WAS THERE A FEMALE NT APOSTLE?

[TCassidy]

I appreciate the points you are making, but "Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?" (1 Cor. 9:1).

Yes, Paul was a "sent one." Not one of The Twelve, but certainly a "sent one." And, yes, he saw Jesus in a vision, not bodily, as those with him saw only light but not the physical, resurrected body of Jesus. It is most likely Paul was saying he "saw Jesus" in the same sense we say "I saw the light." He is saying "I am a sent one." "I am free from sin and death." "I am a saved man."

 

[TCassidy]

I shall be sure to check it out when I get there.

Let me know, will you?

 

[John of Japan]

Thanks for your reply, JoJ. I think we are in substantial agreement
Matthias certainly was numbered with the twelve by men, but I wonder if he was so numbered by God. This was pre-Pentecost and I wonder if the disciples should have been making decisions like that. We never hear of Matthias again, so we don't know whether he fulfilled an apostolic role or not. It's just a hunch I have.

But remember, this was right when the disciples were tarrying in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. It's hard to believe that they were backslidden at this point and chose the wrong man.

As for not hearing of him again, there are several others of the 12 we never hear from again in Scripture, but there are historical records. Here is what the revised ISBE says about him: "Eusebius (HE i.12.3) believed that Matthias was one of the seventy sent out by Jesus (Luke 10:1). Clement of Alexandria (Misc. iv.6.23) suggests that Zacchaeus was the proper identification. Church tradition says that Matthias's body was sent by Constantine to Trier, where it was lost, miraculously recovered, and re-buried" (Vol. 3, p. 288).

Once again, the Biblical data is lacking, so I'm just giving my opinion, but I think Paul and Barnabus are lumped together here as missionary apostles just because they were together. Barnabus is never mentioned elsewhere as an apostle, which is a sign that we need to be careful how we describe his apostolic role.

Haven't heard this view before. I'll think about it.

There is a sense in which this really doesn't matter. Paul and Barnabus have been in glory for almost 2,000 years, so we don't need to worry about them. What worries me is church leaders today calling themselves apostles which can cause ordinary church members to give them a respect they do not necessarily merit- like a sort of mini-Pope. One such self-styled 'apostle' has ended quite badly within the last few years. Personally, I would run a mile from any church where the minister was called an Apostle.

I'll certainly agree with this. The Charismatic movement has twisted the office of apostle around until it is unrecognizable.

Thanks for the discussion.

It's a pleasure.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Let me know, will you?

I'll send you a postcard.

 

[TCassidy]

I'll send you a postcard.

That will take a LOT of postage!