Are there modern day apostles? - Spiritual Gifts 8

 

What requirements are there for someone to be an apostle?

~~ Watch the Video ~~

Outline:

• Introduction
• Finding Your Purpose in Life Series
• Review: Your Spiritual Gifts
• Ministries
• Apostleship
• The 12 Apostles
• More Than 12 Apostles
• Missionaries Are Apostles
• Bishops
• Are there modern-day apostles?
• Conclusion

Scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 12:28
• Ephesians 4:11-13
• Acts 1:15;21-26
• John 6:66-67
• 1 Corinthians 15: 3-9
• Acts 14:14
• Galatians 1:19
• 1 Thessalonians 1:1
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6
• Titus 1:5
• Revelation 2:2
• Galatians 1:8-9
• 1 Corinthians 9:2
• 2 Corinthians 2:12
• Acts 14:23
• Matthew 28:18–20

Introduction

1 Corinthians 12:28

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues.

Teacher is equivalent to pastor in much of Paul’s writing

Some people view this as a hierarchy

• Apostles
• Prophets
• Pastors

That’s why many pastors are now calling themselves apostles

• They want to be at the top of the hierarchy

The title of “prophet” was popular and then “apostle” became popular

• Pastors switched their titles
• They wanted to be at the top of the hierarchy

Rise of the Apostalic Network

Latter Rain Revival

• 1948
• Pentecostalism

New Apostalic Reformation

• 1990s
• Aka Prophetic Movement
• Bethel

The apostolic network is the fastest growing segment of Christianity

• 425 million people

Finding Your Purpose in Life Series

The two greatest days in your life are:

1. the day you were born
2. the day you figure out why you were born

– – Mark twain

The Bible tells us that everything was created by God, the Designer, for a reason

If you want to find your purpose… You have to start with God

Your calling is the purpose that God created you for

• It's the end goal of your assignment on earth
• It is how you serve his purposes in the world

A Christian’s Callings

Christians have

1. General callings
2. A Unique calling

General Christian Callings

All Christians are called to:

1. To Love God
2. Love your neighbor
3. Make disciples
4. Be conformed to the image of Christ – sanctification

Unique Calling

Additionally, you were given unique

• Natural ability
• Acquired skills
• Spiritual Gifts
• Personality
• Desires and preferences
• Life experiences

All of this makes uniquely qualified to serve others, and to glorify God

Your gifts and talents are owned by God… Not you

Success is Measured by Faithfulness, Not Impact

In this series we will discover:

• What a purpose is and why it matters
• What makes you unique
• How your life experiences have prepared you for your calling
• What is your unique purpose
• How to overcome the barriers preventing you from pursuing your purpose

Throughout this next year, I will walk alongside you and help guide you to finding your purpose

Review: Your Spiritual Gifts

Gifts, Ministries, Effects

Same Spirit gives

• Same gift
• Different ministries
• Different effects

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Gifts

The raw spiritual "tool" or talent.

This is the internal enablement from the Holy Spirit

Examples 

• Prophecy
• Healing
• Speaking in tongues

Ministries / Functions

The specific office, role or sphere of service where you use your gift.

Example:

• Pastor
• Choir director
• School teacher

Gift vs Ministry

You might have the gift of teaching, but that gift can be expressed in many different ways.

Example: Gift of teaching

• Pastor
• Jail ministry
• Classroom

You can have the gift of prophecy, but not serve in the office of a prophet

• You might be in the parking lot ministry

Effects

The supernatural impact or outcome of the gift being used.

Example

• 3 types of tongues

Manifestations vs. Permanent Gifts

Manifestations

The Holy Spirit can give any gift to any believer at a specific moment to meet a specific need.

Permanent Gifts

What people call "having the gift" is a consistent history of God choosing to work through someone.

