Designation of apostles

Jesus Christ as an apostle

Heb 3:1 This is the only place where the word “apostle” is used of Jesus Christ, though many passages refer to him as “sent”; Jn 20:21 Jesus Christ, as God’s “sent one”, sets the standard and pattern for all who are likewise “sent” (i.e., for all apostolic ministry).

See also Mt 10:40; Mk 9:37; Jn 5:23–24; Jn 12:44–45

The twelve apostles called by Jesus Christ

Their appointment

Mark 3:13–19 KJV 1900

And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: And Simon he surnamed Peter; And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: And they went into an house.

Their number

Jn 6:70 “the Twelve” is frequently used to designate these specially chosen disciples. The number twelve evokes the twelve tribes of Israel.

See also Mt 19:28; Mt 20:17; Mk 11:11; Lk 8:1; Ac 6:2; 1 Co 15:5; Re 21:14

Their commissioning by the risen Christ

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The replacement for Judas

See also Ac 1:15–26 The symbolic number (twelve) is thus preserved.

The qualifications for being an apostle

Acts 1:21–22 KJV 1900

Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

Paul as an apostle

His self-designation

Galatians 1:1 KJV 1900

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

See also Ro 1:1; 1 Co 1:1; 1 Ti 2:7

His commissioning by Jesus Christ

Ac 26:12–18 Although not one of the Twelve, Paul saw the risen Christ and was directly commissioned by him, sent especially to the Gentiles; 1 Co 15:3–10; Ga 2:8

Paul’s apostleship and the church

1 Co 9:1–2 In Paul’s case the sense of title or office and the ministry and function virtually coincide. He is an apostle both because he has seen and been commissioned by the risen Christ and because he functioned as an apostle by founding churches.

Other apostles

Barnabas

Here “apostles” may refer to their ministry as missionary evangelists or to their role as “sent” by the church at Antioch:

Ac 14:4; Ac 14:14

James, the Lord’s brother

1 Co 15:7 The most natural meaning of the words is that James is an apostle. This interpretation is confirmed by other references to James; Ga 1:19; Ga 2:9

Andronicus and Junias

Romans 16:7 KJV 1900

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Silas

1 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV 1900

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

“Apostles” of the churches

2 Co 8:23 “representatives” is the translation here for “apostles”; Php 2:25 “messenger” is the translation here for “apostle”

False apostles

2 Co 11:5 Paul ironically refers to his opponents as “super-apostles”; 2 Co 11:13; 2 Co 12:11; Re 2:2