St. Paul Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Dining Hall, Location 534 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn NY, Performances at 12pm and 2pm.

This project has been by far the most interesting I have entered into in a quite a while. I have found that many people are passionate about the “five fold Ministry”, but are ill informed as to what it really is. I have found it interesting that the denominations that profess to be advocates of this doctrine have Elders and leaders who do not believe, while denominations that are not supporters of this doctrine have Elders who profoundly believe. How interesting it was to discover the depth of emotion that this doctrine imbibes. I began this project with a survey question. The results lead me to understand I must write and record a teaching in this area. There are too many people, especially in leadership that are utterly confused. My aim is to explain, as best I can the view point of Classic Protestant Christian Doctrine in this area and bring illumination to the differences that can prove confusing and why. With that said, let us begin our study of the Apostle Today.

We understand, there has been much discussion and debate over this particular office in the church. Most particularly the problem has not been so much the office but whether that office is still in existence today in the Church of Christ. Because of the obvious confusion and the division that confusion is causing in the church, it is my desire and privilege to undertake a detailed response to this issue. I will discuss this issue using the tools of recorded history, Scripture analysis and past cultural understandings. We will engage in word studies. We will review dates of texts as well as apparent beliefs of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ themselves and the Apostolic Fathers. After our discussion we should be able to point by point understand why the present day Church of Christ believes as it does regarding the Apostles today.

The title Apostle was not a new term for the first century world. It was a governmental term. An Apostle was equivalent to a magistrate as an envoy, ambassador or representatives with full authority of the government that sent him forth to represent them. When Jesus chose the 12 Apostles, they were chosen with this understanding. The Bible shares the names of the 12 that Jesus chose and called Apostles to represent the Kingdom of heaven and go forth with full authority and power. He prayed all night before making these choices. According to Matthew 10:2 we glean “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; 3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; 4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him”. Their purpose was to set up and establish the church in the earth. They were equipped with supernatural power, gifts and the Word of the Lord in their mouth equivalent to that of Jesus himself. Along with the original 12, the Apostle Paul was hand picked by Jesus, the resurrected Christ according to I Corinthians 15:8-9 “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God..” Jesus retaught him for 3 years in the regions of Arabia (Galatians 1:17-18) even as he had spent 31/2 years with the 12. We must note the qualifications that were outlined as the 12 sought a replacement for Judas who was numbered among them (Acts 1:21-22, 25-26).The qualifications here were “companied with us…beginning from the baptism of John until the same day he was taken up”.

The Confusion that usually surfaces is derived from two key passages of scripture. Those scriptures are Ephesians 4:11-16 and I Corinthians 12:27-31. These passages are raised to support the continuance of Apostles today in similitude to the original 12 Apostles. It must also be noted that reference is given to 1 Thessalonians 1:2 “Paul and Sylvanus and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from god our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” and 2:5-6 regarding Timothy as an Apostle (For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ”), as well as scriptures noting Andronicus and Junia (“Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me” Romans 16:7).. When we look at these others noted as Apostles we must note they did not walk with Jesus but they did walk with or were connected with members or member of the original. These Apostles were not chosen by Jesus directly or personally therefore cannot be noted as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ or his directly chosen envoys or his ambassadors directly sent by him. They were followers of the original and were used to do the same work which was to establish ministry (churches), support those churches doctrinally/financially and appoint Elders as Pastors. These were Apostles of the Church, recognized by the church because of the work and close relationship with the original. They along with the 12 are also foundational, because the scripture says that the Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets with Jesus Christ being the Chief corner stone. They were foundational but still did not have the same standing as the original twelve as we note Luke 22:29-30 “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed unto me; 30That you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Jesus did not say this to anyone else.

 The 12 Apostles moved like no other. They walked with Jesus in the first century. They raised ministry. They wrote scripture and established doctrine for the church. Their words were just as if Jesus himself were speaking. Jesus said they that hear me will hear you (“if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” John 15:20b). Also note John 15:27 (“And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning”). Paul declared no other foundation can be laid than that has already been laid (I Corinthians 3:11). All we do now is build upon the foundation that has already been laid. So when we speak of the original 12 we are not speaking of just demonstration of supernatural power but position to establish doctrine, write doctrine for today’s cannon of scripture and first century existence.

Now further there were those that were keepers of the doctrine who watched over the doctrine. They guarded against error and had the responsibility of keeping the church clear and pure of heresy. These were known as the Apostolic Fathers and came directly after the Apostles. Among them are

1. Clement of Rome – Presbyter (Elder) in Rome (c. 96-97)
2. Ignatius (c.110)
3. Polycarp (c.110)
4. Barnabas (not the Barnabas that worked with Paul) (c.130)
5. Papias (late 2^nd Century)
6. Hermas (c.140 to 160)

…. And they did not take the title of Apostle. It would seem if anyone was going to secure and continue that title it would be them. They did not refer to themselves as Apostles neither did the church. As time moved with the church, the term Apostle was not a part of its fabric other than foundationally. Now there are those that are gifted in rising up ministry and teaching and ordaining Elders as were the original 12 Apostles. If we were going to look at this in a generic manner we could call them Apostles, but they would not be Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ (hand picked by him). They would be Apostles of the Church, recognized for there gifting that came from Jesus. There is a noted difference between a gifting coming from the resurrected Christ and an eye witness and eye to eye encounter with Jesus himself, which is what the original including Paul had.

As we move further in this vein we must also note the word missionary is not found in Scripture though the work of the missionary is. Who did the work of the missionary (The Apostle). The word missionary comes from the Latin of Apostle. We could even correctly say that today’s missionary engaged in full work (planting and sustaining) is the modern day Apostle of the Church. Again, noting they do not have eye to eye sending. As a side bar note the sin of Miriam and Aaron. Miriam was a Prophetess but not like Moses. She apparently thought she was and said so. God dealt with her in Numbers 12:1-10. It was not nice.

Okay, what about Ephesians. Didn’t he give some Apostles? Why and how do we accept the Pastor, Evangelist and teacher but not the Apostle or Prophet in the same manner? This is because the others were not noted as the foundation of the church and you can only have one foundation to a building. Remember the Apostle Paul shared if we or an Angel come preaching any other gospel let him be accursed, which means only one foundation (Galatians 1:8-9). Every other thing builds on the foundation or is accursed or rejected.

Let us now turn our attention to this one foundation. Jesus said directly to this foundational 12 according to Matthew 10:40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me”. Why did Jesus say this to them? He said this because he called them Apostles (Luke 6:13). Apostle as we have afore state is that governmental/military term meaning special messenger or one sent forth. This one that was sent forth by the Roman Government was an envoy sent out to establish dominion for the empire. They were sent to certain territories and charged to subdue, conquer, convert, instruct, train and establish the new subjects in the culture of the empire. Apostles were sent with the full power and authority of the empire as an ambassador. It has been said the synonyms for Apostle would include, Missionary, reformer, revivalist, pioneer, ground breaker, originator, initiator, crusader, messenger, emissary, envoy, agent, representative, ambassador, deputy, champion, defender and apologist. Ephesians 4 shares “first Apostles”… First is from the Greek Proton meaning foundational, Initial (time, order, rank) to establish. 

Jesus promised the first, foundational, during the Last Supper, “The Holy Spirit will teach you all things” – bring all things to your remembrance that I have told you according to John 14:26. We see the authority of this as the scripture reminds us in Acts 2:4 that the early believers continued in the Apostles Doctrine. Why, because the Apostles Doctrine was the doctrine of Christ. When Paul visited the brethren in Galatia 4:14 we are told they received him as Christ himself. When they spoke it was the word of the Lord. I Corinthians 14:37 shares again Paul said “If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s Command”. Speaking directly to the 12 again Jesus said in John 15:20b “If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours.”When they spoke it was the same as Jesus himself speaking. Is this true of someone calling themselves an Apostle today other than a direct reference to what is in the Cannon of Scripture?

Now this question brings us into the discussion of perhaps more than one kind of Apostle was being referred to in scripture. Let’s continue. In 1Corinthians 15:3-8 we hear Paul saying that the resurrected Christ appeared to the twelve and later to all the Apostles. The language here would infer that there were the twelve Apostles chosen directly by Jesus, but there were others. Who were these others? Mathew 10:2-4 tells us by name who these twelve were. I Thessalonians1:1and 2:6 note Paul, Silas and Timothy also as Apostles. Romans 16:7 refer to Andronicus and Junias. Junias perhaps, was a female. In Acts 14:14 Luke refers to Barnabas as beginning an Apostle. James the Lords half brother was also grouped with the Apostles in Gal. 1:18-19 and 2:9. If we take a careful look we will see a difference between the 12 original and the others.

