I recently posted about a new book I have begun reading, a book on the modern-day ministry of apostles authored by British church leader, David Devenish – Fathering Leaders, Motivating Mission: Restoring the Role of Apostle in Today’s Church. Remember, I am one of those guys (not the only one) who believes this role (along with all ministries spoken of in Eph 4:11-13) to be very important in seeing the people of God equipped for works of ministry and preparing them to move towards maturity. At least that’s how Paul articulates it in Eph 4.
I’ve spent plenty of time laying out why I believe this ministry (yes, ministry, not so much ‘office’ or ‘position’) is still active today, as well as what this ministry would entail today (here is the link to my detailed PDF document).
But as I was reading Devenish’s book, he brought out two points that I never really considered before as to why apostles would exist today, or post-first century. They are not major, eye-openers as to solve the debate that might exist for some Christians. Nevertheless, I thought I would share those two points below, and then encourage you to read more of my thoughts if you would like.
1) The presence of false apostles
In the latter part of what we call Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, Paul spends quite a great deal of time informing the church about the work of some false apostles (or super-apostles, as a kind of sarcastic name for them). He says this:
12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. (2 Cor 11:12-15)
John interestingly speaks of similar false apostles in Rev 2:2.
But here is my question, or Devenish’s question: If there was a set number of apostles, say the 12 and Paul (and maybe adding in a James and Barnabas), why would they need to warned about false apostles?
If there was a recognised and set group of apostles, there would be no need to warn against false apostles, since the group would have been clearly known and set. Maybe that’s simplifying things too much. But to give such a warning against false apostles, I believe this shows that the ministry was much wider and organic than we first thought. It wasn’t as easy as identifying a group of 12 or so men and getting on with building the foundations of the church. I believe Paul and the others knew that other such apostolic ministries were present and would one day be present within the church. Of course, the apostolic foundation that we now have in our New Testament gives us a very proper and healthy foundation to help us now identify real apostles and false apostles. But this dynamic and needed ministry was already widely expanding in Paul’s day, hence the need to warn against these false and ravenous wolves.
Therefore, I believe we need to recognise this ministry as foundational and important today. Not moved from the original apostolic foundation, nor meaning we pen another letter to a church and stick it between 2 Corinthians and Galatians, not to mention we need to weigh those claiming apostolic ministry today against that original apostolic foundation. But this is a very needed ministry gift today, at least as Paul tells us of its importance in places like Eph 4:11-13.
2) Apostles alongside all other giftings
Remember, and I’m passionate about this – those 5 roles in Eph 4:11-13 are first and foremost ministry roles, not so much titles or positions. Whether or not people want to recognise one as an evangelist or teacher, if that is the particular ministry role Christ has given them, then they will get on with that ministry. You cannot hire and fire shepherds (though you can CEO’s).
And so, I believe the same is true of apostles and prophets (including that hiring and firing part). I’ve met a few people in my life of which I might recognise an apostolic or prophetic ministry in their lives, but they don’t use those words in connection with their ministry. Fine by me, and maybe fine by God. People didn’t need to recognise Jesus as who he was in order for him to get on with who he was. It was simply in his DNA. The same with those gifted by Christ himself. (Though, I will say that 9 out of 10 times, one gifted in a particular ministry gift of Eph 4:11 will be recognised by other leaders around them.)
And so we again turn to a Corinthian letter, though this time the first. Paul had already listed nine giftings early on in ch.12, gifts that are somewhat more ‘extraordinary’ (please note that I believe all gifts are amazing and necessary in the body, but if you want to argue with me more on this subject, read my thoughts here first). And just a little later, he lists some of these nine gifts with others, as follows:
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Now, what we would probably acknowledge is Paul is listing gifts that are available to the ‘regular’ church, the whole body. You’ve got teachers and miracles and healing and helping and guidance and tongues (this list is not exhaustive). And all of these are available to the wider body of Christ, right? So, then, why not also apostles and prophets? As I asked before, if there is a fixed number of apostles, never to grow larger, never to grow wider than a group of 12-15 people, why mention this all-important ministry gift in the context of other gifts that Paul is identifying as available for the wider body of Christ? We’ve already got the apostle thing sorted out. We would not need any more in this ministry now nor in the future.
