(Continued from page 13)                             ___ 14 "Marks" cont. ___

*Paul wrote that the resurrected Lord appeared to "the Twelve" and later to "all the apostles" (1 Co 15:3-8). Are "all the apostles" different from "the Twelve"? Mat 10:2-4 gives a listing (by name) of the "twelve apostles"; Yet, 1 Thess. 1:1 and 2:6 also refer to Paul, Silas and Timothy as "apostles." Rom 16:7 evidently refers to two more apostles, Andronious and Junias. In Ac 14:14, Luke referred to Barnabas as an "apostle." Finally, James (the Lord's brother) certainly seems to have been grouped as an apostle in Gal 1:18-19 and 2:9. In what sense were these other people "apostles"?

It is unlikely that we shall ever again encounter an apostle in the sense that "the Twelve" were apostles. However, the church always has had and will continue to have apostles in the sense that Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, and Epaphroditus were apostles. That is, church planters sent out to evangelize, start churches, train and appoint leaders, and then move on to another location.

Lastly, none of this says anything about  the Seventy, men appointed, who had the IDENTICAL duties of THE TWELVE..


NO SALARIED [PAID] MINISTRY
Although NO Church can conduct Missions, (church plantings and such) without money (including the cost of Travel, Lodging and meals), the Ministry is NOT to be SALARIED. Even if your church holds meetings in homes, the Ministry CANNOT expect to always find FREE Lodging, meals and such, when among non-Christians, especially in foreign countries. Still, the Ministry is NOT to be SALARIED. PERIOD!

Several arguments are often offered in supposed refutation of this idea, but when one CAREFULLY reads the Scripture, any support for a Paid Ministry, fails miserably, because support is simply NOT THERE! Here is, probably, the main argument for a Paid Ministry:

THE ARGUMENT
SUPPOSEDLY, Paul defends a paid ministry in 1 Corinthians 9.  Again, SUPPOSEDLY, Paul concludes that so-called, pastors should be supported by comparing the minister to a soldier, a vinedresser, and a shepherd. Does that soldier go to war at his own expense? Does the vinedresser not eat of the fruit he has planted? Does not the shepherd drink the milk of his own flock?
THE ANSWER
YES, Paul concludes, quite correctly, by the way, that those who minister about holy things should be supported by it! But let's listen to the WHOLE Story. First, Paul says:
Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? ~1Co 9:13 

The Priests of old lived off of the STORES (storehouses), the GOODS inside; that is, FOOD! They did NOT live off of Money. Read it for yourself in the Old Testament, but, for now, let us concentrate on the New Testament. What did Jesus DO and say about this matter? When He appointed THE TWELVE, and later THE SEVENTY He told them the following:

" into whatever city or village you enter, inquire who within it is worthy. And THERE abide until you go away from there. Mat 10:11;  And remain in the same HOUSE, eating and drinking the things shared by them; for the laborer is worthy of his hire.

Notice, all through the New Testament, the Gospels and Epistles, that the Church Met in Homes, Houses owned by Believers. Christ and His Disciples Stayed in Homes, eating whatever was served them. Paul Barnabus, Timothy, etc., did the same, following Christ's lead! Paul for some time did not even accept money (expenses) for travel and Lodging, even to places where no Christians lived, and he worked between preachings as a Tentmaker,  1Co_9:18, so as not to be a burden on the church.

Yes, the Ministry needs money for the cost of Travel, and some Lodging and meals, but the Ministry is NOT to be SALARIED. Notice, also, the SUPPOSED "Collection" in 1Cor 16:1 (see, also: Rom_15:26) was for a special occasion--the relief of the sorely straitened Jews, in the midst of a famine and great tribulation; it was NOT for the general relief of the world's poor or such! This Aid was FOR the Temporary use of Homeless or UNUSUALLY Poor Jews because of very UNUSUAL HARD Times ONLY.  For: "The  poor saints which are at Jerusa

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