Apostle: A Position in Early Church Administration

Apostle: A Position in Early Church Administration

At first glance, Apostle is an odd name for a position in Early Church administration. The word comes from Greek, and means “sent one.” An idea somewhat like an ambassador or an emissary would be today.

Church window

Why am I continuing the discussion of the gift of administration by bringing up apostles?

They did not qualify for the position by writing letters to churches, though multiple letters from them are included in the Bible. The apostles received their positions in early church administration by being Jesus’ disciples. Or in Paul’s case, a face-to-face commissioning by Jesus himself.

An apostle’s job description reads like this: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Look at those words, and realize they were doubly-equipped. By personal experience of being disciples, and by the presence of the Holy Spirit, who would help them remember what Jesus said.

While the Holy Spirit built up the numbers of believers in Judea and Samaria, the apostles provided leadership. Events dispersed groups of believers into other cities of the Roman Empire. The apostles gathered regularly, discussed questions from new churches in areas not dominated by Judaism, and sent those groups advice. They also commissioned church planting/missionary teams, and sent them out.

A few denominations these days use “Apostle” to refer to members of their congregations’ leadership, but most prefer using other names from the ranks of administration, leaving Apostle as a term of respect for the original Twelve, and Paul.

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