Bible Question:  What is the role of an apostle today? Are they missionaries? Some churches have apostles. Is this scriptural?   Bible Answer:  In order to answer your questions, we need to answer another question first, "What are the Biblical qualifications of an apostle? The answer to this question is found in a discussion among the apostles which occurs in the book of Acts.     And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry . . . It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us-- beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us--one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection.”(NASB) Acts 1:15-17, 21-22           Qualifications of an Apostle. The Apostle Peter is speaking. Judas is dead, and so there are only eleven apostles and not twelve. What is Peter talking about? He is telling them how to select a new apostle to replace Judas. Peter says , "It is therefore necessary . . . " and then gives the qualifications that such a man must satisfy in order to be an apostle. Peter said that only men who had been with Jesus from His baptism until He returned to heaven could be a candidate for an apostle.       Paul, The Apostle. Paul, formerly called Saul, was also an apostle. Now the scriptures do not tell us if he was with Jesus from the beginning. Paul only tells us that he had seen Jesus.     Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? (NASB) 1 Cor. 9:1   Paul was appointed an apostle by our Lord.     . . . for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. (NASB) 2 Tim. 1:11   When did Paul see Jesus? Did he see Jesus on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-8) or during Jesus' ministry? It is most likely that Paul saw Jesus during His earthly ministry and on the Damascus road. Later in Galatians 2 and 2 Peter 3:15-16 we find that the other apostles agreed that Paul was an apostle too!   Conclusion:  What is our conclusion? An apostle is a man who saw Jesus while He was here on this earth. Therefore, it is not possible for a man to be an apostle today. Jesus' earthly ministry stopped 2,000 years ago. This means that no one living today has seen Jesus during His earthly ministry. Peter (Acts 1:22-26) and Paul also tell us that a person was selected by God to be an apostle.       Today, Jesus calls each of us to ministry for Him. He has given us spiritual gifts of teaching, preaching, giving, helping, administration, for example, to use in ministry to each other. We have all been called by God to serve in some way. While there are not Biblical apostles today, God has lavished us with spiritual gifts. What a privilege we have to use them with the power of the Holy Spirit pulsing through us. Glory to God!         < Back
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