3 Lists of Gifts

In this series, we are going to discuss three different classifications of gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Bible

1. Motivational gifts

1. Romans 12:6-8
2. Teaching, mercy,

2. Manifestation gifts

1. 1 Corinthians 12:7-12
2. Tongues, prophecy, healing

3. Ministries/function/offices

1. Ephesians 4:11-12

Ministries

(Gifts of the Son / Five-Fold)

These aren’t just abilities…these also carry responsibilities in the church

Ephesians 4:11-13

11 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

• Jesus gave these gifts to “the church”
• this is not talking about the local church
• Called the 5 fold ministry

The List

• Apostles
• Prophets
• Evangelists
• Pastors & Teachers

These are “ministries” or  "Offices" … not gifts.  

• They are roles or "positions" within the body of Christ.  

Do These Roles Still Exist?

The roles were given for the

• equipping of the saints for the work of ministry
• building up of the body of Christ

There would need to be a compelling reason to assume that these gifts/roles don’t exist today.

Paul list 5 things, but many people say 2 of them no longer exist

We will look at some of the common reasons given and see why many of these the arguments are flawed

Disclaimer 

• I believe there are many false prophets and false apostles in the church today
• I don’t have a specific example of someone today who is a true apostle

Last mention

Some people say that since this is the last time (chronologically based on when the book was written) that prophecy and apostles are mentioned in the Bible then that means that they don't exist.

This is a flawed argument

If we apply that logic than these things no longer exist either

• The prince of the power of the air
• Heavenly places
• The armor of God

Because these things are last mentioned in the book of Ephesians as well

Example: you can’t argue that Satan is no longer the prince of the power of the air because Paul no longer calls him this anywhere else

Paul clearly gives an expiration date to when these offices are no longer required

Until we attain

• Unity of faith

• There are currently 49K denominations

• Knowledge of the son of God
• Maturity
• the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ

Since we have not attained these yet, it would stand to reason that all of these offices should still exist today

Apostleship

“Apostle” means “sent one”

So the implication is that you were either sent

• By Jesus
• The church in Jerusalem
• Or by a local church

Sent

• By someone
• To some people group

This is more of a role than a spiritual gift

• It can be seen analogous to the motivational gifts as it is part of your temperament

New Testament Role of the Apostle

• Expansion: Acting as a "sent one" to reach unreached areas.
• Establish Doctrine
• They set the Character requirements
• Because they are "first," they serve as the unifying link between different local congregations.
• Accountability: They provided a standard against which "prophets" and "pastor/teachers" were measured to ensure the church didn't drift into error.
• They authorized the Local Team (The Elders) to shepherd the people

Example: imagine a guy in jail writes a letter telling you the qualifications to be an elder at your church

• Paul did this

Categories of apostles

• The Twelve
• The Office of the Apostle
• Church planters
• Missionaries  
• Bishops

The 12 Apostles

The Bible distinguishes between the broad term "apostle" (meaning "one who is sent") and the specific office of the Twelve Apostles who followed Jesus. While many people were called apostles in the New Testament (like Paul or Barnabas), the Book of Acts establishes specific criteria for those belonging to the core group.  

Acts 1 Requirement

Acts 1:15;21-26

15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,

…

21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from John’s baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen 25to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”

26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.

Eyewitness of the Entire Ministry

To be considered for the office, the individual had to have been a part of the group that followed Jesus from the very beginning.

• The Starting Point: The Baptism of Jesus.

• The Duration: They had to have accompanied the disciples the entire time Jesus "went in and out among us."  

Witness of the Resurrection

Although some argue that this is saying they had to have actually seen the resurrection, this is actually saying that they would be a witness to the resurrection. You could argue that you had to have seen the resurrected Jesus in order to fulfill this requirement, but this isn’t clearly stated in the text.

• They needed to be able to testify with absolute certainty that Jesus had risen from the dead.

• This is why Paul, though not part of the original ministry, defended his apostleship in 1 Corinthians 9:1 by asking, "Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?"

Divine Appointment

Becoming an apostle wasn't just about meeting a checklist; it required a "call."

