Chapter 18

 

æt/ v|Li6sf] j/bfgsf] gfkcg’;f/ xfdL x/]snfO{ cg’u|x lbg’ ePsf] 5=== clg pxfFsf j/bfgx¿ rFflx log} lyP, ls sf]xL k|]l/tx¿, sf]xL cudjQmfx¿, sf]xL k|rf/sx¿, sf]xL d08nLsf kfi6/x¿, / sf]xL lzIfsx¿ ag’g, ls v|Li6sf] z/L/ lgdf{0f xf]; / ;]jfsf] sfd ug{ ;Gtx¿ ;’–;lHht xf]pg, ha;Dd xfdL ;a}n] ljZjf;sf] / k/d]Zj/sf k’qsf] 1fgsf] Pstf k|fKt ub}{gf}+Æ -Plkm;L $M&, !!–!#_ .

clg k/d]Zj/n] d08nLdf klxnf] k|]l/tx¿, bf];|f] cudjQmfx¿, t];|f] lzIfsx¿, ta cfZro{ sfd ug]{x¿ / lgsf] kfg]{ j/bfg kfPsfx¿, ;xfotf ug]{x¿, k|zf;g ug]{x¿, laleGg efiff af]Ng]x¿ lgo’Qm ug'{ ePsf] 5Æ -sf]l/GyL !@M@*_ .

;]jfsf j/bfgx¿nfO{ k|foM u/]/ af]nfj6x¿ eGg] ul/G5 / lglZrt ljZjf;Lx¿nfO{ w]/} vfn] Ifdtfx¿ lbOPsf] x’G5 h;n] ltgLx¿nfO{ k|]l/tx¿, cudjQmfx¿, kfi6/ jf lzIfsx¿sf] sfo{x¿df v8f u/L lbG5 . s;}n] klg cfk”mnfO{ p cfk}mn] oL sfo{x¿dWo] Pp6fdf klg /fVg ;Sb}g . a?, p;nfO{ Tof] sfo{sf] lglDt k/d]Zj/åf/f af]nfOPsf] x’G5 jf j/bfg lbOPsf] x’G5 .

s;}n] oL kfFrj6f j/bfgsf sfo{x¿dWo] Pp6feGbf a9L kfPsf] x’g ;Dej 5, t/ lglZrt ;+of]ux¿ dfq pko’Qm x’G5g . pbfx/0fsf] nflu, s’g} ljZjf;LnfO{ kfi6/ / lzIfs x’gsf] nflu jf cudjQmf / lzIfs x’gnfO{ af]nfOg ;Dej x’g ;S5 . h] eP tfklg sf]xL kfi6/sf] ;]jsfOsf] nflu / k|rf/sf] ;]jsfOsf] nflu v8f x’g ;Sb}g, lsgeg] kfi6/sf] ;]jsfOn] Ps} 7fpFdf /x]/ :yfgLo aufnsf] ;]jf ug]{ s’/fnfO{ dfFu ub{5 / p;n] k|rf/ssf] af]nfj6nfO{ k”/f ug{ ;Sb}g . lsgeg] k|rf/s rFflx laleGg 7fpFdf lgw{Ss eP/ ofqf ul//xg’ kg]{ x’G5 .

