Apparently, Paul also counted James, as an apostle. - Gal. 1:19 - This James was not one of the Twelve; in fact, he was not a believer in Jesus before the Crucifixion. It was the resurrected Lord who appeared to James and presumably commissioned him for his ministry. When Paul says Jesus was seen not only by James but also by all the apostles he seems to be describing a wider group than "the Twelve" to whom Jesus appeared earlier. - 1Cor. 15:5-8 -

Apostles are listed along with prophets and other saints as part of the foundation of the household of God. In the New Testament, apostles are confined to the first generation of Christians.

In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers, after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing, helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. - 1Cor. 12:27-28 -

And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelist; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself. - Eph. 4:11-13 -

At an early stage in the Church history, the apostles was separated into mission, Paul and Barnabas were to concentrate on the Good News to the Gentiles; Peter, John and James were to concentrate on the Good News to the Jews.

I was so determined to safeguard for you the true meaning of the Good News that I refused even out of deference to yield to such people for one moment. As a result, these people who are acknowledged leaders - not that their importance matters to me since God has no favourites, these leaders, as I say, had nothing to add to the Good News as I preach it. On the contrary, they recognised that I had been commissioned to preach the Good News to the uncircumcised.

The same person whose action had made Peter the apostle of the circumcised had given me a similar mission to the pagans. So, James, Cephas and John, these leaders, these pillar, shook hands with Barnabas and me as a sign of partnership; we were to go to the pagans and they to the circumcised. - Gal. 2:5-9 -

When persecution erupted, they were the primary targets for attack. Paul in particular, welcome the suffering which he endured as an apostle because it was his way of participating in the suffering of Christ.

The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory. - Rom. 8:16-17 -

Is it that you have everything you want - that you are rich already in possession of your kingdom with us left outside? Indeed, I wish you were really kings and we could be kings with you! But instead, it seems to me, God has put us apostles at the end of his parade, with the men sentenced to death; it is true - we have been put on show in front of the whole universe, angels as well as men. Here we are, fools for the sake of Christ while you are the learned men in Christ; we have no power but you are influential; you are celebrities, we are nobodies.

To this day, we go without food and drink and clothes; we are beaten and have no homes; we work for our living with our own hands. When we were cursed, we answer with a blessing; when we are hounded, we put up with it; we are insulted and we answer politely. We are treated the offal of the world, still to this day, the scum of the earth. - 1Cor. 4:8-13 -

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation who comforts us in all our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves. Indeed, as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so, through Christ, does our consolation and salvation. When, instead, we are comforted, this should be a consolation to you, supporting you in patiently bearing the same sufferings as we bear. And our hope for you is confident since we know that sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolations. - 2Cor. 1:3-7 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -