JESUS CHRIST

THE 12 APOSTLES

© Carlos Padilla, February 2009

Jesus Christ chose twelve men who would accompany to him in Their ministry to take Their testimony of Salvation to the world, the twelve apostles. Before the election he spent one night of oration with the Father, before so important decision. The word apostle comes from Greek “the apostolos�? - sent in the name of - the equivalent to ambassador, which would be equivalent to the word used in the Old Testament for a prophet, or emissary of the Gentleman or disciple, in Hebrew era “shelihim�?. No of them was priest, nor writes or old of the fariseos or saduceos. Llama the attention that the Gentleman did not choose to any tie Jew to the religious leadership of Israel, although Juan was well-known of the extreme priest, would be the most ferocious follower of Maestro and Mesías.

Why to 12? The answer is by the 12 tribes of Israel, who are the generational bases of the Jews only, but the ministry of Jesus Christ was firstly a return from its town to God, to also be able to take the true message to all the nations. Without this previous step that we could well consider like reform, it had been impossible. In the days of Jesus, Israel was far from the Gentleman and in addition they rejected to the Mesías, and the Jews without the Mesías cannot give testimony to the other nations. Its separation of the Mesías Yahshua is reflected in the history of the prophecies on Israel. The Gentleman had to begin a new stage with 12 new spiritual patriarchs, like Abraham, based on the faith.

The twelve apostles would fulfill the intention of the Gentleman and indeed they would take the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all the nations, work that lasts until today and that continues expanding all the Earth corners. The Bible is translated already to more than 200 languages, and every year is “best to seller world-wide�?.

While the centuries have happened and the Church in the world has been divided more and more in different denominations, the faith once given by the Gentleman follows effective, Its Gospel follows transformed the lives from which they receive and filling to Him of hope and of faith into the coming of Its Kingdom, not only of the eternal one, but del that there is between brothers of a same one to feel anywhere in the world in the Church.

The 12 apostles were an example, with their virtues and defects, in the same way that we today have ours, but is in the character and history of them that I will center an approach to spiritually learn the meaning of lives consecrated to the Son of God and, therefore, to the Father in the Spirit Santo, which they received in Pentecostés; the promise of the Father, as Jesus Christ said, lives chosen by same God.

THE HISTORY AND THE CHARACTER OF THE 12 APOSTLES

We, like Christians who we read the Bible during our lives, to be this one alive, and for being Verb of God, our guide of moral conduct and the base of our personal relation with God through Jesus Christ, in Spirit, and with our fellow, can see in the character of the 12 apostles, shown in the Bible, an example of lives and compare them with our reactions and behaviors, since we make with other personages of the Bible and history of the Church. We will see that these 12 men were normal and current, like anyone of us, but they believed the Gentleman and they followed to him during his lives.

In order to see its lives, we a little while remember the names of the 12: Simón Pedro or Cefas and Andres their brother, Juan and Jacobo or Santiago, children of Zebedeo, calls the Boanerges “children of the thunderclap�?, these four was fishermen. Felipe and Bartholomew, Mateo or Leví, Takings, Jacobo or Santiago son of Alfeo, Simón the Zelote or cananista, Judas Lebeo or Tadeo, brother of Jacobo, and Judas Iscariote. 3 Mateo 10, Marks and Lucas 6. These were the first leaders of the Church, to those who would succeed the first parents of the Church. There are more apostles among the disciples of Jesus but in principle we will see the 12. In addition to deepen more on the first parents of the Church several works exist on patrística.

On them, all except one, lived in Galilea on the Gentile ones, Mateo 4:15, the Earth that had belonged to the tribe of Zabulón, “dwelled�? and to the Earth of Neftalí “my combat�?,… Way of the sea, to the other side of the Jordán…, and only one, indeed of the Earth of Judá, Judas Iscariote, “of kiriot�? near Jerusalem was the one who it betrayed to him; a fact that could not be more significant. And this prophecy narrated in Mateo on the Earth of Galilea is in Isaiah 9:1 - 2, where the Gentleman says to us who would be the Earth that would have the great privilege to have to the Mesías, because it was… the town seated in darknesses that great light saw, and to the been becoming ones in region of death shade, Light shone to them. Since then Jesus began to preach and to say: Arrepentíos, because the kingdom of skies has approached. In Galilea they were the populations of origin of the apostles like Capernaum, Corazín or Tiberias. Soon the narration continues showing us how walking Jesus next to the sea of Galilea, it saw two brothers:

Pedro and Andres, two brothers, both were fishermen; to the one of them, Father it reveals to him that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and for that reason would be called “Cefas or Petrus�? stone. Andres, disciple of Juan Baptist received the faith first. They are two forms to see Christ in a fisherman of men. Pedro was married, we know of the health of its mother-in-law, surely it would have children and it took a normal and humble life. Andres receives the faith but Pedro receives in addition the revelation. The Stone of the faith is Christ, as it teaches own the Pedro to us, to whom the church of Rome turned into vicar or representative of Earth Christ. The Christian has to discern this with clarity, because as own the Pedro explains in its epistle, he is not he it stone of the faith. The Church is built on the faith in Christ.

