Apostolic Ministry in the Kingdom of God
Filed under The Kingdom of God on May 12th, 2009 by Andrew YeomanAuthor’s Note: Over the next few weeks I’d like to talk about the apostolic ministry in today’s Church, and how I believe Scriptures reveal it works in the Kingdom of God. I will publish four parts, including looking at Christ, OT prophetic significance, the original 12 including Peter, & Paul.
May God speak to us in regard to these things in a deeper and more precious way!
We are all well acquainted with the Scripture in Ephesians 4: 11,
‘it was He who gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors & teachers…’
It has become a well quoted Scripture in many circles around the world, and thank God that many in the Body of Christ are now embracing it as a present reality in the Church! However, it still produces much disagreement, debate and confusion. And even if many agree with its present truth, much confusion, speculation and even abuse in applying these truths have come.
It is even more so in regard to the apostolic ministry itself, that the truths have become very clouded of late. Not that the Word of God is cloudy on the issue but what men make of the precious word ‘apostolic’ has become cloudy. Thus, abuses abound; who are these people? Men, women, or even both? Are they bishops or spiritual CEOs, or neither? Who has the right to choose or name them? Are there different grades of apostles? Is it an office or a function? Does the ‘apostle’ have the right to ‘make the calls’ and ‘pull rank’ if others disagree?
It is my view that we have to come away from answering these questions, and quarrels in endless debates, and go back to the Scriptures. From there we can see the clear picture the Scriptures portray. (Please be aware that I will not get into the debate of ‘if they are valid ministries for today’, as that question has been answered thousands of times, and I am taking it for granted that the readers will believe it to be so.)
I quote Art Katz in regard to this theme of ‘Apostolic’:
“Like every Biblical word, we will not find the definition in a dictionary. We need rather to be apprehended by the genius of what the word represents… Probably one of the greatest failures of the Church is to be satisfied with verbal statements and creedal affirmations but without the corresponding actuality.”
1. Back to basics. The Apostle as ‘sent one’.
Mark 3: 13 – 15.
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14He appointed twelve—designating them apostles — that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons.
The scripture above carries some foundational elements to understanding the apostolic ministry, which are in keeping with Ephesians 4: 11 & 1 Corinthians 12: 28. It is that ‘He’ – Jesus Christ has appointed these ministries. In this Scripture in Mark 3 we see the following:
Firstly, there is a Pattern. While on the mountain in prayer (Also see Luke 6: 12 -13) - Jesus calls and man responds / Jesus appoints & designates - His servants ‘go’. This shows that initiative is God’s, not man’s, in the raising up of this ministry. He by the Spirit imparts the gifts and graces needed. He calls and anoints His servants for such a task. Man’s duty is to respond.
There is also a Meaning. Mark 3 (Also read Luke 6) is the first time in the life of Christ and the disciples that the word ‘apostle’ is used to define a ministry. That means that this initial use of the word should be deemed as key to any future understanding of its meaning. For example, the meaning of the word ‘apostle’ and how that meaning relates to its function today, is to be understood in terms of what we then go on to see evidenced in the life of Jesus and these 12 men in the Gospels from this point. It is also from this significant point that the Lord Jesus delegates the authority and power of this ministry upon the 12 ordinary men; it is from this key moment that this ministry begins to be seen in their lives. We will discuss this more later on, when examining the 12’s particular ministry.
The word ‘apostle’ means ‘sent one’. That is, one commissioned with a Divine mission or message by God to a people. Think of a ship, bearing special cargo, on a mission to take it to a specific destination.
So then, the word ‘sent’ carries a missionary call & dynamic to it. It is a word of action and commissioning; it is also a word of authority and representation from the sender. It is a ‘go-ing’ word! If we remember this, we will rightly understand the spiritual dynamic contained in this ministry.
In the OT, Exodus 3: 10 & 12, God calls and meets with Moses in the Burning Bush encounter. We again see the Apostolic God revealing Himself, calling His servant, commissioning him to His purposes, sending His servant to a particular mission with the sender’s authority and message. It is worthy to note, Stephen in Acts 7 gives an account of Moses calling at the bush, uses the word ‘send’, which is an apostolic word. Moses really fulfils an OT type of apostolic ministry.
There is a message. The Scripture in Mark 3 specifically says that the sending was in connection to them preaching. Preaching is a vital ingredient in the apostolic ministry, but not just any preaching. I believe there is a kind of ‘apostolic preaching’ that brings the authority of the Gospel of the Kingdom to bear in virgin territory, and establishes God’s rule through the building of new communities of faith. This preaching is one of tearing down in order to raise up. It is an appropriating ministry accompanied by signs and wonders that can change a region. This preaching also carries a foundational grace that reveals Jesus Christ both theologically and experientially to the newly formed community. It takes the newest of believers to the depths of discipleship in such a way that, ‘Christ is formed in them…’ and they in turn become a Christ centred apostolic people.
In part 2 of this article we will look at how Jesus Christ began to fulfill Old Testament prophecies as the Great Apostle of our Faith.
