The Make-up of an Apostle?

HisSparkPlug · Sep 21, 2013

The word "apostle" keeps coming up ..

There are those who claim the title of an "apostle". Did Yahweh tell them this?

How does one know they're called to the office of apostle? Furthermore, how do other people know the individual is an apostle? Who decides and who do apostles answer to?

I've figured apostles are like spiritual entrepreneurs. Paul said, I was determined not to build on another man’s foundation" ..so it seems Paul had a unique passion within him.

Apostles also seem to be commissioned directly by Jesus HimSelf: "And when it was day, he called [to him] his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles" - Luke 6:13

What other scripturally sound characteristics are the genetics of an apostle?

bornofGod888 · Sep 21, 2013

Apostles shouldn't wear make-up!

HERETIC!

Only kidding.

Seriously, though, according to Paul, there are some "signs of an apostle":

"Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." - II Corinthians 12:12

GratiaCorpusChristi · Sep 21, 2013

HisSparkPlug said:
The word "apostle" keeps coming up ..

There are those who claim the title of an "apostle". Did Yahweh tell them this?

How does one know they're called to the office of apostle? Furthermore, how do other people know the individual is an apostle? Who decides and who do apostles answer to?

I've figured apostles are like spiritual entrepreneurs. Paul said, I was determined not to build on another mans foundation" ..so it seems Paul had a unique passion within him.

Apostles also seem to be commissioned directly by Jesus HimSelf: "And when it was day, he called [to him] his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles" - Luke 6:13

What other scripturally sound characteristics are the genetics of an apostle?

The original twelve members of Jesus' inner circle summed up nature of apostleship: they were called by Jesus or by those already called by Jesus, and were called to the task of both preaching the word to the word and leading the church after his ascension.

Today, the same applies. Those called by Jesus called others, and they called others, until today the church itself calls people into its ranks to be church leaders and missionaries. This is called apostolic succession. And it is by being visibly called and confirmed as leaders in the church that those of us who are pastors know we are truly called.

I went to seminary for a time, but I didn't complete the divinity degree buy instead completed an academic secular degree in the history of Christianity. So whatever inner calling I might have once felt, I haven't actually been called. I may be latter, but that call is something that happens both in one's heart and visibly before the body of Christ. Without the latter, the former means nothing.

HisSparkPlug · Sep 21, 2013

Is apostolic succession the same thing as being an apostle though? (I tend to not think so).

Since Jesus called the initial apostles directly doesn't it make sense that He would personally call and assign "apostleship" to an apostle today? I don't know if that means He would necessarily show up to do such a thing.

- I wonder if apostles today even know they're apostles? -

Seems to me there are a few things Apostle Paul said about it, such as being chosen from the womb "But when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, t hat I might preach him among the gentiles" - Galatians 1:15-16

TamaraLynne · Sep 21, 2013

.......I'm the last to know...................

TamaraLynne · Sep 21, 2013

Keep asking...what is an apostle today...no one knows

TamaraLynne · Sep 21, 2013

I'm suppose to be one...have no clue what I'm suppose to do

TamaraLynne · Sep 21, 2013

I'm a mom ...a wife...a Christian....

TamaraLynne · Sep 21, 2013

....I hold to Jesus...I just don't understand...not yet...prophet knows who and what they should do....a teacher knows...a pastor knows...gosh...I've been taught their are only twelve...so who am I and why would I be called an apostle...this is just crazy to me...I feel.....almost ....lost.....but...if we start out as disciples..those ready for meat?Do we mature into apostles?

TamaraLynne · Sep 21, 2013

Just don't know

ViaCrucis · Sep 22, 2013

TamaraLynne said:
....I hold to Jesus...I just don't understand...not yet...prophet knows who and what they should do....a teacher knows...a pastor knows...gosh...I've been taught their are only twelve...so who am I and why would I be called an apostle...this is just crazy to me...I feel.....almost ....lost.....but...if we start out as disciples..those ready for meat?Do we mature into apostles?

GratiaCorpusChristi's post above is worth reading.

You don't just wander and bump your head and wake up "an apostle", that's not how it works. In fact, the fact that you are under the impression you're supposed to be one and you don't know what to do and it gives you this much grief should be rather telling.

If I remember right, you had a dream, or someone claimed it for you. In either case, don't trust it. If you go by dreams and visions, feelings, or inklings you will always be led astray, that is not how the Holy Spirit reveals His will for us.

Scripture tells us how God has spoken to us,

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world." - Hebrews 1:1-2

Where can we find Christ? Where has Christ promised to be found--He gathered twelve guys and said, "Hey, you're My Church, go preach My Word. The Holy Spirit will come after I'm ascended and will remind you of all that I said, go and take that to the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit." So where is Christ's Word, the same Word He gave those twelve apostles, the same Word the Spirit reminded them and led them to all truth about?

