It is not often that I’ll write something and then find the need to expound on my rather lengthy prose so shortly thereafter. This is such a moment. Only a week ago, I asked not to be burdened with your story, but rather that we should all defer to The Story as revealed in the Bible. Once again, the example of Paul has been raised up as a defense of using our testimonies rather than scripture and Christian evidences for Evangelism and Apologetics. I shall try again with Paul to demonstrate that Paul does nothing of the sort. The confusion lies in the distinction of Paul’s unique position in redemptive history as the Apostle to the Gentiles from our own lives.
Paul wrote twelve letters that are included in the Canon. If Paul wrote Hebrews, then this only helps my argument, but let’s say that he didn’t for my purpose here. In nine of the epistles, Paul begins by claiming that he is an Apostle of Christ Jesus; in one other, he refers to himself as an apostle in the body of the letter. Therefore, the cornerstone of this debate is the defining of the word Apostle.
According to the Bible, an Apostle is one in authority. Matthew 10 is the great passage where Jesus commissions the first twelve apostles for ministry within the Royal family, the Jews. He also differentiates between apostles and disciples in Matthew 10:24-25. In Mark 3:14-15, Jesus says that apostles preach and have the authority to cast out demons. Luke 9 gives us a similar commission of the apostles. This remains the mission statement of the Apostles until after the resurrection when Christ assigns a new mission for the twelve. Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-18, and Luke 24:48 proclaim the new plan also known as the Great Commission: you are witnesses, so spread the Gospel.
It is clear that after the Resurrection and Pentecost, the mission of the apostles has changed. Acts 4:33 talks about the apostles giving their testimony of the resurrection. Once Peter begins to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles, the direction of the whole mission of the apostles and the church shifts again. Paul’s reinterpretation of Old Testament scripture and prophets is presented to the Counsel of Jerusalem, in light of the work of the Holy Spirit through both Peter and Paul. The Jerusalem Counsel confirms the work of Peter and Paul among the Gentiles.
How does Paul lay claim to the title of Apostle? The key lines are Acts 4:33 and Acts 9:15-16. The apostles witness to the resurrection. In order to give testimony to an event, a person must be an eyewitness in order to have credibility. It is this area that Paul’s testimony is germane. Because Paul is the only person after Pentecost who actually gives eyewitness testimony to the resurrection, his testimony is vitally important. Paul is a hostile witness. As a member of the Pharisees, and particularly to the more militant branch, Paul’s credentials as being hostile to Christians is well earned. He has motive and opportunity to continue on the course he had been living. He had no worldly incentive to change his path. This is the instrument that Christ selects to be His final witness to His resurrection until the Last Day. Paul’s suffering is foretold . It is part and parcel to his testimony. The calling of Paul is wrapped up into two parts: Paul did witness the Resurrected Jesus, and Paul will be taught the meaning of suffering. But the key item is his eyewitness account.
Can we then draw a parallel between Paul’s defense of his apostleship in several of his epistles and the idea of our own testimony? The answer to this question is obvious to me. Can anyone of us actually give an eyewitness account to the resurrected Christ? Until such a time, our own testimony is unnecessary and irrelevant. We are not Apostles. Christ is sitting at the Right Hand of God until He comes again in Glory to judge the living and the dead. When he comes back, that’s called the Last Day, the end of this era. It is a great and terrible day. Until that time, we do not witness to his resurrection except from scripture that gives the accounts of the actual witnesses, the Apostles. Our testimony is the scripture.
And so, once again, spare me your story, and I’ll spare you mine. Instead, let’s get busy with telling the Greatest Story ever told, the Gospel. The Word and the Spirit through the Word are where all of the power resides in this world.
--Ogre--
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