Chapter # 1 Paragraph # 1 Study # 2
July 11, 2010
Dayton, Texas

• I. From the Authorial Side.
  • A. Author: Paul.
    • 1. Received his new "name" just as he was getting involved with the Galatian churches (Acts 13:9).
    • 2. Became "Paul" at the precise point of his first recorded exercise of apostolic power against the Kingdom of Darkness (Acts 13:9-12) in which he had been a major player until he came to grip with the "identity" of his Opponent on the road to Damascus (Who art thou, Lord? -- Acts 9:5).
    • 3. Self-identifies as "an apostle".
      • a. The issue of "apostle".
        • 1) This "issue" is clarified at Luke 6:13 in the light of Luke 9.
          • a) The issue of "apostle" is identified in Luke 9:1-5.
            • i. It is partly concerned with the communication by Jesus to The Twelve of "power" and "authority" (9:1).
            • ii. It is partly concerned with the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and backing it up with demonstrated "power" (9:2; Note 2 Corinthians 12:12).
            • iii. It is partly concerned with the issue of complete dependence by those who are "named" apostles (9:3-4).
            • iv. It is partly concerned with the link between them and Jesus to the degree that rejecting their message is equal to rejecting Him (9:5).
            • v. Summary: All of the "parts" come together under one thesis: an "apostle" is an accurate representative of his/her "sender".
          • b) The Luke 9 narrative is given over to the "problem" of "apostles" who "drop the ball" at the point of "complete dependence unto accurate representation".
            • i. The most crucial factor of accurate representation is having the same objectives (Love). It is, without dispute, impossible to represent someone if the representative does not share the same objectives of the one whom he represents.
            • ii. Likewise, it is impossible for an "apostle" to serve as such if there is a breakdown in his view of what is true (Faith). Clearly one is not accurately represented by the use of methods that do not serve his objectives.
        • 2) The methodology of Jesus in this "process" is revealed in Mark 3:14.
          • a) The Mark 3 text is a literary key in that record that gives substance to the order of Mark's effort.
          • b) The major points are two: the "apostles" were to be "with Jesus" long enough to "accurately get the details of the Truth"; and they were to be "sent forth to preach" (to proclaim those "gotten" details).
          • c) John 14:26 underscores the methodology by adding the impact of the indwelling Spirit.