signs of a true apostle

Major1 said:

Of course, as I have said before, the word "miracle" is very suggestive word and depends entirely upon a persons perspective.

What you consider a "miracle" I may consider a natural occurrence.

Oscar, I am not trying to dissuade of your beliefs in any way what so ever. But I really think that you understand just as I do that Religion is bound to have mistaken some non-miracles for miracles. Miracles must have been mistaken for non-miracles too.

People see what they want to see, and then the more they tell others what they saw, the more suspicious the story becomes.

Think about ALIANS. If you talk with people, everyone has their own story of seeing an Alien. But every single time, when it come time to show the proof, there never is any.

BIGFOOT. Every body believes that there are these human/animals living in the woods.
But where is the proof? Not one single one has ever been produced. No bones, no graves no skeletons. Does that mean they eat their dead, body, blood and bones????

Humans tend to tell stories to make themselves look more important than others. It is just what we do.

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I never believed in Bigfoot.

We are having Technical Difficulties.

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Biblicist said:

One of the troubles with trying to contact University and college professors, or academics in general, is that due to their circle of associations they tend to restrict, either through intent or be accident, who they relate to which is something that I keep in mind when I travel through these various halls of higher learning. Most of my interactions, except for a few, are with the various head librarians and as I am a neither an academic nor a student of these various institutions I strenuously try to make sure that I do not interfere with student resources as they are the ones who have paid to have the library materials at hand, though I am a member of one large Christian College library.

For that matter, even though I am preparing to undertake an accredited Masters, even this qualification really only gives someone a foot in the door, where most academics are more inclined to accept queries from those who hold an accredited Doctoral degree or who are at least doctoral candidates. This is not always a result of snobbery but as most of them live very busy lives and where their working days are with fellow academics and with students who have committed themselves to serious study then they understandably are more inclined to relate to those who are of a similar academic standing to themselves; this is why I tread very carefully in these hallowed halls.

As I currently have a casual administrative staff role at a major secular University, this allows me to access a wealth of information, where our library staff even source materials for me that they do not normally hold and of course a University staff card does have its benefits outside of the institution.

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I probably get away with things because I was a Master Teacher who taught K thru College.
If I were to contact him it would be by snail mail, so he could put it on a back burner and get to it whenever. I will often email professors and those who are too busy will give my email to an assistant(a role I had while in University). In short, my request would not be urgent in anyway.

Major1 said:

What are you trying to say my friend?

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It is simply a note to self, due to poor memory.

Andrew Jeremiah said:

Let me tell you...Paul was speaking of himself. Those were the signs of his commission.

Paul taught us something about the Body of Christ, too. We are not all cookie-cutter Christians. Study the parts (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher) which is the hand of God.
Then study the spiritual gifts.
Then reason that we do not all have the same ministry/call/body-part, and we do not all have the same gift or gifts, one may have one gift, another has six, and another has four, and another has four also but four different spiritual gift(s). It just falls on the good pleasure of God's Will and where He baptizes you into the Body of Christ. Ya falla?

Study Paul's ministry and discern his gift-ministry/call/body-part (he might have more than one), and then see if you can discern his spiritual gifts. An apostle today may not have raised the dead (Pete also) but they are commissioned to do something for his/her Lord and the spiritual gifts assist in accomplishing that call/function of God. Plus there are the "pounds."
And the talents.
And here too, not every believer has the same talent but they will all have only one pound.
Right?
Maybe there is more to what the Holy Spirit said in Acts 13:2. Maybe there was someone who was there in the Antioch church that was at Corinth when he wrote and knew the person would be there with the epistle's/letter's arrival? Maybe part of the prophecy was exactly as he described in his Corinthian letter for benefit of someone who would read the letter or know its contents - Paul did write to the CHURCH at Corinth, so this was a letter that was read/shared with/to the brethren.

Then we date the letter. Etc. This should be fun.

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"signs of an Apostle" covers more than just himself.

As I recall Peter did miracles too.

2 Corinthians 12:11-13 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Paul’s Love for the Believers in Corinth
11 I have been talking like a fool, but you made me do it. You people are the ones who should say good things about me. I am worth nothing, but those “super apostles” are not worth any more than I am! 12 When I was with you, I patiently did the things that prove I am an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles. 13 So you received everything that the other churches have received. Only one thing was different: I was not a burden to you. Forgive me for this!

2 Corinthians 12:10-13 Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)
10 That is why I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For whenever I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I have become a fool. You forced me. After all, I ought to be commended by you, because I was not inferior to the “super-apostles” in any way, even if I am nothing. 12 The signs of an apostle—signs and wonders and miracles—were performed among you with all perseverance. 13 For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me for this wrong.

2 Corinthians 12:10-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and [f]miracles. 13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I am not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! (2 Corinthians 12:11-13 RSV)

In context Paul is contrasting "signs of a true apostle" with the false ones that were upsetting the apple cart. Yes, he was applying that standard to himself, but he was defining the standard of a true apostle as opposed to the false ones.

Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.] [And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.]

In context, who was preaching?

Acts 2:43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

Acts 5:12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico

Acts 14:3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.

Acts 15:12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Romans 15:19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Hebrews 2:4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Aside from my point:

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 7:36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.

Acts 8:6 The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.

Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

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