Athlete

      The author of the Hebrews has pictured Jesus as an athlete who has already run a course and set an example for us. And we have to run “with patience the race that is set before us.” Heb. 12:1.  Paul in his epistles asks us to maintain self-discipline and abide by the rules to win the race like the athlete.

“-------if any one completes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he completes according to the rules” IITim 2:5(NIV). Our whole life and ministry are liken to a race or course for a crown.

Also see ICor 9:24; Gal 5:7

1. Apostle

The word “apostolos” means sent of God, enoy, ambassador, messenger (Ps 40:7-8; Heb 3:1; 10:5-8).

(1) In the N.T., Jesus is called the Apostle (Heb 3:1) sent by God to be the Savior of the world. John uses the verb “apostellein” to mean “to send away”, or to “send forth” in his gospel. Many times Jesus Himself said that He was sent of God (see Jn 5:23; 6:44; 10:31; 12:49; 14:24; 17:18; 20:21)

       to speak the words of God                         Jn 7:28-29

       to do the will of God                                  Jn 6:38

       to reveal God Himself                                Jn 5:37-47

       to give eternal life                                       Jn 17:2-3

(2) In the gospel of Mathew, Mark and Luke, the twelve disciples of Jesus are called the apostles. Mt 10:20; Mk 6:13; 9:10; 17:5; 22:14; 24:10;Acts 1:26; 2:43; 4:35,37; 5:2. The apostles of Jesus were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ works and resurrection.

(3) Paul claims the title, apostle also for himself in his epistles,

“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the father, who raised him from the dead). Gal 1:1 also see Eph 1:1; ICor 1:1; Rom 1:1; ITim 1:1; IITim 1:1; Tit 1:1

     Paul also uses the term apostle in a broader sense for a group of witnesses of the risen Lord. Rom 16:7; Acts 15:5-6, 13; Gal 1:19; ICor 9:1-6; Gal 2:9 cf Acts 14:4

(4) In a far broader sense, the members of the Church are also the apostles, priests, kings, servants and saints of God appointed to work together for the edification of the whole Church, i.e., the body of Christ and be a witness unto the entire world. Eph 2:20; 4:11; ICor 12:1-11; 28-29.

Name of the Author of this article: Dr. Surya Kumar Daimari, MA,M.Ed, PGDTE,D.Min.(Doctor of Ministry)
The author is a freelance writer.
Book published: The Names of the Believers in the Bible in Types and Symbols .
https://outskirtspress.com/thenamesofthebelieversinthebible