All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

How do I share?

How do I share what I know, believe, and have experienced in the Spirit, without offending others or being judged as boastful?

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Permalink Reply by RoyW on June 24, 2012 at 5:33am

It has been a pleasure studying the office of apostle which, of course, strongly affects the office of prophet. It has always been critically important to me to allow Scripture rather than tradition or man to control my thinking. I do believe Scripture is authoritative. Oftentimes, when we read the Bible, we are focused on different things. We might be looking for grace, righteousness, salvation, eschatology or other doctrinal study. I had not really ever read the New Testament with a focus on the office of the apostle and prophet. I had just accepted the normal view that most accept. Now, I am seeing some things that I had not previously seen. I am sharing that for anyone that wants to read the evolution on my thinking of this subject. I see at least one and maybe more second generational apostles. I had not considered Timothy an apostle as he did not fit the apparent mold or requirements. However, if you interpret the office as one sent forth to a mission as Dean has mentioned, he certainly does fit the mold. Another part of the study for me had to do with the mindset of Paul. I see a change in his thinking over the years of his ministry. I think you might as well as we proceed.

The mindset of Paul

It has been very interesting to once again visit the pages of the beautiful story of the church's beginning found in the Acts of the Apostles. I've been thinking about Paul and what was motivating him. I am going to add some conjecture here to attempt to find out why a possible change in thought was occurring through this great man called the Apostle Paul.

In the beginning of his career as the representative of the Gospel of Christ to the Gentiles, he found himself often confronted by Jewish Christians who felt that the converts to Christianity must also adopt the Jewish lifestyle mostly demanding the act of circumcision and diet. However, it was obvious that some of the Jewish culture and lifestyle just would not work with this new group of converts. Paul seems to have been motivated by Old Testament Prophecies that revealed that this new Messianic group would include Gentiles as well as Jews (Is 49:6 quoted in Acts 13:47). The idea of separation of the Jews from the Gentiles could never work. How could a Jew be a brother to a Gentile? Paul informs them that He had been given the mystery of the Gospel that they would be one group – as opposed to two separate entities. He would not tolerate exclusiveness even from the great Apostle Peter. So, he began in his ministry to break down this wall that divided them.

Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch after their first journey. Titus, a Gentile uncircumcised convert was there with them. A controversy over the issue of Jewish Law arises between some Jewish brethren and Paul. From Antioch Paul takes Barnabas and Titus and together they head to Jerusalem to James and the elders to determine the resolution of this issue once and for all.

The visit to Jerusalem was very successful as it was determined that the Gentiles would not have to convert to the Jewish Law in order to become Christians. It was here that it was determined that Paul would continue to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and Peter would head up the mission to the Jews.

Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch with some other brothers (Judas and Silas) to deliver the letter that would confirm that Gentiles were no longer required to accept Jewish Law. Paul and Barnabas decide to revisit the churches on their first missionary journey but have a sharp disagreement over John Mark who had left them on the first journey. The disagreement was so sharp that they parted company with Paul choosing his new companion, Silas, who had much in common with Paul.

This journey focused on the area around the Aegean Sea where Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke visited many prominent Roman cities and colonies, including Thessalonica, Philippi, Athens, Corinth and Ephesus among others. In Corinth, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him that He had many people there and that he should not fear to stay there. Paul and him companions stayed there for a year and a half and had great success in the Gospel as the Lord provided them with many converts. It was here that Paul writes his first recorded letter to the Thessalonians.

Paul revealed something very interesting that gives us a little understanding of his mindset that I am thinking about. Something is happening in the church. The apostles had been preaching that the Kingdom of God was near at hand and that Jesus would soon return. But now, some converts were actually dying before this great event. The church wanted to know what would happen to them if they died before His coming. At this point of his ministry career, Paul is very obviously convinced that Jesus would return to set up the Kingdom in his own lifetime even if some converts had already died. He writes:

1 Th 4:13-18 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. NIV

How many beautiful sermons have you heard on this passage of Scripture? But it is obvious that Paul is saying that we who are alive and remain at His coming. There is no question in Paul’s mind that Jesus will return in his lifetime. I am thinking that his mindset about apostles and prophets as well as the affairs of the church after his death was not at the forefront of his mind. Paul was probably not even thinking of Spain at this time even though Rome would have probably been on his mind.

Paul was not worrying about prophets and apostles as God was using these wonderful companions to assist him in the efforts of fulfilling the appointment from the church of Jerusalem. That is probably as far as their minds went. Organization was probably not the most important item in their minds as they were preaching the Gospel to all they could in their efforts to fulfill Christ’s commission.

