Disciples And Apostles

[1watchman]

Bible students need to keep in mind how all holy scripture is in harmony to show a complete picture of God's purposes. There were many disciples (followers ---note John 6:63-69), and God chose to Himself and for His special work Twelve Disciples who followed Him ---those who were devoted to Him, and were given a special unction of the Spirit to be Apostles to establish the Church. No one else was given this gift.

There were also many servants of God (sometimes called apostles by the translators in the Bible ---meaning "a messenger"; but God sent forth the chosen Twelve as His anointed Apostles to bring Israel to see the new testament in Himself, which was to include Gentiles. It was a special mission to establish the Church (God's testimony for the new dispensation --period of grace). As Israel was ministered to by the Apostles to see their Messiah (which they continued to reject) the work then began to focus more on Gentiles and "whosoever will" come.

Paul was given a special calling to reach the Gentiles apart from the Twelve who were mostly to Israel. It is noteworthy that Paul had a fervent heart for Jews and even went contrary to God's leading to minister to them, and had much trouble. He got back on track, as the saying goes, and thereafter went to the Gentiles.

Except for John who was preserved in seclusion to his end, Paul was the main teacher of church truth left to establish the New Testament (not a Covenant). He was not among the original Twelve, and yet had all the same qualifications ---saw the Lord personally, brought healing to many, worked miracles, and spoke redemption truth, church truth, and the truth of spiritual life. No further work was provided by Apostles after the church was established and God’s Word was given for future generations and by the Spirit.

Today we don’t have Apostles, but a priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2), with elders and such servants to guide, maintain the truth of God and teach, minister, and shepherd the saints ---not a hierarchy of men, but those in God’s assembly with gifts for His work; and all by the leading of the Holy Spirit. – RLD, 03/11

ADDENDUM 04/12: Those who presume to be Apostles today have the same mentality as the ones who presume to be Reverend and Father (see Matt. 23:8-9). According to the Bible (Psa. 111:9) Reverend is God’s title, and it is sacrilegious for man to give himself the title; also, there are "messengers" today, but no Apostles. One ought to be afraid to exalt himself thus. - RLD

 

[pshun2404]

Jsus had many disciples but only 12 Apostles...

 

[By Faith Alone]

Jsus had many disciples but only 12 Apostles...

"Many are called (to be disciples) but few are chosen (to be apostles)".

 

[jacobs well]

Some people are shocked to learn that the apostles were not partakers of the Holy Spirit until after the ministry and death of Jesus Christ.
They were flawed but faithful, very much like ourselves today.
Peter, showed little faith in the beginning with the walking on the sea incident with Jesus. He also denied Jesus three times after Jesus's arrest.
We know Judas's story.
They were human beings with weaknesses and fears despite their relationship with Jesus.
Even after receiving the Holy Spirit, Apostles Peter and Paul behaved in a manner contrary to the truth of the gospel.
Gal 2:11-13, and Romans 7:15-23
Even though we recognize our limitations we know if we remain confidant in the faith we will enter the Kingdom of God.
never give up-Paul offers us the solution to any discouragement we might encounter - Romans 7:24,25 ; 8:1-4

 

[By Faith Alone]

Jsus had many disciples but only 12 Apostles...

Those 12 were chosen in His earthly ministry. It is the ASCENDED Lord that chose Paul for a different purpose.

 

[By Faith Alone]

Today we don’t have Apostles, but a priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2), with elders and such servants to guide, maintain the truth of God and teach, minister, and shepherd the saints ---not a hierarchy of men, but those in God’s assembly with gifts for His work; and all by the leading of the Holy Spirit. – RLD, 03/11

The application of Gentiles to any priesthood is erroneous. The priesthood was from the Levite tribe of Israel. Peter and the 11 were apostles to the circumcision (Israel).

 

[jacobs well]

The application of Gentiles to any priesthood is erroneous. The priesthood was from the Levite tribe of Israel. Peter and the 11 were apostles to the circumcision (Israel).

We still have a High Priest-Jesus Christ.
Christ's divine office has superseded the Levitical priesthood Heb 7 & 11
The priests of Levi were God's designated representatives on earth in ancient times, but today the ministry, the Church of God, the Body of Christ, has been designated to represent Him.
Ephesians 4:11-13 - " And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith......"
God has drawn Gentiles and Jews together now in Christ as fellow citizens in every aspect of God's promises.

 

[hedrick]

The term Apostle in the 1st Cent Jewish context basically means a commissioned representative, though if TDNT is right, this wasn't normally a religious role in the same sense as the NT. Looking at NT usage, it seem to be used for the 12 in the Gospels and possibly Acts. (Note however Acts 14:4 and 14, where it is used of Paul and Barnabas.)
Paul includes himself, and probably others (Rom 16:7).

However some of this is a result of translation. Translators seem to use Apostle where they think it has a specific technical meaning, and representative elsewhere, e.g. 2 Cor 8:23. Hence looking for Apostle in a concordance or search program can be misleading, because it will turn up only the people that the translators think qualify as Apostles.

Apostle is not the same as disciple. In the NT it implies a specific commissioning by Christ as his representative. But I also don't think it needs to be restricted to the 12 or even the 1st Cent, though I will admit that I regard most current people who call themselves apostles as a bit ridiculous.