Pedro walks on the sea, and although it sinks is brave, but the Gentleman will show to him that its faith is weak; yes, the faith of which was the example of a revealed faith sank, because it doubted. It would have to go with the other brothers in the boat. Andres also went in the boat. It was always pending of the disciples and the prophecies on the coming of the Gentleman; it is the one who asks to him when they would happen, His coming and the destruction of the temple. When Jesus Christ was in situations of greater depth had three selected disciples: to Pedro, Jacobo and Juan; and Andres would be the one that would maintain to the Gentleman to the current of the congregation of the Apostles, as it reflects Juan 12:22. Andres was disciple of Juan Baptist, represents the spiritual experience, the knowledge of the prophecies, the law and the religion, although it leaves everything and it follows the Mesías, does not do it of the way that Juan does.

The three times that Pedro Jesus denies, Marks 14:26, would be confronted by the three times that Jesus would ask to him: … you love to me more than these? … Juan 21. Its negation three times, view in us notices, us of persecution situations, of death in which we even must be brave and to pray for this reason, similar to that it faced Pedro when it was recognized like one of the disciples in the arrest of the Gentleman. Also its constant necessity is reflected to confront three times the things when it is invited by the Gentleman to eat impure animal that it had sanctified, in the vision of the linen cloth, with reference to Cornelio the centurion. Facts 10:16. The Gentleman uses of patience with Pedro, like a good father with a son to whom costs to him to fulfill the things, and difficult to convince, but that sees once it clearly it fulfills, them and the result is firm and determining. The Father gave the revelation him of which Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, and these circumstances and characteristics hers did not prevent it. We, in the same way are blessed by God, even with our limitations and defects, and make and will make things great of God, by our heart overturned towards God, the Church, the fellow and by our faith. In order to deepen he can more read Feeds my ewes.

Juan and Jacobo or Santiago, other two brothers, children of Zebedeo; other two fishermen of men. Calls by Jesus Christ the Boanerges, - children of the thunderclap surely by its character. Peculiarly the character of these two brothers in its force becomes the love and the mercy, which are to be in us two thunderclaps. Other two experiences of a same origin, in we ourself. Juan is the loved disciple, the one that receives the proximity of the greater revelation of the heart of Christ. It was with Jesus when he was arrested, did not separate from Him, was the unique one who stayed to his side, and in the Cross here, and was well-known of the extreme priest we see, it in the narration of the interrogation in the patio of Anas, Juan 18:15. In addition he was youngest, youngest, and for that reason the one that receives more from the Kingdom of God. Hagámonos like children. The mother wanted that they were in Mateo eminence 20:20 - 21, and was relative of Maria the mother of Jesus. We do not have to put to us in the first place. Juan would be next to the Gentleman before the Cross, and would take care of of Maria, and to her he would leave to its son Jesus him to Juan in its place, to console it. Juan, the loved disciple had a heart more prepared to the Gentleman, and is for that reason who receives the most incredible and deep revelations and lessons of the Gentleman. No other author inspired by the Spirit Santo received so much in two as distant fields as spiritual and the prophetic one. Its gospel, deepest and direct to the heart, and Apocalypse, the greater prophetic, worthy revelation of a son of the thunderclap. This is our attitude before God. We are then children of the thunderclap and the praise, an allegory of the baptism in Spirit Santo and fire, Mateo 3:11. His brother Santiago or Jacobo, is one of the three privileged that was in the most excellent events of the Gentleman. He would undergo the martyrdom to sword by order of king Herodes. Facts 12:2, were therefore first of the apostles in undergoing the martyrdom. Its impetuous pious character at the same time as as his brother Juan would do disciples to them transformed by the Spirit.

Felipe asks to him Jesus: … muéstranos to the Father and he is enough to us, Juan 14:8… Although it seems contradictory and an impatience sample, Felipe in ignorance, lack of vision or revelation at the moment that asks to him Jesus on the Father, shows its patience to us in the deepening of the education of Jesus. It waits for being taught, is patient towards the Gentleman. This has to be one of our qualities of the character, the patience, although we do not include many things, we must hope in the Gentleman to be taught by Him, the true Teacher, through Spirit Santo.

Bartholomew is tie by many sources with Natanael of that the Gentleman said: … there am true an Israelite here in who is no deceit… Although the spiritual capital of Israel is Jerusalem, we know that Salem is peace. Salem is the old name and place of the encounter between Abraham and Melquisedec “Christ�? Genesis 14:8. True an Israelite is carrying of peace, character that shows east apostle to us.

Mateo or Leví, the publicano or collector of taxes of Rome, author of the gospel that takes its name. Leví leaves its office in the act and follows the Teacher and it invites to him to his house to eat. Of course major cannot be asked determination to a man, change and rapidity. The good will of Mateo comes from the virtue, quality this one that in our character will cause that we determine ourselves with firmness in the Way of the Gentleman and our function in Its Church.

Takings, or Dídimo, twin, famous by its incredulity; the doubts of the Christian, the lack of faith at many moments of the life. But it would be his kindness the one that would do that its delivery to Jesus was definitive. It was arranged to die with Jesus when the Gentleman wanted to return to Judea, Juan 11:7. Kindness surpasses to the incredulity, because the faith is a gift of God, but kindness comes from the heart, and the good heart gains the blessing of God. God gives faith to those of good heart, because It weighs the hearts. The bad thing is that one that is incredulous and of bad heart, those that schemes the evil in their heart, those are rejected by God. Its confession when seeing revived Jesus and putting its hand in his yaga and its hands, is famous: … Sir mine and God mine… Juan 20:28.

Jacobo or Santiago son of called Alfeo the minor, to differentiate it from the brother of Juan. Greek Alfeo in and a translation of the arameo Cleofás, Lucas 24:18, also possible father of Mateo, Leví, Mateo 2:14, although is not mentioned to them specifically like brothers to Mateo and Jacobo in Gospels. Cleofás was husband of Maria, mother of Jacobo, besides Jose and Salomé, Marks 15:40. We do not know with certainty on the work of Santiago, but the sources indicate that he would be the one that Pablo like brother of the Gentleman mentions, Gálatas 1:19, is brother or prime, she is of course a family in whom without a doubt abounds meekness. The tradition does the Santiago to him that the letter that take to its first name and the old one, bishop or patriarch of Jerusalem would write, although others say that it would not be possible to be against at the outset to Jesus and because it did not believe in Him until His resurrection. Santiago was the one who concluded with the norms morals for the gentilidad in the first council of Jerusalem, Facts 15:19. In to two it speaks us occasions in his letter of meekness, 1:21 and 3:13, and uses the method of education of the wells-being of Jesus in 1:12 on. The bellwethers are then… Fortunate… Bellwethers like a lamb.

Simón the cananista or zelote. Zelotes is a patriotic party that today could be identified with some political party in defense of the promised Earth of Canaan by God to the town of Israel. Being surely also of Grey hair, it is no wonder it could be of family or it influences of the Jewish defenders against the Roman occupation, a movement practically extinguished in time of Jesus. Its conversion would be for him a test of its deep change of thought by the Spirit. The own dominion or templanza.

Judas Lebeo or Tadeo. Leb is the Hebrew root of heart, surely by its good heart and Tadeo is a derivation of todah, praise. Without a doubt the character is the joy that we see in this Judas.

Judas Iscariote, of Judá, the traitor associated to the members of Sanhedrin, and the priests of the Law. Judas Iscariote is the religion, the tradition, the tribe of Judá which betrays to its own Mesías. The treasurer, who loved the money and robbed of stock-market of the Gentleman to such an extent I arrive his greed that was blinded by the devil, got angry when Maria anointed to the Gentleman with the perfume of great price, until getting to give to the Gentleman by money. … root of all the evils is the love to the money… which coveting some separated from the faith. 1Timoteo 6:10. Judas is of Judea, of land of Judá, the others are of Galilea. Jesus is of the tribe of Judá. When leaving Judas aposento high they are the true disciples apostles. I will not take from him any quality of character as it is logical, because it lived in the avarice, the robbery and the treason. Its pride prevented him to request the divine mercy.