Tags: apostle, Apostolic Church, art katz, Jesus, Kingdom, Paul, prophets, the church, the Gospel
Possibly Related Posts:
“Please be aware that I will not get into the debate of ‘if they are valid ministries for today’, as that question has been answered thousands of times, and I am taking it for granted that the readers will believe it to be so”….unfortunately, this premise disregards the nuances and meaning of the original New Testament language usage, of the verb and noun on Apostleship roles, which indeed, in context, settles the age old debate as to their identity with a different conclusion than you permit; accepting a continuous office of Apostleship has confused the matter deeply and obsfucated the significance of the foundation of the Apostles not indeed extending forward with other named Ephesians ministries into present day callings or office. This is primarily because of the significance associated with the office of appointed Commission and its importance in forming the New Testament canon we call the written Word of God. Nor does the term appointed Messiah extend to yet other personalities century by century.
By avoiding the debate as it is known in scripture as significantly based on this Greek verb and noun usage, and by historical contextual establishment recorded of these persons in the New Testament, one thereby marginalizes the purpose and intention of the linkage of the first century Commission of Proclamation given by the Lord to the Apostles. This cannot be marginalized or repurposed, where those whose teaching the book of Acts underscores as founding the basis of our New Testament and its special revelation given the church at large mention their own choosing and intended result in our Bible. The first century authors when authoritatively addressing the challenges to the churches of that era, as Apostles, became the guarantors of the testimony of Jesus Christ carried into the nations; they were not simply sent ones, mobile ones, or sourced ones by descriptors of a functional anaysis alone.
They were specifically chosen, derived from the source, not, as is claimed of some today, derived from this Ecclesia, or that Ecclesia, this doctrinal supposition of vitality, or any group’s extension of its regeneration. Just as there is no substitute for the real Messiah, there is none too for the foundational Apostles of Acts Commissioned by the Lord who authored our Book of Books and are honored as such in the Revelation.
In fact, their sourced selection is so vital to the Kingdom message going forth to the nations from Jerusalem carrying the Kingdom’s soverignty, that the inner circle’s mention is carried forward in redemptive history into the 21st chapter of the Revelation of John. They were the Commissioned ones, for a purpose, in the Gospel story. Do not be confused by a replacement theology as to purposed intention of the first century title, or continuous revelation theology on the matter, for a functional definition alone, as derived from a scrutiny of these so described in the Acts (of special revelation origins) does not carry these written Word canon authors, nor the Messiah himself into other different and newer personalties of subsequent generations.
There is only one true Messiah, and only one generation of Apostles given to the church, for establishment of the written Word, of a discipleship basis for the nations, and as to redemptive and escatological history establishment. Consider what is written by them as to their own regard and self claimed identity on the matter. Taking for granted that a reader here has no argument with replacement theology in this case is suspect at best.
Only one set of beholders of Yeshua carry His message with the certain authenticity no one can claim today, and first to the Nations of Gentiles from the chosen Nation too. This should not be confused with those sent today from this church, or group, or that church or group as Missionary church planters (which is a viable present day ministry of the Kingdom). If we place any person today as a new Messiah, or a new Apostle, we miss the point of those so self descriptive founders of our faith in the Word. A tour of the oldest cathedrals of Europe, Asia, or the Near East also is a testimony to their irreplaceable importance. Lets see what those so depicted as such in the NT claim.
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The call and commissioning to lifelong service of an apostle is not through men but “through Jesus Christ and God the Father” (Gal. 1:1; cf. Rom. 1:5; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1). It comes about through meeting with the risen Lord (1 Cor. 15:7; Gal. 1:16), who himself gives his apostle the message of the gospel (1 Cor. 11:23; 2 Cor. 4:6; Gal. 1:12). The apostle delivers the gospel to men as Christ’s “ambassador” (2 Cor. 5:20). “The service of the apostle makes it clear that the local church is not a law unto itself but under law to Christ” (E. Schweizer, Das Leben des Herrn in der Gemeinde und ihren Diensten, 1946, 70).
Today, if the office held by a replacement intention alone, “the local church,” or Ecclesia would be the source of revelation for sending out its own only by such functions as may be derived by examining the word on these. Paul called himself the last Apostle, on parade by a mutual suffering of those other so chosen, so chosen as a final witness. We cannot ignore the challenge to our assumptions of these proclamations.
What would be the possibilities, and the dangers of declaring any person such a one today? –Jabez H.
I will give a first answer. Dangers: the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, the want of the eyes corrupting such a person. Vanity, and self importance as mutually developed inner reality along with the operation of descriptors of a functional analysis in taking on such a titled role. Possibilities: todays Christian media anchors, Christian bush pilots, ecclessia and missionary organization sent missionaries, church planters, and Christian book authors can associate themselves with the descriptors of those revered founders of old, claim an authority few would dare claim, and attempt to justify their title as sent and sourced apart from the Commission source desribed above. The anointing of the Holy Spirit could be claimed as a substitute for the orignial sourced model, and who could take to task the anointed of the Lord? Excess, in the place of careful success through the Way illumined in the Word, could be manifested in conduct, and a new heirarchy could thereby deceive many about the importance of such a person. Perhaps Bishoprick like hats and costumes could be worn???
