Apostles

[scriptures]

In the Bible the 12 were called Apostles. Christ, Paul and some as "apostles of the congregations".

Is it okey to call the faithful and discreet slaves as Apostles? Or the term apostle limited to those who are called as such in the Bible?

My point of view is, I am not comfortable calling them "apostles".

Brothers and sisters may I know your comments regarding this topic?

[stayawake]

Dear scriptures
The scriptures mention the twelve apostles or deciples of JC as follows. No ! those who claim to be called or chosen are NOT apostles >

THE TWELVE APOSTLES:
1. Andrew - crucified
2. Bartholomew - beaten then crucified
3. James, son of Alphaeus - stoned to death
4. James, son of Zebedee - beheaded
5. John - exiled for his faith; died of old age
6. Judas (not Iscariot) - stoned to death
7. Matthew - speared to death
8. Peter - crucifed upside down
9. Philip - crucified


10. Simon - crucified
11. Thomas - speared to death
12. Matthias - stoned to death
(source: Fox's Book of Martyrs

I might add that JC selected Paul after Jesus had died and was resurrected to heaven.
The glory and brilliace of Jesus invisable presence blinded Paul for three days. Jesus appointed Paul as a apostle to the Nations
.Paul is credited with writing fourteen books of the New Testament

love stayawake

[SlaveForJah]

Dear scriptures
The scriptures mention the twelve apostles or deciples of JC as follows. No ! those who claim to be called or chosen are NOT apostles >

THE TWELVE APOSTLES:
1. Andrew - crucified
2. Bartholomew - beaten then crucified
3. James, son of Alphaeus - stoned to death
4. James, son of Zebedee - beheaded
5. John - exiled for his faith; died of old age
6. Judas (not Iscariot) - stoned to death
7. Matthew - speared to death
8. Peter - crucifed upside down
9. Philip - crucified


10. Simon - crucified
11. Thomas - speared to death
12. Matthias - stoned to death
(source: Fox's Book of Martyrs

I might add that JC selected Paul after Jesus had died and was resurrected to heaven.
The glory and brilliace of Jesus invisable presence blinded Paul for three days. Jesus appointed Paul as a apostle to the Nations
.Paul is credited with writing fourteen books of the New Testament

love stayawake[/b]

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

May Jehovah's Spirit be with you.

Just so we do not forget, Barnabas was also an apostle.

"14 However, when the apostles Bar´na·bas and Paul heard of it, they ripped their outer garments and leaped out into the crowd, crying out" - Acts 14:14

I believe this pushes the number to 14.

As to your question, scriptures, about the faithful and discreet slave also holding the office of Apostle, I have two quick points:

1) As of yet, the "faithful and discreet slave" has not been been chosen as such. That will be a judgement that Christ will make upon those commissioned to feed the body of Christ and his domestics, at the commencement of "the Lord's day". If you are referring to the modern day Governing Body, or the present anointed, there is a great likelihood that many from among that number will prove to be judged as "faithful and discreet". However, this is not an appointment that has yet been made. So, strictly speaking, the "faithful and discreet slave" does not exist yet.

2) I think the Scriptures teach that there will indeed be those who will serve as Apostles in the time of the end. I believe Paul addresses this in his letter to the Ephesians.

"11 And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers, 12 with a view to the readjustment of the holy ones, for ministerial work, for the building up of the body of the Christ, 13 until we all attain to the oneness in the faith and in the accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ; 14 in order that we should no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error. 15 But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ. 16 From him all the body, by being harmoniously joined together and being made to cooperate through every joint that gives what is needed, according to the functioning of each respective member in due measure, makes for the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." - Ephesians 4:11-16

This shows that some would be given by Jesus as apostles, prophets, evangelizers and such at a time when the body of the Christ would need building up and the holy ones would be in need of readjustment. With what in view? The attaining to the oneness in the faith. Accurate knowledge would be necessary in order to avoid being tossed around by waves and winds of teaching, as varied as the men who would teach them. Does this not describe our time? Certainly we find ourselves in a time that would appear to be bringing us close to the time of the end, with its attendant Man of Lawlessness sitting in the Temple of God. Such a time would indeed be an appropriate time for the prophecy of Joel to be fulfilled, in accordance with the witness work of the Two Witnesses of Revelation. At the pouring out of Jehovah's Holy Spirit upon menservants and maidservants in the last days, some will fulfill the role of prophets, some of apostles, some of evangelizers, and all to the glory of our Father Jehovah and of His Christ.

