Chapter II - The Apostles of Christ Jesus Christ is God's final word. What then was the purpose of the apostles1 in God's plan of special revelation? As the coming of Christ was a historical event, could it not be said that they were the witnesses, historians, expositors, as well as the publishers of this event? Through them the record of God's final word was transmitted to us:
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;Notice how Christ in his high priestly prayer links the faith of succeeding generations to the work of the apostles:
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship Is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
I John 1:1-3
"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"
Hebrews 2:3-4"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word._______________
Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
John 17:6-8Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;"
John 17:20
1 In our study we are referring exclusively to the Apostles of Christ. The Greek word translated "apostle" is also used in a more general sense in the New Testament. In II Corinthians 8:23, the word is translated "messengers" and refers to men who were sent to represent individual churches. The Greek words translated "elder" or "deacon" are examples of other words used in both an official and a general sense.
We might further emphasize the nature of the apostolic work by pointing out that they were the link between our Lord Jesus: (the incarnate word) and the New Testament: the final portion of God's written word. The 27 books of the New Testament were either written by the apostles or by men under their influence. The New Testament is the inscripturated record of God's final word.No wonder the beliefs of Christians are described in Acts 2:42 as the "apostles' doctrine." All scriptural churches are built on their teaching.
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"The foundational nature of their work is emphasized in John's vision of the New Jerusalem.
Ephesians 2:20"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."Holding this critical position, the Apostles were given special qualifications. God fully endowed them for their work. First, we are assured that they were eye witnesses of Christ Jesus.
Revelation 21:14"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;"Peter was specific about this qualification when a replacement for Judas was sought.
I John 1:1-2"Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?"
I Corinthians 9:1"And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."
John 15:27"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty."
II Peter 1:16"Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection."Secondly, the Apostles received their message directly from Christ. Unlike preachers in succeeding generations, they were not dependent upon the testimony or teaching of others. Paul makes this defense of his apostteship when attacked in Galatia.
Acts 1:21-22"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.Thirdly, as inspired instruments of revelation, they were accredited by their ability to perform signs. These might be called the "apostolic credentials."
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the reveiation of Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:11-12"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."Fourthly, as the witnesses and historians of God's greatest and final revelation, they were promised infallibility of memory.
Matthew 10:1"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"
Hebrews 2:3-4"Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
II Corinthians 12:12"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."We can trust the accuracy of the New Testament record.
John 14:26Lastly, as expositors and interpreters of God's final word, they were promised fullness of understanding.
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:"During the earthly sojourn of Christ Jesus, the apostles were often limited in their grasp of spiritual matters. All this changed with the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They were guided into all truth. Please note that the New Testament is the inspired repository of this "truth." Its existence is the fulfillment of Christ's promises to the apostles.
John 16:13At this point, let us enlarge on a matter that has already been hinted at. Everything the apostles taught and recorded in the New Testament had its roots in the words and work of Christ. He, not the apostles, was God's final word. The spirit came not to reveal new things to their mind, but to remind them of what Christ had taught and done. It was not new things, but these things they were illumined to understand.
"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."The reader is challenged to consider how foundational the words and work of Christ are in the apostolic message. Take time to notice how the doctrines of the New Testament have their origins in the words of Christ. For the sake of emphasis, let us repeat what was formerly said: "The teaching of Christ is the essence of all New Testament truth; the bud from which the flower of apostolic exposition opened up."
John 15:26"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.
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you."
John 16:13-15May God help us to grasp the importance and the finality of the apostolic labors. To deny the apostolic inspiration and authority is to lose the record of Christ our Lord. To go beyond the apostles in our search for truth is to go beyond Christ. The truth about Jesus is the "apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42). The "faith" or "body of Christian doctrine" is said to be "once delivered" because it was transmitted in one generation by the apostles.
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."Without the apostles, we would never have heard God's final word!
Jude 3______________
Chapter 3
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