Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

6. Paul becomes the most prolific writer of New Testament letters, which are considered Scriptureby the apostle Peter, whom Paul rebuked on one occasion in Antioch (Second Peter 3:14-17, cf. Galatians2:11-21)B. Beyond Paul1. the word “apostolos” is obviously used in a special, official sense with regard to these men whohave the authority, power and mission that originated with Christ in the Limited Commission, wasexpanded in the Great Commission, was settled on the day of Pentecost, and was enhanced by theordination of Paul2. yet the word is also used in a more common sense with regard to other disciples who went onmissions to carry the truth into all the world, though without personal apostolic authority or the power totransmit miraculous abilities3. sometimes the context really is unclear as to whether these people are even being referred to as“apostles,” but in any case, they certainly do not project that official level of authority, power and missionC. Other Apostles1. Barnabas (Acts 14:14-16 and First Corinthians 9:5-6)a. this is the clearest example of all2. Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25a. messenger is translated from apostolos, not angelos3. James, the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19, First Corinthians 15:7)a. this is evidently not the brother of John, for that James was dead by this time, but is likely thebrother of Christ4. Timothy and Silas (or Silvanus) (First Thessalonians 1:1, 2:1-6)a. Paul writes on behalf of himself and these others and seems to identify them all as apostles,but Timothy and Silas were not in the same class as Paul in that regard5. Andronicus and Junia (Romans 16:7)a. perhaps they were only enjoying a good reputation with the 12 apostles or perhaps they werenoteworthy gospel messengersb. if Junia is a woman, she is an apostle just as Phoebe was a deaconness, not in an office, butan undertakingD. Beyond The Other Apostles1. Christ Himself (Hebrews 3:12. False Apostles (Second Corinthians 11:12-15 and Revelation 2:2IV. Summary and ApplicationA. Summary1. after the death of Judas Iscariot, there were in fact 13 apostles who had the authority, power andmission generally associated with that office to testify about the resurrected Christ, take the gospel into allnations and perpetuate supernatural gifts as evidencea. these were the surviving original 11, Matthias who replaced Iscariot, and the apostle born outof due time, Paul of Tarsus (First Corinthians 15:8)b. these men are called apostles in a special, even official sense, as those chosen by Christhimself as his ambassadors of reconciliation (Second Corinthians 5:20)2. others were called apostles as a slightly elevated degree of messenger to the worldB. Application1. the apostles who held those seats were men from different backgrounds, with different politicalopinions and personalities, but their great faith allowed them to work together for a greater cause2. sometimes their pride or ambition or caprice interfered, but they proved to be tremendously selfcorrecting3. that is a pattern that helps us as Christians from similarly disparate backgrounds (FirstCorinthians 12:12-18)Conclusion199