oL kfFrj6f leGgfleGg} ;]jsfOsf sfo{x¿ leGgf–leGg} p2]Zosf] nflu eP tfklg, tL ;a}nfO{ d08nLsf] Pp6} ;fdfGo p2]Zosf] nflu lbOPsf] xf]— ;]jfsf] sfdsf] nflu ;Gtx¿ ;’–;lHht xf]pgÆ eg]/ -Plkm;L $M!@_ .^) x/]s ;]jssf] nIo ;]jfsf] sfo{x¿sf] nflu kljqhgx¿nfO{ ;’–;lHht kfg]{ x’g’ kb{5 -æ;Gtx¿Æ eGg’sf] cy{ g} ToxL xf]_ . w]/}h;f] ;]jsfOdf ePsfx¿n] ltgLx¿nfO{ ;]jfsf] sfddf kljqhgx¿nfO{ ;’–;lHht kfg{ xf]Og, t/ d08nLsf] ;]jfdf a:g] zf/Ll/s dflg;x¿nfO{ dgf]/~hg lbnfpgsf] nflu af]nfj6 kfPsf x’g ls h:tf] sfo{ ub{5g . oL ;]jsfOsf sfo{x¿dWo] s’g} klg Pp6f ;]jsfOsf] lglDt af]nfOPsfx¿n] æ;]jfsf] sfdsf] nflu ;Gtx¿nfO{ ;’–;lHht kfg{nfO{Æ cfk”mn] sltsf] nufgL u/]sf] 5′ egL :ki6 ¿kdf d”Nof+sg u/]sf] x’g’ k5{ . olb x/]s ;]jsn] To;f] u¥of] eg], w]/}n] y’k|} s[ofsnfkx¿df æ];]jsfOsf]Æ lglDt lgsflnPsf] eg]/ larf/ ug]{5g .

Were some Ministry Gifts only for the Early Church ?

s] s’g}–s’g} ;]jfsf a/bfgx¿ z’?sf] d08nLsf] nflu dfq lyP t <

;]jfsf oL j/bfgx¿ d08nLnfO{ slt nfdf] ;do;Ddsf] nflu lbOg]5 M k|e’ o]z”n] pxfFsf kljqhgx¿ ;]jfsf] sfdsf] nflu ;’–;lHht gxf]pGh]n;Dd tL j/bfgx¿ lbg’ x’g]5, h’g rFflx pxfFsf] cfudg gxf]pGh]n;Dd xf] . d08nLdf gofF hGd kfPsfx¿n] lg/Gt/ ¿kdf cGo ljZjf;Lx¿nfO{ v|Li6df 8f]¥ofpg] sfd u/L /xG5g h;x¿nfO{ ljZjf;df a9gnfO{ cfjZos 5, clg xfdL afFsL /x]sfx¿ ;Fw} cflTds ¿kdf kl/kSs x’Fb} hfg’ cfjZos 5 .

b’ef{Uoa; s]xL dflg;x¿n] cfh b’O{ k|sf/sf ;]jsfOx¿ dfq cl:tTjdf 5g eg]/ eGb5g , ltgLx¿ kfi6/ / k|rf/ssf] ;]jsfOx¿ x’g— k/d]Zj/n] cfˆgf] of]hgf kl/jt{g ug'{ ePsf] xf] ls h:tf] nfUb5 . To;f] xf]Og, ;’?sf] d08nLnfO{ cfjZos ePsf] h:tf] xfdLnfO{ klg cem} k|]l/tx¿, cudjQmfx¿ / lzIfsx¿sf] vfFrf] kb{5 . w]/} h;f] d08nLx¿df oL j/bfgx¿ xfdLn] gb]Vg’sf] sf/0f rFflx k|e’ o]z”n] a]sf/sf], ckljq, e”m6f] ;’;dfrf/sf] d08nLx¿nfO{ xf]Og t/ cfˆgf] ;fFrf] d08nLx¿nfO{ dfq oL j/bfgx¿ lbg rfxg’ x’g] ePsf]n] ubf{ xf] . a]sf/sf] d08nLdf ;]jfsf s]xL j/bfgx¿ -k|foM kfi6/x¿ / ;fob s]xL k|rf/sx¿ klg_ sf] e”ldsf k”/f ug{ b’a{n k|oTg ug]{x¿ dfq kfpg ;lsG5, t/ k|e’ o]z”n] pxfFsf] d08nLnfO{ lbg’ x’g] k/d]Zj/sf] af]nfj6 / ;]jfsf clelifQm j/bfgx¿df s7Lg k|sf/n] ltgLx¿n] cfk”mnfO{ k|s6 u/fpFb5g . lglZrt ¿kdf ltgLx¿n] kljqhgx¿nfO{ ;]jfsf] sfddf ;’–;lHht kfg]{ sfd ul//x]sf x’Fb}gg , lsgeg] ltgLx¿n] k|rf/ u/]sf] ;’–;dfrf/ kljqtfdf 3f]if0ff ePsf] x’Fb}g, To;n] t dflg;x¿nfO{ ltgLx¿n] Ifdf kfPsf 5g eg]/ ;f]RFg dfq nufP/ e’mSofpg] sfd dfq ub{5 . clg tL dflg;x¿df ;]jfsf] sfd ug{nfO{ ;’–;lHht x’g] rfxgf g} x’Fb}g . cfk}mnfO{ OGsf/ u/]/ cfˆgf j|”m;x¿ af]Sg] ltgLx¿df s’g} clek|fo g} x’Fb}g .

