Part I
1) The Apostolic greeting and commendation {#
Introduction:
Paul begins by stating his position an Apostle: Paul used this greeting in the introductions of the Epistles he wrote.
When Paul was first
saved the Church was scared of him.
Acts 9: 22 But Saul
increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
26 And when Saul was
come to
27 But Barnabas took
him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen
the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached
boldly at
Apostle
A person sent by another; a messenger;
envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the
Sent of the Father
# Heb 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider
the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Joh 20:21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be
unto you: as my Father hath sent me,
even so send I you.
It is, however, generally used as
designating the body of disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of his
church and the spreading abroad of his gospel, "the twelve," as they
are called #Mt 10:1-5 Mr 3:14 6:7 Lu 6:13 9:1
We have four lists of the apostles, one by
each of the synoptic evangelists #Mt 10:2-4 Mr 3:16
Lu 6:14 and one in the Acts #Ac 1:13.
·
Our Lord gave them
the "keys of the kingdom," and by the gift of his Spirit fitted them
to be the founders and governors of his church #Joh 14:16,17,26 15:26,27 16:7-15
Joh
14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he
shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom
the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye
know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:26
But the Comforter, which is
the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto
you.
Joh 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the
Father, even the Spirit of truth,
which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Joh 15:27
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the
beginning.
Joh 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go
away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I
depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:8
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of
righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Joh 16:10
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Joh 16:11
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Joh 16:12
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into
all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew
you things to come.
Joh 16:14
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he
shall take of mine, and shall shew it
unto you.
·
*Special note:
Jesus is speaking not only to the Apostles but to the Church*
Ref: Jn 14:6 for ever
(Mat 28:19) Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost:
(Mat 28:20) Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(1 Cor 12:28) And God hath set
some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers,
after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues.
After his ascension he communicated to them,
according to his promise, supernatural gifts to qualify them for the discharge
of their duties #Ac 2:4 1Co 2:16 2:7,10,13 2Co 5:20 1Co 11:2
Judas Iscariot, one of "the
twelve," fell by transgression, and Matthias was substituted in his place #Ac 1:21
Saul of Tarsus was afterwards added to their
number #Ac 9:3-20 20:4 26:15-18 1Ti 1:12 2:7 2Ti
1:11
Luke has given some account of Peter, John,
and the two Jameses #Ac 12:2,17 15:13 21:18 but beyond this we know nothing from authentic history of the rest of
the original twelve.
After the martyrdom of James the Greater #Ac 12:2 James the Less usually resided at
1. that they should have seen the Lord, and been able to testify of him
and of his resurrection from personal knowledge #Joh 15:27
Ac 1:21,22 1Co 9:1 Ac 22:14,15
2. They must have been immediately called to that office by Christ #Lu 6:13 Ga 1:1
3. It was essential that they should be infallibly inspired, and thus
secured against all error and mistake in their public teaching, whether by word
or by writing #Joh 14:26 16:13 #1Th 2:13
4. Another qualification was the power of
working miracles #Mr 16:20 Ac 2:43 1Co 12:8-11
The
apostles therefore could have had no successors. They are the only
authoritative teachers of the Christian doctrines. The office of an apostle
ceased with its first holders.
BY THE WILL OF GOD:
Will: 2307 yelhma thelema thel'-ay-mah
AV-will 62, desire 1, pleasure 1
1) what one wishes or has determined shall be done
1a) of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ
1b) of what God wishes to be done by us
1b1) commands, precepts
2) will, choice, inclination, desire,
pleasure
(John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
(John 1:13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
(Eph 1:5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
(Eph 1:11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: