Ephesian 4:11 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,
The following information dealing with the five-fold ministry of the church is presented in a question and answer format? My prayer is that as you read the scriptures with an open mind, you will find the answers to the questions provided.
Who were the original 12 apostles?
Matt 10:2-4 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.KJV
Besides the twelve, who else was named as an apostles?
Acts 14:3 So [Paul and Barnabas] stayed on there for a long time, speaking freely and fearlessly and boldly in the Lord, Who continued to bear testimony to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be performed by their hands. 4 But the residents of the town were divided, some siding with the Jews and some with the apostles. AMP
Acts 21:18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. KJV
Galatians 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. KJV
The Amplified Bible Footnote for Acts 21:18 says:The half brother of Jesus, author of the Letter of James and leader of the church in Jerusalem, not to be confused with James the Apostle (John’s brother).
Romans 1:1 Paul, a [a]bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative), set apart for [preaching] the [b]gospel of God [the good news of salvation],
Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. KJV
Acts 1:20-22 For in the book of Psalms it is written, Let his place of residence become deserted and gloomy, and let there be no one to live in it; and [again], Let another take his position or overseership.
Acts 1:16 "Brothers, it was necessary for the Scriptures to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided the Temple police to arrest Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us, chosen to share in the ministry with us."
20 Peter continued, "This was predicted in the book of Psalms, where it says, 'Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.' And again, 'Let his position be given to someone else.'
21 "So now we must choose another man to take Judas's place. It must be someone who has been with us all the time that we were with the Lord Jesus — 22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us into heaven. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus' resurrection."
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed for the right man to be chosen. "O Lord," they said, "you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas the traitor in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and in this way Matthias was chosen and became an apostle with the other eleven. NLT
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) AMP
The apostles chose Matthias; God chose Paul to be an apostle. What do you think of this?
Check out Strong's to see where else in the Bible Matthias is mentioned.
How were all the other apostles chosen?
How would you compare or contrast Acts1:20-22 with Galatians 1:1?
1 Cor 9:1 Am I not an apostle (a special messenger)? Am I not free (unrestrained and exempt from any obligation)? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you [yourselves] not [the product and proof of] my workmanship in the Lord? 2 Even if I am not considered an apostle (a special messenger) by others, at least I am one to you; for you are the seal (the certificate, the living evidence) of my apostleship in the Lord [confirming and authenticating it]. 3 This is my [real ground of] defense (my vindication of myself) to those who would put me on trial and cross-examine me. AMP
1 Cor 15:9-10 For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, who am not fit or deserving to be called an apostle, because I once wronged and pursued and molested the church of God [oppressing it with cruelty and violence]. 10 But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). AMP
What made Paul worthy to be called an apostle?
What does the word apostle mean?
Phil 2:25 However, I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus [back] to you. [He has been] my brother and companion in labor and my fellow soldier, as well as [having come as] your special messenger (apostle) and minister to my need. AMP
2 Cor 8:23 As for Titus, he is my colleague and shares my work in your service; and as for the [other two] brethren, they are the [special] messengers of the churches, a credit and glory to Christ (the Messiah). AMP
In Summary
What does the word apostle mean?
Who are the apostles mentioned in these scriptures?
Were they listed among the first twelve?
What made Paul worthy to be called an apostle?
Did you see something new in these scriptures?
Did it contradict or challenge a belief you may have held?
Did this information cause a negative or a positive response in your heart?
our paragraph here.
Ephesians 4:11 - Apostles
What does the word apostle mean?
First, we'll use Vine's Expository Dictionary, and Easton's Bible Dictionary, to define this office, as it was defined by the writers of the New Testament
Apostle
a) po/stolo NT:652) is, lit., "one sent forth" (apo, "from," stello, "to send"). "The word is used of the Lord Jesus to describe His relation to God, Heb 3:1; see John 17:3. The twelve disciples chosen by the Lord for special training were so called, Luke 6:13; 9:10. Paul, though he had seen the Lord Jesus, 1 Cor 9:1; 15:8, Paul was commissioned directly, by the Lord Himself, after His Ascension, to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.
"The word also has a wider reference. In Acts 14:4,14, it is used of Barnabas as well as of Paul; in Rom 16:7 of Andronicus and Junias. In 2 Cor 8:23 (RV, margin) two unnamed brethren are called 'apostles of the churches'; in Phil 2:25 (RV, margin) Epaphroditus is referred to as 'your apostle.' It is used in 1 Thess 2:6 of Paul, Silas and Timothy, to define their relation to Christ." From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 59-60.
2. apostole (NT:651), "a sending, a mission," signifies an apostleship, Acts 1:25; Rom 1:5, 1 Cor 9:2; Gal 2:8. (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Apostle - a person sent by another;
(from Easton's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Define the Apostle’s role in the first century church.
Acts 13:3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
You too can be a Beroean!
See Acts 17:10 -13