How do you know if you are called ?

tkfO{+n] af]nfj6 kfpg’ePsf] 5 ls 5}g eg]/ tkfO{+ s;/L hfGg’x’G5 <

;]jfsf oL j/bfgx¿dWo] s’g} Pp6f j/bfg kfPsf]5′ eg]/ s’g} klg JolQmn] s;/L yfxf kfpF5 < ;j{k|yd t, p;n] k/d]Zj/af6 O{Zjl/o af]nfj6sf] dx;’; ug]{5 . p;n] Pp6f s’g} lglZrt sfo{ k”/f ug{sf] nflu af]em lnPsf] cfk”mnfO{ kfpg]5 . of] rFflx vfFrf] k”/f ug]{ s’/f b]Vg’eGbf klg a9tf s’/f xf] . a? of] t k/d]Zj/af6 Pp6f lglZrt ;]jsfOsf] lglDt s’g} JolStnfO{ lbOPsf] Ps k|sf/sf] ef]sf]kg xf] . olb p k/d]Zj/af6 ;fFRr} af]nfj6 kfPsf] JolSt xf] eg], p;n] Tof] af]nfj6nfO{ k”/f ug{ ;’? gu?Gh]n;Dd p ;Gt’i6 x’g} ;Sb}g . dflg; jf ;ldltsf dflg;x¿af6 cleif]s kfpg] s’/f;Fu o;n] s’g} ;/f]sf/ /fVb}g . k/d]Zj/n] dfq} af]nfj6 lbg’ x’G5 .

bf];|f] s’/f, ;fFrf] af]nfj6 kfPsf] JolStn] cfk”mnfO{ p;nfO{ k/d]Zj/n] lbg’ ePsf] sfo{ k”/f ug{sf] nflu k/d]Zj/åf/f g} ;’–;lHht kfl/Psf] kfpg]5 . ;]jfsf oL kfFrj6f j/bfgx¿dWo] x/]sn] JolStnfO{ k/d]Zj/n] h’g sfd ug{nfO{ af]nfpg’ePsf] 5, Tof] sfd ug{sf] lglDt ;Ifd agfpg] cnf}lss cleif]s x’G5 . af]nfj6 ;Fu;Fu} cleif]s klg cfpFb5 . olb ToxfF cleif]s 5}g eg], ToxfF af]nfj6 klg 5}g . s’g} JolStn] s’g} ;]jsfO{ u5′{ eGg] cfsf+Iff af]s]/ Tof] ;]jsfOsf] lglDt cfk”mnfO{ tof/ ug{sf] nflu s8f kl/>d ub}{ rf/ aif{;Dd afOan :s”ndf cWoog unf{, t/ k/d]Zj/af6 cleif]s gkfOsg, p;n] ;fFrf] ;kmntfsf] df}sf kfpg ;Sb}g .

t];|f] s’/f, p;n] cfk”mn] kfPsf] j/bfgsf] cEof; ug{sf] nflu k/d]Zj/n] df}sfsf] s’g} 9f]sf vf]nL lbg’ ePsf] 5 eGg] s’/f kfpg]5 . o; k|sf/n] p;n] cfk”mnfO{ ljZjf;of]Uo k|dfl0ft ug{ ;S5 / cGtdf, p;nfO{ cem 7″nf] df}sfx¿, lhDd]jf/Lx¿ / j/bfgx¿;d]t lbOg]5 .

olb s’g} JolStn] lelq O{Zjl/o bafj / ;]jfsf kfFrj6f j/bfgx¿dWo] Pp6f j/bfgsf] lglDt af]nfj6sf] dx;’; ub}{g, jf k/d]Zj/af6 lbOPsf] sfo{ k”/f ug{sf] nflu s’g} ljz]if cleif]ssf] lglDt ;r]t x’Fb}g, jf p;n] kfPsf] j/bfgnfO{ cEof; ug]{ s’g} df}sf kfpFb}g eg], To; JolStn] p;nfO{ h’g s’/f x’g’ kg]{ xf] eg]/ k/d]Zj/n] af]nfpg’ g} ePsf] 5}g, Tof] s’/f x’gsf] lglDt k|oTg ug’ x’Fb}g . a?, p;n] cfˆgf] :yfgLo d08nLsf] aLrdf, 3/–l5d]sdf, / p;sf] sfo{–If]qdf cx¿x¿sf] lglDt cflzif x’gsf] nflu sfd ug'{ kb{5 . p;nfO{ ;]jsf ækfFr}j6fÆ j/bfgx¿sf] lglDt af]nfj6 gePsf] eP tfklg, p;nfO{ k/d]Zj/n] h’g j/bfg lbg’ePsf] 5, Tof] j/bfg k|of]u u/]/ ;]jf ug{nfO{ af]nfOPsf] 5, / p;n] cfk”mnfO{ ljZjf;of]Uo k|dfl0ft ug{ k|oTg ug'{ kb{5 .

wd{zf:qn] ;]jfsf kfFrj6f j/bfgx¿sf] af/]df pNn]v u/]sf] eP tfklg, o;sf] dtna lglZrt j/bfgdf v8f ePsf] x/]s JolStsf] kl/lrt ;]jsfO{ x’g]5 eGg] xf]Og . kfjnn] pxL ;]jsfOdf ;Defljt ¿kn] v8f x’g] ;]jsx¿sf] aLrsf] leGgtf b]vfpFb} ælsl;d–lsl;dsf ;]jsfOx¿Æ cl:tTjdf 5g eg]/ n]v]sf 5g -! sf]l/GyL !@M%_ . o;sf] cltl/St, oL ;]jsfOx¿dfly w]/} k|sf/sf] txsf cleif]sx¿ /lx/x]sf] b]lvG5, To;}n] xfdLn] kl5af6 cleif]ssf] >]0fLåf/f ;]jsfOsf] x/]s j/bfgnfO{ >]0fLa4 ug{ ;S5f}+ . pbfx/0fsf] nflu, s]xL lzIfsx¿ c? lzIfsx¿eGbf lglZrt k|sf/n] clelifQm ePsf] b]lvG5g . c? ;]jsfOsf j/bfgx¿df klg ToxL s’/f ;To x’G5 . d JolStut tj/n] ljZjf; ub{5′ , ls h’g;’s} ;]jsn] cfˆgf] ;]jsfOsf] cleif]snfO{ a9fpg] vfnsf] sfdx¿ ug{ ;Sb5, h:tf] ls ;dosf] cGt/fndf p;n] cfk}mnfO{ ljZjf;of]Uo ;flat ub{5 / k/d]Zj/df cfk}mnfO{ ulx/f] ¿kdf cnu ub{5 .

