Apostolic Authority and Spiritual Submission

The twelve apostles surely held a unique place in God’s economy. But there were other apostles like Paul, Barnabus, James, Timothy and Silas. The chief work of an apostle is to raise up local assemblies. Do apostles have official authority to control the affairs of local churches?

There is a distinction between the church and the work. The work was the responsibility of the workers who raise and establish churches and then move on. The church is the responsibility of the responsible brothers (elders)who are part of the local assembly.

So, as the apostles raised up the assembly, they partially were responsible for the church but this was an incubation phase. That is why Paul rented his own house to conduct apostolic meetings alongside the church in Acts 28--and why he had meetings in the school of Tyrannus.

These meetings were "equipping" or "teaching" meetings. The apostles never settled down to “officially pastor” local churches. They always had their eye on moving on. The Work is roving, regional. The Church is local and resident. A careful study of Paul’s apostolic journeys reveal that he spent astonishingly little time in planting churches. Four months each in the case of the Galatian churches. He would lay a solid foundation and leave.

Paul had a delegated authority to build up the church
2 Corinthians 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

But Paul encouraged churches to judge his words to see if they were of God. Not to accept them unconditionally.

1 Corinthians 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

It is clear from the persuasive tone that permeates his letters, that Paul treated the churches as a father would treat his adult children, not as toddlers. In this way, Paul gave his judgment on church affairs not unilateral decrees.

1 Corinthians 5:3-5, 12-13 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Paul reaches his own judgment, but then tells the entire church to discipline him on its own. Paul did not issue a unilateral decree settling the matter but urged the congregation to do so. Paul did not want the churches to be dependent on Him but on Christ! So he progressively moved then in this direction.

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Paul refrained from using the very strong word "epitage" (commandment) to charge obedience to himself.

1 Corinthians 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of (epitage) commandment.

1 Corinthians 7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment (epitage) of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

When Paul did urge “commands”, it had to do with the authority of the Lord!

2 Thess 3:6-7 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command (paraggello) you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

2 Thess 3:12 Such people we command (paraggello) and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

Paraggelllo means a message transmitted from someone else! He was communicating the command of God!

When Paul called the believers to action, we find him urging , “beseeching”, and appealing, rather than issuing authoritarian decrees.

Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

At times, when he needed to be sharp, he enjoined obedience to Christ rather than himself.

Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

Because Paul often spoke the word of the Lord. he could say that those who rejected his words , rejected not him but Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.

Paul’s whole outlook of apostolic authority is crystallized in the following

2 Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

So we see that apostolic authority is delegated by God for a specific region. This authority is not to issue authoritarian decrees. But the empowerment to build up the church through expressing the mind, will, word of God. As this Word is expressed, it is authoritative , not by virtue of it coming from the apostle, but as it reflects God’s Mind.