As a priest, I cherish the gift of understanding and interpreting the Apostolic Doctrine, which is fundamentally the teachings that were brought to this world through the Apostles – whom Christ himself chose. Apostles at its roots means “one who is sent”, underlining the significance of their role in perpetuating Christ’s teachings. Exemplified in the scripture (Mark 3:14), the twelve disciples were chosen to be Apostles. This group, after Judas defected, added Matthias as mentioned in Acts 1:21–22. Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul the Apostle, was also chosen by God to bring His message to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).
Much of our understanding of the teachings of the Apostles comes through the books of the New Testament. It is a historical fact that the New Testament was largely written by Apostles or those directly associated with them. For instance, the Gospel of Matthew was composed by Matthew the Apostle – one of the original twelve disciples. The Gospel of John, along with 1, 2, and 3 John and Revelation, can be attributed to John the Apostle who was also in the original twelve.
The Gospel of Mark stemmed from Mark, who was known in the Acts as an occasional ministry associate of Paul and Peter, while the Gospel of Luke, as well as Acts of the Apostles, was written by Luke, a ministry partner of Paul. Although not an eyewitness to Christ’s life, Luke made use of apostolic sources and recorded detailed accounts that bear resemblance to those of Mark and Matthew.
The apostle Paul composed Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. James, leader of the church in Jerusalem, wrote the book of James, while Peter the Apostle penned the First and Second Peter. Jude was written by yet another of the Lord’s half-brothers. Hebrews, the only book whose author is unknown, is based on eyewitness testimony, as told in Hebrews 2:3.
Apostolic doctrine holds a profoundly authoritative role in our comprehension of God’s acts. The authors of the New Testament often referred to a solid body of doctrine known as “the faith” or “the gospel.” In this context, Paul in Galatians 1:6–9 strongly warned against those who would manipulate or distort the gospel. According to the Apostle’s letters, apostleship forms one of the foundational gifts for the Church (Ephesians 2:20). With the teachings of the apostles recorded in Scripture and the establishment of the church’s foundation, the apostle role was no longer required, yet, there’s still a prevailing need for the preaching and distribution of God’s words – the Apostolic Doctrine – across the entire globe.
It’s integral to note that equating the use of the term “apostolic” in the name of some churches today with the presence of the apostolic gift in their church can often be a misunderstanding of the New Testament interpretations on apostleship. Ideally, apostolic should underscore the apostolic doctrine found in the New Testament. This was the case when the early believers dedicated themselves to learning and adhering to the Apostolic Doctrine, as depicted in Acts 2:42.
As we usher God’s children in their spiritual journey, as today’s church, it’s vital to be committed to the teachings from the earthly founders of the Church chosen by the Lord Himself. May the Apostolic Doctrine continue guiding us, providing a foundational framework for our spiritual growth and understanding.
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