Berean Bible Church

Paul, the Apostle

Lesson five

July 11, 2010

Introduction

Romans 1:1 Paul…”called to be an apostle”

The word “apostle’ means: “one sent forth”, “a special messenger” or “one who breaks up new ground” Romans 15:20 explains what we mean by “new ground”

I As I see it: There are ranks among the Apostles named in Scripture

1 Hebrews 3:1 Christ is named an “Apostle” No other holds His office. How often in Scripture do we read “He was sent from God”

2 Revelation 21:14 “twelve apostles of the Lamb”

Their number does not increase nor decrease

Acts 1:2-3 “whom He had chosen”

Acts 1:23-24 whether of these two thou hast chosen

3 Romans 1:1 we shall discover from Scripture that Paul stands in a rank alone as the apostle of the Gentiles. (there is no mention of “apostles” in the Old Testament)

1 Corinthians 9:1 am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Christ?

1 Corinthians 15:8 last of all he was seen of me

4 Acts 14:14 Barnabas is named an apostle

Acts 1:21-22 gives the details as to those who could qualify to hold this office

5. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 speaks of “false apostles”

See also verse 4

II There are two great Revelators in the Bible

Moses in the Old Testament

Paul in the New Testament

Moses received revelation from God and not from any man

Galatians 1:1 Paul was as independent of man as was Moses

III Paul is Jesus Christ’s representative to me and to you today

Romans 15:15-16 others may be “a” minister to the Gentiles, Paul claims to be “the” minister of Christ to the Gentiles

No one else holds that position.

Therefore expect to find Church-truth in all of Paul’s Epistles.

Romans 9:5 As there were “fathers” in Israel

1 Corinthians 4:15 Paul likens himself as a father to the Church

2 Corinthians 11:2 as a father presents his daughter to the groom at a wedding,

Paul, will present the Church, the bride, to Christ

IV Romans 11:13 Paul says: “I am the apostle of the Gentiles”

Romans 16:25 as such, he speaks of “my gospel”

1 Corinthians 9:17 a dispensation of the gospel had been committed to him

V Paul had been put in trust of the gospel as has been no other man

Galatians 2:7-9 He had a ministry not given to Peter, James and John

As we shall learn, Paul received revelations direct from the resurrected Christ

1 Corinthians 14:37 to reject Paul is to reject Christ