This is how the Holy Spirit reveals God's will, through the Word.

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." - Galatians 1:18

Anything other than the apostolic Word--which is really Christ's Word, and Christ's Word is God's Word since Christ spoke all according to the will of His Father--is not the indisputable truth by which we live our lives.

If you are being tormented by this, consider strongly these things. And consider also, who is the sower of confusion? It is not God. Which is not to say, indisputably, this is from the wicked one; but rather that you should look to what has been clearly and indisputably revealed to and for us in Holy and Blessed Scripture.

Now if you do feel called to a life of ministry of the Gospel, then--again--I'd recommend looking again at what GratiaCorpusChristi wrote earlier in this thread.

-CryptoLutheran

bornofGod888 · Sep 22, 2013

ViaCrucis said:
If you go by dreams and visions, feelings, or inklings you will always be led astray, that is not how the Holy Spirit reveals His will for us.

Although, being a man of the Word myself, I agree with the overall message of your post and although, being a friend of TamaraLynne, I have some concerns for her myself (and plenty of concerns for MYSELF, too, so I'm no better than she is), how can you say that "you will ALWAYS be led astray by visions and dreams"? I mean, hasn't God truly spoken to many people by the same, even as recorded in the very scriptures that you're admonishing her to read?

ViaCrucis · Sep 22, 2013

bornofGod888 said:
Although, being a man of the Word myself, I agree with the overall message of your post and although, being a friend of TamaraLynne, I have some concerns for her myself (and plenty of concerns for MYSELF, too, so I'm no better than she is), how can you say that "you will ALWAYS be led astray by visions and dreams"? I mean, hasn't God truly spoken to many people by the same, even as recorded in the very scriptures that you're admonishing her to read?

My point is that if we place our faith in visions and dreams in order to try and figure out God's will, we will always be led astray; not that it is impossible for God to use these to accomplish His purposes.

Sure enough the Prophet Joel wrote that in the days which the Acts record came to pass on Pentecost "your young men will have visions, and your old men will dream dreams"; so we can't discount such out of hand. But we can't chase after these, trusting in these. Not every dream is Spiritual, not every vision is real; so we can't put our faith in things so subjective as these.

-CryptoLutheran

TamaraLynne · Sep 22, 2013

bornofGod888 said:
Although, being a man of the Word myself, I agree with the overall message of your post and although, being a friend of TamaraLynne, I have some concerns for her myself (and plenty of concerns for MYSELF, too, so I'm no better than she is), how can you say that "you will ALWAYS be led astray by visions and dreams"? I mean, hasn't God truly spoken to many people by the same, even as recorded in the very scriptures that you're admonishing her to read?

I'm concerned to..but not about dreams...I'm sitting in this very white room and I can't decide whether the red checkers taste better then the black ones...they are both the same texture (very crunchy!)

I'm sure I will figure this out soon

:angel:

LittleLambofJesus · Sep 22, 2013

The Make-up of an Apostle?

TamaraLynne said:
.......I'm the last to know...................

TamaraLynne said:
Keep asking...what is an apostle today...no one knows

TamaraLynne said:
I'm suppose to be one...have no clue what I'm suppose to do

TamaraLynne said:
Just don't know

LLOJ heads to wiki!

Apostle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The term "apostle" is derived from Classical Greek ἀπόστολος (apóstolos), meaning "one who is sent away", from στέλλω ("stello", "send") + από (apo, "away from").[1] The literal meaning in English is therefore an "emissary", from the Latin mitto ("send") and ex ("from").
The word "apostle" has two meanings, the broader meaning of a messenger and the narrow meaning of an early Christian apostle directly linked to Jesus. The more general meaning of the word is translated into Latin as 'missio', and from this word we get 'missionary.'

According to Walter Bauer's Greek-English Lexicon of the NT "…Judaism had an office known as apostle (שלי&#1495

". The Friberg Greek Lexicon gives a broad definition as one who is sent on a mission, a commissioned representative of a congregation, a messenger for God, a person who has the special task of founding and establishing churches. The UBS Greek Dictionary also describes an apostle broadly as a messenger. The Louw-Nida Lexicon gives a very narrow definition of a special messenger, generally restricted to the immediate followers of Jesus, or extended to some others like Paul or other early Christians active in proclaiming the gospel.

Apostle (Christian) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles during the ministry of Jesus is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. After his resurrection, Jesus sent eleven of them (minus Judas Iscariot) by the Great Commission to spread his teachings to all nations. There is also an Eastern Christian tradition derived from the Gospel of Luke of seventy apostles.

