Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
My point was that the Bible doesn't say. Paul said God gave some as apostles. Paul didn't indicate that this was to continue, unbroken, in perpetuity until the Lord's return. Nor did he indicate that at some point it would cease.
But history seems to have shown that it ceased, save for "the desposyni" and the RCC and the Mormons and the Living Stream Ministry crowd and others who all seem to share control issues.
Taylor, like Moody and Graham, seems more like and evangelist.
Luther, along with Wesley, formed large religious organizations and so might be seen (in retrospect) as apostolic. Did they or their conemporaries ever claim such? Or are several centuries of history needed for determination?
Another point against 'apostles today'. We lack perspective. Anyone can claim, but the lens of history is not clear to us. So the wanna-be's trumpet.
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I knew a brother who, to those that knew him, would unequivocally be considered a gifted evangelist. I think there could be no dispute that he was a gift given to the body. That said, he never was famous, never held large tent rallies, never really did much more than preach the gospel every day. Likewise, although I don't know their names, I am aware that in history as well as today, there are brothers that tirelessly raise up christian congregations. Now their might not be any comparison with an Apostle Paul as far as Biblical revelation and insight into the word. They may not be famous, they may not really appear to be much of anything. But no doubt, those that know them would realize they are gifts to the body. Not exactly evangelists, not exactly shepherds and teachers. So, what are they? Certainly not one of "the" apostles. But I think it is fair to describe their gift as "apostolic". Just like Jesus told Peter "If I want him to abide until I return, what is that to you". The Lord has different callings for different saints, what is that to us.