Defining "apostolos" is not difficult. Its usage in the Bible and elsewhere, however, causes a measure of confusion. Apostolos means a delegate, envoy, agent, ambassador, or representative, and indicates "one sent with a special message or commission." The commission's duration may be limited to a specific errand or last a lifetime. In John 13:16, the phrase translated "he who is sent" is the word "apostolos." The word translated "messengers" in II Corinthians 8:23 is also "apostolos," clearly used in the sense of ...
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Defining "apostolos" is not difficult. Its usage in the Bible and elsewhere, however, causes a measure of confusion. Apostolos means a delegate, envoy, agent, ambassador, or representative, and indicates "one sent with a special message or commission." The commission's duration may be limited to a specific errand or last a lifetime. In John 13:16, the phrase translated "he who is sent" is the word "apostolos." The word translated "messengers" in II Corinthians 8:23 is also "apostolos," clearly used in the sense of "delegates." Some Bibles' margins suggest "sent ones" in defining these "messengers."The Jews, according to both Unger's Dictionary of the Bible and the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (article "Apostle"), called the person who collected the annual half-shekel temple tax an apostle. A Roman named Theodosian, writing in Greek, referred to ordained emissaries from Jerusalem synagogues as apostles. These emissaries generally collected taxes for the support of the rabbinate. The rabbinic term for such agents was "shaliah." They might represent individuals or corporate bodies such as courts and synagogues, their duties depending upon the terms of their commission, to serve legal documents, collect monies, or convey instructions, particularly concerning the calendar and festivals. In the synagogue the "shaliah" might lead the congregation in prayer. The rabbinic principle was "a man's "shaliah" (agent, representative) is like himself." If the "shaliah" (apostle) followed his instructions, his actions identified the one who authorized and sent him. An apostle is the direct representative of the one who sent him. Scholars believe this is the model from which Jesus and the apostles derived their usage. However, there is an important difference. The Christian usage is totally religious, institutional, and missionary in its character. The Jewish usage was with precisely defined authority, for a limited term and almost totally nonreligious, though an Apostle may have been commissioned by a synagogue. In Hebrews 3:1-2, we are asked to "consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him." In John 5:36, Jesus states, "The very works that I do; bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me." Jesus fulfilled His commission so completely that He could state in John 14:9, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." Jesus, the One appointed and sent by the Father, is the pattern of the New Testament apostle. Jesus repeated the Jewish model when He ordained twelve and sent them out representing Him. In John 20:21, He says, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." They thus were Christ's apostles. This process began early in His ministry: Mark 3:14-15; "Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons."Add to this a principle stated by Jesus to the Twelve in Mark 9:37: "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." He implies that those sent are especially chosen by the divine will for their mission, bearing His authority. Other men are specifically designated as apostles in Acts, but undoubtedly the Twelve are in a unique category. Peter describes them in Acts 1:21-22: "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the LORD Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection." No other Apostle, not Paul, nor the LORD's brothers James and Jude, nor Barnabas, can meet this description. Paul calls himself "one born out of due time" while specifying apostles: 1 Corinthians 15:8; "Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time."
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