 

[pshun2404]

The application of Gentiles to any priesthood is erroneous. The priesthood was from the Levite tribe of Israel. Peter and the 11 were apostles to the circumcision (Israel).

First off as far as we can tell, only Matthew was a Levite but also not necessarily so in the case of Messiah-folk as He was/is high Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (who was not Jewish or even Israelite)...do not forget He even made this statement about the children of Jacob (Exodus 19:6) even before they ever entered the covenant made at Horeb in Exodus 20.

 

[By Faith Alone]

First off as far as we can tell, only Matthew was a Levite but also not necessarily so in the case of Messiah-folk as He was/is high Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (who was not Jewish or even Israelite)...do not forget He even made this statement about the children of Jacob (Exodus 19:6) even before they ever entered the covenant made at Horeb in Exodus 20.

It is assured the order of Mel was distinct from the nation. Type meets anti-type in relative terms.

Exodus 19:6 was not fulfilled for Israel could not keep up with the laws so the priesthood was given to the Levites. All priests were Levites but not all Levites were priests as in the case of Matthew.

Noah had three sons and it was from Shem came Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to the nation of Israel and eventually Jesus Christ Himself.
We are not true blood from Shem or Israel in any sense at all. We are from Japheth..a gentile and are not the seed of Abraham.

Any mention of priests is for Israel. Acts 1:6 and 28:20 will illuminate the fact the Acts period and associated epistles was focused on Israel. After Acts 28 Paul was given the new revelation concerning the one NEW man bound for the Heaven far above all. We are a different family of believers separate and distinct from Israel.

The Apostles mentioned in Ephesians are a different group of Apostles not associated with Israel and their calling.

Before Acts 28:
1 Cor 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

After Acts 28:
Eph 4:11-12
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The miracles have ceased and that is why they are not listed in Ephesians.

 

[pshun2404]

I think Hedrick addressed the "apostle" issue most succinctly...the term (like Elohim) is a a generic term also having specific applications...the requirement of the specific usage was they were sent by Christ, whom they had actually seen, whereas the same term can be and often is used for any who is officially sent with the message...so in this latter sense even today when we send "church starter" missionaries into uncharted territory it can be said of them that they are apostles...so it is that a Barnabas who never was sent by Christ Himself and may never have actually seen Him can be said to be an apostle (a sent one)...

The original leaders appointed to the churches founded by the Apostles (specific usage)..who were not sent places and had not seen Christ are referred to as apostolic but not apostles...but this is ecclesiastical jargon adopted later...

 

[1watchman]

As the orig. post stated, "messengers" are sometimes called apostles to describe the work of one sent by God; then, the question is whether the one is "sent" by God and not just one going about to preach the Gospel message. I don't think such a title should ever be given to any man, though they be working as a servant for the Lord.

 

[1watchman]

The application of Gentiles to any priesthood is erroneous. The priesthood was from the Levite tribe of Israel. Peter and the 11 were apostles to the circumcision (Israel).

All "born again" believers in the Lord Jesus Christ today are a holy and royal priesthood (note 1 Pet. 2]. One should see that saints of God today are a "holy priesthood" (of which Aaron was a type) to go into the "holiest of all" to approach God in worship; also present saints are a "royal priesthood" of the Melchezadek calling to show forth and represent the Christ in the world.

 

[ananda]

... the Twelve who were mostly to Israel.

Messiah sent the twelve to the Gentiles (Mt 28:18-20).

 

[By Faith Alone]

Messiah sent the twelve to the Gentiles (Mt 28:18-20).

Watchman is correct. Ethnos is nations and not gentiles as opposed to Israel.

The twelve and their purpose:
Matt 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Read Acts 1:6; 28:20. The focus was still Israel. Acts 1-9 was Jew only. The rest of the Acts period was Jew first and THEN the gentiles as opposed to Israel. Israel remained first until Acts 28 and then is when a new calling was revealed. This new calling is strictly gentile. Jews are allowed in but on the same plane as gentiles as to dispensational blessings. Olive tree is temporarily gone.

 

[By Faith Alone]

All "born again" believers in the Lord Jesus Christ today are a holy and royal priesthood (note 1 Pet. 2]. One should see that saints of God today are a "holy priesthood" (of which Aaron was a type) to go into the "holiest of all" to approach God in worship; also present saints are a "royal priesthood" of the Melchezadek calling to show forth and represent the Christ in the world.

Gal 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;


Paul is the apostle to the gentiles. Peter is to Israel/circumcision.

 

[ananda]

Watchman is correct. Ethnos is nations and not gentiles as opposed to Israel.

What are the nations composed of besides Gentiles?

 

[By Faith Alone]

What are the nations composed of besides Gentiles?

Diaspora. The dispersed of Israel. Peter's epistles were addressed to such.

 

[ananda]

Diaspora. The dispersed of Israel. Peter's epistles were addressed to such.

Please show me where ethnos is used in reference to dispersed Israel in the rest of the NT.

 

[By Faith Alone]

Please show me where ethnos is used in reference to dispersed Israel in the rest of the NT.

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

These are the dispersed of Israel into the gentile nations. Peter's ministry was the same as well as Paul's missionary journeys.

The epistles listed in my signature are not to Israel but to the gentiles of which Israel is numbered among subsequent to the rejection at Acts 28. The olive tree of Romans does not apply in this dispensation.