WHO WERE THE OFFICIAL TWELVE APOSTLES?

First came Andrew and his brother Simon Peter, and later, tradition says, James and John, sons of Zebedee. John seems to have been the closest to Jesus during his lifetime, and the Gospel of John is attributed to him. His brother James became the first head of the Church in Jerusalem during its first Councils, as recorded in the early chapters of Acts. Then came Phillip and Nathaniel, perhaps also brothers. Finally, there was Matthew, also called Levi; Thomas; James (the first head of the church); Simon the Zealot; and his brother Judas, who became infamous for betraying Jesus to the Jews.

Only about half of these apostles seem to have played a role in the early church’s creation and development. The number twelve likely comes from the fact that Israel had twelve sons and tribes in Genesis. After Judas’ suicide, the early church replaced him in the official list of Apostles, but he never appears again in the New Testament. Nor does Matthias. Paul of Tarsus later referred to himself as an “Apostle born out of season” because of the crucial role he came to have in the establishment of the early church through his missionary travels and letters to many early churches

In some ways, this whole business of Apostleship seems rather awkward. Jesus never really established a “church” of believers or organized his followers into any sort of hierarchy. James and Peter both seem to have “stepped up” at crucial junctures, but no record shows any official group or event formally “established” their activity. Jesus himself never seemed concerned with forming an “official” group among his followers. It was not long, however, before the “official” church was established in Rome, marking the beginning of what we know as the “Christian era.” Jesus seemed to prefer an informal arrangement among his disciples, and I think this better fit his message and person.

Indeed, an informal, direct character to relationships, even with Jesus himself, seems more characteristic of Jesus’ understanding of human relationships with God and one another. I realize this is rather “wishful thinking” on my part, but I would maintain that the Christian Church in general has come a long way from its initial beginnings and its original meaning. Perhaps the Brethren churches are closer to what Jesus intended. Or maybe it’s too late to worry about such things. I still think Jesus would resist hierarchies.