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"Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds" (Heb. 12: 3).
And lastly we read "The end".
"Considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to
day, and for ever" (Heb. 13: 7, 8).
The object of consideration in Heb. 3: 1 is Christ in His two great offices (1) The
Apostle, (2) The High Priest of their profession. It comes as something of a surprise to
many to discover that Christ is THE Apostle, and while we have referred to this before, it
will be well for us to get a clear idea of the import of the term.
APOSTLE. The word has come straight from the Greek into the English language,
but it is not, except for this adoption, an English word. Its meaning must be sought in the
original language of the New Testament, where it is found under the form apostolos.
This word is used both in the Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint (a
translation generally indicated by the sign LXX, and so designated in our pages), and in
classical or common Greek used outside the Scriptures.
In classical Greek apostolos meant "a messenger, ambassador or envoy" and, in later
usage, "the commander of a naval force". This rather limited meaning of the word is
further seen in the use of stolos, "a fleet ready for sea, a naval squadron or expedition".
In the LXX apostolos occurs in I Kings 14: 6 in the phrase, "I am sent to thee with
heavy tidings", where "sent" translates the Hebrew shalach, which immediately connects
with such missions as that of Joseph (Gen. 37: 13), Moses (Exod. 3: 14), and Isaiah
(Isa. 6: 8); and generally with the bearing of "tidings", whether of deliverance or
judgment. The composition of the word is simple. Apo is a preposition, and, like nearly
all prepositions, carries with it a sense of motion, direction or rest. In this case the
translation "from" indicates origin, motion and direction. Stello is the verb "to send", and
so an apostle is one "sent from another".
Apostello the verb is used of the "sending forth" of the twelve (Matt. 10: 5); of John
the Baptist (Mark 1: 2; John 1: 6); of preachers generally (Rom. 10: 15); of angels
(Heb. 1: 14); and of Paul (Acts 26: 17).
There is, however, one other occasion
where apostello and apostolos are used, that gives all subsequent apostles and
messengers their true and only authority. Both words are used of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is pre-eminently "The Sent One" (I John 4: 9, 10, 14); He is pre-eminently "The
Apostle".
"Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" (Heb. 3: 1).
Here therefore is revealed the character of the solemn office denoted by the title
"apostle". Here Paul's insistence on the use of the word "me" in II Tim. 2: 2 is carried
back to another and higher use of the pronoun, "He that receiveth you receiveth ME"
(Matt. 10: 40) and, through Him, to the ultimate source of all authority, God Himself.