52 Attributes of

Apostolic Ministry

How to Discern the Genuine from the Counterfeit

"... The household of God ...built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone." Eph.2:19,20

1. Apostles have been set in the Church by God.

"And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles ..." 1 Cor. 12:28

2. Apostles are set in the Church by God first in time, and first in rank.

Greek word: proton: first in time, place, order, or importance

3. God's appointment of an apostle is revealed by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by other established elders. (Acts 9:15; Acts 13:2-4; Acts 22:21)

"... He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles: and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace of God that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen ..." Gal. 2:8,9

4. Apostles attract, and are surrounded by, and take counsel from other apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Apostles also attract deacons and saints.

"And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These going before tarried for us at Troas." Acts 20:4,5

"In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince." Prov. 14:28

5. Apostles leave a trail of fully-functioning churches containing five-fold ministers. [Acts 14:23]

"... You are the seal of my apostleship ..." 1 Cor. 9:2

6. Apostles are pioneers. They are anointed to start new works. [2 Cor. 10:16]

7. Apostles are in operation today. For what duration did Jesus set the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in the Church?---

"... Till we all come in the unity of the faith ..." Eph. 4:13 (The Church is not united yet, therefore apostles are necessary and still present in our midst. As long as the Church at large does not believe in modern day apostles, we will be divided.)

8. Apostles are given for the perfecting of the saints. Eph. 4:12

9. Apostles are ambassadors of Christ. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ ..." 2 Cor. 5:20

10. Apostle are sent ones. "... And how can they preach except they be sent?" Rom. 10:15

11. Apostles have the ability to judge correctly. 1 Cor. 5:3-5 (Paul judged fornication in Corinth.)

12. Their work bears witness that they are sent.

".. The same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me." Jn. 5:36

13. Apostles establish and set doctrine.

"... They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine ..." Acts 2:42

(Acts 15:19-30) It was decided how much Jewish practices the gentiles must obey.

14. Apostolic doctrine comes from heaven.

"... My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me." Jn. 7:15-16

15. Apostles bring revelation to the Church.

"... Revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." Eph. 3:5

16. Apostolic revelation is the foundation upon which the Church is built.

"... Upon this rock I will build My Church ..." Matt. 16:18

17. Apostles lay the foundation.

"... I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereupon." 1 Cor. 3:10

18. Apostles are wise masterbuilders.

"... the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder." 1 Cor. 3:10

19. Apostles don't like to build upon another's foundation.

"... Lest I should build upon another man's foundation ..." Rom. 15:20

20. Apostles are planters. "I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase."

1 Cor. 3:6

21. Apostles care for local churches.

"... Cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." 2 Cor.11:28

22. Apostles are bishops (overseers) of local churches.

English: Bishoprick; Greek: episkope meaning inspection [Acts 1:20]

23. Apostles ordain elders. "... They had ordained them elders in every church ..." Acts 14:23

24. Apostles set in order. "... Thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting ..." Titus 1:5

25. Apostles bind and loose. The [apostolic] anointing breaks the yoke of bondage. [Is. 10:27]

"... Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven ..." Matt. 16:19

26. Apostles are given authority for edification.

"... the power which the Lord hath given me to edification not destruction." 2 Cor. 13:10

27. Apostles do not have dominion over our faith.

"Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy." 2 Cor 1:24

28. Apostles have a measure of rule. [2 Cor. 10:12-16]

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.

13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but

but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

29. Apostles are examples to those who follow their ministries.

"... To make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us." 2 Thess. 3:9

30. Apostles are fathers.

"For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." 1 Cor. 4:15

31. Apostles impart Spiritual gifts.

" For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established" Rom. 1:11

32. Apostolic ministry is a ministry of warfare; there is demonic resistance.

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds) ..." 2 Cor. 10:4

"Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us." 1 Thess. 2:18

"... There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me ..."

2 Cor. 12:7

33. Apostles pull down strongholds. 2 Cor. 10:4 [above] and

2 Cor. 10:5: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God ..."

34. Apostles have the ability to dispute and persuade. [Acts 19:8]

"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God."

35. Apostles have a Godly jealousy over the saints.

"For I am jealous over you with Godly jealousy ..." 2 Cor. 11:2

36. Apostles make intercession for the saints.

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ..." Eph. 3:14

37. The strength of apostolic ministry is prayer and the ministry of the Word. [Acts 6:4]

"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word."

38. Apostles demonstrate the Spirit and power.

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power ..." 1 Cor. 2:4

39. Apostolic ministry is one of signs and wonders.

"... And many signs and wonders were done by the apostles." Acts 2:43

"And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people ..." Acts 5:12

40. Apostolic ministry touches multitudes. [Acts 5:14]

"And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women."

41. Apostolic ministry touches cities.

"And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear

the Word of God." Acts 13:44

42. Apostolic ministry touches regions.

"And the Word of the Lord was published throughout all the region." Acts 13:49

43. Apostles are targets of envy and jealousy.

"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy ..." Acts 13:45

44. Apostolic ministry is a ministry of boldness.

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said ..." Acts 13:46

45. Apostles are persecuted. [1 Cor. 4:11-13]

"... and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day."

46. Apostles are treated as last.

"For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." 1 Cor. 4:9

47. Apostles are reformers.

"Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." Heb. 9:10

48. Apostles are hated and feared by religious systems.

"Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her." Rev. 18:20

49. Apostles are defenders of the faith.

"I am set for the defense of the gospel." Philippians 1:17

50. We are to try them that say they are apostles.

"... and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars ..." Rev. 2:2

Paul said: "And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you ..." [2 Cor. 11:9]

20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. [2 Cor. 11:20]

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. [2 Cor. 11:13-15]

51. Apostles are of the male gender.

a. "... the head of the woman is the man ..." 1 Cor. 11:3

b. Apostles are fathers. A woman cannot be a father. [1 Cor. 4:15]

c. Apostles are elders/bishops. (All bishops, however, are not apostles.) "A bishop then must be ... the husband of one wife ..." 1 Tim. 3:2 A woman is not a husband.

d. God requires men to be in headship. If this order is broken, a penalty follows:

(1) "And Deborah, a prophetess ... judged Israel at that time. Deborah prophesied to Barak, "I [the Lord] will deliver him [enemy General Sisera] into thine hand." "And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." Jgs. 4:4,6-9

e. Woman can prophesy in the church, however, apostles formulate doctrine. "If they [women] will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the *church" 1 Cor. 14:35

*i.e. church doctrinal debates/church governmental issues

(1) "... I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man ..."

1 Tim. 2:12

(2) Women can teach other woman. "... The aged women likewise, ... they may teach the young women .." Tit. 2:3,4

f. It is technically incorrect to title a pastor's wife, "Pastor," The office of pastor is a dorea gift of Christ. [Eph. 4:7,8,11.] The dorea gifts cannot be obtained by marrying. His wife is a "help meet for him." Gen. 2:18. If he was a pastor before his marriage, his wife also still has the ministry gift that she had before her marriage. In a God-ordained union often the wife's ministerial gift becomes increasingly evident; for example, she may have the ministry of "helps" or "administrations (NIV)". Our flesh marries; our spirit does not marry. "... Then they are no more twain, but one flesh." Matt. 10:8 (Not one spirit, but one flesh.) There is no marriage between a man and a woman in heaven. Matt. 12:25. She has a different spirit and a unique spiritual workmanship in Christ. When necessary, a woman can move in the grace of an apostle, but she is not appointed by God to that office.

(1) In similar manner, marrying a prophet will not automatically make a woman a prophetess. "... dividing [gifts] to every man [and woman] severally as He will." 1 Cor. 12:11. "...To another prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits ..." 1 Cor. 12:10

(2) Likewise, the wife of an apostle is not herself also an apostle.

g. Was the apostle Junia/Junias (Rom. 16:7) a man or a woman?

If one were to focus on the suffix "-a" in the word Junia, it is not true in Hebrew, Greek, or Latin that words ending in "-a" are always female. In the Greek "Junia" actually ends with the letter "s" not "a", as does the name of the apostle Matthias. One only needs to read the geneology of Jesus Christ in Luke chapter three to see that there are many men in Bible times with names ending in the letter "a". In the book, All the Apostles of the Bible, by Zondervan Publishers, copyright 1972, page 200, Herbert Lockyer writes: "Both of these men [Andronicus and Junias] were well known to the apostolate circle ..."

h. Regarding the subject of female "apostles", we have no such custom, neither do the other churches.

i. Women can be appointed to leadership roles, but they are not to be in headship.

52. Apostles are under authority; they are accountable to other apostles; they are not "lone rangers".

"And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them ..." Acts 14:26,27

(SEE also: Acts 15:4; Acts 16:4; Acts 21:18-19; Gal. 1:18-19; Gal. 2:1-2,7-9)

note 1: Apostolic attributes #1, 2, and 6-50 are taken in part or fully from the book,

published by: Crusaders Ministries, P.O. Box 7211, Chicago, ILL 60680

note 2: Apostolic attributes #3-5, and 52 are taken in part from the book, The last Apostles on Earth

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Apostolic Ministry

How to Discern the Genuine from the Counterfeit

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