SGs - Apostles

What is This Gift?

See the following Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:28, Acts 1:12-26, 1 Corinthians 15:7-9

The gift of Apostleship is the "first" gift according to Paul not because it is the first in importance, but first in chronology. It was the first gift given. Apostleship is a gift of leadership authority by which the recipient is entrusted by God to open the door of salvation to new people groups. Interestingly, Jesus tells Peter that "whatever he binds will be bound and whatever he lossens will be loosened" (Mt 16:18-19) and Peter opened the door of salvation to the Jews, Samaritans, and the Gentiles.

The twelve Apostles presided as the elders of the church of Jerusalem until at least a generation, for they were all still there at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). Yet it was James (Jesus' brother) who seemed to lead the group and not Peter. Church history tells us that soon after this council, the apostles went out as far as India, Spain, Russia, and Egypt with the Gospel.

Are there still apostles today? Missionaries serve in the role with a lowercase "a" but certianly the job of opening the doors of salvation was a one-time gig, accompished by the first twelve (or thirteen, depending on your count).