The crucial difference between these two is this: The Apostles in Biblical days were TRUE APOSTLES who have since passed off from this scene after their mission was complete. Those who claim to be apostles today are FALSE APOSTLES, for as I just stated once the gifted apostles in Biblical times completed their mission, there was no further need for a succession of apostles. Here are the verses that teach us the mission of the apostles and why their mission has been completed. Ephesians 2:19-20: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-11: “According to the grace of God which was given to me, AS A WISE MASTER BUILDER I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION….for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

These two passages are crystal-clear.  God gave the gift of apostles (and prophets) to the early church (see Ephesians 4:7-8, 11) so they could LAY THE FOUNDATION OF TRUTH concerning Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul was especially gifted for this purpose and thus he refers to himself as “a wise MASTER BUILDER.” He was given many revelations called “mysteries” (truths formally hidden and then revealed to him) concerning Christ and the church. This is especially brought out in Ephesians 3:1-7: “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me THE MYSTERY (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, YOU MAY UNDERSTAND MY KNOWLEDGE IN THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT TO HIS HOLY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God GIVEN TO ME by the effective working of His power.”

After Paul was given the “mystery of Christ and the church” he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to teach it orally and to have it written down in the scriptures for all believers in Christ (who are a part of the church…see Acts 2:47) to learn and to practice. In that sense he “completed the Word of God” by giving the last subject of revelation that God was pleased to give us. This is why Paul said in Colossians 1:25-26, “of which I became a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me towards you to COMPLETE THE WORD OF GOD, THE MYSTERY which [has been] hidden from the ages and from generations, but has now been made manifest to His saints” (DARBY Version). This is why Jude was inspired to write and exhort us “to contend earnestly for THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS.” The words “the faith” speak of the whole truth that the Apostle Paul (and other apostles and prophets) was inspired to write and once they did THE FOUNDATION (of truth) WAS LAID. When you build a house or some other building, the first thing you do is “build the foundation” and once it is laid you need not build another foundation. That is why there is no need for apostles today…the foundation is laid and now we need to “learn it” (by reading the scriptures) and then “practice it” (by obeying it…read Romans 16:25-26).  I will add, in closing, that this is why Paul’s last word to the elders at Ephesus was: “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). He did NOT commend them to God and “future apostles;” he commended them to God and His precious Word, which has been completed and is all that we need for spiritual growth (read 2 Timothy 3:16-17). (DO)  (650.3)