I. Definitions of "Apostle" apostolos: Jesus (Heb. 3:1), the Twelve (Matt. 10:2),
Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:14), others (Rom. 16:7, Phil. 2:25, 2 Cor. 8:23)
Witness to the resurrection (Acts 1:26)
Head of Israel (Rev. 21:14)
Foundation of the Church (Eph. 2:20)
Missionary of the Gospel (Matt. 10:2)
II. From Apostles to Apostolicity The Twelve Apostles are irreplaceable foundations of the later Church
Apostolicity names the later Church's fidelity to the earliest Church
Apostolicity describes the Church's center and its mission across boundaries
III. Catholic Apostolicity
The Holy Spirit communicates the Church through apostles' successors
Thus bishops (episkopoi) and elders (presbuteroi) (Acts 20:28, Titus 1:5)
Antioch, Rome, and other prominent cities soon had monarchical bishops:
Polycarp of Smyrna, 100; Clement of Rome, 90; Ignatius of Antioch, 67
IV. Protestant Apostolicity
Formal apostolicity seemed at odds with biblical apostolicity
Reformers: Apostolicity is fidelity to the apostles' canonical writings (Scripture)
Reform might change polity (Reformed, radical) or not (Anglican, Lutheran)
No clear New Testament pattern replaces episcopal leadership
General models: Episcopal, presbyterian, congregational
V. "Spirit-Baptism" as (Sharing Christ's) Charismatic Anointing
All assume Church leadership is charismatic (Spirit-given) leadership
Must charismata have a formal episcopal medium (Acts 8:17, 1 Tim. 4:14)?
Or arise spontaneously (Acts 10:44-48) and be confirmed in other ways?
Models of Spiritual giving of leadership: Hierarchical; congregational; inspirational; popular; immediate; unpredictable
VI. Missionary Apostolicity
Being sent into the world commits the Church to new works of the Spirit
Apostolicity shifts as Scripture is canonized and creeds are developed
Apostolicity changes further as the Church becomes "Constantinian" and as the Gospel moves beyond the Roman world
Constant change means organic open-endedness and organizational variety
No particular model has the last word on Church organization
Development, primitivism, or both? The Church changes to stay the same
Apostolicity discerns deep continuity with the original apostles and the Holy Spirit's sending into the eschatological frontier
VIII. Case Studies 1. Women's eligibility to the ordained congregational pastorate
2. Celibate male priesthood
3. Parachurch independence from churchly accountability