A Closer Look at the office of Apostle

k|]l/tsf] ;]jsfO{ ;DaGwL ulx/f] cWoog

k|]l/t (Apostle) u|Ls zAb Pkf]i6f]nf]; (Apostolos) af6 cg’jfb ul/Psf] xf] / o;sf] cIf/z cy{ æk7fOPsf]Æ eGg] x’G5 . gofF s/f/sf] ;fFrf] k|]l/t d08nL :yfkgf ug{sf] nflu s’g} lglZrt 7fpFdf jf 7fpFx¿df cfWoflTds tj/n] k7fOPsf] ljZjf;L xf] . p;n] k/d]Zj/sf] æejgÆ sf] cflTdsL hu /fVg] sfd ub{5 / kfjnn] cfk}m n]v]sf] h:tf], p;nfO{ Pp6f æ;fdfGo 7]s]bf/Æ;Fu t’ngf ul/G5 M ælsgls xfdL k/d]Zj/sf ;xsdL{ xf}+, ltdLx¿ rFflx k/d]Zj/sf v]t xf}, k/d]Zj/sf ejg xf} . dnfO{ lbOPsf] k/d]Zj/sf] cg’u|x cg’;f/ 3/ agfpg] lgk”0f{ sf/Lu/n] h:t} d}n] hu a;fn]+, / csf{n] To;dfly 3/ agfpb} hfG5Æ -! sf]l/GyL #M(–!)_ .

Pp6f ælgk”0f{ sf/Lu/Æ , jf ;fwf/0f 7]s]bf/n] k”/} ejgsf] k|s[ofsf] lg/LIf0f ub{5– p;n] k”/f ePsf] sfdnfO{ /fd|f]l;t k”/f eof] ls ePg eg]/ hfFRg] sfd ub{5 . p l;sdL{ jf 8sdL{ h:tf] ljz]if1 rFflx xf]Og . p l;sdL{ jf 8sdL{sf] sfd ug{ ;Ifd xf]nf, t/ p;n] l;sdL{ jf 8sdL{x¿n] u/]sf] h:tf] sfd ug{ ;Sb}g . To;} u/]/, Pp6f k|]l/tn] k|rf/s jf kfi6/sf] sfd ug{ ;S5, t/ Tof] sfd p;n] d08nL :yfkgf u/]sf] s]xL lglZrt ;do;Ddsf] nflu dfq ub{5 . -k|]l/t kfjn Ps 7fpFdf 5 dlxgfb]lv tLg aif{;Dd dfq} k|foM u/]/ Ps 7fpFdf /xGy]_ .

k|]l/tsf] sfd d08nLx¿ :yfkgf ug'{ / k/d]Zj/sf] dfu{df ltgLx¿nfO{ cufl8 n}hfg] j|mddf ltgLx¿sf] /]vb]v ug{sf] nflu pQd x’G5 . Pp6f k|]l/t cfk”mn] :yfkgf u/]sf] d08nLnfO{ /]vb]v ug{sf] nflu PN8/x¿÷ kfi6/x¿÷lg/LIfsx¿ lgo’Qm ug{sf] lglDt pQ/bfoL x’G5g -x]g'{xf]; k|]l/t !$M@!–@#, ltt; !M%_ .

True and False Apostle

;fFrf] / ´”7f k|]l/tx¿

cfh s]xL ;]jsx¿ d08nLx¿dfly clwsf/ hdfpg rfx]sf] h:tf] b]lvG5 / ltgLx¿n] cfk”mnfO{ k|]l/t x’gsf] nflu af]nfj6 kfPsf] 5′ egL 3f]if0ff ub{5g , t/ ltgLx¿ w]/} h;f]df ;d:of x’G5 . ltgLx¿n] s’g} klg d08nLx¿ :yfkgf u/]sf x’Fb}gg -cyjf ul/xfn]sf] eP tfklg Pp6f jf b’O{j6f dfq} u/]sf x’G5g_ / ltgLx¿df afOalno k|]l/tsf] j/bfg / cleif]s ;d]t gePsf] x’gfn], ltgLx¿n] ;f]emf ;fbf kfi6/x¿ vf]Hg’ kb{5 h;n] ltgLx¿nfO{ cfˆgf] d08nLdfly clwsf/ hdfpg cg’dlt lbG5g . olb tkfO{ kfi6/ x’g’ x’G5 eg], To:tf] k|sf/sf] cfk}mn] cfk}mnfO{ prfNg], zlStsf] ef]sf, em”7f k|]l/tx¿åf/f d”v{ gagfOg’xf]; . ltgLx¿ e]8fsf] e]ifdf cfpg] AjfF;fx¿ x’g . ltgLx¿ k|foM h;f] ¿k}oFf–k};fsf] kl5 nfu]sf x’G5g . wd{zf:qn] em”7f k|]l/tx¿nfO{ r]tfjgL lbG5 -x]g'{xf]; @ sf]l/GyL !!M!#, k|sfz @M@_ . olb tkfO{+nfO{ ltgLx¿n] ltgLx¿ k|]l/tx¿ x’g eg]/ eG5g eg], Tof] g} ltgLx¿ k|]l/tx¿ xf]Ogg eGg] s’/fsf] k|df0f xf] . ltgLx¿sf] kmnn] g} ltgLx¿ sf] x’g eg]/ atfpFb5 .

