The Unknown Bible - Pastor Bevans Welder

Paul, the Apostle
Gal 1:1
1-7-07

In the study of Galatians, we find first that Paul states his authority for taking charge of this congregation of believers, who came to Christ through his preaching (Gal 4:13-14, 19). He claims that he is an apostle by Jesus Christ and God the Father – and not an apostle of men or by man

From the Bible we see a maximum of fifteen apostles (if you count Barnabas) but never more than 13 at any one time (Paul being the 13^th and the only one who was not made an apostle directly by Jesus Christ or by the apostles after his resurrection).

The original 12 are these:

Mat 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Mat 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Mat 10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

After the ascension of Jesus, Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot – Acts 1:15-26

Later Paul was saved by the Lord and was made an apostle directly by him – 1 Cor 1:1; Rom 11:13 he was the apostle to the Gentiles; but he admits that he was an apostle born out of due time and the least of the apostles - 1 Cor 15:7-9 – Peter was the apostle too the Jews Gal 2:8

Finally, only one reference is made to possibly another apostle – Barnabas – notice though that he’s not an apostle in Acts 4:36-37 or in Acts 9:27 but by Acts 14:14 he is called an apostle with Paul – hard to know for sure because of verses like Rev 21:14 (the twelve apostles of the Lamb) – if Barnabas was in fact made an apostle, evidently he replaced James who was killed in Acts 12:2 but would not be considered one of the 12 apostles of the Lamb

Other than that there are no other true apostles in the Bible

There was a certain requirement to be an apostle –

Witness of Jesus’ ministry and resurrection from the baptism of John through his ascension Acts 1:22

Paul was exempted on this because of the revelations that he was given from the Lord – 1 Cor 9:1 he had seen Jesus, 1 Cor 11:23 said on the night he was betrayed, Acts 20:35 the words of the Lord Jesus; Acts 27:23 the appearance on the boat, etc 2 Cor 12 he said the abundance of the revelations

And there were certain signs granted to the apostles – 2 Cor 12:12; Rom 15:18-19; Acts 19:11-12 – it is for this reason that the Bible warns of false apostles 2 Cor 11:13-15; Rev 2:2; they come with signs but not from the Lord 2 Thes 2:9

Today there are those who claim that they are apostles and have certain powers as a result of their apostolic succession – among these are Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican – they believe that apostolic succession has continued since the time of the early church and that this apostleship is conferred on their bishops (or on the pope in the case of the Catholics) to govern the affairs of the churches and to establish the doctrine – thus a pope can formulate doctrine and confess that this doctrine is essentially in harmony with the doctrine of the early apostles

Charismatic churches also believe in modern day apostles but don’t trace a historical line like the Catholics do – the charismatics look to the office of apostle as justification for the claim that they have the signs of an apostle

Mormons claim apostolic succession directly to Joe Smith to whom God and Jesus appeared with revelation (like Paul Gal 1:12) and to whom Peter James and John appeared laying hands on him and thus making him an apostle – with this power he had the authority to lay hands on other male members of the church and continue apostleship to this day by the laying on of hands - their current apostle could receive revelation from the Lord

These groups claim apostolic succession for three reasons – Catholic Orthodox for authority and doctrine – Mormons for revelation – Charismatics for signs - BUT

These are not apostles today

The apostles had to be witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ during his ministry – Acts 1

They were all Jews

They stayed principally in Jerusalem – Acts 8:1; Acts 15:2; Gal 1:17

They are the foundation of the household of God Eph 2:20 – the foundation is laid first and then you build the rest of the house – 1 Cor 12:28 first apostles