To understand the backdrop of the current post, please read the previous one here:
Paul’s writings are the primary source of evidence for these other apostles, and Paul gave a fairly wide definition of what it means to be an apostle. The New Testament has a total of 80 instances of the Greek word “Apostolos,” which is pronounced as ah-poh-stoh-loss.
This number does not include the verb “apostellõ,” pronounced as “ah-poh-stehl-loh,” and is found 132 times. It is common for the noun to signify “messenger simply,” “commissioned one,” or “sent one.”
The most common meaning of the verb is “send.” For your information, the term “apostolē,” pronounced as “ah-poh-stoh-lay,” is translated as “apostleship” and occurs four times in the Bible.
Acts 1:25 — to assume the task of this service and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
Romans 1:5 — Through him we have received grace and our apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name.
1 Corinthians 9:2 — If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the confirming sign of my apostleship in the Lord.
Galatians 2:8 — (for he who empowered Peter for his apostleship to the circumcised also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles)
According to the translation of the passage found in 1 Corinthians 12:28, Paul said
1 Corinthians 12:28 — And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.
Individuals can participate in this since the whole of the context of 1 Corinthians 12 is about the Spirit giving gifts.
In addition, Paul states that Jesus made his appearance:
1 Corinthians 15:5-7 — and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
The word “apostles” in this context refers to the twelve apostles; nevertheless, these two verses also provide room for other types of apostles. This is because Paul can simply transition to other types of gifts in his brief list in 1 Corinthians 12:28.
It is thus the belief of certain Bible scholars that there is an additional level “below” the twelve. First and foremost, they are the apostles of Christ followed by the apostles of the churches.
Stay tuned for more details in the upcoming posts.
Blessings,
Shaliach.
