New Testament Apostles - A Word Study
Interesting that the word "sent" in the New Testament (send out, send forth - String's #649), comes from the word apostello. It means someone or something that was sent out (usually from God in the NT), including the apostles, but it includes basically any kind of messenger or person that is sent in a service or a commission.
However, the word that is translated into English as apostle is apostolos (a different firm of the word - Strong's #652). Everytime it is used in the NT, the context shows that it is always the 12 apostles that are in view (except four times),* and one of the four usages is referring to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 3:1.
*John 13:16 - he that is "sent"
2 Corinthians 8:23 - "messengers" of the churches
Philippians 2:25 - your "messenger"
It is noteworthy to me how the NT uses this word. There are many pentecostals and charismatics who try to teach there are other "apostles" (#652, ie. one of the Apostles) today because there were other ones "sent forth/out" (#649) in the first century.
But the Bible teaches that there were and are only 12 Apostles in light of eternity (the Apostles were the foundation of the NT church: see Ephesians 2:19-22 and Revelation 21:14; and the way the term - #652 - is used in the NT to refer to the 12). There are only twelve foundations for the New Jerusalem in eternity. Yes, Matthias was temporarily chosen by the early disciples to fill Judas' office, but the Scriptures show that Paul permanently took that place once he was saved. He was not even on the scene yet in AD 32 (or thereabouts). When the early church used lots to determine who would replace Judas, Paul was not even saved yet, and I do not believe God's hand was on the results. (Ie. "Which of these particular two do you choose, God?" "Neither - My choice is not even saved yet!" - My imagination on the events that unfolded in Acts 1.) When Paul was used by the Lord to write most of the New Testament epistles, he identified himself as an Apostle (and the Apostle to the Gentiles) at the start of each of them (except Hebrews, for various reasons).
A true believer need never fear that there are modern Apostles today with authoritative revelation from God. The Bible is a closed book, the 12 Apostles did the signs of an apostle to back up their messages (see 2 Corinthians 12:12) while the New Testament was being written, but no one else was given the same authority then or now. Yes, some of the Apostle's associates were referred to as ones being "sent forth", though it is not the same form of the word and they are not referred to in the same sense. The four references stated above that differ in their usage show Titus, Epaphroditus, and perhaps some of their associates as co-workers with the Apostles, but they are not referred to in the same sense, and the context does not give them the same authority. Of course, Jesus is "the Apostle and High Priest of our profession" - He is the person with all authority and power, sending forth the 12 with the commission He has for them.
There were only ever the 12 Apostles, and once the foundation of the church was laid and the New Testament was finished being written, the need for any Apostles was done away with. Now we have the complete Word of God - the final authority for everything in our lives.
February 1st, 2023
Jerry Bouey
