Designation of apostles

Jesus Christ as an apostle

This is the only place where the word “apostle” is used of Jesus Christ, though many passages refer to him as “sent”; 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 ; ; ;

The twelve apostles called by Jesus Christ

Their appointment

Mark 3:13–19 NIV84

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Their number

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

See also ; ; ; ; ; ;

Their commissioning by the risen Christ

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV84

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The replacement for Judas

See also The symbolic number (twelve) is thus preserved.

The qualifications for being an apostle

Acts 1:21–22 NIV84

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

Paul as an apostle

His self-designation

Galatians 1:1 NIV84

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—

See also ; ;

His commissioning by Jesus Christ

Although not one of the Twelve, Paul saw the risen Christ and was directly commissioned by him, sent especially to the Gentiles; ;

Paul’s apostleship and the church

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:

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James, the Lord’s brother

The most natural meaning of the words is that James is an apostle. This interpretation is confirmed by other references to James; ;

Andronicus and Junias

Romans 16:7 NIV84

Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Silas

1 Thessalonians 2:6 NIV84

We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you,

“Apostles” of the churches

“representatives” is the translation here for “apostles”; “messenger” is the translation here for “apostle”

False apostles

Paul ironically refers to his opponents as “super-apostles”; ; ;