APOSTLES. The title "apostle" is applied
to certain Christian leaders in the NT. The verb means apostello send
someone on a special mission as a messenger and personal representative
of the person who sends.
THE TITLE IS USED FOR CHRIST
(Hebrews 3:1) - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of
the heavenly calling, consider Jesus Christ, Apostle and High Priest of
our confession.
THE TWELVE
DISCIPLES CHOSEN BY JESUS received the title of APOSTOLOS
(Matthew 10:2) - The names
of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon called Peter and
Andrew his brother, James son of Zebedee and John his brother; (Matthew
10:3) - Philip and
Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, James the son of Alpheus,
and Lebbeus, surnamed Thaddeus;
THE APOSTLE PAUL
(Romans 1:1) - Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God
(II Corinthians
1:1) - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy
our brother, the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints
who are throughout Achaia.
(Galatians
1:1) - Paul, an apostle (not from men nor by man but by Jesus Christ
and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)
THE TERM "APOSTLE"
It
was used in the NT in a general sense, to a representative designated
by a church, for example, the first Christian missionaries. Therefore,
in the NT the term refers to a messenger named and sent as a
missionary, or some other special responsibility.
They were men of recognized
outstanding leadership and spiritual, anointed with the power to cope
with the powers of darkness and confirm the Gospel miracles. Saw to the establishment of churches according to
apostolic truth and purity.
They were itinerant servants who risked
their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and spread the gospel,
were men of faith and prayer, filled with the Spirit.
(Acts 11:23) - Who, when he arrived and saw the grace of
God, was glad, and exhorted them all to remain in the Lord with purpose
of heart;
(Acts 11:24) - Why was a good
man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And much people was added unto the Lord.
(Acts 11:25) - And Barnabas went
to Tarsus to seek Saul: and when they found him, brought him to Antioch.
Apostles, in the general sense, they
remain essential for the purpose of God in the church. If the churches cease to send people so full of the Holy
Spirit, spreading the gospel around the world will become stagnant. Moreover, while the church produce and send such
people fulfill their missionary task and remain faithful to the Lord''s
great commission.
(Matthew 28:18) - And he came to Jesus spake unto them,
saying to me is given all power in heaven and on earth.
(Matthew
28:19) - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and the Son, and Holy Spirit;
(Matthew 28:20) - Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of centuries. Amen
The term "apostle" is also used in the NT in a special sense,
in reference to those who saw Jesus after his resurrection and who were
personally commissioned by Him to preach the gospel and establish the
church. They had unique authority in the church,
concerning the divine revelation and the original message of the gospel,
like nobody else today. The
ministry of apostle in the strict sense is unique, and it there is
repetition.
Apostle is "Someone sent as representative, in the NT, who
had seen Jesus and he had been commissioned to teach others about it."
APOSTLE TODAY
Someone sent on a special mission as a
messenger and personal representative of who sends them. Today may be regarded as the
figure of the missionary, who leaves the world spreading the mission of
the church.
That is why today many churches
have adopted the term or title of apostle, and the positions of the
churches vary depending on the doctrine.
BISHOPS
Leader of the Christian church. The
bishops were devoted to the teaching of doctrine and preaching of the
gospel. In apostolic times,
the bishop took care of a local church and was also called the Elder
(Acts 20:26) - So, today, you that I am pure
from the blood of all.
(Acts 20:27) -
Why I never failed to preach the whole counsel of God.
(20:28) - Take heed
therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He
purchased with His own blood.
Only later did the bishops became responsible for
a group of churches of a particular religion.
(20:28) - Take heed
therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He
purchased with His own blood.
IN BRIEF (apostles and bishops)
First of salvation independent securities as there is the
Christian position that will lead to heaven, then the positions within
the church work for the organization of the temple independent pastor,
apostle or bishop you must have unity and love, in reality the churches
should meet to
take the unification of the positions, even not to confuse people who do
not know the word and there should be a statute is clear based on the
Bible.