Apostleship (Was: ONENESS ONENESS)

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On Fri, 13 Sep 1996 12:14:16 CDT, you wrote:
>> 
>> >BTW, I would also assert that we *do* have modern day apostles.  I
>> >would count among them the great men we have been discussing in other
>> >threads, men such as Bros Arnold, Huntley, Stoneking, and others.  I
>> >would also include Bro Teklumarian (or however you spell that name!!)

I guess Apostleship, historically and in context of scripturehas got
to be a pretty mighty office. 
Obedient to the doctrine of the Apostles we are Apostolic... but the
Apostle ? 

When we are asking if there are modern Apostles, we are really asking
if the qualification of eyewitness is imposed on the office. The
answer is obtained from scripture: 

We might be inclined to answer No, for Paul was an Apostle born out of
time 1 Cor 15:7  ... 

But is this really supportable ? Paul says that Jesus was seen of "all
the Apostles" AND him, who was born out of time... We know that he is
an Apostle from other passages (as 1 Tim 2:7 & 2 Cor 1:1)

Elsewhere as in Jude 1:7, and Matt 10:10, the definite article appears
with plural title Apostle refering to specific men, associated with
Jesus by immediate experience in the flesh to whome we know are given
special dispensation to authorize doctrine. Some passages seem to
exclude the title Apostole from any others as: " And the wall of the
city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb. " (Rev 21:14). Are there apostles other than
those of the Lamb ? In this case, these number 12.

Remembering that Paul makes qualification to associate himself with
the eyewitnesses (1 Cor 15:-8)  we have a case for limiting the title.


Certainly THE major use of term is to focus on the reliablity of
doctrine inplied as in Rev 21:14 and Ephesians 2:20 (" And are built
upon the foundation of the  apostles  and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner [stone]"). 

It seems that there were defiitely 12 Apostles, but the question was
intended to remain open for the rest of us. We can be Apostolic, but
*will WE be Apostles ?*  Will be be stable and unmovable as a source
of truth and light for a dying world, rescuing from darkness those who
are desperatly seeking refuge and life ?

Now.. Indeed, Teklemarian Gezehange did bring the message to many
hundreds of thousands of people.

Brothers Huntley, Arnold, Stoneking, Wright, Libby, Fretwell, McNair,
Schoonover and others are wonderful faithful preachers of truth,
teachers and are today stable. Pray for yourselves and those who God
is using, that they would stand in the day of testing, and be Apostles
and we shall see the coming of the Lord rejoicing him that gives all
the crowns, and owns all the workmanship great and small.

- mwb