What is your belief about when the church started?

Paul said he was the least of the apostles but he did say he was an apostle because he had seen the risen Lord.
Murph</font>[/QUOTE]This is true! Paul met the criteria for being Apostle and apostle.

 

Well, actually, he didn't! Acts 1:22 makes that very clear,

Note the criteria. First, he had to be selected from among those who had been with the disciples from the "beginning from the baptism of John" and secondly, he had to have been "a witness with us of the resurrection."

Paul did not accompany the disciples from the time of John the Baptist and neither was he with the disciples when they were eye witnesses to the bodily resurrection of Christ.

Paul was an apostle, but not an Apostle, nor was he the replacement for Matthias. Paul's name will not be on the foundations of the Heavenly city. But the name of Matthias will be.

 

My only comment is this:
Paul seems to be the one who instituted the word "apostle" and -
If seeing the risen Lord was the requirement to be an apostle, then there would be about 500 apostles according to Paul.

 

Uh, I think you left out part of the equation. 1. Been with the disciples from the baptism of John. 2. Been with them to see the resurrected Lord. 3. Selected by the others to serve in the office.

 

Doc where does that come from Biblically? Were the original 12 selected by the others? Yes they selected matthias but how do we know they did not select Paul? Also I put alot more stock in Jesus making the selection, but I do believe that Matthias was selected correctly.

Murph

 

I'm brave (some might say foolhearty)

Does anyone want to continue with the current premise of this thread.

I'll take up the DocCas mantle.
Its an interesting proposition.

Here is a point:

In Acts 9 The Lord speaks to Ananias concerning Paul:
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Jesus calls Paul "a chosen vessel" but not an "apostle" or refer to him as Judas replacement.

Is that significant?

HankD

 

We start Sun School 9.45; worship at 11:00 a.m. (both) and at 6:00pm
Wed. evening prayer meeting is at 7:00pm however.

Though these occur each week, "like clock work," we agree the church started along the banks of the Jordan River; and received a Baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; providing authority in the church to carry out the commission.

Still we start services each week according to the above listed times. (7:00pm on Wed. evening is due to many in our church working til seven and coming as they are, and not representative of any general disagreement as to when the church was formed).

Since Christ chose those who would be Apostles/apostles from among those receiving the baptism of John; this appears to me the biblical beginning of the Church.

God Bless.

 

The church started "before the foundation of the world" with her head.....The Lord Jesus Christ!
Doesn't really matter when......the church is here!