The Bible sets forth specific qualifications for those who would serve in the office of apostle. An apostle was one of the foundational leaders of the early church, appointed directly by Jesus Christ. The qualifications for apostleship in the Bible are as follows:
Chosen Directly by Jesus
The primary qualification for being an apostle was being personally chosen, appointed, and commissioned by Jesus Christ. The original 12 apostles met this qualification, having been called by Jesus during His earthly ministry (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16). Matthias, who replaced Judas, was also personally selected by the risen Christ (Acts 1:21-26). The apostle Paul was chosen directly by Christ through a special revelation on the road to Damascus (Galatians 1:11-12).
Witness of Christ’s Resurrection
A second qualification was being an eyewitness to Christ’s resurrection. Peter declares that the replacement for Judas had to “become with us a witness to his resurrection” (Acts 1:22). Paul points to the resurrection appearances of Christ as a key evidence of his apostleship (1 Corinthians 9:1). Seeing the risen Christ was a prerequisite for bearing authoritative eyewitness testimony to the resurrection, which was central to apostolic preaching (Acts 2:32, 3:15, 4:33).
Appointed by God
In Romans 1:1, Paul describes himself as “called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.” Apostleship was a divine appointment and calling, not something anyone could attain through personal choice or effort. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:28 that God has “appointed” certain to be apostles within the church. As Jesus personally appointed the original 12 apostles, so God identified and set apart subsequent apostles like Paul and James.
Faithful Disciples
While not an explicit qualification, the original apostles were required to have been disciples of Jesus and learners of His teaching. They had to accompany Christ “during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us” from His baptism to His ascension (Acts 1:21-22). This was necessary in order for them to bear authoritative testimony of Jesus’ life and give an accurate account of His teaching and ministry.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit
A key distinguishing mark of an apostle was the performance of “signs and wonders” through the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 12:12). The miraculous gifts of the Spirit accredited the apostles’ teaching as coming from God Himself (Hebrews 2:3-4). Through healings, exorcisms, and supernatural phenomena, the apostles demonstrated the authority of their divinely appointed office (Acts 5:12).
Church Planters
While not limited to apostles, pioneering new churches and missionary work feature prominently in the ministries of early apostles like Paul. Apostles went beyond just proclaiming the gospel to planting and nurturing churches throughout the world. For example, Paul speaks of how he preached Christ where He was not yet known in order to lay a doctrinal foundation for the church in Rome (Romans 15:20).
Miraculous Signs and Wonders
As mentioned earlier, the ability to perform various miracles—healings, raising the dead, prophesying, etc.—was a key distinguishing mark of true apostleship. Paul points to such “signs and wonders and mighty works” as evidence of his apostolic commission (2 Corinthians 12:12). These miraculous gifts authenticated the apostles’ authority as Christ’s chosen representatives.
Sound Doctrine
While not an explicit qualification, apostles were responsible for establishing sound doctrine in the early church. They provided authoritative teaching regarding essential doctrines like the person and work of Christ, the resurrection, salvation by grace, etc. Paul speaks of the “standard of teaching to which you were committed” given through his apostolic ministry (Romans 6:17). Adherence to apostolic doctrine served as a test of fellowship and a safeguard against heresy in the early church.
Suffering and Persecution
While again not an explicit qualification, suffering characterized the ministry of apostles like Paul. He catalogs imprisonments, beatings, stonings, shipwrecks and other perils he endured as an apostle called to preach Christ (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). The apostles rejoiced to suffer dishonor and persecution for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41). An apostle had to be willing to suffer for the gospel he proclaimed.
Authority and Recognition
As the foundational leaders of the church commissioned by Christ, the apostles carried special authority in their teaching and ministry. Believers submitted to their instruction as coming directly from the Lord. The apostles had to be recognized and received as authoritative messengers of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:1-2). But this authority always had to align with the unchanging truth of the gospel (Galatians 2:1-10).
These qualifications provide biblical guidelines for those who would serve as apostles in the early church. While foundational to the church, apostleship was reserved for those uniquely appointed and gifted by God to establish the church on the authoritative testimony of Christ.
The qualifications can be summarized as follows:
- Personally chosen and commissioned by Christ
- Eyewitness of Christ’s resurrection
- Appointed by God
- Faithful disciple of Christ during His earthly ministry
- Empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles
- Pioneer church planters
- Established authoritative doctrine
- Willing to suffer for the gospel
- Recognized as authoritative leader in the early church
While the original office of apostleship was reserved for that first generation of leaders in the church, these qualifications continue to be instructive for church leadership today. They emphasize the necessity of direct commissioning by God, faithfulness to Christ’s teaching, spiritual empowerment, doctrinal soundness, and a willingness to sacrifice and suffer for the advance of the gospel worldwide.
The qualifications for apostleship in the New Testament provide invaluable insights into the kind of character and competency required for leadership in Christ’s church. All subsequent church leaders should aim to exemplify these standards even if they do not hold the unique office of apostleship. As the church discerned authentic vs. false apostles (Revelation 2:2), so genuine leadership is still recognized by how well it aligns with these biblical qualifications.
While no contemporary church leaders can meet the qualification of being appointed by the resurrected Christ Himself or being eyewitnesses of His resurrection, all leaders can strive to faithfully represent Christ’s teachings, preach the authentic gospel, plant new churches, and be willing to sacrifice as they shepherd God’s people. As the early church submitted to the authority of those uniquely commissioned apostles, so should the church continue to submit to leaders who meet the biblical qualifications for leadership in their called capacity.
These biblical qualifications serve as safeguards against abusive, deceitful, and power-hungry leaders who do not authentically represent Christ. Just as the first apostles had to be vetted based on strict criteria, so contemporary church leaders must still measure up to biblical standards of integrity, faithfulness, and sacrifice. While roles like pastor/elder/overseer differ from the foundational role of the apostles, the qualifications provide key markers of authentic spiritual leadership that edify Christ’s church.
In conclusion, the biblical qualifications for those who would serve as apostles in the early church provide critical guidelines for leadership today. While the office of apostleship was unique, contemporary leaders should strive to exemplify the apostles’ faithfulness to Christ’s teaching, spiritual empowerment, perseverance through suffering, and authority recognized through their alignment with the gospel. The qualifications serve as a biblical model for the kind of authentic, Christ-centered leadership the church should always look for and accept.