Discovering the Bible: Understanding the Required Qualifications for Apostleship According to Scripture

I am an apostle, sent by God on a mission with a specific message. I hold the office and authority of an apostle, given to me directly by God Himself.

Even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, held the title of Apostle. Sent to earth by our Heavenly Father with a message of salvation and redemption, Jesus faithfully delivered this message, fulfilling His role as the perfect Apostle.

During His time on earth, Jesus selected twelve men from His followers and bestowed upon them the title of Apostle. These men – including Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Him – were given the task of carrying and spreading Jesus’ message after His ascension. Following Judas’s demise, the apostleship dropped to eleven.

After Christ’s ascension, the remaining apostles and other early Christ followers prayed and discussed fulfilling Judas’s vacated position. They selected two qualified candidates, Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias. They cast lots to allow God to choose between these two candidates, with the lot falling on Matthias, hence becoming the twelfth apostle.

Lord Jesus Himself appeared to Saul, a one-time pariah of the early church, and transformed his life. Saul, now known as Paul, later became an instrumental figure in spreading the gospel message to the Gentiles. Despite not being among the original twelve, he is recognized as an appointed Apostle by God.

The role of an apostle was to lay the foundations of the Church with eyewitness authority. Their work was crucial in establishing the credibility and authenticity of the message of Jesus Christ. Following the death of these foundational apostles, the Church survived and continued to grow under the stewardship of various office bearers endowed with different gifts.

All apostles died, and as per biblical evidence, were not replaced. The founding work of the Church was completed by them under Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone. And even after their demise, they have left an indelible impact on the life and journey of the Church. Their appointed work was singular and unique in its foundational quality and importance.