Five Classification of Apostles in the Bible

Five Classification of Apostles in the Bible

Among the core beliefs of Pentecostals is Holy Spirit Baptism, gifts and other gifts mentioned in the Bible. The Ascension gifts are a group of five exceptional abilities that God bestows on the church. A proper functioning of these gifts enables the church to growth effectively. The gift of Apostle is one and  perhaps, most enviable among Pentecostals. Most at time, believers are torn between which of these gift is more important, how can one be classified as one. In this post let see five classes of workers called apostle and upon it consider who cam be said to be an apostle.

The first class is  Jesus as described in Hebrew 3:1-2 

"1Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. - NIV"

Jesus set an example for us almost in everything we do in the house of God. He was appointed, sent out, planted the Church, ordained others apostles.

My second class is the The twelve apostles ordained by Jesus. (Rev. 21:14), These were the original twelve. To qualify to be in this class, one must have  been with "us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was us ". Mathias was chosen to replace Judas in (Acts 1:21-22) because qualified by the above standard. These can be called the foundation apostles because they helped lay down the New Testament doctrines (Eph. 2:20).

The third class  involved the ministry of  Paul. He was not a member of the original Twelve but by the grace the Lord gave him, he also helped to lay down the New Testament doctrine. Paul and other numerous apostles we see in the New Testament who were not among the Twelve, but helped lay down the foundational doctrine are in this class. James, the brother of Jesus Christ is another example. He was not a member of the original Twelve because when Jesus was here on earth, he and his brothers never believed in Him (John. 7: 5). He probably got born again after the resurrection of Jesus when He revealed himself to him (1 Cor. 15:7).

The next class can cover the assistance of Andronicus and Junia as recorded in (Rom. 16:7). Barnabas was called as an apostle Acts14:14). Others like Titus (2 Con 8:23); Epaphroditus (Phil.2:25; 1 Thess.1:1; 2:26); and Silas (1 Thess.1:1 cf. 2: 6, by their role as messengers (apostles) to the church were also called as apostles. These people can however be best called as messengers or “apostles of the Church" (2Cor: 8:23 KJV)

Finally, the present-day apostles. They are different from the

second and third classes of apostle in that they are not laying down any foundational doctrines. If they were, they would be adding up to the New Testament of the Bible. They are building on the foundation, which has already been laid down, for Paul said, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus” (1 Con3:11)

The Purpose of the Ascension Gifts is to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.