To understand the backdrop of the current post, please read the previous ones here:
Apostle Paul #
This may surprise some readers, but it was argued in the first part that Paul could not be numbered among the twelve since he did not follow Jesus from the time that John baptized him until he ascended into heaven.
Despite this, Paul never intended to feel inferior to any important person in Jerusalem, not even Peter.
Galatians 2:6 — But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people) – those influential leaders added nothing to my message.
Paul usually started his letters with greetings, such as in the first verse of 1 Corinthians, the first verse of 2 Corinthians, and the first verse of Galatians. He was under the impression that Christ personally had chosen him to serve as an apostle.
1 Corinthians 1:1 — From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes, our brother
2 Corinthians 1:1 — From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia.
Galatians 1:1 — From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)
James – the Brother of The Lord #
He was the brother of the Lord, one of the apostles who assisted Christ. Following fifteen days spent with Peter, the apostle Paul wrote,
Galatians 1:19 — But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
James was a member of the group of apostles in Jerusalem who followed Christ. In essence, he was included among them.
It would seem that Paul places the brothers of the Lord in the same category as the apostles and (Cephas) Peter.
1 Corinthians 9:5 — Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
Even though Jude asserts that he is James’ brother, he seems to exclude himself from the apostleship when he reminds his readers of what the apostles of the Lord Jesus foretold.
Jude 1:1 — From Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:17 — But you, dear friends – recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
However, it is possible that he was not completely removing himself from the apostleship. My understanding is that it is not immediately apparent.
Barnabas – an Apostle? #
Although it is not stated in the record that Barnabas was commissioned as an apostle of Christ, it is not completely out of the question that he was one of the 500 people who were chosen to serve in that capacity.
Acts 14:4 — But the population of the city was divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.
It is possible that this would explain his early and generous discipleship.
Acts 4:36-37 — So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at the apostles’ feet.
1 Corinthians 9:6 — Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work?
It is said in Acts 4:36 that the twelve apostles picked him out for special attention.
Silas – Apostle of Christ #
Paul asserts that Silas was most certainly one of Christ’s apostles, even though we may have established our authority as apostles of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:6-7 — nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,
The word “we” in the verse above implies Silas as referenced below:
1 Thessalonians 1:1 — From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you!
Silvanus is a variant of the name Silas; thus, the Silvanus who is identified in Peter’s letter is most likely the Silas who journeyed with Paul after he parted ways with Barnabas.
1 Peter 5:12 — Through Silvanus, whom I know to be a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
Acts 15:40 — but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters.
The length of time that Silas and Judas lived in Jerusalem is unknown to us; nevertheless, it is possible that they saw the resurrection of Christ with more than five hundred people.
1 Corinthians 15:6 — 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.
And they were sent by the Jerusalem Council:
Acts 15:27 — Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas who will tell you these things themselves in person.
Silas, on the other hand, joined both Paul and Peter in their respective missionary works.
1 Peter 5:12 — Through Silvanus, whom I know to be a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
Acts 15:22 — Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
The fact that he assisted Peter in composing his epistle provided him with extra legitimacy and the mark of approval from Peter himself. In addition, according to Acts 15:32, he was a prophet.
Acts 15:32 — Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech.
Apollos – an apostle of Christ #
Acts 18:24 — Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker, well-versed in the scriptures.
It is possible that he was one of the apostles of Christ, but it is very unlikely that he was one of the five hundred since he was located so far away in Alexandria, Egypt.
1 Corinthians 4:6 — I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.
1 Corinthians 4:9 — For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.
After referring to himself and Apollos as “apostles” in verse 4, Paul then refers to the group as “we apostles” in verse 9. If those sentences were to be accepted, it would seem that Paul considered Apollos to be an apostle. Because the categories are not well defined, he may be classified as one of the so-called “church apostles.”
Timothy – Apostle and Son #
It is conceivable that Paul included Timothy in his statement that “as apostles we.”
1 Thessalonians 2:6-7 — nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,
This is because Paul mentions Timothy in 1 Thessalonians 1:1, that Timothy joined Paul on mission journeys, and that Timothy may have been an apostle himself. He likely was one of the so-called apostles of the church.
Andronicus and Junia #
The fact that Andronicus and Junia were indeed apostles of Christ is shown by the Greek term that means “notable” or “prominent” among the apostles.
Romans 16:7 — Greet Andronicus and Junia, my compatriots and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
In addition, the fact that the Greek-speaking church fathers had no issue pronouncing Andronicus, a male name that has never been recorded, and Junia, a female name that has been documented around 250 times, gives support to this position. According to Romans 16:7, the phrase “well known to the apostles” was an understatement.
A separate post will provide more details about Junia.
Rufus #
Romans 16:13 — Salute Rufus, the choice one in the Lord, and his mother and mine,
Mark 15:21 — And they impress a certain one passing by–Simon, a Cyrenian, coming from the field, the father of Alexander and Rufus–that he may bear his cross,
Romans 16:13 and Mark 15:21 both mention the possibility that Rufus and his mother arrived at Rome. This is yet another case that might be considered. Because his father Simon had shown such compassion to Jesus at the time when Simon was required to bear the cross, it is reasonable to assume that Rufus was an early follower when he was born.
I do not doubt that he was one of the more than five hundred people to whom Jesus made his appearance. However, given that the text does not mention that he is the owner of this title, we should not place an excessive amount of importance on it.
Stay tuned.
Blessings,
Shaliach.
