Apostles in the Modern Church: Recovering a Vital Biblical Calling

The term “apostle” often carries controversy and misunderstanding in modern Christian circles. Some reject the term entirely due to its misuse by those who claim apostolic authority to manipulate or control others. History is full of individuals who have abused this title to demand allegiance, dictate doctrine, or assert dominance over people and churches in ways that are unbiblical. Additionally, some traditions hold to “apostolic succession,” the belief that authority is passed down in an unbroken line from the original apostles of Jesus to certain church leaders today. While this view has shaped large portions of church history, many (myself included) reject this view for not accurately portraying a holistic biblical understanding of apostleship.

Given these complexities, many prefer terms like “missionary” or “church planter” to describe those sent to advance the Gospel amongst new peoples and places. However, I believe there is a case to be made for the continued use of the word “apostle” primarily on the basis that it is a biblical term used to describe those in the Bible who were sent out to establish churches and advocate their continual maturing process. Therefore, understanding modern apostles’ proper role and function in the church today is crucial for seeing a completed Great Commission.

Before looking at a biblical overview of those called apostles in the New Testament, let us not forget that we face similar challenges with other biblical words like “pastor” and “church.” These terms have also been misused and distorted. Some have used being the “pastor” to justify authoritarian leadership, while others have twisted “church” to mean a mere institution or building rather than the Body of Christ. Yet, we do not discard these terms; instead, we seek to recover their true biblical meanings and apply them accordingly. In the same way, rather than abandoning the word “apostle,” we should clarify its function in light of Scripture in hopes of bringing further missional clarity to the task given to us by Christ.

An Overview of Apostles in the New Testament

The word “apostle” comes from the Greek term apostolos, which means “one who is sent.” In the biblical context, an apostle is someone sent with a commission, particularly to proclaim the Gospel and establish churches. The term was originally used to describe the Twelve whom Jesus personally chose and sent out, as well as Paul, who was later commissioned by Christ. However, the New Testament also uses “apostle” more broadly for others who were sent out by local churches to establish new local churches in unreached places.

The Twelve + Paul

The Twelve apostles and Paul were uniquely appointed and commissioned by Jesus. They were eyewitnesses to His resurrection and were used by the Holy Spirit to author Scripture. This sets them apart in their authority and foundational role in the early church. We often refer to these Twelve (swapping Judas for Paul) as the “big A” apostles. However, it is worth noting that, after Judas’s death, Matthias was chosen by the remaining Eleven and affirmed through prayer and casting lots in Acts 1:15–26 to restore the number to Twelve. There is some debate about the legitimacy of this decision, but nonetheless, this further confirms the distinct role of the Twelve in establishing the foundation of the Church. Yet, even with this unique circle (the Twelve + Paul), they are not the only ones given the title “apostle” in the New Testament, indicating that apostleship extended beyond this select group.

Barnabas

Barnabas, a respected leader in the Jerusalem church, was sent to check on the church in Antioch. Later, he retrieved Paul and, through the Holy Spirit’s direction and the church’s commissioning, went on the first missionary journey. Luke in Acts 14:14 explicitly refers to Barnabas as an apostle:

“The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting…”

Silas and Timothy

Silas was sent by the Jerusalem church to travel with Paul after the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). Timothy joined Paul and Silas in Lystra during the second journey. Paul later refers to both Silas and Timothy as apostles in 1 Thessalonians:

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.” (1 Thessalonians 1:1)… “Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you…” (1 Thessalonians 2:7).

Apollos

In Corinthians 1–4, Paul directly associates himself and Apollos in the same category as servants of Christ who labor for the Gospel. Throughout these chapters, Paul rebukes the Corinthians for dividing into factions, particularly those who claim allegiance to either Paul or Apollos (1 Corinthians 1:12). He clarifies that both he and Apollos are merely servants through whom the Corinthians believed (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). Then, in 1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul explicitly states that he is applying these principles to himself and Apollos as an example for the church. Immediately after, in 1 Corinthians 4:9, Paul declares:

“For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.”

Given the immediate context, where Paul has just applied the discussion to himself and Apollos, it is reasonable to conclude that Paul is including Apollos in the category of apostles. This aligns with the broader New Testament pattern, where apostles were those sent out to establish and strengthen churches, a task Apollos was actively engaged in as further evidenced by Titus 3:13.

James, the Lord’s Brother

Paul explicitly calls James an apostle in Galatians 1:19:

“But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.”

Andronicus and Junia

Romans 16:7 refers to Andronicus and Junia as “outstanding among the apostles.” Some scholars interpret this line as them being fellow apostles. Additionally, some debate Junia’s identity, but if she was a woman, this would be a significant recognition as she would be the only explicitly recognized female apostle in the New Testament (though Jesus and Paul had other female co-workers).

Apostleship as an Ongoing Role in Paul’s Letters 

Paul speaks of apostles as part of the church’s necessary leadership in 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 and Ephesians 4:11-16. These passages make clear that apostles were not just historical figures but an ongoing, necessary role in the church:

“And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers…” (Ephesians 4:11).

This passage emphasizes that Christ Himself is the one actively giving apostles to the church—not merely in the past, but in the present. Just as the church continues to have evangelists, pastors, and teachers, so too it continues to have apostles and prophets – we’ll save prophets for another blog as that is not as cut and dry and a lot harder to explain in 1500 words. To remove apostles from this list while affirming the ongoing necessity of the other roles would be an inconsistent reading of the text.

New Testament scholar Clinton Arnold affirms this view:

“Ephesians distinctly presupposes that living apostles and prophets are essential to the church’s life.” (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary, p. 256).

The significance of this cannot be overstated. If apostles were merely a historical office, Paul would not include them in an ongoing list of roles essential for equipping the saints and building up the body of Christ. This means that modern church planters who engage in the work of establishing new churches in unreached areas are best understood as apostles in the biblical sense. Rather than rejecting the term, we should seek to understand its biblical implications and align our missiology accordingly.

Why We Should Still Use “Apostle” Today

We have established that the term “apostle” extended beyond the original Twelve and Paul. This in and of itself shows the active and ongoing role of apostles as important to the early church. But is this all still mere semantics? I think not. Here are three simple reasons we should continue using “apostle”:

1. It’s a Biblical Word
   We do not discard biblical terms like “elder” or “teacher” when they are misunderstood or misused. Instead, we clarify and apply them correctly.
2. Christ is Still Giving Apostles to the Church
   Apostleship is a function that remains vital for the church’s health and mission. Removing the term removes our ability to properly study and apply it in the Church at large.
3. Modern Apostles Are Essential to a Completed Great Commission
   Today’s (little “a”) apostles are not like the Twelve or Paul. They do not have any unique authority over local churches and nothing they write is canonical, but they serve a vital function in:
   • Pushing back darkness
   • Establishing churches
   • Equipping the priesthood of all believers
   • Working in mutual cooperation with elders and church leaders towards ongoing biblical church functions
   • Discovering, developing, and deploying other apostles in conjunction with local churches

Here is the crux of the matter: The word “missionary” today often extends to well-meaning individuals that aren’t explicitly focused on church planting or its associated activities. By keeping the term “apostle,” we preserve its biblical function and call for a more accurate understanding of its role in the church today. Christ still gives apostles to His church for His glory and the church’s good. Let us then embark on a journey to rediscover their vital call and function, according to God’s sufficient Word, toward the goal of reaching every people and place.