I had no idea that upon questioning the number thirteen I would find an Old Testament pattern that does seem to reappear in the New Testament. But, simply because Scirpture records largely the activities of Paul, and not others, does not mean that they weren't very fruitful. Paul, too, is an apostle, not less than the "super apostles", also "least of the saints", and "chief of sinners". While some would disagree, I believe, with respect to Revelation 21:14, that Matthais's name, not Paul's, will be on one foundation, as he was specifically elected (by God, through men), to fill that vacancy. Peter, in Acts 1:20, says the reason for the election of Matthais, quoting Psalm 109:8, "Let another take his place of leadership".įrom the passage in Revelation, while there are numerous people mentioned as apostles, there is a distinction between the "apostles of the Lamb", the twelve, and those who are called Apostles after that. Scripture lists upwards of the possibility of 25 people as apostles. Or this one, "Who was the 12th apostle.".
See this question, "How many apostles are there". Names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.Īt issue here is who the 'apostles' were, and how many there were. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the
This question assumes he did NOT and then asks 'What is the meaning of twelve Apostles to Israel and one to the Gentiles?' What is the meaning of 12 + 1? Please see also the related (but not duplicate) question Who was the 12th Apostle - Matthais or Paul? That question asked if Paul replaced Matthias, or not. Therefore, I am excluding Barnabas, James, etc. I am also assuming the restricted sense of Apostle as not just 'bearers of the NT message' or 'commissioned representative of a congregation' but those inner circle of Apostles whose offices were directly appointed by Christ in the flesh, Matthias being a replacement of one of those. Note: I am not doubting that Matthias was an Apostle. So why thirteen? Or why are there twelve Apostles to Israel and only one to the rest of the world? Later in Revelation the church seems to be still presented as based on twelve as a complete number:Īnd the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. So why not make Paul the twelfth Apostle and just skip Matthias? It seems that twelve is a number with a lot of meaning in the Bible, and thirteen not so much.
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