Gifted (Part Ten) Series

GIFTED (part ten)

We've looked at the motivational gifts in Rom. 12:6-8. Then we went to 1st Cor. 12:7-11 and looked at the manifestation gifts. Now we see another set of gifts in Eph. 4:11, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers." Today we'll focus on the gifts of apostleship and evangelism.

1) Apostleship.

Apostle means messenger or one sent forth. Smith's Bible Dictionary, "In the New Testament originally the official name of those twelve disciples whom Jesus chose to send forth first to preach the gospel and to be with him during the course of his ministry on earth. The word also appears to have been used in a non-official sense to designate a much wider circle of Christian messengers and teachers."

Jesus designated 12 of his disciples to be specially commissioned to be Apostles. Matt. 10:2-4, "These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him."

We know mostly about Peter, James, John and Judas and not very much about the other eight. Peter, James and John were the most prominent of the group and Judas was known for less than stellar reasons. But there are more apostles than the 12.

After Judas betrayed Jesus and hanged himself, the Apostles prayed and asked God to reveal who would replace him. It was revealed that it would be Matthias (Acts 1:26). He had been with the group since the early days. He was a follower of Jesus, just not an apostle, until now. And then lastly, there was Paul. But Paul didn't even think he was worthy to be called an apostle because he had once persecuted the church (1st Cor. 15:9).

But beyond these 14 apostles, there are actually others. Barnabas is called an apostle. Acts 14:14 starts out by saying, "But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this". James, Jesus' brother. In Gal. 1:18-19, Paul is explaining how he went to stay with Peter for a couple of weeks and he states that he didn't see any of the other apostles-only James, the Lord's brother.

And speaking of the Lord, Jesus himself was an apostle. Heb. 3:1, "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." Notice how it refers to Jesus as the apostle. Obviously Jesus is the first and foremost of the apostles since he is the first and foremost anything!

And beyond this there is a good argument to be made for Paul's companions Apollos (1st Cor. 4:6-9) and Timothy and Silas (1st Thess. 1:1, 2:6). These three are listed by name and later in the passage Paul uses the phrases, "us" and "we" followed by, "apostles". Is he referring to himself and the original apostles or the men he mentions earlier?

Regardless, there are more apostles than just the original 12. However, especially when you're referring to those designated as companions of Paul, these are not on the level of the original 12 (Matthias, not Judas). Denver Cheedie, a Minister who holds a Master's degree in biblical studies, writes, "The original 12, and Matthias, were clearly distinct from other apostles.

They were granted special rewards in the New Jerusalem that no one else could attain-not even Paul. In Matt. 19:28 Jesus told the 12 that they would sit on thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. And in Rev. 12:14 Jesus said the Holy City will have 12 foundations, each having a name of one of the Apostles. Clearly these 12 apostles were unique.

There is the office of apostle and the gift of apostleship. However, some understand the verses where Paul mentions the term apostle in connection with the gifts, (Eph. 4:11 and 1st Cor. 12:28) are actually referring to those who held the office of apostle, not a gift of apostleship.

The office was held by the 12, followed by Matthias and lastly, Paul. The qualifications for the office of Apostle: Easton's bible Dictionary, "It was characteristic of the apostles and necessary (1) that they should have seen the Lord and been able to testify of him and of his resurrection from personal knowledge.

(2.) They must have been called to that office by Christ. (3.) It was essential that they should be infallibly inspired, and thus secured against all error and mistake in their public teaching, whether by word or by writing. (4.) The power of working miracles.

The apostles therefore could have had no successors. They are the only authoritative teachers of the Christian doctrines. The office of an apostle ceased with its first holders." There is no longer any need for the office of Apostle because the foundation has been laid.