Originally posted by mossrose
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Somewhat similarly, "evangelist" is used of at most two specific people -- Phillip in Acts 21:8, and Timothy in 2 Tim. 4:5. (I say "at most" because that second example is ambiguous. It's not clear whether Timothy "was" an evangelist, or whether he was to "do the work of" one, with or without actually being one.)
Apostle here is a term used particularly of the 12 disciples who had seen the risen Christ. Please see my previous post on Acts 1. This include Matthias. Paul was set apart later as the Apostle to the Gentiles and was numbered with the other Apostles.
All of these Apostles were chosen by Christ, including Paul, so as to be called "apostles of Christ", Galatians 1:1
And 1 Peter 1:1
Galatians 1
Back to Ephesians, the apostles were given the jobs of laying the foundation of the church, 2:20
to receive, declare and write God's word, 3:5,
and to give confirmation of the word through signs and wonders and miracles. 2 Corinthians 12:12
As for others, such as Timothy and Barnabas and Silas, etc., they are called "apostles of the churches" instead of "apostles of Christ",
2 Cor. 8:23
Now, since I posted earlier about Timothy not being called an apostle, I have come across 1 Thessalonians 2:6,
So, I will concede that Timothy was a small-a apostle, one of those in the latter category of "apostle of the churches".
All of these Apostles were chosen by Christ, including Paul, so as to be called "apostles of Christ", Galatians 1:1
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
And 1 Peter 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
Galatians 1
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles,
16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles,
Back to Ephesians, the apostles were given the jobs of laying the foundation of the church, 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
to receive, declare and write God's word, 3:5,
which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
and to give confirmation of the word through signs and wonders and miracles. 2 Corinthians 12:12
The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
As for others, such as Timothy and Barnabas and Silas, etc., they are called "apostles of the churches" instead of "apostles of Christ",
2 Cor. 8:23
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
Now, since I posted earlier about Timothy not being called an apostle, I have come across 1 Thessalonians 2:6,
Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
So, I will concede that Timothy was a small-a apostle, one of those in the latter category of "apostle of the churches".
On the whole, I'm not sure it's any "stronger" than my inference from 1 Thess. 1:1 with 2:7. I agree that "apostle" was used in different senses. But in cases like that one and Acts 14:14, where "someone" and Paul are grouped together under the "apostle" label, I see little reason to believe they were two sharply distinct kinds of "apostle."
ETA: This video by Ben Witherington seems pretty much in line with Mossy:
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