Do Apostles Still Exist In Today's Churches?

If we consider the meaning of the word Apostle as one sent forth, a messenger, an ambassador or an envoy, then certainly one could be called an apostle. One could be sent forth by a local church or a denomination; one could be an ambassador and so forth. We might better, however, to prevent confusion, call him a missionary. To equate being sent forth from a local church or a denomination with the New Testament Apostles like Peter or Paul is a stretch indeed! In fact, Barnabas, partner with the Apostle Paul is called an apostle and Paul writes regarding the “messengers of the churches” (2 Corinthians 8:23). The word translated messengers is the same word for apostles. These are sent out by the Apostles, or sent out by the churches. They are sent out but they are not of the Office of Apostles.
                                                                                                          

    The New Testament Apostles were chosen and sent by Jesus Christ, Himself. They were gifted by the Holy Spirit and their ministries were accompanied by “signs and wonders” (Hebrews 2:4). Their words and writings carried authority as “the word of God” as Paul says, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) When the Apostles spoke in public discourse their words carried the same weight as their written word does for us today.

    A New Testament Apostle must have been with or seen the Lord Jesus Christ.

Again the Apostle Paul writes, “Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? ” (1 Corinthians 9:1) This is important as it goes along with what our Lord told His Apostles in John’s Gospel. There for instance He said, “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (John 6:70) and again, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. ” (John 15:16) These men were chosen as Apostles and were gifted with the Holy Spirit so that they could recall everything the Lord had taught them “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26) This is directed to the 11 present and will be applied to the Apostle Paul as well. Not only so, but Jesus said, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26,27) These 11 would “bear witness” of the truth as they have been with Jesus “from the beginning”. Even more, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:12,13) Here we find that the Apostles were also prophets who were gifted with "foretelling". Some speak of themselves as prophets today and some mean as "forth-tellers" but there is a difference between "fore-telling" and "forth-telling" so I maintain that the use of the word prophet is confusing and misleading and should not be used of a modern day preacher!

    Later we find that the Apostles must choose a replacement for Judas who betrayed our Lord and here is what is written: “Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.” (Acts 1:21,22) and they chose Matthias for that roll. Note that one of the conditions for this apostleship was that the man had to have “companied with us”. But we should also consider that perhaps Matthias was chosen by men and not by God. The reason I say this is because there is a set number of Apostles in Scripture and that number is 12. We know the original 11, Judas being discounted, but we also know that Paul was of equal rank with the 11 so he would be considered the 12th. In Luke's Gospel we find " Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. " (Luke 22:28-30) and in Revelation 21 we find " And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." (v.14) There are only 12 who own the Office of Apostle. They are the original eleven plus Paul. So while there are others who may be called messengers or apostles, in the sense of being sent ones, there are only 12 Apostles.

      Some will say, “Because Apostles are gifts to the church and we still have the church, we must therefore still have Apostles”. They use Ephesians 4:11-13 as a proof text. Here is what it says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” But this text does not say that there would always be Apostles but rather that the overall “gifts” would be for the perfecting of the saints. Let’s look at another verse from Paul: “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:28-31)The Apostle will go on to speak more about “gifts” but here he clearly points out that Apostles are first, then prophets, then teachers (called pastor/teachers) in Ephesians. But he also speaks of miracles, gifts of healings, helps and so on. If one insists that the church must still have Apostles then one must also insist that the church still has prophets (in the foretelling sense) and workers of miracles, healings, etc. and that is simply NOT the case.

                                                                            

      PURPOSE must be considered. What is the purpose for the Apostles? Well they were to be the foundational witnesses for Jesus Christ. They were gifted to recall the very words Jesus said, the things He taught. They were enabled to preach and write “all truth” in Spiritual matters. They were enabled as prophets to write about “things to come”. Paul writes in Ephesians, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22) To anyone even moderately acquainted with building, that the foundation goes at the bottom of a building, not in the middle, and not at the top. The biblical Apostles were foundational, that was their purpose! There are no Apostles; there are no prophets, in the church today. We have the complete word of God and  Peter writes: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: ” (2 Peter 1:3) God be blessed forever. Amen!