• In the case of the original Twelve, Jesus chose them personally.  

• In the case of Matthias (Judas’s replacement), the disciples prayed and cast lots, believing that God would reveal the choice.  

Paul Doesn’t Meet The Requirements

If we take the Acts 1 criteria as the "Universal Requirements for Apostleship," we run into a major biblical contradiction.

• Paul was not a follower from the Baptism of John.

• Barnabas (Acts 14:14) is called an apostle but wasn't part of the original group.

• James (Galatians 1:19) was an apostle but was a skeptic during Jesus's early ministry.

In Jewish theology, "The Twelve" represented the restoration of the twelve tribes of Israel.

There was a special need to have a group of 12

ANY other apostles (including Paul) would not be a part of this inner circle

The "Jew" Comparison

• All the Twelve were Jews.

• All the Twelve were men.

• All the Twelve were (likely) Galileans.

• Logic: We don't say "To be an apostle you must be a Galilean man."

In the same way we can’t say that this list is a requirement to be an apostle.

These were requirements to be part of The Twelve

The Twelve happened to also be Apostles

This is not a list of requirements to be an apostle

More Than 12 Apostles

There were more than 12 disciples

How many disciples were there?

John 6:66-67

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

There were many disciples, but there was a distinction made of the the Twelve

The same is true for the word apostles

• There is a distinction made for the Twelve
• But there were many more

Other apostles

1 Corinthians 15: 3-9

3For I handed down to you [b]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to [c]Cephas, then to the twelve. 6After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to [d]James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as [e]to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9For I am the least of the apostles, [f]and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Jesus appeared to:

• The Twelve
• 500 others
• James
• All the apostles
• Paul

The Twelve apostles had a unique distinction, but there were many others.

All the eye witnesses to the resurrection aren’t considered apostles

Note that Jesus appeared to James after the resurrection

Everyone that saw Jesus wasn’t an apostle

There were over 500 people who had the same "requirement" as Paul and Peter, yet they remained "brothers and sisters" (laypeople). This suggests that the "Apostle" role required something more than just sight—it required a specific commissioning or a "sending out" that the 500 did not receive.

If seeing Jesus was a requirement for the office, but seeing Jesus didn't grant the office, it implies the "Apostle" title was a very specific, hand-picked appointment rather than a status anyone could claim by experience.

Barnabas

Acts 14:14

 14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their [k]robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

He was commissioned by the church in Antioch, not directly by the pre-ascension Jesus.

• Barnabas didn’t see the resurrected Jesus

James (Jesus’ brother)

Galatians 1:19

 19But I did not see another one of the apostles except [l]James, the Lord’s brother.

The resurrected Jesus appeared to James

Paul, Silas and Timothy

1 Thessalonians 1:1

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

It was very common for first-century Jews who were also Roman citizens (which Silas appears to be, based on Acts 16:37) to have a "local" name and a "Roman" name.

• Saul became Paul.
• Silas became Silvanus.

1 Thessalonians 2:6

 6 nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though [h]we could have [i]asserted our authority as apostles of Christ.

Paul uses the word "we" to refer to himself, Silas, and Timothy, saying they could have made demands as "apostles of Christ." Because of this, many scholars and traditions (especially the Eastern Orthodox Church) recognize Timothy as an apostle in the sense of being an authorized "sent one" or missionary delegate.

In addition to the Twelve the Bible also names as Apostles:

• Paul
• James
• Barnabus
• Silas
• Timothy
• And there were others (1 Corinthians 15: 3-9)

Missionaries Are Apostles

Etymology: Two Paths to One Meaning

The core concept behind both words is "one who is sent."

Apostle

This comes from the Greek word apostolos (ἀπόστολος). In the New Testament context, it specifically refers to an emissary or a messenger sent out with a particular task or authority.

Missionary

This comes from the Latin word missio (from mittere, meaning "to send").

Essentially, "missionary" is the Latin-based equivalent of the Greek-based "apostle."

