GIFT OF APOSTLE
1. 1 Corinthians 12:28; Eph. 4:11 - apostolos
A. From the verb, apostello which means to send someone
away from one's self as a representative of self.
B. To send with a commission to promote the cause of
the one who sends you.
C. Attic Greek usage was a military word for the supreme
commander; the admiral of the fleet; the one with the highest authority
or rank.
D. It was adopted by God the Holy Spirit to indicate
those in the early church who have the highest rank and authority under
Christ as the one who sends them.
2. The apostles were the human agents of the new dispensation.
They were responsible for proper organization and dogma during the transition
period between the age of Israel and the church (the years 30 to 96 AD)
Eph. 3:1-7; 2:20. Example: Acts 8:14-15
3. As with all the spiritual gifts, no apostle was appointed
to the church until after the ascension of Christ. Eph. 4:8-11.
A. In Mat. 16:18-19, Peter was not appointed as an apostle
to the church, but to Israel, along with the other disciples (v. 18:18)
B. CF. Mat. 10:6, "sent to the house of Israel."
C. The "keys of the kingdom" are an evangelistic
mandate and do not carry special authority.
D. The commission to the disciples was not a "spiritual
gift" of apostle but, in the original sense of the word, an assignment
to carry out a specific task.
4. They had absolute authority with regard to policy
and doctrine throughout the Christian church as illustrated by Paul in
2 Cor. 11:23, 28. (1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Thes. 2:6; 2 Pet. 3:2)
5. Ability to perform miracles and healings was contained
in the gift of apostle as a sign of his authority. 2 Cor. 12:12; Rom. 15:19-20;
Heb. 2:3-4
6. There is indication at 1 Cor. 9:1, that an apostle
had to be an eye witness to the resurrected Lord. The qualification mentioned
at Acts 1:21-22 is human viewpoint and is no where confirmed by God.
7.The purpose of the gift was to provide the early church
with an authority on divine viewpoint until God's word for the new dispensation
became complete in written form. 2 Thes. 2:15; 3:6
A. 2 Pet. 3:15-16 indicates the value placed on the writings
of the apostle Paul. They were considered scripture.
B. Shortly after the last book of the bible was provided
by God, the last apostle (probably John) died.
8. There are only 12 apostle gifts appointed by God to
the church.
A. The 11 disciples of Jesus received the gift of apostle
at the day of Pentecost in 30 AD, when the Holy Spirit was initially given
to the church.
B. Peter's decision to replace Judas with another is
commendable, but not God's choice for an apostle. Acts 1:15-26
C. Paul was chosen as the 12th apostle. 1
Cor. 15:8-10
D. These 12 apostles have a special place in the new
Jerusalem. Rev. 21:14
9. There were several men who were called apostles because
of their close association with an apostle and because they represented
apostolic authority as delegated by an apostle. But these did not have
the spiritual gift of apostle.
A. Barnabas: Acts 14:14; Gal. 2:9
B. James (the half-brother of Jesus): 1 Cor. 15:7; Gal.
1:19
C. Apollos: 1 Cor. 4:6-9
D. Silas and Timothy: 1 Thes. 1:1; 2:6
10. The last apostle who lived was John. There has never
been one since and never will be one again. The gift was totally removed
from the church when John went to heaven at his death.
11. See Topic: Apostles