Pablo is not in the 12 apostles of the principle who lived with Jesus Their ministry, but is the apostle who directly called the Gentleman after His ascent. It would be a key pillar in the project of the Gentleman to take the Gospel to the entire world, and therefore, and although Judas is replaced by Matías, would be Pablo the one that would have a fundamental relevance in the 12 columns of the faith and the character that the Gentleman imprimió in its spirits. Pablo undergoes a radical transformation of enemy assets and pursuer of the Church, by his fervor of God and of the Law, to the most ferocious preacher of Christ at the risk of his life in many occasions, arranged to turn to the world, as he did therefore it in his time and whose legacy today remains after 2000 years, like the one of all the New Testament of Mr. Jesus Christ. The Gentleman knew very well to whom he chose, he knows as it today. We will take then to Pablo like the apostle number 12 for the list of apostolic characters that the Christian can learn to form his.

Pablo will be the apostle of the knowledge of the Gentleman, as it is clear in his lessons. Educated in the strictest chair of the Torá, in the school of Gamaliel, prestigious teacher and doctor of the Law of God, of fariseo faith, the one that believes in the resurrection within the Judaism. All this knowledge, a priori would be let of side to preach to the gentile ones that they do not know to anything of the Torá, living Pablo between hellenistic cultures and other diverse with pagan deities and customs. It would seem that the Gentleman did not make use of his knowledge, but would be in his education to the Jews that would create a bond between Gentile Jews and, to the being the one that the Gentleman prepared to teach in the same line of the own Jesus Christ, who the Gospel is not only for Jews, but for all the Earth nations. That the Word of God has a transforming spiritual meaning and that one that comes to the Bible with the eyes of the Spirit finds the Life spiritual. He would be the reformer among the apostles, as to the own it went it Gentleman to His own town.

THE 12 CHARACTERS OF THE SPIRIT OF THE CHRISTIAN

Taking the two lists, the one of the fruits of the Spirit and the one of the divine nature, and deepening in the meaning of the translated words of the Greek Text in several versions, if we united the two lists and we reduced those that agree we will find the 12 apostolic characters that both apostles Pedro and Pablo teach to us in the name of the Gentleman:

Gálatas 5:22 the fruits of the Spirit: Love (of God) or Charity, Joy, Peace, Longanimidad or Paciencia, Benignancy, Kindness, Faith, Meekness, Templanza or Own Dominio.

2Pedro 1:5 the Divine nature: Faith, Virtue, Knowledge, Dominion Propio or Templanza, Patience, Mercy or Benignancy, Brotherly Affection or Brotherhood, Love (of God) or Charity.

NOTE: I do not try with this list of the apostles and spiritual qualities to establish an historical canon far from it; history does not allow to for sure assure all the information the character and its lives. It is my objective nevertheless for revealing that the Gentleman has equipped to His Church with these 12 qualities that the Christian must know and deepen in them for his growth and spiritual life. This is the list next to the reality that the data allow us to elaborate. The inclusion of Pablo is evident for two reasons: as I already said before, for being the apostle who the Gentleman chose directly and for being clearly the one who received the gift of the greater in line interpretative knowledge with own Mr. Jesus Christ, which completes the list.

APOSTLE

QUALITY

PEDRO

FAITH

JUAN son of Zebedeo and brother of Jacobo

LOVE OR CHARITY

JACOBO OR SANTIAGO son of Zebedeo

MERCY OR BENIGNANCY

ANDRES

BROTHERLY AFFECTION

FELIPE

PATIENCE

BARTHOLOMEW OR NATANAEL

PEACE

MATEO OR LEV�?

VIRTUE

TAKINGS

KINDNESS

JACOBO OR SANTIAGO son of Alfeo

MEEKNESS

SIMÓN zelote or cananista

OWN DOMINION OR TEMPLANZA

Lebeo or tadeo JUDAS

JOY

Chosen PABLO directly by the Gentleman

KNOWLEDGE

TRANSFORMING EVENTS FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAITH OF THE APOSTLES WITH JESUS CHRIST

Pedro, Jacobo and Juan are the faith, the mercy and the love of God. These are companions of the Gentleman in the transfiguración, the resurrection of the daughter of Jairo, and in the oration in Getsemaní.

All are seen in the boat, and the triumphal entrance in Jerusalem.

The 12 apostles would be in the last dinner of the Gentleman in Passover, Jesus would wash to all the feet, but all less Judas would take Santa Cena.