The apostles of Christ were sent out under the direct authority of Christ himself to take the inspired revelation that was given to them to the end of the Earth.

The messengers of the churches were sent out by the authority of the local church or a collection of churches to carry out a specific task delegated by the church.  To take the faith to the end of the Earth.

“Missionary“ and “apostle“ are the same word

Missionaries do not necessarily have the office of the Apostle

But every apostle is a missionary

Bishops

Apostolic Succession

Paul passed his authority to Titus

Titus 1:5

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you

Titus was an "Apostolic Delegate." His authority was derived from Paul.

Titus had the authority to assign pastors to the churches on the island of Crete

Catholic/Orthodox/Anglican Church

The Catholic Church (along with the Eastern Orthodox and Anglican churches) bases its entire authority structure on the logic that the unique authority Jesus gave to the Apostles didn't vanish when they died, but was "deposited" into their successors through the physical act of the laying on of hands.

• When an Apostle died, he was replaced by a Bishop.
• The Bishop is considered the "Successor to the Apostles."
• In Catholic theology, the Pope is specifically the "Successor of Peter."

They consider bishops to be modern day apostles.

• They don’t consider them to have the same doctrinal authority as the foundation of apostles

Are there modern-day apostles?

How Modern Day Apostles Explain Their Role

Bethel Church

Who is the pastor of Bethel Church?

• Dann Farrelly
• … Not Bill Johnson

Both the apostle and the prophet have a perception of heaven and how it should effect earth

The pastor is moved by the needs of the sheep

The apostle and prophet see

• Future
• Structure
• Order

Apostles and pastors need to work together

Apostles and prophets have a heart for and a plan to influence and serve the world around us

— Bill Johnson

In the Bethel leadership structure, Bill Johnson is the Senior Leader, while others on the team carry the title of Lead Pastor (such as Dann Farrelly).

This distinction is intentional:  

• The "Apostolic" Role: Within his movement, Bill Johnson is viewed as an apostle. His role is less about the day-to-day "pastoral" administration of a single local congregation and more about overseeing a global network of churches (the Bethel Leaders Network).  

• The Function: He focuses on the "sending" (mittere) aspect—equipping people through the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM) and sending them out, which is the functional definition of an apostle you were exploring.

includes over 2,500 churches and ministries globally as of 2026

Testing Apostles

Revelation 2:2

2‘I know your deeds and your labor and [b]perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false;

The fact that Jesus commands the church in Ephesus for "testing those who call themselves apostles" proves 3 things:  

1. Claimants were common

1. People were traveling around the early Church claiming this authority.

2. Criteria existed

1. You can’t "test" someone if there are no standards.

3. There were more than the 12/13 Apostles

If the office had been strictly limited to only 13 men (The Twelve + Paul), the test would have been easy: "Are you Peter? No? Then you're out." The existence of a "test" suggests the Church recognized that God could "send" others, but they had to be vetted

If someone passes the test of an apostle then they can claim to be an Apostle

Any test that we apply to a modern day Apostle needs to have been passable by all of the Biblical apostles

Eye Witness to Jesus’ Resurrection

This is a test most reformed Christians suggest

"seeing Jesus" cannot be a universal requirement for the title.

Neither Silas nor Timothy were eye witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection yet they were apostles

This is therefore not a requirement to be an Apostle

The "Commission" Test (The Sending)

Were they sent?

The word apostolos means "one who is sent." A true apostle had to be sent by someone with the authority to send them.

• Direct Commission: The Twelve and Paul claimed they were sent directly by Jesus.
• Ecclesiastical Commission: Barnabas and Silas were sent by the Church (Acts 13:2–3).
• The Test: Did the person have a clear "sending" moment, or did they just decide to go on their own?

You can’t be a self appointed apostle

they would have to have been sent by leadership that you see to be authoritative

example: if they were commissioned by the buddhist temple, then we would not acknowledge them as an apostle

Doctrine

Galatians 1:8-9

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

Does their message align with the original teachings of Christ and the New Testament?

