Do Apostles still walk the Earth?

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

this Holy Spirit dying off as you claim

You know that is not what I said, and this willingness to lie about another's post -- if I said it, you would have quoted it -- is reason enough to banish you forever from my screen. Done here.

 

[Slider]

what did apostles do is really what needs to be addressed, they are what we see today and have retitled "Church planters" they are what we now call "Missionaries" they take the gospel and go to the world and start churches

apostles are still ordained by God, its only the title that has been lost not the job, ask any missionary and they will tell you they were called to go here or there, its not their own will they are following...............except the ones called to Hawaii or Bahamas.........lol.......its a great gig if you can get it

Here is the problem I am having with folks. Apostles were able to be "Church Planters" and missionaries. Certainly Paul did that. But to say that they have been retitled to that does not define the position. Peter was an Apostle and he pretty much was a home body. He didn't travel much. Yes, to "Babylon", and people are still trying to figure that out. Rome? Near Baghdad? Egypt? Ok, fine, but he wasn't a missionary! He pretty much stayed put in the area around modern day Syria and Israel.

The Apostles were many things. They were prophets (Paul had a few, John of course had some great ones). They were missionaries. Paul of course, did a lot of this. They were teachers and pastors too. Even Paul who "planted churches" cared for them afterwards. And by "cared" I mean he taught and looked after them. They were healers, but others were too who were not by an Apostle.

So to state that anything must be done by an Apostle is not going to hold up. Judas, called an apostle, never saw Christ risen. Peter was not a noted missionary and neither was Judas except under the tootilage of Jesus when he sent them out. They did heal. But so did the elders under James the half brother of Jesus.

The only thing that stands is that they had a message to deliver and were there to serve as Jesus' ambassadors and to speak in his stead. They were given the power of prophecy, the power to heal, the power to do miracles, the power to do all that stuff. But the only thing that all Apostles have in common is the power ordained by Jesus to speak on his behalf. This is the only thing that makes them Apostles.

 

[Dustoftheearth]

It would appear according to these scriptures that there were more than 12 apostles.

Act 14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

1Co 15:5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
1Co 15:6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
1Co 15:7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
1Co 15:8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Some as apostles 'until'

If we are to say that 'apostles' have ceased, then we must also assume the other gifts of prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers


I think there could perhaps be a difference in having the 'gift' and having the office of apostle.
Perhaps the '12' (or 13 with Paul) were said to be 'apostles of Christ' or 'of the Lamb'

 

[Edward]

How Interesting! It seems that Charles Spurgeon gave a sermon on this very subject, about the verse that I originally posed the question about.His take on it is very different than mine, or some others in this thread. The man makes sense. (or did).

[video=youtube;ojIRcbbtcXQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ojIRcbbtcXQ[/video]

 

[Slider]

It would appear according to these scriptures that there were more than 12 apostles.

Act 14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

1Co 15:5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
1Co 15:6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
1Co 15:7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
1Co 15:8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Some as apostles 'until'

If we are to say that 'apostles' have ceased, then we must also assume the other gifts of prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers


I think there could perhaps be a difference in having the 'gift' and having the office of apostle.
Perhaps the '12' (or 13 with Paul) were said to be 'apostles of Christ' or 'of the Lamb'

Good point, but you have some problems... In the KJV Acts 14:14 has an apostrophy. This would separate Barnabas and Paul from "the Apostles" which would be the original 11 left. Thus, it's not saying Barnabas was an apostle.

Cephas was Peter. Thus, there was no apostle named "Cephas" that is other than Peter. he appeared to Peter, then to the 12 including Peter as a group.

As for James the Lord's half brother..... It's a pretty indirect notion that you give that he was an apostle. James never claimed to be, and even by my definition of what an apostle is (which is he must be called by Christ to deliver a specific message), he doesn't qualify.

I'm not saying Barnabas and James weren't apostles.... Well, perhaps I am. But I agree with you that there were and are more than 12 apostles.