Samuel Sandmel On the Genius of St. Paul

Samuel Sandmel, The Genius of Paul

(New York: Farar, Straus & Cudahy; 1958), p. 99.

‘The basic meaning of the word apostle is one who is sent out.

A modern word, which is a near equivalent of the term, would be “messenger,” or “emissary,” or “missionary.”

Yet none of these words connotes what the Greek word Apostle meant to Paul (and to other New Testament authors).

‘When Paul gives us a list of “inspired” leaders in the church, his list is arranged in descending order.

He speaks first of apostles, then of prophets, and then of teachers, workers of miracles, and so forth.

There can be no doubt in the light of the whole passage, 1 Cor. 12.1-14.28, that an apostle is supreme above all other persons.

Indeed, in his conclusion to the passage, in 14.39-40, Paul exhorts his hearers to become prophets and speakers-in-tongues; but he says not one word about their becoming apostles. . . .’

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