There is a hyper in the Christian world among young and old dreaming of becoming missionaries to fulfill the great commission given in the Bible. But the question is, who is a missionary? In the Bible, we do not find the English word missionary. How do we then know the work of a missionary? If these have been some of the questions you have asked yourself and wondering if God is calling you to be a missionary, looking for clear evidence for the calling of a missionary, then this blog is for you.
The origins of the word missionary.
Let us begin with the origins of the word missionary and how it got into the Christian Church. The word is derived from the Greek word ἀπόστολος ‘apostolos” From the Word word apostolos, we have the English word Apostle. This word (apostles) has a Total KJV Occurrence of 81 times
Its directly translated Apostles, 53 times Here below you may find all the references.
Mat_10:2, Mar_6:30, Luk_6:13, Luk_9:10, Luk_11:49, Luk_17:5, Luk_22:14, Luk_24:10, Act_1:2, 26, Act_2:37,43, Act_4:33,36, Act_5:12,18, 29, 34, 40, Act_6:6, Act_8:1,14, Act_9:27, Act_11:1, Act_14:4,14, Act_15:2, 4, 6, 22-23 , Act_16:4, Rom_16:7, 1Co_4:9, 1Co_9:5, 1Co_12:28-29 (2), 1Co_15:7,9, 2Co_11:5,13, 2Co_12:11, Gal_1:17, Eph_2:19-20 (2), Eph_3:5, Eph_4:11, 1Th_2:6, 2Pe_3:2, Jud_1:17, Rev_2:2, Rev_18:20, Rev_21:14
It’s translated apostle, 19 times, here below are the references.
Rom_1:1, Rom_11:13, 1Co_9:1-2 (3), 1Co_15:9, 2Co_1:1, 2Co_12:12, Col_1:1 (3), 1Ti_1:1, 1Ti_2:7, 2Ti_1:1, 2Ti_1:11, Heb_3:1 (2), 1Pe_1:1, 2Pe_1:1
It is translated as apostles’, 5 times.
Act_2:42, Act_4:35, 37, Act_5:2, Act_8:18
Then also it is translated as “sent”, 2 times
Joh_13:16 (2)
It is translated as messenger, 1 time
Php_2:25
It is translated as messengers, 1time
2Co_8:23
From these English translations, we can see that an apostle is a messenger sent out with a mission.
David Smith in His commentary says “Apostle, ‘one commissioned,’ represents a Heb. word which signified not merely a messenger but a delegate, bearing a commission, and, so far as his commission extended, wielding his commissioner’s authority. ‘The Apostle of anyone,’ says the Talmud, ‘is even as the man himself by whom he is deputed.’ The term was applied by Jesus to the twelve disciples whom He attached to Himself to aid Him in His ministry and to be trained by the discipline of His example and precept for carrying it on after His departure (Luk_6:13, Mat_10:2). Cf. Joh_17:18 ‘Even as thou didst commission me unto the world, I also commissioned them unto the world’ (where ‘commission’ is the verb cognate to ‘Apostle’) David Smith. (Smith)”
It is Christ who pre-eminently called his followers “The Apostles” signifying the role which they had to play, that is, living a life that he lived and spreading His doctrine or mission. Christ was an apostle of heaven sent to earth according to the book of Hebrews. Heb_3:1; Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ was the chief Apostle if you please. Then later, He Ordained the twelve and sent them out with a mission according to Mar_3:14. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, its Christ who chose them and trained them specifically to bear fruit of His life. John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
From the above scriptures, we see the title Apostle received from Christ, In the early ages or stages of the Christian church, whenever they sent out apostles to a mission field, they also referred to them as missionaries because they had a mission to bear. Therefore a missionary was known as a messenger sent for a specific mission by the master, whose mission aim is to impact and duplicate the doctrine, teachings, or lifestyle of the master. Hence with time, apostles became known as missionaries, in other words, a missionary is the same equal gift of an apostleship. If you are interested in knowing whether this is a spiritual gift you have, you can take a spiritual gift test. But here are a few characteristics of the calling of a missionary.
Characteristics of a missionary.
Called by God. In other words, it’s a calling, not a profession.
1Co_1:1; Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother. Paul had a profession before being called to be an apostle, God appointed him, Apostles or missionaries are not self-appointed or appointed by men. From Gal 1:1 we read, Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) Then Gal_1:15-16 says. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: That takes us to the next characteristic of an apostle or missionary.
