Who are “the Sent out Ones”? Salisbury Baptist CHURCH Sunday 11th June 5:00 pm Service

The word for “apostle” in the Bible The Greek word Apostolos occurs over 80 times in the NT, mostly in Luke and Acts and some occasions by Paul in his letters. (This adds to be a large part of the NT.)

The verb “I send” apostello apostello is not just “I send,” but ‘I send with a particular purpose / commissioning.’ The noun apostolos then, is a person sent with a particular commission & purpose.

Around the 5th century BC (after Herodotus), there are very few instances of the term being about a person sent but largely more about a fleet of ships. They had a commanding general commissioned to take military clout. It is mainly in later Christian literature that the term comes to be about persons sent without the ships but with that sense of commission and clout. This was caused by the “the Christian apostle” who has been especially sent by Christ with His authority to introduce Christianity and build His church. You can easily see behind the Christian concept of “Apostle” the same military conquest ideas of the Kingdom of God sweeping in and taking over.  

So in the Gospels, the word “apostle” implies: Kingdom authority and clout represented in the sending. Angels and prophets, sent by God, having the same idea of commissioned authority. The acid question, concerning any such “sent one” is: In whose presence have they been standing and with whose authority and commission have they now come?  

There may be lesser authorities such as given to “apostles of the churches” – people sent by the church.” The most potent apostles are the Apostles of Christ  

The idea behind that of “apostle” is: “standing in the presence of God” Bowing in the presence of God and then being sent out with authority stands behind the idea of the Christian apostle. This is a general spiritual principle of which being an apostle of Christ is a specific instance. The coming of the Son on behalf of the Father is the ultimate Trinitarian backdrop idea.   Hebrews 3:1  Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Luke 1:19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel Luke 1:19  The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.   John 1:6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. Mark 3:14-15  He appointed twelve—designating them apostles— that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons. 16These are the twelve he appointed: . .

Luke 10:1-3, 16-17  Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two     1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves     16"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."     17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." Footnote: Luke 10:1 Some manuscripts seventy; also in verse 17

Matthew 10:5-40 5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, 9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.  

Galatians 1:1      1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—

The Great Commission: Matthew 28:17-20 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Ephesians 4: 11-12 (RSV) 11 And He gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ,