By God’s grace, in the next few months Christ is King Publications and Ministries would be launching a monthly YouTube program where I would answer bible-related questions. If you would like to send questions you want considered for the program please click this link: https://tally.so/r/3XXprd
Paul wanted the people to receive Timothy the way they would receive him. He reminded them that Timothy's qualification was his association with him.
Now we have Paul's writing that constitutes a bulk of the scriptures, and he said he did not learn what he teaches from men but by the revelation of Jesus (Galatians 1:12).
Jesus chose to reveal himself to Paul supernaturally (1 Corinthians 15:8).
We know Jesus is seated right now at the right hand of the Father. The Father told him, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool (Psalm 110:1). And in another place in the Bible, we were told that He ascended into heaven and is seated right now on the right hand of the Father (Romans 8:34).
So Paul said what he learned of the truth of the gospel is by the revelation of Jesus (Galatians 1:12). So Christ communicated things to Paul, and Paul announced himself as an apostle because of that.
There seem to be three categories of apostles.
A. The twelve, which are a signal for the formation of the new people of God, since Israel came from the 12 sons of Jacob. (unique people)
B. Paul, who exists in a special category all by himself because he is the only one designated the apostle to the Gentiles, not to mention writing most of the New Testament. (unique person)
C. Other people named apostles (messengers) in the Bible include Barnabas (Acts 14:14)
Paul called himself an apostle of Jesus Christ in the order of the 12, in a way that Barnabas and any other was not regarded. They could be generic messengers (apostolos in Greek) of the church, but they were not apostles of Jesus Christ like Paul and the 12. So we differentiate the technical usage of the word from the generic.
There was a serious level of miraculous signs that accompanied Paul, but that on its own does not make him an apostle. Even seeing Jesus did not make Paul an apostle. Stephen saw Jesus, but that did not make him an apostle. So when people go to the Bible and try to say this, this, and this makes an apostle, and so they start to create a litmus test, it is an fruitless exercise.
I believe on the basis of Paul's apostleship he proclaimed the truth he did and declared that if anyone preached another gospel, let that person be accursed, whether angels, spirits, or even an apostle like himself (Galatians 1:6-10).
It is interesting that Paul is an apostle and not Timothy, which means it is not transferable. It is not a title you inherit. It is not something that you get by training. And overseeing many churches or founding a church does not make one an apostle. Those are just what God enabled you to do, not what makes you an apostle.
And as time went on in the church, there began to emerge false apostles (2 Corinthians 11-13), and they preached errors and were bullies. They want to usurp the position of Paul, and call him not a real apostles. Paul came hard on them. They wanted to drown his voice, and he would not allow it.
He mentioned signs of an apostle, but those signs in themselves don't make him an apostle, but they distinguish him from others as he argued for his preeminent position.
Because we are removed from the first-century church, the word apostle sounds different in our ears, regardless of the context, because that was not an English word originally, but Greek. While the original Greek readers of the New Testament innately recognize the nuances, we do not. It carries a lot of weight.
Should people use the title nowadays? I don't think so. Like I said, Paul put himself at the level of the 12 apostles. Do you want to put yourself on the level of Paul? You shouldn't.
God is still doing special work in several people, and they think the title to capture that (or maybe to stand out and gain attention is through the use of the word apostle.)
But if someone decided to use it, I would not begrudge them, but I just want to say again, seeing Jesus does not make someone an apostle, starting a church does not make you an apostle.
Philip, in a way, started the church in Samaria. And overseeing many churches does not make you an apostle in my opinion. Paul mentioned persecution as part of the mark of his apostleship, but we know that being persecuted, even like Paul, does not make one an apostle.
Philip also did signs. Many people saw Jesus after his resurrection, but that did not make them apostles (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
And we cannot think of the word apostle the way we think of the other five-fold ministry designations. You cannot say that since someone can be pastor ABC, then I can be apostle XYZ. No. Paul said "first apostle (1 Corinthians 12:28)."
He is talking about a level of authority that I think nobody has or would have till Jesus comes back. That is my opinion. There cannot be another apostle to the Gentile (Paul) or Jews (Peter) and that covers all people groups for all time.
I believe there can be prophets (small p prophets), but should people use the title? Being a prophet is a recognition that comes from God's confirming hand and not a title. Don't lead with your title; lead with the grace of God, and you don't have to copy people around.
What about Evangelist? Teacher? Pastor? These are functions you perform. But would I begrudge you of using the title? No. But one man can bear the title on earth and not in heaven, and one man may not bear the title on earth but bears it in the eyes of heaven. Put that in mind.
But Apostle and Prophet are such special positions that I would want people not to bear the title. An apostle communicates someone that you have to believe and follow, and a prophet is someone who is marked by revelatory knowledge.
Paul said we are built on the foundation of apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:19-20), and the foundation has been laid (finished). Also don't forget that the operation of the gift of prophecy (which Paul says everyone should desire) does not mean you are a capital P prophet.
And let's note that some things Paul wrote he wrote from a different vantage point. He did not say we must have apostles at every corner or in every generation. He spoke of his generation and remember that the generation was expecting that Christ would come back pretty soon. Again, when he listed positions, he was referring to his generation, not necessarily what must be replicated in every generation.
When he said God as "appointed some in the church... (1 Corinthians 12:28)" He was talking about the church at that time where the scriptures (66 books of the bible) had not been fully formed.
At the time there has to be direct revelation from God through apostles and prophets.
When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ (which was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit), (Ephesians 3:4-5)
Now with the scriptures, that level of authority is now divested into a book. We need to recognize that our reality is different from the first generation of Christians.
And we have had people who had a vast influence on a good chunk of the church. They could just have a mighty grace poured on them, and they worked harder than anyone by God's providential hand. That does not make them apostles.
Every one of us has to submit to the apostleship of Paul, who by special revelation wrote about Christ.
Remember, we cannot come from the way the word apostles are used in the Bible and say that missionaries are apostles. Timothy, in a sense, was a missionary, but was not called an apostle. I am saying when you use the word apostle now, it is a loaded term and we should leave it alone.
People use the word apostle as part of a denominational hierarchy thing. That may not be evil.
So this is a call to nuance. Don't think that just because someone is an apostle means they are above you or that you have to embrace their words. Even Paul's words were examined by the Bereans (Acts 17:10-11).
Also, fame does not translate to being an apostle.
Look at what Jesus said:
I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. (Rev. 2:2)
Because of these words of Jesus, it seems clear to me that we should not refer to ourselves as apostles. That you are a hard worker, inspired, and dedicated to God does not make you an apostle. And you don't graduate into an apostle by being, for example, a prophet. These things are not programs.
Someone might say I am an apostle; I don't know about others. Really?
Because you have mastered social media and are focused on holiness and devotion, and you spew worldly wisdom/philosophy does not make you an apostle.
From Addiction to Freedom by Favour Oyinloye