Apostles Today?

Every now and then, a debate surfaces over the issue of Apostles today.

Now I am speaking of those who claim there are still Apostles alive today, and that the original apostles were not the end...but it was a "gift" or "appointment" still in effect.

Personally, I lean towards the traditional view that, no, there are no apostles today.  The original apostles were appointed for a reason, much like the canon of the scripture, was set in place for the beginning of the Church age.

A great quote is found here:

 During the first century of the church, there was an office of apostle and there was a spiritual gift of apostle. The office or position of apostle was held by the 12 disciples of Jesus plus Matthias, who took Judas’ place, and Paul. Those who held the office or position of apostle were chosen specifically by Christ (Mark 3:16-19). The replacement for Judas is seen in Acts 1:20-26. Note in this passage that Judas' position was called an office. It should also be noted that Paul was chosen by Christ (1 Corinthians 15:8-9; Galatians 1:1; 2:6-9). These men were given the task of setting up the foundation of the church. It should be understood that it was for the universal church that these men were a part of the foundation (Ephesians 2:20). The foundation of the church (universal church) was laid in the first century. This is why the office of apostle is no longer functioning.

Although, sadly, a lot is filtered with the non-scriptural notion that gifts also ceased....but no where in scripture do we find that....it is just a conclusion that is actually not found in the Bible.

 I know that not everyone agrees with me. But I would be more inclined to accept someone who is an apostle if they:

1. Were appointed by Jesus Himself to be an apostle.

2.  Had seen the Risen Jesus as well.

2 Peter 1:1 opens up in a great way.  It states:

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours"

 Notice how he states that he is a "servant" before he lays hold of the "apostle" label?

Beware of men in today's day and age advertizing their "apostle" label, even showing up in Church explaining why they are an "apostle". They are clinging to authority that is not theirs to cling to.

And why try to claim the label of apostle?  What purpose?  That you have authority over everyone? That everyone should listen to you?

I know, I know.  Lots of controversy. Piper and MacArthur for starters.

Will we ever know?  One of those issues where I have friends on both sides. But this is what I believe anyways....there are no apostles alive today. Some might have a form of apostolic ministry....but apostles?   Nah...I just don't see it in the Bible

Research..never giving up

Historical research is funny.  You go through dry times, and then, all of a sudden, a flood comes.  It was like that this year with some ongoing research I had been doing on our family.  One specific set of records alluded me.  These dealt with the father of my grandmother, Elisabeth Dieser Gerk.  Her Dad, Johannes Dieser, was an allusive historical character.  The family had birth dates for him and did not seem to fit, and no document survived the years they spent in the GULAG.

I even entertained the thought that perhaps he was adopted, and we would never close that file!  Given the difficulty it is trying to get archival materials from Russia already, I just chalked it up to an unfinished piece of historical research.

Well, I am amazed.  After 30 years of looking, associates in the archives found the missing piece of history.

The Birth/Baptism record for my great-grandfather, Johannes Dieser.  Born 29 January, 1874, and Baptized the next day...son of Valentin Dieser and Anna Margareta Belendir. He was born in Josefstal, which was part of the Catholic Parish of Marienfeld.

But that was not all.  Here is a copy of the marriage record for my great-grandparents: Johannes Dieser and Marie Eva Heit.

This is a full page from the marriage book for Marienfeld, weddings all taking place on November 8th, 1894.

It lists 3 weddings that day, (there could be more on another page). Of course it lists the parents of the Bride and Groom, Valentin Dieser and Anna Maria Bellendir for Johannes, and Adam Heit and Anna Margareta Gette for Bride Marie Eva.

Johannes will die in the spring of 1933, in the Caucasus, due to complications in surgery...in a weakened condition due to the Great Famine of the 1930's.  Marie Eva, my great-grandmother, will starve to death in the summer of 1933, in her village of Josefstal.

The next question I had was about my grandmother's grandfather, Valentin Dieser.

In my interviews with her, my grandmother told me the story of how her father was so upset about losing his Dad at a young age.  So upset, that one day he wanted to do to the cemetery to "dig" up his Dad...just so he could see him again...or be close to his remains.  My grandmother thought that her father was 2 when his father (Valentin Dieser) died.  She also thought she remembered that her Mom was 10 or 11 when her father (Adam Heit) died.

So...I was given the death record for Valentin. It states that Valentin Dieser died on 12 October 1885 in Josefstal at the age of 55.

My great-grandfather, Johannes Dieser, would have been 11 years old.

So...in my quest to prove my grandmother's stories, I discovered that she was partially right...she just got the parents mixed up.

These are the "puzzles" I love to do....trying to find the missing pieces...

This is one file that can be closed now....documented for my family.