Apostles: What are they?

From the International Coalition of Apostles, led by C. Peter Wagner.

The Second Apostolic Age began roughly in 2001, heralding the most radical change in the way church is done since the Protestant Reformation. This New Apostolic Reformation embraces the largest segment of non-Catholic Christianity worldwide and is the fastest growing. Churches of the Apostolic Movement embrace the only Christian mega block growing faster than Islam.

The New Testament clearly outlines the gift of the apostle in Ephesians 4:11-12: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Also mentioned in Ephesians 2:20 and 1 Corinthians 12:28. The Apostle Paul and Christ’s apostles spoke of the gift as essential for the healthy function of the Church and training of the Saints.

C. Peter Wagner briefly defines an ‘Apostle’ as a: “Christian leader who is gifted, taught, and commissioned by God with the authority to establish the foundational government of the Church within an assigned sphere of ministry by hearing what the Spirit is saying to the churches and by setting things in order accordingly for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.” This is by no means a comprehensive definition.

A thorough study must be done to specifically understand what the term ‘Apostle’ means. ICA Council Members, Drs. Ron Cottle and John P. Kelly have written a series entitled: APOSTLES: WHAT ARE THEY? Using the original Greek and Hebrew, they outline the term for more clarity.

APOSTLES: WHAT ARE THEY?

By Dr. Ron Cottle and Dr. John P. Kelly

There is much discussion on what the word ‘apostle’ means and how to describe an apostle. Some of the confusion is because apostles don’t all look or work alike. Some focus on world missions, some on the marketplace, and others on the local church or a network of churches. However, they all share at least three basic characteristics: Apostles are Ambassadors, Generals-Governors, and Patriarchs.

This series of teachings will begin with the Ambassador Apostle. The next two months will focus on Generals and Patriarchs. These teachings will become part of the ICA Prospectus.

APOSTLES ARE AMBASSADORS

One day Jesus called aside His twelve disciples and after He had given them authority, He commissioned them apostles: “When He had called unto Him his twelve disciples, He gave them authority…and the twelve apostles….” (Matthew 10:1-2).

A. Jesus Himself Chose the People and the Title

It was Jesus alone who chose the name “apostolos” for those whom He called, authorized, and sent out. Among the earliest uses of the term were the Greek historians who used it to describe an admiral over a fleet of ships sent out by his king to discover, explore, conquer, and establish his government in newterritories. Jesus’ choice of the word reflects this meaning and stresses its emphasis on “one sent from

another” or a fully authorized representative, ambassador of the sender. (Lyssichus, Or., 19:21; Demosthenes, Or., 18:107) So, Apostles are fully authorized representatives or ambassadors of the one who sent them.

B. Apostles Were First Disciples

It is important to note that the people chosen and authorized to be apostles were already disciples—mathetes. That is, they were not just pupils learning facts from their teacher, or even students learning principles from a professor. They were disciples who were incarnating the character and essence (psuche) of their Master. Like Timothy with Paul, they took on the isopsuchos—same soul or DNA of their Lord (Philippians 2:20). Jesus led them to a mountain and there poured into them Himself. He did not release them until they were thoroughly filled with His vision and values. Only when they were ready did He release them for the task and turn His attention to “teach and preach in their cities.”

C. The Difference between Disciples and Apostles is the Impartation of Exsousia

What is the difference between committed disciples and commissioned apostles? Exsousia! This is not power as the KJV translates it. Rather it is “the right to power” or authority (Matthew 10:1-2). When one is sent out as an apostolos, he is the full delegate and representative ambassador of his sender. He carries in his person the full authority of the one who sent him.

D. Apostle equals Sheliach

Jesus did not think or speak Greek, but Aramaic-Hebrew. He took the Greek word apostolos because Greek was the universal language of the Roman Empire. But He filled it with the content of the Hebrew Sheliach. What then is a Sheliach? He is one commissioned and authorized to fully represent his sender. He represents in his person the one who commissioned him.

Eliezer, the Syrian slave whom Abraham commissioned to bring a wife for Isaac, was the first Sheliach mentioned in scripture (Genesis 24:2ff and 15:2). He was already an elder and servant (zakenand ebed) in Abraham’s house. As such, he was selected and appointed by Abraham himself to be his emissary. He placed his hand “beneath Abraham’s thigh” to take an oath of loyalty and faithfulness. Only after this did Abraham send him out. While on his mission, he was as Abraham himself as he negotiated for Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife.

So, while Greek apostolos gives us the form of the New Testament apostle, it is the Hebrew Sheliach that provides the content. A Sheliach-Apostolos is the full representative of his sender. As the Rabbis said: “The Sheliach of a man is as the man himself” (Beraita 5:5). Gerhard Kittel says: “The Sheliach (of Jesus) is as good as his Sender in all he says and does in the execution of his mission” (K., TDNT, 1:415).

The ancients called thisplenipotentiaryrepresentation—fully empowered. This is the true meaning of “representative government.” Kittel adds “The emissary of the King is as the King Himself” (K., TDNT, 1:416).

An Apostle is an Ambassador of the One who sent him.

© Dr. Ron Cottle and Dr. John P. Kelly

Apostles are Generals and Governors

By Dr. Ron Cottle

 Growing out of the basic identity presented in Section One, there are two important expressions.  The first is the apostle as general or governor.  In 2 Corinthians 10:4 Paul says:

          “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty….”

 Warfare in this verse is strateia and it is “military service.”  We are at war and God has provided equipment (hopla) that is powerful and fit for demolishing enemy fortifications erected against us.  All this equipment is most effective under the command of a full representative of the King—an apostle-Sheliach on assignment and under orders.  In the NT this person is a strategos, warrior-strategist, a general or governor in his assigned sphere. 

 As His representatives, God gives apostles commissions and goals; as apostles we devise the strategy to accomplish them.  Some translations of strategos in the NT are: Praetor/Governor; chief magistrate or captain of the Temple—both are Caesar’s representatives over either a territory or a temple.  This person served as an officer of the government of Rome and was commissioned by Caesar to be “in charge” and responsible only to the government.  If he served faithfully, he had the entire might of the Roman Empire behind him.  If he served unfaithfully or abusively, he was subject to recall or banishment by Caesar but never by the subjects of his assignment.  See Luke 22:4, 52; Acts 4:1; 5:24, 26; Acts 16:20, 22, 35, 36, 38. 

A strategos was appointed by Imperial authority as its official, authorized representative.  As such, he was “in charge and responsible” to the Emperor for the legal operation of the Provincial government or the Temple government, whichever was his sphere of assignment.

 In Nehemiah 2:5, Nehemiah asked the king to send him (Shalach) as his authorized representative-ambassador and “man in charge” to rebuild Jerusalem.  He was asking to be an apostle-Sheliach on mission.  In 2:6 the Word says, “So it pleased the King and he sent (Shalach) me.”  Letters were given to others already in the field and on assignment by the King so that they might recognize and assist Nehemiah in his mission.

 When he arrived, he took charge and became Governor (Pechad—overseer or Bishop) over Artaxerxes’ work in all Jerusalem and Judea.  The other rulers in the region dealt with him as with a head of state.  Here we have a strong example of what an apostle really is.  Nehemiah was a strategos, an apostle-Sheliach to Artaxerxes to establish and maintain governmental order.  Apostles today are God’s representatives commissioned to maintain His government in their assigned spheres.  The apostle does not necessarily run a church or micromanage its departments and activities.  But he exercises the authority necessary to keep the ministry of his assignment true to its Kingdom purposes.

 I saw this work first-hand in China recently.  We helped to start a university there.  The communist government of China appointed one of their own leaders, a communist party member, to serve as president of the university.  He has ultimate authority over the 20,000 students, the faculty, the Board of Directors, the 300 acres and 50 major buildings, the founder-chancellor, and his staff.  He speaks for the government on all matters of policy and strategic planning.  He does not interfere with the daily administration and instruction of the university except to keep them directed on a path approved by the government.

