The Timothy Conference

T H E T I M O T H Y C O N F E R E N C E

workers.” Under his pen, this term seems to have become a technical label to designate people who identified closely with him in his church-planting efforts as frontline, pioneer missionaries. Interestingly, the same people whom Paul calls “apostles” are also referred to as his “co-workers”—Barnabas (1 Corinthians 9.5-6, cf. Acts 14.14; Colossians 4.10-11), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2.25), Timothy (Romans 16.21). In 2 Corinthians 8.23, Titus is a co-worker and his lesser companions are apostles. We can therefore deduce that there exists some interchangeability between the terms apostles and co-workers.

Gilbert Bilezikian,

Beyond Sex Roles: What the Bible Says about a Woman’s Place in Church and Family . (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1986). pp. 197-98.

B. Misconceptions about the apostolic (i.e., missionary) pastor.

1. He must be a he.

a. Biblical rebuttal:

(Philippians 4.2, RSV) I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. [3] And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

b. The truth of the matter: God has called, anointed, and used both to be missionary pastors on the mission field as he has directed.

2. S/he must be endowed with all the gifts that the biblical apostles possessed in order to be competent to lead the effort.

a. Biblical rebuttal:

(2 Corinthians 5.4, RSV) Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. [5] Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, [6] who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life.

b. The truth of the matter: No missionary pastor is competent in and through themselves, regardless of their gifting or training; we are made competent ministers through the grace and provision of God alone.

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