THE ÎAPOSTLEØ
9
Having therefore considered the meaning of the term `apostle', we must now take the subject a stage further and
enquire into the apostleship of Paul. First we must observe any difference there may be revealed between `The
Twelve' and Paul, and then collect all references that throw light upon the claim of the apostle to his office.
First we will see how Paul's apostleship differs from that of the twelve in one great particular. The twelve were
appointed early in the Lord's public ministry (Matt. 10) before His death, resurrection or ascension, whereas Paul's
apostleship is referred to the time when Christ `ascended up far above all heavens' whence, as the ascended One, He
`gave gifts unto men ... and He gave some, apostles' (Eph. 4:8-11). Here is indicated a most decided difference
between the calling of these two orders of apostles. The difference is recognized in 1 Corinthians 15, where the
apostle gives successive witnesses to the resurrection of Christ, among whom he numbers `The twelve', but from
which company he distinguishes his own calling by adding `and last of all he was seen by me ... for I am the least of
the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God' (1 Cor. 15:5-9). This
intense humility and sense of undeservedness but heightens the fact that, in spite of all such limitations, Paul had a
distinct apostleship, which even humility could not deny.
There is another witness to Paul's distinct apostleship which should weigh with us all, especially with any who
deny or object to emphasis upon his distinctive calling: it is the testimony of Peter, James and John, recorded in
Galatians 2:
`When they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision
was unto Peter; (for He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was
mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the
grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go
unto the heathen (Gentiles), and they unto the circumcision' (Gal. 2:7-9).
To complete this outline it remains to observe the other references made by the apostle Paul to his high office, in
order that we may possess `a form of sound words' on this most important subject.
In the opening salutations of the epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 and
2 Timothy and Titus, Paul speaks of himself as an apostle. In 1 Corinthians 12:28 he indicates the supremacy of the
office, saying, `God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles', etc., apostleship taking precedence over all other ministerial gifts and callings. To the Corinthians, Paul
said: `Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty
deeds' (2 Cor. 12:12). Writing to the Romans, Paul, who never magnified himself, but confessed that he was `not
meet to be called an apostle' (1 Cor. 15:9), said, `I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the
Gentiles, I magnify mine office' (Rom. 11:13), and in both epistles to Timothy the apostle claims to have been
appointed `A preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles' (1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11), adding in the first of
these references the solemn words `I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not'.
Here then is the evidence that Paul was in the fullest sense `an apostle of Jesus Christ', this office being received
directly from the risen Christ, and therefore charged with all authority. When therefore we receive Paul as an
apostle, we receive Him that sent him. As we have seen, this apostleship is distinct from that of the twelve: it was
not invalidated by the appointment of Matthias, and is specifically called and recognized as an apostleship to the
Gentiles. Much doctrine hangs upon the recognition of this fact, but that will be made evident as we proceed with
our studies.
CHAPTER 2
The Inspiration of Scripture
We have seen the importance of the office of an apostle, and that Paul's apostleship was the gift of the ascended
Lord to the church among the Gentiles. The office is one of authority, not dependent on either the recognition or
sanction of the church. It was a foundation ministry (Eph. 2:20), and has no successors. When Paul knew that his
time for departing this life had come, he called upon Timothy, not to do the work of an apostle, but to do the work of
an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5). It now behoves us, in the pursuit of our quest, to discover what this great apostle has said
concerning a number of fundamental doctrines.