 He is the strategos, an authorized representative of the government sent to maintain order.  That is what an apostle of God is: God’s appointed, anointed, authorized ambassador to maintain right government (shaphat) in his sphere of ministry.

© Dr. Ron Cottle 

 From the International Coalition of Apostles, led by C. Peter Wagner.

How Do You Measure Success

A cloud is on the horizon! Winds of change are gathering strength! A storm is coming…it is a storm of change!

All over the world the Spirit of God is causing sincere believers to re-examine how we “DO CHURCH.” It is no longer about size…small groups…spiritual gifts…or seeker sensitivity. It’s about making a significant and sustainable difference in the lives and families of our communities and cities! There is a growing awareness that we cannot continue to do the “same old things” and get different results! If we want to be “Salt and Light” as God meant us to be, we must do something different and be something different!

Community transformation will not be accomplished alone by spiritual services, powerful preaching, musical masterpieces, or choir cantatas—as good as these are. The church today needs a “Churchquake” of seismic proportions if it is going to be all and do all that the third Millennium requires!

I define “Churchquake” as a paradigm shift! A “paradigm” is a model consisting of shared assumptions of what is true or what works! A “paradigm shift” is “a moment of ‘AHA!’ when one sees things in a new light and can never go back to the old ways again!”

The first paradigm shift we need is a shift from building walls to building bridges! Matthew 5:13-14 states, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.” The root of this first paradigm shift is to ask ourselves this question: How do we as the church see ourselves in relation to our community? Most churches see themselves as outside the community inviting people to “come into the church and out of the ‘world’ and be separate.” As the Church, we must begin to see ourselves as inside the community as an agent of change and transformation! Being “separate” in values and lifestyle is not the same as being “isolated” from those God has called us to love and reach.

Here is a real example from a church in a mid-western state. One day a pastor became “fed up” with the marginalization of his church within his city. He knew that his people had what thousands needed and desired but did not know how to find. So he made an appointment with the mayor and asked one question, “How can we help you?”

The mayor gave him a list of “Challenges Facing the City.” He went back to his church and asked them one question, “What can we do that will cause people of this city to say that God is here and at work in this city for no one could do these things if God were not with him?” This simple leadership act made that Church no longer a “walled-in clique,” but a “bridge-building church” to the community God called it to love and influence!

Since then, in just four years, one hundred other churches joined that one! Five thousand volunteers built bridges into their city by building parks and playgrounds, refurbishing fifty schools, setting records for Red Cross Blood donations, enlisting thousands of new organ donors, offering scores of “Life Skill Classes” on finance, marriage, aging, parenting with over 5,000 attending, and donating nearly $1,000.000 to human service organizations for at risk youth.

All of this leads to one conclusion: once a church makes the mental shift from “set apart” to “Salt and Light,” it is limited only by its imagination and creativity in how it can serve and transform its community and city!

But a legitimate question arises. “Is this what the church is – a social service organization?” Of course not! The Church is the visible expression of the Kingdom of God in the earth! Well, then, is it not enough to stand there separate and “over against” the community (the world) and “throw the Gospel like a rock” at it? No! It is not enough. Jesus’ command was to “go into the world-system and make disciples…” We must do everything in our power to earn the right to shine our light (the Word of God) and sprinkle our salt (the Spirit of God) in our city!

When we have “made His praise glorious” by our good deeds and people see them and begin to “glorify our Father who is heaven,” the door will be open to plant the seed of Christ’s love that will heal hurting hears, mind shattered, restore broken families, and transform our city from within! This is our mission! This is why God has placed us in our city!

Let’s stop just providing ministry programs and worship services for our community and earn the right topenetrate our community as “Salt and Light” to offer help, healing, and perhaps even transformation!

From the Coalition of Apostles.

Ronald E. Cottle, Ph. D., Ed. D. Christian Life Educators Network

http://www.clenetwork.org/