But I don’t believe we could really ever argue such about this ministry. I believe Paul expected this gift and ministry to be available wider than a team of 12 to 15 people. Peter, John and James were working together based in Jerusalem. Paul, Barnabas and team were working from a base in Syrian Antioch. And I’m pretty sure Matthew was working with a team of apostolic ministries from another base, Thomas was working with such a team, and so on and so forth. It’s the nature of the Christ to be outworked this way – an apostolic team of ministries around the world laying this dynamic foundation of Christ and the gospel in the body of Christ. And such was going to be needed in the 2nd century, 8th century, 14th century, and most definitely in the 21st century.
Christ was the great apostle. The Spirit was sent to continue that same exact apostolic ministry, empowering the body to be an apostolic body of which specific apostles would be birthed for the equipping and health of the church. That’s the heart of Christ. That’s the nature of Christ outworked even today in his continuing apostolic ministry amongst his body. What an opportunity for our world today.
The Prodigal Thought 
Scott: Interesting, but certainly not convincing for me at least. The only Apostolic Ministry is in the ‘One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church’. (Acts 2:42) And this Church is both “Catholic” and “Reformed”. The Holy Spirit is the Vicar of the whole Church of Christ itself!
Robert –
As I said, I don’t believe either of these are nail-in-the-coffin proof. The central proof for me is looking at the ministry of Christ, the continuing of that exact same ministry in sending the Holy Spirit, who would empower Christ’s body to be Christ in the earth, and in the midst of that specific people would be raised up in specific ministries.
Christ >> Holy Spirit >> Body of Christ >> Specific people
It’s simply the nature of Christ to continue his full ministry in the earth today.
Scott: This is hardly the real biblical effect of a living Apostle! Again, the last was simply St. Paul! (1 Cor. 15: 7-11) God chose Saul/Paul last, and he wrote most of the NT Letters, simply/profoundly! Also looking at the early Church in the 2nd Century to the 3rd, we see the Apostolic Truth emerge thru the Apostles doctrine and spiritual Church and life, but not without much battle and loss in a fallen world. Here the NT is first read and formed in this sense. The early “Catholic” life of the Church is simply important! From here.. we will see and get the Ecumenical Councils! 🙂
I wasn’t presenting a biblical ‘effect’ of what an apostle is. Rather I was presenting the central reason as to why the ministry would continue, as the other ministries of Christ would obviously continue in Christ’s body (prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding, teaching).
Unfortunately, there are more apostles than the 12 + Paul, since Scripture makes that clear. And, I do believe we misunderstand what Paul is communicating in 1 Cor 15:7-11. But, again, you would have to read what I’ve left a link to.
Scott: That’s okay mate, were not going to agree here, I am a classic “Churchman”, and the only thing I see as Apostolic now, is the Historical Church itself “spiritually”, but certainly concretely visible. And for me, St. Paul was the “last” Apostle, of and for the “Gentile” Church itself. But he also saw himself going “to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16) 🙂
Interesting: mentioning false apostles does not mean there are necessarily other apostles in action; “twelve” apostles a limited number known of course make false apostles patently false! Nevertheless, the ‘one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church,’ christianity of believers in Jesus Christ worldwide in the Holy Spirit whose Head is Jesus, Scripture Says, is, in fact, ONE, is, in fact, to be HOLY, in fact, to be UNIVERSAL/CATHOLIC, AS ORIGINALLY USED, and, in fact APOSTOLIC, including the 12 apostles: of the 12 apostles, one defected–“Let another his bishoprick take,” the apostle quotes from the old testament–and another one was voted in, initiated by Peter, and God STILL called another apostle OUTSIDE THE HIERARCHY… Jesus, SEE, God-in-the-flesh, FULFILS SCRIPTURE: “I will choose pastors according to mine own heart,” Jeremiah–is IT 3?– says… God continues to. JESUS named TWELVE; JESUS called another ALONGSIDE! Was Peter PRESUMPTUOUS, in which case his act to vote another in was WRONG? Or was God STILL CALLING apostles, and THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH GIVEN one which INCLUDED gifts continuing to be given THROUGHOUT TIME until there is “time no more,” as Says Revelation, since in the Kingdom, Gifts such as Prophecy no longer needed… “The Kingdom ain’t Come Yet”: IT is here, and it is NOT. SOME are in, SOME are NOT: PROPHETS ARE NEEDED as long as there is still a lost world to prophesy to, and so apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers… “The Kingdom is coming, and is now…” Jesus Said. Here, and coming… God chooses. <3+Wendy