The 12 Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ saw and walked with Jesus and had been directed by him. They had been personally chosen by Jesus in a face to face encounter to represent him. These things are recognized from (I Corinthians 15:8-9, Galatians 1:11-2:10). These were those that wrote scripture and established Doctrine. It is our understanding according to 2 Peter 1:19-21 that the present day Canon of Scripture in our possession is because of them (“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”). Now the second type are Apostles but not in the same manner according to scripture. These were prepared and sent out by Jesus in Spirit and carried lesser authority as we note in Acts 13:1-3 (“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”), 2 Corinthians 8:23 (“Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.”), Philippians 2:25( “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.”). These studied and repeated what the 12 taught according to I Corinthians 4:16-17 (“Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”), I Timothy 3:14-15 (“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”), 2 Timothy 2:2 (“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”) and Titus 1:5 (“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:”).

It is quite evident that we don’t have any more of the first type of Apostles, but we do have the second type. It is interesting to note when translating the New Testament from Greek in Latin the translators rendered the Greek word “Apostolos” with the Latin root “missio” (the base of our “missionary”). Missionary is the dynamic equivalent of the 2^nd type of Apostle. They were Church Planters and establishers of ministries with the responsibility of making sure those ministries were unified in their understanding of the faith before they moved on to another assignment. When we understand this, we get a better understanding of Ephesians 4 “until we come to the unity of the faith”. We see this played out as they moved.

Paul, of course move more than the other 11.

1. He spent 11/2 years in Corinth – Acts 18:11
2. He spent 2 years in Ephesus – Acts 19:8-10
3. He spent 2 years in Rome – Acts 28:31
4. He told Timothy to stay at Ephesus to command certain men not to teach false doctrine any longer (I Timothy 1:3), but once that job was done he was instructed by Paul to do his best to get to him before Winter (2 Timothy 4:21)
5. Titus was left in Crete to straighten out what was left unfinished and to appoint Elders in every town (Titus 1:5). Once this was completed he was to join Paul at Nicopolis (Titus 3:12)

They were motivated by Evangelism (2Timothy 4:5). They preached the Gospel (I Corinthians 9:14). They passed on truth to Faithful men (2 Timothy 2:2). They trained and equipped for works of service in Local settings (1 Timothy 1:3; 3:14-15; 4:1-6,13; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2:1-2,14; 4:1-5; Titus 1:5; 2:1-15)

We do not need new teaching or another foundation today, but we do need equipped and anointed Evangelists and Missionaries. We need Church Planters flowing in full anointing. The faith has already been laid out according to Jude 3 and the foundation has already been laid according to Ephesians. The Church Fathers directly after the Apostles did not equate themselves with the 12 and neither should we. Then what should we do? We should pray to the “Lord of the Harvest” for laborers and not title seekers. We should pray that God we give us grace to put energy into advancing the Kingdom in Jesus name in whatever capacity we are graced to do so with a quiet and steadfast reserve. We should give of our time, talent and resources so that these things and more are accomplished in Jesus name. 

As I come to my conclusion, I need point out the importance of understanding that no stream of thought is created in a vacuum. There is always a place of origin. We accept the need for church planters and sustainers through the gifts and abilities God has supplied to the church. But we reject the thought that the original 12 are still here in original design and purpose. The reason for this has already been established and outlined. Where did this other thought that has not been handed down by the Apostles of old come from. We can trace it back to 1951, to a man by the name of George Warnock who authored a book entitled “The Feast of Tabernacles”. In this work he writes “How thankful we are, therefore, that God is revealing the pattern of perfection. The ascension gifts, the ministries in the Body of Christ – these are the means of perfecting the saints – and as we have read, they are to remain in the church till we come unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man!” The “Ascension gifts” is a reference to the “five fold ministry” of Ephesians 4:11. The thought here is that the church will be made perfect by the restoration of the ministry of the Apostles and Prophets before Christ’s return. This book can be found and read on-line. Before George Warnock there was William Branham in the 1930’s and Bill Hamon followed after George Warnock, with the book “Apostles, Prophets and the Coming Move of God”. In the 1980’s a major figure was Earl Paulk. The list and the Doctrine goes on, but we find hope in the fact that Jesus said upon this rock I will build by Church, the Church of Christ and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. The Church of Christ is one. The Disciples of Christ are one. We speak the same thing… “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty and in all things Charity”. We are strong. We are vibrant and we are the prized possession of a sovereign all powerful and loving God who is coming back for us his bride as he said he would. May we work until he comes and look for his welcome voice saying well done, you have been faithful over a few things, now come up higher and I will make you ruler over many.

Even so come Lord Jesus.

Maranatha

Pastor Tony Smith