Dear Reader: -- Our Lord Comes!

I did a search for the word apostle. There were 80 hits at BibleGateway.com -- The results are detailed at the bottom of this page:

There have been many postings at inJesus.com, and other places on the Internet,  about and around this word "apostle."

We all know of the dangers when someone feels appointed to an office and gets a title. I (ken) personally do not have any problems with descriptive titles.  Yet we all know the Pride and Secretive Superiority which can come from titles.  We, as Christians must remember, "God is no respecter of persons:"    Acts 10:34-35

We also know the dangers when that title and position claims authority, power, financial support, and obedience.

As I understand it, the word "apostle" has a generic meaning of "sent," just as the word "disciple" means "follower."  The term apostle also means the original twelve men "sent" directly by Jesus.  Sent, anointed, approved, by the Lord Himself.  Jesus literally laid His hands on them.  As I read the accounts, sometimes He probably wanted to really lay a hand on them.  When Matthias was appointed apostle it was to make up the number of the original twelve, in place of the traitor.    See  Acts 1:20-22    Acts 1:13-26    Revelation 21:14

There have also been many postings at inJesus.com, and other places on the Internet, about and around the Scripture text "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."    1 John 2:27

Dear Reader, you are a smart person.  With the Bible, prayer, the Holy Spirit's guidance, and common sense, God can "guide you into all truth."  Be like the noble Bereans.  Let His Spirit guide you into truth having your "senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
    Hebrews 5:14    John 16:13    Ephesians 4:15    Ephesians 4:11-15    Acts 17:10-11
  (Note: It was truth Paul needed to get out of Thessalonica fast.)

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"    Romans 1:20

If the Holy Spirit is the one who guides you into all truth, what do you need a titled apostle for?  Any one breathing creature could be "sent" by God to help His Spirit guide you.  Often things and circumstances are most definitely "sent" by Him to teach us.    Hebrews 12:6

But, What do you really need, or get, from a title?  I should hope God would "send" me several godly people, along my way, to help teach me His ways.  Jesus has sent me personally several godly people over the years.  God has Sent People who have taught me timely lessons, which I needed to learn, then.  (Note: The apostle Phillip's transpositional encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch.)    Acts 8:26-40

Of course, the Bible speaks of apostles, and prophets, and evangelists, and pastors, and teachers.  These are necessary and proper functions in "the body of Christ."
(the body of Christ exact phrase search) -- The church of the "first begotten."
    Revelation 1:5    Revelation 1:1-8

The Bible also speaks of bishops, and elders, and deacons and preachers.  The Bible also speaks of false apostles, and false teachers.  The Bible says "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."    James 3:1

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."  John 16:13  -- Does you mean you, or just You?   

And while I am at it. . . As to Joel 2:28 -- "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:" -- see also Acts 2:16-18

In those texts His Spirit is poured on all flesh.  The church's sons & daughters & old men & young men see dreams and visions.  I believe those texts speak about YOUR dreams and YOUR visions, not someone else's.  Virtually every time in the Bible you have dreams and visions and messages sent, they are sent to a specific individual to tell THEM to do something.  If you get a dream or vision from God, then YOU will have something God wants to tell You.  If He does have something to say to you personally, He will tell you.  If He does not, one does not have to make something up based on feelings.

People should not be afraid to back away from things which are questionable.  Like a very good friend told me, "Don't pound your tent pegs in too deep, you never know when you may need to move the tent."

We have Bible Prophecy as a "light shining in a dark place."  If you need more, God will send you the right person.  If you need dreams or visions, God will give them to you.  When God is ready, and when it is necessary, He will tell you what you should do.    2 Peter 1:19
    Isaiah 8:20    see Matthew 2:12  &  Matthew 2:22

At your service in Jesus the Christ, Ken Floyd

BibleGateway Word Searches -- Holy Bible -- King James Version

Apostle:
Total Hits: 80; Lower case hits: 79; Upper case hits: 1
Of the above, context noted are as follows:

As name or title of twelve direct appointments by Jesus Christ -- 40 hits
As General term for "sent" -- 16 hits
As appointment of Matthias by 11 apostles -- 1 hit
As Paul's assertion of apostleship as per public vision -- 20 hits
As Peter using His title as salutation to specific (sent) -- 2 hits
As Title for Jesus -- Capitalized -- ". . . the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;" -- Hebrews 3:1 -- 1 Hit

Though all may not agree with the above determinations, it is noted within my understanding.

Notes:  In fairness it must be noted Paul wrote more than others.

Luke 6:13 -- Name apostle given to twelve by Jesus
Romans 16:7 -- does not say these people were apostles, just among the apostles
1 Corinthians 9:5 -- general term apostle; Brothers of Jesus distinct from apostles;
Galatians 1:1 -- apostle is declared by Jesus Christ & God
Galatians 1:17 -- general term apostle
2 Corinthians 11:13 --  Can be false apostles sent
Revelation 2:2 -- lying apostles; "sent not"
Jude 1:17 --  Jude, brother of Jesus, not considered apostle
Galatians 1:19 -- Paul appears to confer title of apostle on James the brother of Jesus; Note three "James" -- apostle James the son of Zebedee, James the son of Alphaeus, James the brother of Jesus and Jude -- See also Acts 1:13 & Jude 1:1
1 Corinthians 15:3-11 -- Paul makes distinction between "the twelve" and James (brother of Jesus?) and other apostles; Paul saw Jesus too; Paul declares personal apostle title; no one but Paul calls Paul an apostle -- (apostle+paul search)
Luke 11:49 -- prophets also "sent"
Acts 1:2 -- "apostles whom he had chosen:"
1 Peter 1:1 & 2 Peter 1:1 -- "an apostle of Jesus Christ, to"
Jude 1:17 -- writer's distinction of Jude brother of Jesus and apostles
See Revelation2:2;18:20;21:14

apostle -- 80 hits
prophet -- 454
evangelist -- 3
pastor -- 9
teacher -- 19
teach -- 169
bishop -- 6
elder -- 194
deacon -- 5
preacher -- 11
preach -- 145
disciple -- 256

It should also be noted there has always been some striving for supremacy and the attitude of "I am just a little better than you" in the church. This was true when Jesus rebuked the disciples. This was true when James the brother of Jesus took control of the early church. This was the "mystery of iniquity" that all ready works.  Its final outgrowth is "Babylon the mother of harlots."    (should+be+greatest search)    2 Thessalonians 2:7-8    Revelation 17:5