What are the marks of a genuine apostle? “Signs and wonder?” Visions and dreams? Eloquent speech and a commanding presence? Such things are wonderful and have their place, but are they criteria by which disciples of Jesus can evaluate claims of apostolic authority?
The
Apostle Paul provides us with insight into this question in his second letter
to the Corinthians. Some voices were challenging his apostolic credentials, and
they derided him: “His
bodily presence is weak and his speech of no account.”
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| [Photo by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash] |
Unlike Paul, the alleged “super-apostles” who opposed him had letters of commendation from Jerusalem, and they could point to the abundance of their visions and their Jewish pedigrees.
Nevertheless, Paul labeled them “false
apostles,” and men who were preaching “another Jesus” and a “different
gospel.” In contrast to his opponents, he pointed to the things that he suffered
for the Gospel to validate his authority:
- “Are they ministers of Christ? So am I - In labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods. Once was I stoned. Thrice I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day have I been in the deep - in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness…Who is weak, and I am not weak? If I must glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness.”
Yes, miracles did occur in his ministry. Yes, he experienced visions and revelations, and once he received a vision of the “third heaven.” Nevertheless, these things did NOT confirm or define his apostleship or ministry.
What truly mattered, and what Paul learned through his sufferings,
was that the grace of God WAs
sufficient, especially when manifested despite or even in our human
weaknesses:
- “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made complete in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, IN PERSECUTIONS, in distresses, for the sake of Jesus - for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Paul’s “qualifications” stood
in stark contrast to many of today’s “apostles” and “prophets,” the very ones who
point to their “signs and wonders,” visions, multiple visits to the “third heaven,”
and angelic visitations as proof of their apostolic and prophetic authority,
and their “spirituality.”
Does this mean
that a person must suffer as Paul did to be a legitimate apostle? No. However,
if any alleged prophet or apostle claims that God only wants to prosper his
people or that suffering is never His will, or points to “mighty signs and
wonders,” visions and dreams as the irrefutable evidence of his or her divine
appointment to apostolic "office," grab your wallet and RUN!
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