JEFF TURNER
In 1 Corinthians 12:28, the Bible lists different roles in the church, starting with apostles. This order is important because it shows the special place apostles had in the early Christian community.
Apostles were the first group chosen by Jesus. There were twelve of them, all witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. After Judas left, Matthias took his place. These men were the first to preach the gospel and teach what Jesus had shown them. The teachings they shared became known as the apostles’ doctrine. Early Christians would meet to learn from these teachings, which formed the foundation of the church.
The apostles also received special messages from God and wrote much of the New Testament. Because of their role, they are given a unique honor in Christian history. Paul is also counted among the apostles, even though he was not one of the original twelve.
After the apostles came prophets, who were early preachers who received guidance from God to help the church. Next were teachers, who helped explain the faith clearly. These roles are similar to today’s pastors and teachers. Evangelists, who focus on sharing the gospel with those outside the church, also play a key part, as seen in Ephesians.
The apostles hold a special place as the foundation of the church, a group that cannot be repeated. The church was built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. I hope this understanding helps explain how the early church was organized and why apostles had a unique role.
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,
Ephesians 2:20
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