Questions tagged [apostles]

Those "sent out", including Jesus' Twelve Apostles and later equivalents.

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What is the Biblical basis for testing the truthfulness of every statement made by Prophets or Apostles who have been confirmed as 'real'?

In the case of 'real' Apostles and Prophets (who have passed the tests), what is the Biblical basis for continuing to test the truthfulness of every statement made by them as they continue in their ...
Mike's user avatar
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Are there any denominations that believe in contemporary apostles, and if so, how is a person called to be an apostle according to them?

Not much to add to the title. Are there any denominations that believe that God is still calling people to be apostles today? If so, how does a person know for sure that they have been or are being ...
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7 answers
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How do traditional Christians defend the teaching that Paul is an authentic apostle?

I want to preface this by saying I don't believe Paul was a false Apostle. I must either view his Apostleship as authentic, or throw away everything I believe. Removing Paul's writings and influence ...
David Stratton's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
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How do proponents of Sola Scriptura address the ministry of those Apostles who authored no parts of Scripture?

My purpose is to find a defense of sola scriptura against one part of the argument put forth in this article: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/going-beyond The author of the article ...
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4 answers
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What is an apostle?

Often the apostles are referred to as "the twelve apostles" - the twelve disciples called by name by Jesus. But Paul called himself and Barnabus apostles. Were Paul and Barnabus really apostles?
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Who was the 12th Apostle - Matthias or Paul? [closed]

First off, a distinction between disciple and apostle - a disciple is a student, and the 12 disciples were Jesus' students. An Apostle is one who was "sent out." Eleven of Jesus' disciples were sent ...
Affable Geek's user avatar
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How do Latter-day Saints rebut Don Stewart's article "Are There Still Apostles Today?"?

Short version How do Latter-day Saints (who believe in modern apostles) rebut Don Stewart's article Are There Still Apostles Today? ? Longer version I'll enumerate key points and include relevant ...
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2 votes
2 answers
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When was it claimed for the first time in Church history that the offices of apostle and prophet have ceased?

First, some context ... Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the ...
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16 votes
4 answers
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Who Were Mark and Luke?

From Luke 6:13–16 (NIV): When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, ...
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According to biblical inerrantists, are the apostles' recorded speeches in the book of Acts inerrant?

Evangelicals/fundamentalists who believe in biblical inerrancy hold that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and contains no errors.1 This is typically understood to refer to the original ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
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What is the biblical basis for the modern continuation of the office of apostle?

What is the biblical basis for the belief held by some Christians that the office of apostle has not ceased, but has continued until this day? Relevant passages: 28 And God has appointed in the ...
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2 votes
2 answers
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How do believers in modern-day apostles interpret 2 Corinthians 12:11-12?

2 Corinthians 12:11-12: 11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 The ...
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9 votes
3 answers
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Reason for the choice of new 12th Apostle?

In Acts 1:20–26, the Apostles are choosing the 12th Apostle who will replace Judas: 20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with ...
Phonics The Hedgehog's user avatar
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2 answers
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What is "apostolic authority"?

Some Christian traditions use the term "apostolic authority". What is meant by this phrase? Does it have more than one meaning depending on which doctrinal tradition it is coming from? Are there any ...
brilliant's user avatar
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How do non-LDS believers in the modern restoration (or continuation) of the offices of apostle and prophet rebut GotQuestions.org's objections?

I'm specifically talking about the GotQuestions.org article Is God restoring the offices of apostle and prophet in the church today? A summary of the main arguments (in my own words) from the article ...
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2 votes
3 answers
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What is the biblical basis for the belief that Paul was the last to be called to be an apostle?

Many Christians believe that the office of apostleship ended in the first century with the apostle Paul, and that after Paul there have not been any more people called by God/Jesus Himself (through ...
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14 votes
1 answer
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To what extent should the Apostles' speech be considered infallible?

It is my understanding that all known writings of the Apostles are considered infallible and are Canonical. However, I am unclear as to what extent recorded speech of the Apostles should be ...
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12 votes
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What is the basis for arguing that Paul should have been selected as the 12th apostle instead of Matthias?

Commentators on the story of Acts 1:15–26, where the Apostles select Matthias to replace Judas as the 12th apostle, often say vague things like: Some have held that the choice of Matthias was ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
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Are any writings of the Apostles non-Canonical?

Do we have any writings that are reasonably likely to be written by Apostles, but are not included in the Bible?
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1 answer
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How did the Apostles die?

For some reference as to why this question interests me, one of the evidences that is often given for proof that Jesus really did die and was resurrected is the change wrought in his original ...
David Stratton's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
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Is there any explanation from the early church Fathers as to why there is no record of the Apostles being baptized?

I never really noticed this before but it does seem odd that everyone is to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet it does not appear that the Apostles were. At least there is ...
Mike's user avatar
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Apostolic Succession in the Catholic church

Wikipedia says: In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle. cf. Pope | Wikipedia As someone who isn't Catholic I don't want to argue how true ...
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What is the difference between an Apostle and an Evangelist according to Charismatic Christianity?

Consider the following passage from the letter to the Ephesians that lists a number of offices of ministry. Ephesians 4:11-14 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as ...
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Did the Early Church (ante-Nicene period) believe in the continuation or cessation of the office of Apostle?

What did the Apostolic Fathers, Ante-Nicene Fathers and the Ante-Nicene Church in general believe about the continuation of the office of Apostle? Were they cessationists or continuationists with ...
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3 votes
1 answer
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Why were the General Epistles written? [closed]

The six New Testament epistles known as James; 1 and 2 Peter; 1 and 2 John; and Jude are not directed to any one person or specific branch of the Church. The first verse in each epistle indicates who ...
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What's the difference between the Apostle's claims and the claims of others who started religious movements?

So I recently watched a documentary about a new age movement and felt a bit rattled by what I perceived to be some examples of peoples behaving in a way that undermines the common arguments for ...
k g's user avatar
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According to believers in the cessation of apostleship, who was the last apostle and why?

Who is usually considered to be the last apostle, according believers in the cessation of this church office? Why? Why would God no longer call more apostles after this person? Lastly, what are good ...
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1 vote
2 answers
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What is an overview of Christian beliefs on the essential features and functions of an Apostle?

The following are examples of (possible) essential features and functions of an Apostle I've heard from different sources. An authentic Apostle ... Had to be called supernaturally by God Himself in ...
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1 vote
1 answer
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Do Latter-day Saints expect miracles from their Apostles to authenticate their callings?

2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (ESV): 11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. ...
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0 votes
3 answers
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Was Paul the ideal Christian we were meant to emulate? [closed]

Did God intend for Paul to show us the kind of Christian life we were all meant to live? I don't mean every nitty-gritty detail. Obviously things would be different if you were born a woman or mute ...
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5 answers
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How many apostles are there? [closed]

Are there 12 apostles? Are there 70 apostles? When I was growing up and learning about Jesus, I found that he had 12 apostles. I was looking at a page about Mark the Evangelist recently and it says ...
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0 votes
3 answers
391 views

If someone is called by God to be an apostle, what is the proper way for them to convince others that their calling is genuine?

If person X is called by God to be an apostle, what should person X do next in order to convince others that their calling is genuine? What kind of evidence should person X provide to an audience of ...
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