by Apostle Randall A. Muse | randallmuse@hotmail.com | www.apostolicfathering.org/apostolic_index
CMccain125@AOL.COM writes:
> I am not by any stretch a Greek scholar, but I do have a question or two.
> In reading the NT I find that the word "apostle" is never in front of the
> person's name, i.e., Paul, Peter, etc. Could someone explain why?
ANSWER:
Neither is the word Pastor or Dr. or Reverend, though there were obviously
Doctors and Pastors in the New Testament. They also did not use last names but
rather we regarded them as the son or daughter of their father or mother. They were
also sometimes referred to by what they did, where they were from, or even
what disease they had, like "Simon the leper."
Matt 1:1
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of
Abraham: (NKJ)
Matt 10:4
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. (NKJ)
Mark 6:3
3 "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses,
Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were
offended at Him. (NKJ)
I believe this change in how we call people who they are like using the term
"Apostle Paul" as we do now instead of "Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ," is
primarily base upon culture and the differences in our language and its use. I
am Randy Muse, but they may have called me Randy, the son of Jerry; Randy the
plumber, or Randy of Long Beach.
> It is capitalized only once, in Heb.3:1, and that reference is to the Great
> Apostle and High Priest, Jesus Christ. Maybe someone could explain how it
> got moved to the title position and not remained as it is in the original?
ANSWER:
This capitalization is not how it was worded in the original Greek but was
rather worded such by translators to honor the Apostleship of Jesus Christ
above all others, like writing "He (upper case)" instead of "he (lower case)"
when referring to Jesus, etc. We call Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ.
The shorter phrase, "Apostle Paul", does not denote that we have changed the
functioning of the apostle's ministry nor does it mean we've elevated all
apostles to the level of the apostleship of Jesus Christ as the Great High
Priest. All apostles or Apostles receive their gifts from Him and are an
extension of His ministry on earth, as are all True Saints of the Most High
God. We call ourselves Christians, not necessarily christians, to denote who
we are as a proper noun, which is capitalized in the English language. The
original Greek had no capitalization or punctuation whatsoever.
Jesus is the chief Shepherd, that is to say, "Pastor", but that fact that He is
the capital "P" pastor has not prevented pastors from capitalizing the "P" in
Pastor on their business cards. The practice is not offensive in any way.
The Bible forewarned that apostles would be persecuted, and this persecution
shall arise primarily from within the Church. The world does not care about
whether apostles exist or do not exist. But the devil, working through
religionists, does dread the re-emergence of the apostle. The apostle's presence
shakes inflexible ecclesiastical hierarchies which fear encroachments to their
system of totalitarian rule. Religionists want NO activity that they have not
personally endorsed and sanctioned. Because of this mind-set, people oppose
the use of the title, "apostle." They assume all apostles have delusions of
grandeur, when it is actually visa versa---men's church traditions exalt their
proud and glamorous pontiffs, while the apostle goes on being despised
and rejected of men, as was the chief Apostle, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The servant is not greater than his Master.
"Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets;
for God hath avenged you on her." Revelation 18:20
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