I hope this helps.

Agape

SlaveForJah

[Sketch]

1. Andrew - crucified
2. Bartholomew - beaten then crucified
3. James, son of Alphaeus - stoned to death
4. James, son of Zebedee - beheaded
5. John - exiled for his faith; died of old age
6. Judas (not Iscariot) - stoned to death
7. Matthew - speared to death
8. Peter - crucifed upside down
9. Philip - crucified
10. Simon - crucified
11. Thomas - speared to death
12. Matthias - stoned to death[/b]

so much for "live by the sword, die by the sword"...

<div align="center">"The man should have armed himself"
http://www.cyber-cinema.com/photo_bw/clintEastwood_CE1B2.jpg
</div>

[scriptures]

slaveforJah, stayawake, I read your comments and they are very interesting. I&#39;ll think about it.

Sketch, nice picture!!!!

[Molly]

Hi Scriptures-

I checked the Insight book. The word apostle comes from a common verb: a po stel&#39; lo. The verb simply means "send forth." It is used quite a few times with regard to dispatching individuals on an errand of some sort. Some congregations had members that were referred to as apostles (Acts 13:1-4; 14:4,14) but this does not mean that they were a class of individuals that we would label "Apostles," such as the twelve, Paul, or even Christ. The Insight book notes that the Apostles acted as a restraint to the influx of the apostasy.

John relates at Rev. 21:14 that "The wall of the city also had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apotles of the Lamb." Paul is not included in the twelve, perhaps because he was an apostle to the nations rather than the twelve tribes of Israel.

Some individuals must have falsley made claims of being apostles in the first century. Paul warned them at 2 Cor. 11:12-15: 12 "Now what I am doing I will still do, that I may cut off the pretext from those who are wanting a pretext for being found equal to us in the office of which they boast. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. 15 It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness. But their end shall be according to their works." So, Scriptures concern over calling anyone other than those who are scripturally labeled as Apostles is warranted. Rather, as the angel of the congregation in Ephesus had written at Rev 2:2: "&#39;I know your deeds, and your labor and endurance, and that you cannot bear bad men, and that you put those to test who say they are apostles, but they are not, and you found them liars.&#39;" Just as we are to "test out" every inspired expression, it seems we are to "test out" any who might claim to be apostles, especially as we approach the last days.

Molly

[Berean]

I think Molly has it right, in that the world "apostle" indicates not a title, but simply that someone has been "sent forth". It&#39;s interesting to note that Jesus is also called an apostle, in Hebrews 3:1: "Consequently, holy brothers, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest whom we confess - Jesus."

Of course, if someone calls himself an apostle, they must be able to back up the claim that they have been sent forth, either by Jehovah or by Jesus, as the apostles in the past have. I think any current "apostles" wouldn&#39;t be able to claim that Jesus appeared to them personally or in a vision, in order to send them forth, like he did with the twelve, and with Paul.

[scriptures]

Molly, Berean, thank you very much for the input.

I ask you these questions about the use of the term "apostle" because there are religious leaders here in our country who are claiming that title, Most of their members are fanatics. You know these people are very effective in our country because we are a "third world" country and people are looking for supernatural persons for leadership.

I really like this idea of "sharing" insights. It is very good and heartwarming. I really enjoy fellowshipping with all of you.

Aside from the book "Insight", I also checked W.E. Vine, He said apostle has a wider reference to include Paul, Barnabas, Andronicus, Junias, Epaphroditus, Silas, Timothy, and two unnamed brethren who are called "apostles of the churches".

A good reminder is "test every spirit" whether they are of God.