Paul the Apostle (Saul of Tarsus), not one of the Twelve or the Seventy but a later convert, "the apostle of the Gentiles",[Romans 11:13] claimed a special commission from the resurrected Jesus, separate from the Great Commission given to the Twelve. Paul did not restrict the term apostle to the Twelve, he referred to his mentor Barnabas as an apostle.[1] The restricted usage appears in Revelation.[1][2]

.

bornofGod888 · Sep 22, 2013

TamaraLynne said:
I'm concerned to..but not about dreams...I'm sitting in this very white room and I can't decide whether the red checkers taste better then the black ones...they are both the same texture (very crunchy!)

I'm sure I will figure this out soon

That sounds like a scene from "One flew over the cuckoo's nest", except there I think that he was eating monopoly pieces.

Anyhow, I didn't mean to come across as offensive. Like I said, I've got plenty of concerns about myself, too, so we're on an even playing field.

You know that I love you in Christ, don't you? Yeah, you do.

:hug:

TamaraLynne · Sep 22, 2013

bornofGod888 said:
That sounds like a scene from "One flew over the cuckoo's nest", except there I think that he was eating monopoly pieces.

Anyhow, I didn't mean to come across as offensive. Like I said, I've got plenty of concerns about myself, too, so we're on an even playing field.

You know that I love you in Christ, don't you? Yeah, you do.

From my favorite movie "Overboard" with Goldy Hawn(spelling?)

In the hospital she told the checker eater to eat his checkers

...it was a cute movie.
:hug:

bornofGod888 · Sep 22, 2013

TamaraLynne said:
From my favorite movie "Overboard" with Goldy Hawn(spelling?) In the hospital she told the checker eater to eat his checkers ...it was a cute movie.

I saw that movie...

HisSparkPlug · Sep 22, 2013

TamaraLynne said:
I'm suppose to be one...have no clue what I'm suppose to do

Hi TamaraLynne,
This is the first I've heard of this, can you tell me how you know you're suppose to be an apostle? Did someone tell you this or did you hear from the Lord personally? Can you explain to me what took place and why you think you're suppose to be an apostle?

As for the remarks on this thread in regards to dreams and visions not being for today, that's cessationist talk, don't listen to anyone who tells you God doesn't speak through dreams or visions today. Remarks like that are some of the most non-scriptural things I've ever heard.

What are you talking about, eating checkers?? hmmm...that's.. ummm.... interesting.... :scratch:

HisSparkPlug · Sep 22, 2013

Here's what I've got so far from the scriptures on Apostles...

1. They're called directly by the Lord
Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles

2. They have a clear mandate from the Lord to go out and do something no one else is doing. The 12 apostles were preaching a new gospel that went beyond the Jewish tradition/religion.. preaching a New Covenant different to the Old Covenant.

3. They're called to do something unique.. Paul said, "I was determined not to build on another mans foundation" - Rom 15:20. ..somebody with a cause burning in them.

4. They are set apart. Paul speaks about it in Romans 1:1. He says: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God

5. They're servants... Rom 1:1 also says, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ," then an apostle. A servant is from the Greek work "dulos" meaning a slave, not just a servant but a slave; one who belongs to his master.. not an ordinary slave, but a love slave, one who has willingly devoted himself to the disposal of his master.

6. Apostles are secretly trained.. Paul says in Gal 1:15-17 But when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the gentiles; I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood: Neither did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles [that were] above me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. So from this we see that he had some time away to be prepared further, although since the Word also says apostles are called from the womb, their entire life is a training ground.

7. Apostles have a LOT of opposition in their lives right from conception. Seems that people sometimes want to be called to apostleship to be well known.... well if you look at the 12 apostles, they suffered continuously.. They were famous, and people knew them all thru the ages and forevermore... but it going to cost a lot of pain & heartache, persecution & opposition by your "own people" ... look at Jesus.. He was the ultimate apostle - His own people rejected him. They rejected the chosen apostles as well. "Suffering" is a brand name stuck to the apostle in the midst of those who do believe, as well as those who will try to puff you up with pride telling you that you're a 'god'

This is what I have so far.... does anyone have more to add? ... of course someone will dispute it all or say it's wrong... I expect that though, Lol

The Make-up of an Apostle?

Offspring of a Genius

Well-Known Member

GratiaCorpusChristi

Guest

Offspring of a Genius

Veteran

Veteran

Veteran

Veteran

Veteran

Veteran

Confessional Lutheran

Well-Known Member

Confessional Lutheran

Veteran

Hebrews 2:14.... Pesky Devil, git!

Well-Known Member

Veteran

Well-Known Member

Offspring of a Genius

Offspring of a Genius

Similar threads