There are other features or characteristics of apostolic ministry that must be noted. Whereas the presence of these factors does not make one an apostle, their absence may well call into question the authenticity of one's claim to that office. One would be hard-pressed to find an apostle in the NT whose life was not characterized by these features: 1. Success in ministry (1 Cor.9:2; cf. 2 Cor. 3:1-3; [Paul appealed to the reality of their conversion as evidence of the authenticity of his apostolic calling]; but non-apostles also have great evangelistic success; see Philip in Acts 8). 2. Signs and Wonders (Ac. 5:12; Rom. 15:19; 2 Cor. 12:12; but non-apostles also performed signs and wonders; see Stephen in Acts 6 and Philip in Acts 8). 3. Extreme suffering (Col. 1:24; 2 Cor. 4:7-15; 11:23-33; etc.; certainly countless others also suffer). 4. Christ-like life and humility (2 Cor. 1:12; 2:17; 3:4-6; 4:2; 5:11; 6:3-13; 7:2; 10:13-18; 11:6,23-28; but there is no reason why a non-apostolic believer might not live at this same level of maturity). 5. Special insight into divine mysteries (Eph. 3:1-6; 1 Tim. 3:16; Rom. 11:25-32; 2 Cor. 12:1-4, 7). 6. Authority and the power to enforce it (Ac. 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 4:18-21; 5:5; 2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10; 1 Tim. 1:20). 7. God-orchestrated stigma (1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 6:3-10; 12:1-10). I often wonder if those who quickly accept the title of “Apostle” have bothered to read these texts, especially 1 Cor. 4:9-13.

Sam Storms

Post published:December 20, 2022

Index: Latin Vulgate

Matthew 28

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28:1 vespere autem sabbati quae lucescit in primam sabbati venit Maria Magdalene et altera Maria videre sepulchrum

28:2 et ecce terraemotus factus est magnus angelus enim Domini descendit de caelo et accedens revolvit lapidem et sedebat super eum

28:3 erat autem aspectus eius sicut fulgur et vestimentum eius sicut nix

28:4 prae timore autem eius exterriti sunt custodes et facti sunt velut mortui

28:5 respondens autem angelus dixit mulieribus nolite timere vos scio enim quod Iesum qui crucifixus est quaeritis

28:6 non est hic surrexit enim sicut dixit venite videte locum ubi positus erat Dominus

28:7 et cito euntes dicite discipulis eius quia surrexit et ecce praecedit vos in Galilaeam ibi eum videbitis ecce praedixi vobis

28:8 et exierunt cito de monumento cum timore et magno gaudio currentes nuntiare discipulis eius

28:9 et ecce Iesus occurrit illis dicens havete illae autem accesserunt et tenuerunt pedes eius et adoraverunt eum

28:10 tunc ait illis Iesus nolite timere ite nuntiate fratribus meis ut eant in Galilaeam ibi me videbunt

28:11 quae cum abissent ecce quidam de custodibus venerunt in civitatem et nuntiaverunt principibus sacerdotum omnia quae facta fuerant

28:12 et congregati cum senioribus consilio accepto pecuniam copiosam dederunt militibus

28:13 dicentes dicite quia discipuli eius nocte venerunt et furati sunt eum nobis dormientibus

28:14 et si hoc auditum fuerit a praeside nos suadebimus ei et securos vos faciemus

28:15 at illi accepta pecunia fecerunt sicut erant docti et divulgatum est verbum istud apud Iudaeos usque in hodiernum diem

28:16 undecim autem discipuli abierunt in Galilaeam in montem ubi constituerat illis Iesus

28:17 et videntes eum adoraverunt quidam autem dubitaverunt

28:18 et accedens Iesus locutus est eis dicens data est mihi omnis potestas in caelo et in terra

28:19 euntes ergo docete omnes gentes baptizantes eos in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti

Index: Latin Vulgate

Matthew 28

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