From all 12 are 11 them and would not take Santa Cena and would receive intimate and deep education in last Passover here, in Juan 13:31 until complete chapter 17. Nothing less than the New Order, Jesus announces the negation of Pedro; Jesus, the Way to the Father; The promise of the Spirit Santo; Jesus Christ, the True Grapevine; The world will detest to you; The work of the Spirit Santo; The sadness will become joy; I have won to the world, and the tremendous oration of Jesus by his disciples, by all the Christians, of his time and futures, by us, before being betrayed, arrested, deceived, tortured, crucified and left. All this wonder is given between its intimate friendly, the 11, in Santa Cena who with Jesus was 12. It is then when we are with the Gentleman, when we felt near Him, in Santa Cena, between brothers that we know well, that the Gentleman reveals His heart to us. But what shines more of the love of the Gentleman it is His Heart and Its entereza before the situation that knew that it was going to live later in hours, and the depth of education that it gives to the apostles just before. That if that is to have the heart put in a determination, in a project of life and salvation, in the mercy, the work of God and the love by us. The Gentleman would gain the victory on the sin, the death, would revive, he would be pronounced during 40 days and he would be taken above to the throne of the Gloria. Blessed Mr. Jesus Christ, our King. Maranatha.

Single Pedro and Juan with we see them to the Gentleman in several occasions without the other disciples, not even is Jacobo, brother of Juan. These events are the resurrection, where they are Pedro and Juan those that go after the Marias in the tomb. First it had been Magdalena, the full soul of sins that has been pardoned and that it loves the Gentleman, it is first in seeing him revived. Pedro receives the exhortation of it feeds my ewes! and Juan the loved disciple is with them being present at the conversation. And he is that they are the faith and the love of the Spirit the gifts necessary to believe in the miracles of the Gentleman.

Jesus appears to 7 of his disciples when Pedro did not fish anything in all night; Juan 21. Simón, Takings, Natanael, Juan and Santiago, and other two. It lacked the power of Jesus so that the fishermen could fish. In the same way today, the Church does not fish if it does not have all gifts in operation and the power and the will of the Gentleman. An alive church must have the pure Gospel of Mr. Jesus Christ, the glorification of Christ like King in the middle of the congregation, one healthy doctrine, praise and a heart of brotherly affection and love by the brothers and to the needed ones.

All, the 11, would be in the appearance of revived Jesus, where we see satiated the incredulity of Takings. And also all would be in the Great Commission and all in the ascent.

IT INFLUENCES OF THE 12 APOSTLES IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

The legacy of the faith of the apostles is transformed in the famous Creed of the Apostles, base of declaration of faith of all the cristiandad that could be transmitted of the following form:

We create in YHWH, Yahweh, God All-powerful, creative Father of the sky and the Earth. We create in Jesus Christ, unigénito Son of God, Our Gentleman, who was conceived by the power of the Spirit Santo, was born from virgin Maria. It suffered under Poncio Pilato, it was crucified, it died and it buried. It descended when infier to us. To the third day it revived. It ascended to the sky and it is seated to the right hand of God Father, Almighty. It will return to judge alive and dead. We create in the Spirit Santo, santa universal church, the communion of the saints, the pardon of the sins, the resurrection of the body, and the eternal life. Amen.

CONCLUSION

Twelve men that we have seen were men normal and current, like anyone of us, not superheroes, but blessed and chosen, which shows us what God can to do through delivery to Him, because He is who us makes special, not we by our own forces or resources, but by Their Spirit in us.

In one second part on the Apostles I will treat the apostolic succession, taking as he bases historical of the beginnings of the Christianity, the Bible. In addition I will today approach the history of the patrística and the controversy on the apostles, not only in the churches that adjudge the succession, but in he cuts pentecostal neon again.

Meanwhile and as the Spirit Santo chooses to whom they are arranged to serve to him, without needing human, hierarchic authorization or of councils, as he demonstrates the own Bible in Facts of the Apostles, in the narration of the beginning of the church in Antioch by hand of anonymous apostles for us, although he does not stop God; Facts 11:19 to the 30, we are ambassadors of Christ where we go, in the day to day there, with the people to whom we spoke in the daily life, because this it is the true apostolate, alive. If Mr. Jesus Christ has bought with his Blood a nation of kings and priests, how will not go these in Their name? , I talk about all Christian who in truth is it.

Besides the apostolate of the Christian, we have in mind the goodbye of Santiago: … Brother, if some among you has become lost of the truth, and some makes him return, knows that the one that makes return to the sinful one of the error of its way, it will save of death a soul, and will cover multitude with sins…

You are ambassador of Jesus Christ? it is your responsibility like king and priest, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.