Andrew,
Thanks for taking on the task of examining the issue of Apostolic issue. It is such a significant and weighty issue and let there seems to be a lack of a demonstration of the kind that is recorded for us in Acts. It’s refreshing to go back to basics and examine the issue of a “sent one.” I find it interesting that John Baptist is often not included in an examination of what it means to be sent, even though John described him in John 1:6 as a man “sent from heaven” or apostello in the Greek. When I first looked up that phrase in the Greek and found that the word John used associated John Baptist with the apostolic call, it helped me connect the apostolic call not just with New Testament sendings, but also with other significant Biblical sendings including Isaiah 6.
Could it be that, while John Baptist was undoubtedly a prophet, that John could also be a starting point for an examination of the apostolic call in the New Testament? Interestingly enough, with all his excellent material on the Apostles and Prophets I don’t know if I ever have heard Art once mention John Baptist with reference to the apostolic church.
I’m looking forward to the rest of your installments on this topic.
Blessings,
Samuel
Samuel,
You’re absolutely correct in your view of the OT prophet (John the Baptist included) as also carrying an apostolic dynamic to it. In my article on Prophets, I stated that the OT prophet was most of the time, a lone ministry, whereas in the NT a plurality of 5 fold ministry has come through Jesus Christ. So in a sense the OT figure carried also an apostolic ’sent’ ministry, along with that of prophet, teacher, preacher etc. (See Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Jonah etc) However, in NT the gifts have been liberally dispensed amoung ‘men’ by the Giver. (Eph 4: 11, Psalm 68)
Jabez,
Thanks again for your comments. As we’ve already personally discussed this at some length, I’ll just put a couple of quotes by some credible NT scholars, which sum up my view point in relation to your argument:
F.F. Bruce - “… in 1 Thess. 2: 6, others (such as Silvanus and Timothy) are linked with Paul as ‘apostles of Christ’, the term is used in a wider sense, in which apostleship, instead of being based on an immediate commissioning by Christ, is grounded in the preaching of the genuine Gospel, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, whether in association with Paul or independently of Paul’s mission.”
Gordon Fee - “Can anything be said in our day of modern ‘apostles’? Given the two criteria expressed here (1 Corinth 9: 1 - 2), one would have to allow that apostles do not exist in the sense that Paul defines his own ministry. But it should also be noted that this might be too narrow a view, based strictly on Paul’s own personal experience. His more functional understanding of apostleship would certainly have its modern counterparts in those who found and lead churches in unevangelised areas. Only when ‘apostle’ is used in a non Pauline sense of ‘guarantors of tradition’ would the usage be narrowed to the first century.”
Blessings,
Andrew
Andrew,
I appreciate that you wish to examine the notion of a functionally based analysis of the subject raised, but to avoid an intuitive, politicized, or agenda driven eisogesis (reading into the text what one wants it to mean) rather than an exegesis based on what the authors involved meant, I will hold further comments here until your next posting. I am certain that neither of us wish to do any denigration of the Bible’s authority—so the source of the inspiration and the callings of scripture is indeed honored. Certainly the two scholars you cite have established histories of very well developed exegesis, where the late Prof. Bruce may be here misrepresented in part, and Fee is a Pentecostal in personal beliefs (as, in part, so am I, but recognize too that such can become an advocate for one’s own beliefs and experience) and are fortunately not the only such established New Testament scholars of record on the issues I have raised. The role of the foundational Apostles, I am sure we can agree, is uniquely maintained in scripture.
The limits of related passages usage, sentence structures and syntactical relationships, textual establishments, grammar, significant words used in this regard developed in context throughout their usage in the New Testament, research into the historic-cultural background, the development and consistencies of related conceptual themes throughout the Bible and New Covenant ideas, and the significance of actual ministry calling, terms applied within the limits of language usage in recorded passages, genre, a collectively deduced intent, and the telescope of the New Covenant’s own Apostolic collective non periscopical themes of this instance vs. established prophetic teleological qualities will be taken into account in presenting some obvious conclusions on the events, issues, ministries, and significance, of the matter at hand when I drop into this forum once more. –Jabez Hart
Andrew,
I absolutely agree re the difference between OT vs NT paradigms, I was really commenting about the continuance of the sent dynamic, which I was so excited to see you addressing, since it seems to be so rarely addressed at great depth in the modern discussion of the apostolic in spite of that fact is the plain meaning of the Greek word.
I’m looking forward to the next posts.
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The two paragraphs found amidst the response I wrote, beginning with Font Definitions and Style Definitions were added by this blob comment by its own process when pasting in my own text as was additionally posted. Since they do not represent me or my thinking offered, and were not authored by me, please remove these from the comment #1, above, leaving the remaining text copy as posted. –JH
I can still see Art preaching about this…
…it changed my life.