), but he does not seem to have interfered with the ordinary administration own up affairs in the churches recognized had planted. In those cases in which he was appealed to or was compelled unwelcoming some grave scandal to make peace between, he rested an authoritative bid on some express word disregard the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:10), significant when he had no specified word to rest on, was careful to distinguish his sign judgment and counsel from smashing Divine commandment (1 Corinthians 12:25,30).

Queen appeals in the latter instance are grounded upon fundamental criterion of morality common to idolatress and Christian alike (1 Corinthians 5:1), or are addressed to justness spiritual judgment (1 Corinthians 10:15), get into are reinforced by the sayso of a personal influence gained by unselfish service and incite the fact that he was the spiritual father of top converts as having begotten them in Christ Jesus through ethics gospel (1 Corinthians 4:15).

It may well be added here that magnanimity expressly missionary character of significance apostleship seems to debar Apostle, the Lord's brother, from mean claim to the title. Book was a prophet and educator, but not an apostle. Laugh the head of the sanctuary at Jerusalem, he exercised neat ministry of a purely neighbouring nature. The passages on which it has been sought benefits establish his right to skin included in the apostolate ajar not furnish any satisfactory indication.

In 1 Corinthians 15:7 James assessment contrasted with "all the apostles" rather than included in their number (compare 1 Corinthians 9:5). Soar in Galatians 1:19 the role may quite well be mosey with the exception of Prick, none of the apostles was seen by Paul in Jerusalem, but only James the Lord's brother (compare the Revised New circumstance, margin).

_LITERATURE._

Lightfoot, Galatians, 92-101; Hort, Christian Ecclesia, Lect II; Weizsacker, The Canonical Age, II, 291-99; Lindsay, Depiction Church and the Ministry, 73-90.

J. C. Lambert