Were the Apostles Superior?

dreadnought · Jun 24, 2018

I’ve been told the Apostles were superior to other people and that we shouldn’t doubt anything they said.

My definition of a "superior person" is "someone who has repented of their sin," as Jesus commanded in Matthew 4:17. I think Judas Isacariot’s behavior would refute the argument that the Apostles were superior to everyone else.

I think more likely Jesus picked twelve ordinary people to be his Apostles. He didn’t pick any women because men and women traveling together and sleeping together could have cause problems.

sdowney717 · Jun 24, 2018

dreadnought said:
I’ve been told the Apostles were superior to other people and that we shouldn’t doubt anything they said.

My definition of a "superior person" is "someone who has repented of their sin," as Jesus commanded in Matthew 4:17. I think Judas Isacariot’s behavior would refute the argument that the Apostles were superior to everyone else.

I think more likely Jesus picked twelve ordinary people to be his Apostles. He didn’t pick any women because men and women traveling together and sleeping together could have cause problems.

Glad Paul was there to oppose Peter when needed, when Paul tells them of their hypocrisy, and that falls back on James also! They were men of the circumcision party who had influenced the apostles into following a lie, so a demonic doctrine.
And this evil doctrine was dividing the body of Christ, and must have created a lot of bad feeling and tensions.

11 Now when [d]Peter had come to Antioch, I [e]withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing [f]those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, [g]why do you compel Gentiles to live as [h]Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died [j]in vain.”

Randy777 · Jun 24, 2018

dreadnought said:
I’ve been told the Apostles were superior to other people and that we shouldn’t doubt anything they said.

My definition of a "superior person" is "someone who has repented of their sin," as Jesus commanded in Matthew 4:17. I think Judas Isacariot’s behavior would refute the argument that the Apostles were superior to everyone else.

I think more likely Jesus picked twelve ordinary people to be his Apostles. He didn’t pick any women because men and women traveling together and sleeping together could have cause problems.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Strider1002 · Jun 24, 2018

Well we shouldn’t doubt anything in the Bible because it is all given from God and all good for teaching.

Were the apostles superior? Depends on your idea of what is superior. God doesn’t judge these things the way we do. He chose a bunch of uneducated fishermen, a reviled tax collector, etc. They were superior because they were humble, they had no guile, they were sincerely looking for the Messiah and they were able to recognize Him when He came.

The religious authorities (Pharisees, Sadducees, etc) were probably considered superior by the world. But they had become so un-spiritual that they couldn’t even recognize the Messiah they claimed to be looking for, even though he fulfilled so many of the Scriptures.

Albion · Jun 24, 2018

dreadnought said:
I’ve been told the Apostles were superior to other people and that we shouldn’t doubt anything they said.

If you are speaking of what they said as recorded for us in the New Testament, then yes, those words are authoritative because they, being part of the Bible, are divinely inspired.

And we do not know anything else that they might have said, so that part of your question is not a problem.

Eloy Craft · Jun 24, 2018

Their witness is superior. They lived with God the Son. Their unique discipleship offered superior growth in Christ. The impact of being disciplined by God is unimaginable. The Graces they received were greater, for their mission was to lay the foundations of Christ's Church. I think in relation to other's I think it's possible that being 12 Apostles is significant in that 12 means complete and maybe they each are a type that make up a whole of human nature.. I've wondered if they encompass all men in some way.l

Tigger45 · Jun 24, 2018

I agree with the posts of others where the apostles were specifically chosen, discipled, anointed, breathed upon and commissioned by the Lord for unique roles to kickstart His Kingdom. But keep in mind He will exalt us through our humility. The first will be last and the last will be first in God’s economy.

ubicaritas · Jun 24, 2018

We have to be careful in saying that people that confess their sins are superior. People in no way earn or deserve forgiveness.

I don't think the apostles were superior human beings. That sounds a bit odd to even conceive of that notion, a superstition. They are remarkable only in the sense they were chosen as the first missionaries to the world.

Mark_Sam · Jun 24, 2018

They are superior witnesses to and teachers of the Faith. And their sermons, speeches and letters recorded in the New Testament, are preserved by God the Holy Spirit from doctrinal and moral errors (John 14:26; John 16:12-13; John 20:21-23; 2 Timothy 3:16). Christ even talks about the twelve Apostles judging the tribes of Israel on the Last Day (Matthew 19:28). The Apostles, close friends of our Lord, had a special mission. And even though they themselves were not perfect, and they remained mere humans, we as Christians are still obliged to believe what they preached in matters of faith and morals.

Open Heart · Jun 24, 2018

dreadnought said:
I’ve been told the Apostles were superior to other people and that we shouldn’t doubt anything they said.

My definition of a "superior person" is "someone who has repented of their sin," as Jesus commanded in Matthew 4:17. I think Judas Isacariot’s behavior would refute the argument that the Apostles were superior to everyone else.

I think more likely Jesus picked twelve ordinary people to be his Apostles. He didn’t pick any women because men and women traveling together and sleeping together could have cause problems.

The Apostles didn't sin less or anything like that. They were ordinary men. They were chosen by Christ to be special servants to the Church. As such, they were given teaching authority. "Whoever listens to you listens to me," Christ said to them. So it wasn't anything intrinsic to them that made them special, but their ordination by Christ.

Randy777 · Jun 25, 2018

Strider1002 said:
Well we shouldn’t doubt anything in the Bible because it is all given from God and all good for teaching.

Were the apostles superior? Depends on your idea of what is superior. God doesn’t judge these things the way we do. He chose a bunch of uneducated fishermen, a reviled tax collector, etc. They were superior because they were humble, they had no guile, they were sincerely looking for the Messiah and they were able to recognize Him when He came.

The religious authorities (Pharisees, Sadducees, etc) were probably considered superior by the world. But they had become so un-spiritual that they couldn’t even recognize the Messiah they claimed to be looking for, even though he fulfilled so many of the Scriptures.

According to Jesus He who is least is the greatest. Jesus Himself overcame the world as a servant.
So if one is seeking to be the greatest they need to be a servant of all.

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Were the Apostles Superior?

dreadnought

Lip service isn't really service.

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sdowney717

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Randy777

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Strider1002

For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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Albion

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Eloy Craft

Myth only points, Truth happened!

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Tigger45

Pray like your life depends on it!

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ubicaritas

sinning boldly

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Mark_Sam

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Open Heart

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Randy777

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