You need to Church it off of actual words that you heard them say are sought in their writings. You cannot rely on the criticism of others.

Fruit

1 Corinthians 9:2

2If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Did their "sending" result in the establishment and strengthening of churches?

Signs and Wonders

2 Corinthians 12:12

12The distinguishing marks [f]of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by [g]signs, wonders, and [h]miracles.

Do they exhibit supernatural signs as described in the Bible?

Pastors Act Like Apostles

What church was Paul the pastor of?

• None
• because he was an apostle

Apostles weren’t pastors.  

Acts 14:23

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

The apostles never appointed a lead pastor

There is no mention in the New Testament of a church being led by a single "Pastor" who sits above a group of non-pastoring "Elders." Instead, the elders were the pastors.

The Apostle would set up the elder board who also preached/taught.

Someone calling themself an apostle is no less biblical than someone calling themself a lead pastor.  There is no precedent for a “lead pastor” in the Bible.  

• The churches had elders

Someone calling them self a lead pastor is less biblical than someone calling himself an apostle

Can modern-day apostles create new books of the Bible?

Can an apostle get new revelation on par with the Bible?

All of the new testament books weren’t written by Apostles

examples

• Luke

All books written by apostles didn’t get included in the Bible

• Gospel of Thomas

Creating the Cannon

When the early church was deciding which New Testament books were foundational (canonical), they looked for three things:

• Apostolicity: Was it written by an apostle or a close associate?

• Luke was an "associate"

• Orthodoxy: Did it align with the established oral teachings?
• Universal Acceptance: Was it already being used and trusted by the majority of churches?

Why The gospel of Thomas was rejected (despite his credentials):

• The Content Gap: Unlike the four canonical Gospels, Thomas has no narrative. There is no birth, no miracles, no trial, no crucifixion, and no physical resurrection. It is a list of 114 sayings.
• Theological Conflict: Many of the sayings in Thomas lean toward Gnosticism—the idea that salvation comes through secret internal knowledge (gnosis) rather than through the death and resurrection of Christ. For example, it suggests the material world is a "corpse" and emphasizes a "divine spark" within.
• Late Dating: Most scholars believe the version we have was written in the mid-2nd century, long after the Apostle Thomas would have died. This makes it pseudepigraphal (written by someone else using his name to gain authority).

No one has the power to receive new, foundational revelation (writing the New Testament).

If Modern day Apostles exist they don’t carry the weight of the foundational leaders as far as authority to set doctrine.

Conclusion

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18–20

18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19[g]Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to [h]follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you [i]always, to the end of the age.”

This highlights the shift from receiving information to becoming a vessel for a message.

Transition: From Disciples to Apostles

The word disciple means "learner," while apostle means "sent one."

Fulfilling your purpose eventually requires action and outward movement.

• You have to graduate from just consuming information to actively serving

Instructor: Michael Leadon

References

Previous Lessons:

• Your Skills and Talents
• Your Spiritual Gifts
• Your Spiritual Gifts - Part 2
• Your Spiritual Gifts - Part 3 (The Gift of Prophecy)
• Your Spiritual Gifts - Part 4 (False Prophets)
• Your Spiritual Gifts - Part 5 (The Gift of Discernment)
• Your Spiritual Gifts - Part 6 (The Gift of Tongues)

Are there modern day apostles?

Paul washer – Justin peters

No apostles and profits in the church?

Biblical response

Five Fold Ministry: Is Bill Johnson an Apostle? Bill Johnson | Rediscover Bethel Series

https://youtu.be/h_9OKZGBTsA?si=Gu7L6gOSWUq5WTSk

• Bill Johnson Teaching (Official)

Extra

1 Corinthians 13:10

8Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [c]prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10but when the perfect [teleion] comes, the partial will be done away with.

Colossians 1:28

We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete [teleion] in Christ.