Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
I think you are over-thinking the apostle thing. That doesn't mean that I necessarily consider an apostle and easy title get through an online university. But there is some indication that apostles ultimately were not simply the 11 plus Matthias plus Paul, but that there was a need to carefully consider those who came along saying they were apostles. If it was as simple as signs and wonders, then it wasn't so difficult. So surely there is something more to it than signs and wonders.
But one of the things that generally spoke against Lee would be the personal declaration of getting private words from God that seemed contradictory to what we otherwise were able to know or come to know. Besides, the OT had already said that those who came declaring their own credentials had none.
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I have concluded that the apostles were of two types or levels. First was the twelve plus Paul, ones with Jesus from the beginning and the special case of Paul. Most Christians probably would only consider these ones as "true" apostles, and for the most part I would agree.
But the scriptures also opens the door for others like Timothy, Silvanus, etc. The Bible never says He stopped sending apostles, prophets, evangelists, etc. Ephesus, years later, was applauded for trying the apostles. Based on the meaning of the word, today's missionaries could be considered apostles, sent as ambassadors to new places.
The first set alone could use "apostle" as a title, the second set should not.