h’g kfi6/n] cfˆg} d08nL :yfkgf ub{5g / w]/} aif{;Dd ToxL d08nLsf] kfi6/ eP/ sfd ub{5g eg] pgL k|]l/t xf]Ogg . o:tf] k|sf/sf kfi6/x¿nfO{ ;fob æk|]l/tLo kfi6/x¿Æ eGg ;lsG5, lsgls ltgLx¿n] cfˆgf] d08nLnfO{ cu’jfO{ ul//x]sf x’G5g . ltgLx¿ cem} klg k|]l/tLo ;]jsfOdf v8f x’Fb}gg , lsgeg] k|]l/tn] t lgoldt ¿kdf d08nLx¿sf] :yfkgf ul//xg’ kb{5 .

;fFRr} g} k/d]Zj/af6 k7fOPsf] / cfh k|foM h;f] eGg] ul/Psf] ældzg]/LÆ h;sf] d’Vo af]nfj6 d08nLx¿sf] :yfkgf ug'{ xf], ltgLx¿ g} k|]l/tsf] ;]jsfOdf v8f x’Fb}5g . csf]{tkm{, h’g ldzg]/Lx¿n] afOan :s”nx¿ jf kfi6/x¿nfO{ tflnd lbg] sfd ub{5g ltgLx¿ k|]l/t geP/ lzIfsx¿ x’g .

;fFrf] k|]l/tsf] ;]jsfOnfO{ cnf}lss lrGxx¿ / cfZro{ sd{x¿åf/f >]0fLa4 ul/Psf] x’G5, h’g d08nLx¿ :yfkgf ug]{ sfdsf] nflu p;nfO{ ;xfotf k’¥ofpgnfO{ ;fwgsf] ¿kdf lbOPsf] x’G5 . kfjnn] n]v]sf 5g M

æd s]xL geP tfklg ;jf]{Rr k|]l/tx¿eGbf t’R5 5}g . ;fFrf] k|]l/tLo nIf0fx¿ rFflx k”/f w}o{;fy, lrGxx¿, rdTsf/x¿ / zlQmsf sfdx¿åf/f ltgLx¿sf aLrdf k|s6 ul/Psf lyPÆ -@ sf]l/GyL !@M!! v– !@_ .

olb s’g} JolStsf] ;]jsfOdf lrGx rdTsf/ / cfZro{sf sfdx¿ x’Fb}gg eg] p k|]l/t xf]Og . ;fFrf] k|]l/tx¿ w]/} sd dfqfdf kfOG5g / ltgLx¿ a]sf/sf, ckljq, em”7f] ;’–;dfrf/ ;’gfpg] d08nLsf x’Fb}gg eGg] s’/f :ki6 5 . ;+;f/sf ;’–;dfrf/ gk’u]sf :yfgx¿df d}n] d’Vo u/]/ ltgLx¿nfO{ kfPsf] 5′ .

The High Rank of the Apostle

k|]l/tsf] pRr bhf{

;]jfsf j/bfgx¿ ;DaGwL gofF s/f/sf b’j} ;”rLx¿df k|]l/tsf] ;]jsfOnfO{ klxnf] ;”rLdf /flvPsf] 5 / o;nfO{ pRr af]nfj6 xf] egL b]vfOPsf] 5 -x]g'{xf]; Plkm;L $M!!, ! sf]l/GyL ^) o;nfO{ csf]{ tl/sfn] klg eGg ;lsG5, æk|e’ o]z” v|Li6sf r]nfx¿ agfpgsf] nflu .Æ