2024/05/02 - By Larry Kreider
Much is written about apostles, but most of what is written focuses on only one or two different types of apostles. I believe there are at least ten different types of modern-day apostles modeled
in the New Testament. They have different functions as they exercise the apostolic authority the Lord has given them. Following is a list of ten different types of apostles.
The Paul-type apostle is a modern-day apostle sent by the Lord with a burning vision to establish a family or families of churches. This vision will burn in his or her heart until it is fulfilled. The call is affirmed by other apostles and spiritual leaders in the body of Christ (see Gal.1:18-22).
A Paul-type apostle is sometimes referred to as an overseeing apostle. The Lord brings others alongside this apostle to fill in what is lacking in his or her gifts so the vision can be fulfilled. Paul was called by God to build local churches among the Gentiles, but a team of apostles served with him (see 1 Timothy 1:1-4; Titus 1).
In 1996, the Lord called a group of us to start a family of churches, now established on six continents, called DOVE Christian Fellowship International. I was asked to serve as the International Director. Other spiritual leaders in the body of Christ confirmed to me and to those on our team that my role is to serve as a modern-day Paul-type apostolic leader. We are a new family of churches.
The Lord has used thousands of Paul-type apostolic leaders to establish new families of churches in the body of Christ throughout the nations.
While Paul was called to the Gentiles, Peter was clearly called to minister to the Jews—those who grew up in institutional religion. The Peter-type apostle seems to be a modern-day apostle who is called to minister within the structure of institutional churches.
I have many friends who have a clear apostolic call to stay within their long-established denominations and bring change within these conventional structures. Although this has not been my personal call, I admire them for obeying the Lord and embracing a Peter-type apostolic call. Peter and Paul each clearly understood their respective fields of ministry and affirmed one another (see Galatians 2:7-9).
The Timothy-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who is affirmed and commissioned to help fulfill the vision received by the Paul or Peter-type apostle. A Timothy-type apostle receives authority from the Lord and from the Paul- or Peter-type apostle who leads the team with whom he or she serves. This apostle is sent out by the overseeing apostle with specific instructions and mandates that will contribute to the main goal the Lord has given to the apostolic team. The specific sphere of ministry is given by the Lord and by the overseeing apostle with whom he or she serves. Both Timothy and Titus were sent by Paul to establish elders and oversee churches. Timothy-type apostles become pastors to pastors.
The Titus-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who is sent out by a Paul-type apostle to oversee a region. For example, Titus was sent by Paul to oversee the new churches on the island of Crete (see Titus 1:5).
Titus had apostolic authority to straighten out anything that needed to be corrected and to oversee this region. In some denominations this gift is called a “district superintendent” or a “bishop.”
This person is fulfilling the role of a modern-day Titus-type apostle.
The James-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who has God-given spiritual authority in a city or a local area. Sometimes this type of apostle serves as a megachurch pastor. James was appointed by
God to serve the church in Jerusalem (see Acts 15).
James could be compared to many of today’s megachurch pastors. He had apostolic authority in the city of Jerusalem. Whenever apostles or church leaders came to Jerusalem, they met with James and the elders (see Acts 12:17; 21:18). I am convinced that most, if not all megachurch pastors, have an apostolic gift from the Lord. This is why it is ludicrous for a pastor to attend a leaders’ conference at a megachurch and believe that if he just does everything the mega-church pastor does, he or she can also lead a megachurch. In most cases, a James-type apostolic gift is needed to lead a large church.
The Apollos-type apostle is a modern-day apostle with a strong teaching gift. Apollos is called an apostle in the Scriptures and he served as an apostle who had a dynamic teaching ministry (see Acts 18:24-28; 1 Corinthians 4: 6,9).
Apollos had been given apostolic authority for the ministry of teaching the Scriptures. There are many Apollos-type apostles in the body of Christ today; they are just not recognized as such. Pastor Bill Johnson is one example. He is an apostolic leader with a global teaching ministry who teaches the Scriptures with great authority.
The Luke-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who serves in the marketplace. Luke, a doctor, served on Paul’s apostolic team sent out to Antioch to plant churches worldwide. He was a model of a modern-day marketplace apostolic minister who serves in business, government, education, the arts, and media. These important apostolic gifts need to be recognized by church leaders and commissioned and released to serve in kingdom building in the marketplace.
When I ministered at a seminar hosted by Chinese believers in Southern California, they told about a third kind of church springing up throughout China. In the past, there were government-sanctioned churches in China, often called the three-self churches (having the three principles of self-governance, self-support and self-propagation).
There were also the underground micro churches with more than 100 million believers involved in them.
The third type of church in China is the church that is springing up in factories and manufacturing plants throughout the nation.
Owners of businesses are starting new churches in their manufacturing plants for the benefit of their workers and the workers’ families. Each weekend, hundreds of believers gather together in the manufacturing plant to worship the Lord and receive Bible teaching. These new churches are starting because of modern-day Luke-type apostles.
The Barnabas-type apostle is a modern-day networking apostle who is a true spiritual father or mother. Barnabas, an apostle in the early church, had grace from the Lord as a networker. For example, when many in the early church were afraid of Saul due to his background of persecuting believers in Christ, Barnabas saw potential in him. When Barnabas noticed a great need for an apostolic teacher in Antioch, he invited Saul to serve with the Antioch church. It was here that Barnabas and Saul were sent out as apostles to start new churches in other regions. When the time was right (see Acts 13:13), Barnabas was willing to allow Saul to lead the apostolic team. He was a true spiritual father.
The Silas-type apostle serves in a supportive way as an assistant to a lead apostle. Both Timothy-type apostles and Silas-type apostles serve on apostolic teams with a lead apostle, but Silas seemed to be a key assistant to Paul. When Barnabas decided not to join Paul on his second missionary journey, Silas was chosen to go along with Paul as his assistant and companion (see Acts 15:40). Both Silas and Timothy served with Paul on his apostolic team and are often mentioned in Scripture together (see Acts 17:14-15; 18:5; 2 Cor.1:19). Yet, Silas is always mentioned first. In 1 Peter 5:12, Paul refers to Silas as a faithful brother who has helped him.
The John-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who can be characterized as an apostle of love. The greatest emphasis in the life of the apostle John was love. This type of apostolic father has great influence in the body of Christ, but may not fit into one of the other apostolic roles spelled out in this list. However, he or she is committed to unity in the body of Christ and has an ability to cross denominational lines due to the God-given apostolic authority.
One example of a John-type apostle is Jack Hayford. Author, minister and Chancellor of The King’s University, Hayford is the founding pastor of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California. Hayford is an acknowledged “bridge-builder,” helping to forge healthy bonds among all segments of the body of Christ. He is recognized for his balance in preaching the Word, avoiding extremes while not diluting or compromising the demands of truth and bringing unity across all denominational boundaries.
Although I have named ten specific types of apostles, not everyone falls neatly into these ten categories. Some apostolic leaders have a gift mix. For example, a megachurch pastor could have a James-type apostolic gift and also be an apostolic-teacher (Apollos-type) apostle. He might also lead a movement of churches and have
Larry is founder of DOVE International and also serves in the DOVE Europe team. Larry initially served for 15 years as senior pastor of DOVE Christian Fellowship in Pennsylvania, which grew from a single small group of believers to over 2,300 in 10 years. Today, DOVE believers are found meeting in more than 1000 local churches.
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