Was Matthias or Paul the Twelfth Apostle of Jesus Christ?

WAS MATTHIAS OR PAUL THE TWELFTH APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST? 

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

The only mention of Apostle Matthias in Scripture is found in Acts 1:15 where he was chosen by the Jerusalem church to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth apostle. No other reference or mention of him is subsequently made by Luke or by any other writer of New Testament Scripture. Some have argued that the decision by the Jerusalem church to choose one among them to replace Judas was informed by the exigency of numbers rather than the calling of God. They insist that at this point in time, the disciples had not received the Holy Spirit and that there was no express mandate from Jesus on the replacement of Judas Iscariot. 

Jesus had commanded them to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit so that they may be endued with power from on high for the gospel witness (Luke 24:49). Did this command imply that that the status quo should have been maintained in the apostolic structure? Did the Jerusalem church err in their decision to seek a replacement for Judas? The answer to this question would perhaps depend on one's perspective on the role of the New Testament apostles after the ascension of Christ. 

We notice from Scripture that Paul was shortly thereafter called by Jesus Christ as an apostle and assigned the Gentile ministry (Acts 9:13-16). Ananias, a disciple of Jesus based in Damascus was notified of Paul's apostolic calling. This was perhaps significant given the tensions and conflicts that Paul's commissioning to apostolic ministry precipitated among the Jewish communities in Jerusalem and in Gentile cities such as Antioch where the presence of Jewish people and synagogue worship was established (cf. Galatians 2: 1-10). On this score, some have argued that Paul was God's authentic choice for the replacement of Judas even though he was not numbered among the Jerusalem twelve. 

When Apostle James was martyred by Nero (Acts 12:1-2), the number of Jerusalem apostles reduced to eleven for the second time. No other apostle was subsequently appointed by Jesus or by the Jerusalem church to replace James. Was this development informed by divine prudence or inadvertence?

Paul consistently distinguished himself from the Jerusalem twelve. This is evident from a number of occasions, especially where he defended himself against his theological critics. 

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 is perhaps one of the most explicit accounts of Scripture that confirms the distinction between Paul and the Jerusalem apostles. Paul outlines the order in which Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection. In Paul's own words, Jesus first appeared to the Jerusalem twelve before he finally appeared to Paul. By this admission, Paul acknowledges that the twelve apostles were historically distinct from him both in their calling and apostolic mandates. 

Little is known about the apostolic assignments associated with a number of the Jerusalem apostles beside their mention in Scripture. The most prominent among them were Peter, James and John. 

It is therefore difficult to tell if Matthias was separately used by God under circumstances that Scripture bears no record or that he remained in obscurity, having never accessed a notable ministry opportunity. His election by the Jerusalem church cannot of itself be a basis for doubting his apostolic authority. It can be argued that the eleven disciples participated in the choosing after seeking God's leading. Scripture reveals that they prayed before casting lots. Notice also that Peter was instrumental in driving the replacement agenda (Acts 1:15-22). He backed this decision with the authority of Scripture (Acts 1:20). Peter's exhortation received the overwhelming support of the Jerusalem church. 

CONCLUSION 

In conclusion, it may be safe to assume or suppose as follows:

1. Even though Matthias was not directly chosen by Christ in person, his election was divinely endorsed by God through the disciples. The disciples sought divine guidance during the process and reasoned from the Scriptures.  

2. Nothing in Scripture suggests that the original twelve number could not be exceeded. The indirect addition of Paul to the twelve was intended to serve God's purposes. The martyrdom of apostle James in Acts 12:1-2 did not necessitate a replacement. 

3. Not all the twelve apostles wrote Scripture. Some of the Scripture writers such as Luke, James, and Jude were not listed among the original apostles. It can also be considered that some of the prominent missionary leaders who served with Paul, such as Timothy, Titus, Sylvanus were instrumental in the apostolic ministry of Paul and may have contributed to the writing of Scripture. Notice the joint salutation in some of the Scriptures Letters (cf. Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1). 

It is therefore difficult to tell if Matthias or Paul was divinely contemplated as the twelfth apostle. Both were legitimately appointed into apostolic ministry, one by God through the Jerusalem church and the other by Jesus Christ in person. The numerical arithmetic may not count in this context. Neither was divinely superior to the other. 

My view is that the final tally of New Testament apostles including Judas Iscariot, Matthias and Paul, stood at fourteen rather than twelve. 

Shalom

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2023