The church is growing. However, while Paul is winning souls in Corinth there is a problem in Thessalonica. What a nuisance. Paul is successfully preaching the Gospel and many souls are being added to the Kingdom. Jesus is coming soon and Paul is working as much as He can to get all the lost sheep into the fold before His coming. Now, it is necessary to pause and take care of this problem in Thessalonica. The Gentile believers are confused about some of the doctrine. Someone had died and they did not know how to deal with this. Where was Christ’s coming?

Paul pauses to write them a personal letter. I strongly doubt that Paul considered that he was actually recording Scripture that we would be considering here some nearly 2,000 years later. For us, though, it is very exciting as our Father had us in His mind all along when He caused Paul to stop and write this letter. What we are discovering in this letter is so wonderful. Paul, in his pausing, calls Silas and Timothy apostles. However, this is not earth shattering at the time as Jesus is supposedly going to be returning at any moment. Now, we must really consider what God allows into Holy Scripture.

Paul, in speaking of himself, Silas and Timothy puts them into the exact same category as himself. He uses these words, “As apostles of Christ, we…” What is Paul thinking? Timothy is still a really young convert. In fact, he is so young that twelve or thirteen years later Paul is still referring to his youth (1 Tim 4:12).

Paul is realizing that the job is too big for him and he must solicit help. God had mercifully through circumstances placed part of the mission into the hands of Barnabas and Mark, but still the church is growing way too fast. No problem, however, as Jesus is coming soon.

I remember as a very young preacher, I was convinced Jesus was soon to be here. I didn’t consider it much of a possibility that Jesus would not come in my lifetime. Now, my thinking is evolving. Even though I still believe He is coming soon, I am thinking that I actually might go to heaven through a different avenue than the rapture. I’m sure others sold out to Christ that are my age are experiencing something similar. Jesus might not come in my lifetime. Now, I must scramble to make sure everything is in place especially with my family and those dependent on me for support. Did Paul have those kind of feelings?

When did Paul realize that Jesus would not come in his lifetime? We will carefully read each letter to gain more insight into the mind of Paul. If we go to his last letter, it is now obvious that he knows Jesus is coming but that he will not likely be alive at His coming. His last letters are ones of forming organization, making sure of doctrine, warning of false doctrines and preparing Timothy, Titus and others to assume the ministry that Christ had begun in him and the other apostles. The last ten years of his life, doctrine and organization became critical to Paul. Before, he was taking the world by storm. Now, he is considering the future of the church as he prepares to meet his Savior and Lord. We are the benefactors of this change (if it is a change) in the mindset of Paul.

Permalink Reply by a servant (Chris) on June 25, 2012 at 5:06pm

After Saul met the Lord on the road that day, nothing would be that same again. We are told Ananias has a vision. The Lord tells him, Acts 9:11-12 11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” Even though Ananias is told this in a vision, which should had been enough. The violence Saul had been apart of or had done, was so bad Ananias was compelled to say, 13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” So
the Lord continued as He told Ananias just what He had in store for Paul. Acts 9:15 But the Lord said, "Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. As I read this, I was reminded of parts of my past. I am not Paul. I want to be clear on that point. I have had so many people come against me, for who I am in Christ. They base their thinking on this, for the most part. Either how can or why would God use one like me. “We have heard of his past have you? And, have you seen the guy?” Why, would God use one like him? God would not use him to be a prophet!” These and other things like them, kept me apart from the crowd.

Acts 9:17-18 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” 18 Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. In verse 18 “something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight.” I think/wonder if at this point he was able to begin to see, more than just with his eyes. That this allowed him to understand the Truth about, “Jesus was indeed the Messiah,” in time he would see God’s plan for the Gentiles, and operate in the Spirit. My thoughts are this started as, the scales fell from his eyes. We see immediately as he began to preach in Damascus. Acts 9:22 22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn't refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Again, we see it is not about us but, the Spirit in us that is shown to be the Real Power. After this Paul found himself between can we say, a rock and a hard place. Jewish leaders wanted him dead. Other believers were more than a little freaked out by Saul/Paul, the violence he had done was fresh on their minds. So for 3 or so years he went to Arabia. Giving him the opportunity to, receive it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ." With his knowledge of the law, and the Revelation from Jesus Christ, there were few like him, if any. At what point did Paul consider himself an apostle? After he discovered some Jewish leader wanted him dead, he left. It was 3 years before he met with the apostles. Gal 1:11-12 11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
Gal 1:15-17 15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace. Then it pleased Him 16 to reveal His Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. It is here we see one of the answers on apostles. “17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was.” So here do we see Paul telling us the office needs to be given by only those in authority? Gal 1:18-19 18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother.

However, in these places Paul calls himself an apostle, and not appointed by any human authority. I believe when he received the Revelations from Jesus, he knew who he was in Christ. These are just two of the many books Paul started this way. Gal 1:1 1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead. Also in 2 Cor 1:1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to God's Church in Corinth and to all of His Holy people throughout Greece.

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