Must an apostle see Jesus? This question gets raised when attempting to justify the appointment of apostles today. The word “apostle” in the Greek (apóstolos) literally means “one who is sent” or “to send off” or simply “messenger”. Therefore, while the word could be applied to any missionary or emissary, the question about requiring that an apostle see Jesus pertains to the office of apostle as conveyed in Scripture.
How Scripture answers "Is it required that an apostle see Jesus?"
It was a requirement that an apostle see Jesus.1237. Jesus chose the men who would be by his side during his ministry known as “the twelve” or “the apostles”19. Not to be confused with other messengers we read about in Scripture58, it was an official office during Jesus’ ministry69 that continued after Jesus’ ascension2 and through the early church4 period.
When Judas, one of the original twelve, was replaced, we see the qualification noted that any replacement would have had seen Jesus, specifically being a witness of Jesus raised from the dead2. Later, Paul confirms this even further, affirming in the defense of his own apostleship (the office7), that he too saw the risen Jesus310 – even if it was “untimely”7.
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.
Jesus answered that he had chosen the Twelve, but one was a devil.
Jesus has just fed the large crowd (5,000 men) by performing a miracle and departed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee by walking on the water and calming the storm along the way. The next day, the crowd again finds him in order to be fed, and a discussion contrasting physical and spiritual food ensues.
Applying John 6:70 to this question...
Jesus chose the original twelve apostles.
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.
A man that was with us throughout the time of Jesus’ public ministry, from His baptism by John to His ascension in order that he might testify with us about His resurrection.
Jesus has just ascended and the disciples are gathered to replace the apostle Judas.
Applying Acts 1:21-22 to this question...
Their selection for the twelfth apostle was limited to those men who were with them during Jesus’ public ministry and who had witnessed Him alive after His crucifixion.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?
I am free and an apostle that saw Jesus. You are my work in Him.
Paul is in the midst of a brief defense of his apostleship, one he apparently needs to continue in a subsequent letter to them (2 Corinthians 11-12).
Applying 1 Corinthians 9:1 to this question...
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
He [Christ] appointed some apostles, some prophets, some as evangelists [preachers], and others as pastors [elders] and teachers, in order that each might arm the saints for the work of gospel, for building up the church,
Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, is using a body metaphorically to describe the church. Jesus is the head that supplies all the other members of the body (vss 15-16). This thought seems also to be a continuation of what he stated earlier in the letter (2:19-20), where he talks about the “household of God” whose foundation was laid by Jesus, the apostles, and the prophets.
Applying Ephesians 4:11-12 to this question...
Apostles were an office of the early church, appointed by Jesus.
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
If anyone wonders about Titus, they shouldn’t as he is a close colleague of mine [Paul] working for your benefit. Along with the other brothers, they are messengers (preachers) of/to the churches, which is the glory of Christ. Therefore, prove your love and our commendations of you before the other churches.
Paul is writing to the Corinthians, informing them of his sending Titus and other brothers and encouraging them to accept them in love. In chapters 8-9, Paul is specifically encouraging them to complete the giving for the needy saints in Jerusalem that they had embarked upon about a year earlier (1 Corinthians 16:1-4).
Applying 2 Corinthians 8:23-24 to this question...
Shows the use of the Greek word (apóstolos) as simply “one who is sent”, clearly not referring to the office of apostle.
And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
He gathered the twelve and sent them out in twos, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
Jesus sends the twelve apostles to proclaim the gospel and gave them power to cast out unclean spirits in order that they could confirm the word they spoke was from God [see Do miracles still happen today? ].
Applying Mark 6:7 to this question...
The twelve apostles held a special office with special power directly from Jesus.
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Lastly, since I [Paul] came later, he appeared to me as well, even though I was undeserving since I persecuted the church. But, God’s grace allowed me to be who I am today and it wasn’t wasted, since through Him I word harder than any of the other apostles.
While making the point of the importance of Jesus’ resurrection to the Christian’s faith, he is recounting the appearances that Jesus made after His resurrection.
Applying 1 Corinthians 15:8-10 to this question...
Paul confirms his apostleship with the appearance of Jesus to him (even though he didn’t experience Jesus’ resurrection appearances as the others had).10
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
Brethren, you who are holy and share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the messenger and high priest of our faith,
Letter to Jewish Christians that is calling on them to “hold fast” in spite of persecution. The main argument is the “better” things that exist for them through Christ Jesus. Chapter three deals specifically with Jesus’ superiority to Moses himself (vss 1-6) and goes on to compare the followers of Moses to those of Jesus.
Applying Hebrews 3:1 to this question...
Jesus was an apostle, obviously not the official office, but a special messenger of God.
And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.
He went up on the mountain and called the twelve He desired in order to appoint them as apostles. He would send them out to preach, having authority to cast out demons.
Jesus appointing and naming the twelve apostles.
Applying Mark 3:13-15 to this question...
Jesus appointed twelve men to a specific office for a specific task: to preach with the authority to cast out demons.
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.
Saul (e.g. Paul) is on his way to Damascus when he encounters Jesus in a vision. Jesus asks him why he is persecuting him and tells him to enter the city where he will be told what to do.
Saul is a zealous, Jewish Pharisee and a leader in the persecution of this relatively new faith in Jesus the Christ. After arriving in Damascus, he meets Ananias, who also had a vision from Jesus to meet Saul (vss 10-11). Ananias is the one that tells Saul what he must do (vss 17-19). Also told by Paul before the Jewish crowd (22:3-16) and again by Paul before Agrippa (26:12-18).
Applying Acts 9:3-6 to this question...
Saul (Paul) sees the risen Lord.7
Although Paul only sees a “light” and hears His voice, Paul later testifies that he saw the Lord.7
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