Hello Lbooth1955. You've received good replies, to which I also agree. However, in attempting to read deeper into your brief question and what prompted it, I wondered, 'were you referring to the actual time that Christ called them 'apostles' and other references to that name, or to the time post-resurrection and Pentecost, when these apostles were without their Lord present & began to do all that they were taught and commanded to do'?
So if your question was to the first part of my thoughts, then Scriptures such as Luke 6:13, Matthew 10:2, Mark 6:30, Luke 22:14, and others show to me that these disciples (Gk. learner, pupil) also named apostles (Gk. messenger, one sent out), though dear to the Heart of the Lord, were by no means a part of the Body of Christ (as we understand this Body that was later formed, Romans 12:5). While they remained & served under the Old Covenant they were simply a motley group of individuals, specially selected by Jesus to learn, to experience the Son of God first-hand, and to increase in faith and love, so that when they would be transformed & "endued with power from on high", they would be the very first 'founding members' upon which the Church (the Body of Christ) would be built upon ( Ephesians 2:20).
In summary, under the Old Covenant, though called 'apostles', these men were not "included in the Body of Christ". But when the New Covenant in Christ's Blood was ushered in and all who came in faith trusting in that Sacrifice wholly for salvation, those apostles were indeed the very first to be included into Christ's Body, the Church; and upon which we stand today, or ought to stand, without any reference to the Old Covenants, Laws, and ceremonial requirements, which ended at the Cross ( Romans 10:4,5). Thus apostolic teaching remains very relevant to us now and does our Lord's; when these are altered, as some 'churches' have done, devising their own doctrines, they declare that the apostles are irrelevant even denying their Lord. GBU.
I agree with GiGi and the Scripture she gave, and my answer is yes, as there is one body, and one church, they are the same, Ephesians 1:19-23. The Church began at Pentecost, and for several years before Paul, through the apostles, the Lord added to it daily, Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-33. There is one body, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 2:15-16, Galatians 3:26-29. And as GiGi said, the apostles are the foundation of the holy city, New Jerusalem.
The word apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos, which translates to one who is sent out. The apostles were chosen by Jesus Christ to spread the Gospel and establish the Church.
As you should expect, I say yes. They were the ones who were indwelt by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost with power to spread the gospel of Jesus' life, death, resurrection by which we receive salvation. But more so because of what Rev. 21:14 says about the New Jerusalem where the twelve apostles are said to be the twelve foundations of this Lamb for this city, which I take to be the church.
In this vision, the apostles are indicted as pillars of faith, the ones who delivered the faith once and for all delivered for the saints (church) ( Jude 1:3). The apostles were the foundation of the church ( Eph. 2:20) with Jesus being the chief cornerstone building the church up as a holy dwelling for God with His people forever. These twelve pillars (the apostles) represent the spiritual, doctrinal and historical base of the church that Jesus built upon after He ascended to heaven, as Jesus prophesied in Matt. 16:18. The names of the apostles as the foundation indicate apostolic authority over the church and its doctrines and
profession.
Oops, have to head out with hubby. This is all for now. Be blessed.
Are the 12 Apostles included in the body of Christ?
Yes or no, and please include scripture to support your thoughts.
Thank you and God Bless!
So if your question was to the first part of my thoughts, then Scriptures such as Luke 6:13, Matthew 10:2, Mark 6:30, Luke 22:14, and others show to me that these disciples (Gk. learner, pupil) also named apostles (Gk. messenger, one sent out), though dear to the Heart of the Lord, were by no means a part of the Body of Christ (as we understand this Body that was later formed, Romans 12:5). While they remained & served under the Old Covenant they were simply a motley group of individuals, specially selected by Jesus to learn, to experience the Son of God first-hand, and to increase in faith and love, so that when they would be transformed & "endued with power from on high", they would be the very first 'founding members' upon which the Church (the Body of Christ) would be built upon ( Ephesians 2:20).
In summary, under the Old Covenant, though called 'apostles', these men were not "included in the Body of Christ". But when the New Covenant in Christ's Blood was ushered in and all who came in faith trusting in that Sacrifice wholly for salvation, those apostles were indeed the very first to be included into Christ's Body, the Church; and upon which we stand today, or ought to stand, without any reference to the Old Covenants, Laws, and ceremonial requirements, which ended at the Cross ( Romans 10:4,5). Thus apostolic teaching remains very relevant to us now and does our Lord's; when these are altered, as some 'churches' have done, devising their own doctrines, they declare that the apostles are irrelevant even denying their Lord. GBU.
I agree with GiGi and the Scripture she gave, and my answer is yes, as there is one body, and one church, they are the same, Ephesians 1:19-23. The Church began at Pentecost, and for several years before Paul, through the apostles, the Lord added to it daily, Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-33. There is one body, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 2:15-16, Galatians 3:26-29. And as GiGi said, the apostles are the foundation of the holy city, New Jerusalem.
The word apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos, which translates to one who is sent out. The apostles were chosen by Jesus Christ to spread the Gospel and establish the Church.
God bless,
RLW
As you should expect, I say yes. They were the ones who were indwelt by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost with power to spread the gospel of Jesus' life, death, resurrection by which we receive salvation. But more so because of what Rev. 21:14 says about the New Jerusalem where the twelve apostles are said to be the twelve foundations of this Lamb for this city, which I take to be the church.
In this vision, the apostles are indicted as pillars of faith, the ones who delivered the faith once and for all delivered for the saints (church) ( Jude 1:3). The apostles were the foundation of the church ( Eph. 2:20) with Jesus being the chief cornerstone building the church up as a holy dwelling for God with His people forever. These twelve pillars (the apostles) represent the spiritual, doctrinal and historical base of the church that Jesus built upon after He ascended to heaven, as Jesus prophesied in Matt. 16:18. The names of the apostles as the foundation indicate apostolic authority over the church and its doctrines and
profession.
Oops, have to head out with hubby. This is all for now. Be blessed.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?