They are multitalented or are given more than one spiritual gift.
When Christ sent out the apostles, he gave them power and the ability
to do various things, they were multitalented and many possessed more than one
spiritual gift. From one of the commission verses, Mat 10:1 we read,
And when he had called unto him
his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them
out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Let’s
see another characteristic of a missionary.
They have high adaptability to different cultures and races.
This is because the mission field they received encompasses the whole
world, Paul makes it clear, that the great commission given was to reach the world.
In his letter to the Romans, he writes. Rom_1:5; By whom we have
received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations,
for his name: To be fit for this work, they must be highly
adaptable to the different cultures and races. Let us go to characteristic
number four of an apostle or missionary.
They don’t come from a special class of people, some are unlearned men.
Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and
perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they
took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. In most cases, God chooses the unlearn because He can easily mold
them and they have a teachable humble spirit.
Most of them are Selected from obscure stations or professions.
Mat 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two
brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the
sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men.
They are missionaries first in their land or country.
The experience they gained during their life work in the home areas, the apostles before going to a far land, had a great work to finish within the surrounding areas. Notice the instructions given during their commission.
Mat 10:5-7 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
They were to start at home, probably before you think of going to a faraway country, so look for the work nearest to you to fulfill. That takes us to the next characteristic.
Less timid for trials persecutions, death, and adversaries.Specially devoted to the office of the ministry rather than local church roles.
There is a funny fact that says. “The wages of a missionary are trials and persecutions.” Funny this may sound, it’s indeed part of the missionary calling, if you see yourself as one who is not always moved by circumstances even up to death, then perhaps you may have the calling.
Jesus said these words in Mat 10:26-28. Fear them not
therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid,
that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak
ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the
housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not
able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul
and body in hell.
This is because it is part of their calling, he was giving a Job description of what they had been called to bear. Jesus further adds in Mat 10:18-19 and says.
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
That was characteristic number seven of a missionary. Next is.
Specially devoted to the office of the ministry rather than local church roles.
They had less involvement in the official administration of the church
roles but most aided the church’s growth through ministry. Act 6:4 But we
will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the
word.
Exhibit mutual love and Self-denial.
This sometimes involves leaving their closest relatives and friends to fulfill
the mission call. Christ expressed this characteristic in this way.
Mat 10:37-39 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of
me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of
me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is
not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he
that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Even when separated
from friends, family, and colleagues, missionaries exhibit unsearchable love
for their enemies, relatives, and friends.
Mostly lonely but highly adapted to loneliness.
Quoting from one of the Christian writers, Ellen G white, she says.
“The desire for love and sympathy is implanted in the heart by God himself. Christ in his hour of agony in Gethsemane longed for the sympathy of his disciples. And Paul, though apparently indifferent to hardship and suffering, yearned for sympathy and companionship. The visit of Onesiphorus, testifying to his fidelity at a time of loneliness and desertion, brought gladness and cheer to one who had spent his life in service for others. R&H Dec.28.1911”
Missionaries have a peculiar character that makes them highly influence, I repeat very highly influence, not because they are the most learned and eloquent but because the character they possess carries irresistible influence upon others, the authorities may oppose them, but the people highly esteem them and their death is sometimes a history change or can bring about a revolution.
Speaking of apostle Paul, this was noted of him. “Paul was taken in a private manner to the place of execution. His persecutors, alarmed at the extent of his influence, feared that converts might be won to Christianity by the scenes of his death; therefore few spectators were allowed to be present. But even the hardened soldiers who attended him, listened to his words, and with amazement saw him cheerful and even joyous in the prospect of death. …Paul carried with him throughout his life the atmosphere of heaven. All who associated with him felt the influence of his union with Christ. The fact that his own life exemplified the truth he proclaimed, gave convincing power to his preaching. Here lies the power of the truth. The unstudied, unconscious influence of a holy life is the most convincing sermon that can be given in favor of Christianity. R&H Jan.4 1912”
In conclusion, a missionary or apostle is an ambassador of heaven to the dying world.
4 Responses
[…] missionaries at the beginning of the great Christian awakening period, their work seemed only to have increased […]
In other words, we had more people accepting and acknowledging the existence of God than we have today, why? what is missing today we would have done better? this is the question am trying to answer in this article.
[…] word missionary here is about the spiritual gift rather than a casual job as a missionary. We want to discover the […]
sure that’s correct. we are discussing more from the spiritual gift perspective than Job perspective.