The word “apostle” means “one sent with a commission.” It is used of the apostles of God—Moses and Christ (Heb.3:1-6). It is used of the apostles of Christ (Matt.10:2-5; Acts 1:25-26; Rom.1:1; etc.). It is used of the apostles of the church-Barnabas and Paul (Acts 14:14), Titus (2 Cor. 8:23), and Epaphroditus (Phil.2:25).
Jesus originally chose 12 men to be His apostles. They were eye and ear witnesses of the risen Christ (Acts 1:21-22). They were inspired by the Holy Spirit to reveal the Word of God (Matt.10:16-20; 1 Cor.2:10-13). They had the ability to perform miracles (Mk.16:17,20; Acts 2:43;18:14-17). They were able to pass their ability to perform miracles on to others by prayer and the laying on of their hands to confirm the Word of God. Any man not possessing these qualifications and who did not have miraculous power bestowed upon him by the apostles, could not be an apostle of Christ in NT days nor in any day or age. There are no living, or modern-day apostles of Christ.
The apostles of Christ got their authority from Christ Himself (Matt.16:16-19; Jn.20:21-23). They were ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor.5:20; Eph.6:20). They did not have authority to change any laws of Christ. They simply executed the will of Christ by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. To have rejected or received such a representative was to reject or receive Christ Himself (Lk.10:16; Jn.13:20).
The apostles of Christ were witnesses of Christ who testified that Jesus is the Son of God (Jn.15:26-27; Acts 1:8,22; 2 Pet. 1:16-18; 1 Jn.1:1-3; etc.). The apostles of Christ were ministers of the new covenant (2 Cor.3:4-6; 1 Cor.4:1-2). They were preachers of the gospel of Christ to the whole world (Matt.28:18-20). They laid the foundation of the church by preaching Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor.3:11; Eph.2:19-23). Jesus knew His apostles before He chose them. He knew them as only their Creator could know them (Jn.1:47). He knew all their strengths and faults before He chose them. He even knew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him (Jn.6:70;13: 21-27), and yet He chose the traitor anyway and gave him all the same privileges and blessings He gave to the others. Jesus chose His apostles from among His disciples (Lk.6:13). He continued all night in prayer to God before He chose
them (Lk.6:12). He knew what He was doing when He chose the 12. Jesus trained His apostles. He taught them from the Scriptures. He set a perfect example before them. He was with them while they preached the gospel to the whole world.
From the world’s viewpoint the apostles of Christ were “illiterate ignoramuses,” but it was obvious that they had been with Christ (Acts 4:13).
-Scott Vifquain
Jesus originally chose 12 men to be His apostles. They were eye and ear witnesses of the risen Christ (Acts 1:21-22). They were inspired by the Holy Spirit to reveal the Word of God (Matt.10:16-20; 1 Cor.2:10-13). They had the ability to perform miracles (Mk.16:17,20; Acts 2:43;18:14-17). They were able to pass their ability to perform miracles on to others by prayer and the laying on of their hands to confirm the Word of God. Any man not possessing these qualifications and who did not have miraculous power bestowed upon him by the apostles, could not be an apostle of Christ in NT days nor in any day or age. There are no living, or modern-day apostles of Christ.
The apostles of Christ got their authority from Christ Himself (Matt.16:16-19; Jn.20:21-23). They were ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor.5:20; Eph.6:20). They did not have authority to change any laws of Christ. They simply executed the will of Christ by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. To have rejected or received such a representative was to reject or receive Christ Himself (Lk.10:16; Jn.13:20).
The apostles of Christ were witnesses of Christ who testified that Jesus is the Son of God (Jn.15:26-27; Acts 1:8,22; 2 Pet. 1:16-18; 1 Jn.1:1-3; etc.). The apostles of Christ were ministers of the new covenant (2 Cor.3:4-6; 1 Cor.4:1-2). They were preachers of the gospel of Christ to the whole world (Matt.28:18-20). They laid the foundation of the church by preaching Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor.3:11; Eph.2:19-23). Jesus knew His apostles before He chose them. He knew them as only their Creator could know them (Jn.1:47). He knew all their strengths and faults before He chose them. He even knew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him (Jn.6:70;13: 21-27), and yet He chose the traitor anyway and gave him all the same privileges and blessings He gave to the others. Jesus chose His apostles from among His disciples (Lk.6:13). He continued all night in prayer to God before He chose
them (Lk.6:12). He knew what He was doing when He chose the 12. Jesus trained His apostles. He taught them from the Scriptures. He set a perfect example before them. He was with them while they preached the gospel to the whole world.
From the world’s viewpoint the apostles of Christ were “illiterate ignoramuses,” but it was obvious that they had been with Christ (Acts 4:13).
-Scott Vifquain