1:1 What is the underlying lesson in what Paul says here?
1:1 What is the underlying lesson in what Paul says here?
This teaches that no group of men, nor any individual, passes on the ministry gifts Christ gave to the church (cp Eph 4:7-16).
Nobody can be ordained an apostle - or any other of these offices - based solely on desire, burden, vision, administrative ability, business acumen, the call of God some may feel they have on their life, or even bible college training.
Ministry offices are divine appointments (cp Ac 13:1-4).
This is the biblical pattern for being raised up to high office in the New Testament church.
We learn from this that men must first prove their faithfulness to God in lesser areas of ministry before God promotes them to leadership positions in the church (cp Mt 25:14-23).
Although Paul was a chosen vessel of God, he was not sent out as an apostle until after he had proved his faithfulness in other areas of ministry first (cp Ac 9:1-30; 11:25-30). See also comments on Ac 13:1-4; 20:17; Ro 11:13 and Eph 4:11-12.