Theological Term of the Week: Apostle

apostle
Used technically to refer to one of the body of disciples chosen by Jesus Christ to be witnesses to his resurrection, first proclaimers of the gospel, and founders his church; also used more generally to refer to others in the early church who served as messengers of the churches.

• From scripture: 

  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19–22, ESV) 

• From The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12: 

The first of the gifted men in the New Testament church were the apostles, of whom Jesus Christ Himself is foremost (Heb. 3:1). The basic meaning of apostle (apostolos) is simply that of one sent on a mission. In its primary and most technical sense apostle is used in the New Testament only of the twelve, including Matthias, who replaced Judas (Acts 1:26), and of Paul, who was uniquely set apart as apostle to the Gentiles (Gal. 1:15–17; cf. 1 Cor. 15:7–9; 2 Cor. 11:5). The qualifications for that apostleship were having been chosen directly by Christ and having witnessed the resurrected Christ (Mark 3:13; Acts 1:22–24). Paul was the last to meet those qualifications (Rom. 1:1; etc.). It is not possible therefore, as some claim, for there to be apostles in the church today. Some have observed that the apostles were like delegates to a constitutional convention. When the convention is over, the position ceases. When the New Testament was completed, the office of apostle ceased.

Learn more:

1. Bible Study Tools: Apostle
2. Got Questions.org: What is an apostle? and What are the biblical qualifications for apostleship?
3. Ligonier Ministries: What Was an Apostle?
4. Grace to You: What Is an Apostle? 

Related terms: 

• deacons
• elders
• gospel
• saints 

Filed under Ecclesiology

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Sunday's Hymn: Near the Cross

Jesus, keep me near the cross;
There a precious fountain,
Free to all—a healing stream—
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Shed its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

—Fanny Crosby

Other hymns, worship songs, or quotes for this Sunday:

• He Hideth My Soul at The Happy Wonderer
• The Greatest Privilege at Tried With Fire
• Lord’s Day 10, 2020 at The Thirsty Theologian

Selected Reading, March 7, 2020

Here are a few good posts I read this week.

Old Testament

Rightly Dividing the Red Sea
I probably would have skipped right over this post if this week’s lesson in a class I’m taking hadn’t been on the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. I’m not sure I buy everything in it, but it did help me see that the Red Sea story fits a historical pattern and also draws a picture of the deliverance that will later come through Christ. 

New Testament

Context Matters: Jesus Came to Give Abundant Life
What exactly is the abundant life Jesus came to give?

Theology 

Why Church Members Must Be Theologians
“Local churches define God’s character to the watching world and display His character in their lives together (Eph 3:10). So good theology isn’t a matter of having our i’s dotted and t’s crossed – it’s a matter of life and death. Good theology, for the church member, is how we tell the truth about God and how we dwell together in a way that honors the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Why does an omniscient God test people?
A excellent answer to a common question.