There are many discussions these days about the identity, role, and function of
"apostles." Rarely a month goes by where I don't hear at least one heated debate about this. Many in the Church are continuing to wrestle with the five-fold ministry.
I've found that virtually every aspect of this discussion elicits an explosion of emotions. As I try to tackle one aspect of this theological controversy, I do so knowing I'm basically entering a minefield.
In the following, I don't want to enter the quagmire of what the "apostolic" means for governing the local church. I simply want to look at the background of the word "apostle" and what it might mean for us in the broader mission of the Church.
It would shock a lot of people to hear this but the term "apostle" didn't originate in the Church or in the pages of Scripture. Just like the words "church" (ecclesia) and "evangelize" (evangelizo), it was borrowed from broader usage in Roman society.
So, before defining and applying this word "apostle," shouldn't we ask how it was originally used?
A brief background study shows that "apostle" was derived from the Greek word "apostolos." It had a rather lengthy etymological and conceptual history before Paul borrowed it to affirm an important aspect of ministry.
In its origins, "apostolos" was a military concept first utilized by the Phoenicians and later picked up by the Greeks and Romans. It referred to a special envoy sent with the unique jurisdiction and authority of the emperor.
To understand the meaning of this word, one must also understand the growing problems in this ancient period. Rome in particular, was dealing with a crisis of overpopulation and dwindling resources. Without additional territories for supplies and population redistribution, the social fabric could unravel.
In response to this mounting crisis, the emperor sent out fleets of ships to conquer neighboring territories. These were his "apostles."
While this entire naval armada was called "apostolos" or the "sent out ones," The term was particularly associated with the lead ship and its admiral.
In this perilous mission the admiral had an essential duty to accomplish. While each man in the company was commissioned to fight, he was there to ensure something else. You see, this "apostle" was commissioned to bring the civilization of Rome into this new territory. Transforming the legal, financial and educational systems, he made sure the new land was just like home.
We tend to make it a lot of other things, but at its core the apostle was simply a culture maker. He was there to make things look and feel like Rome. Through his labors, the new territory became a desirable outpost of the empire; a place even the emperor was comfortable visiting.
It is not difficult to see what the authors of the New Testament had in mind when they wrote about "apostles." They utilized elements in the Roman empire to illustrate an essential outworking of the Church. They wanted us to know that we are being commissioned to establish the culture of heaven right here on earth. This apostolic reality compels us to redefine our world - constructing the kind of place our King would find comfortable.
"Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" now carries a much deeper meaning doesn't it?
I've found that virtually every aspect of this discussion elicits an explosion of emotions. As I try to tackle one aspect of this theological controversy, I do so knowing I'm basically entering a minefield.
In the following, I don't want to enter the quagmire of what the "apostolic" means for governing the local church. I simply want to look at the background of the word "apostle" and what it might mean for us in the broader mission of the Church.
It would shock a lot of people to hear this but the term "apostle" didn't originate in the Church or in the pages of Scripture. Just like the words "church" (ecclesia) and "evangelize" (evangelizo), it was borrowed from broader usage in Roman society.
So, before defining and applying this word "apostle," shouldn't we ask how it was originally used?
A brief background study shows that "apostle" was derived from the Greek word "apostolos." It had a rather lengthy etymological and conceptual history before Paul borrowed it to affirm an important aspect of ministry.
In its origins, "apostolos" was a military concept first utilized by the Phoenicians and later picked up by the Greeks and Romans. It referred to a special envoy sent with the unique jurisdiction and authority of the emperor.
To understand the meaning of this word, one must also understand the growing problems in this ancient period. Rome in particular, was dealing with a crisis of overpopulation and dwindling resources. Without additional territories for supplies and population redistribution, the social fabric could unravel.
In response to this mounting crisis, the emperor sent out fleets of ships to conquer neighboring territories. These were his "apostles."
While this entire naval armada was called "apostolos" or the "sent out ones," The term was particularly associated with the lead ship and its admiral.
In this perilous mission the admiral had an essential duty to accomplish. While each man in the company was commissioned to fight, he was there to ensure something else. You see, this "apostle" was commissioned to bring the civilization of Rome into this new territory. Transforming the legal, financial and educational systems, he made sure the new land was just like home.
We tend to make it a lot of other things, but at its core the apostle was simply a culture maker. He was there to make things look and feel like Rome. Through his labors, the new territory became a desirable outpost of the empire; a place even the emperor was comfortable visiting.
It is not difficult to see what the authors of the New Testament had in mind when they wrote about "apostles." They utilized elements in the Roman empire to illustrate an essential outworking of the Church. They wanted us to know that we are being commissioned to establish the culture of heaven right here on earth. This apostolic reality compels us to redefine our world - constructing the kind of place our King would find comfortable.
"Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" now carries a much deeper meaning doesn't it?
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