The following scriptures reveal the apostle Paul’s ministerial calling and attachment to the Gentiles.

Acts 9:15 “… he (Paul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles,…”

Rom. 11:13 “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:“

Rom. 15:15-16 “…because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”

Rom. 15:18 “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God;…”

Gal. 2:1-2 “Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles,…“

Eph. 3:1 “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,”

Eph. 6-8 “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

ITim. 2:7 “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

IITim. 1:11 “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

IITim. 4:17 “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

In a relatively recent conversation with a friend, I mentioned that I was of the opinion that the Apostle Paul did not fully appreciate the great impact his letters/epistles would have on the church at-large, particularly down through the centuries. As proof of this in part, I pointed out how the Apostle’s (and others) writings seemed to indicate that the general belief of their day was that the Lord’s return was imminent (…we which are alive and remain… IThess. 4:15-17). Later writings do indicate however, that Paul realized he would be leaving before the Lord would be returning (IITim. 4:6-7). Still, hardly could Paul, at full flush in his ministry, have imagined that some 2000 years later his personal and localized letters would serve as… THE BIBLE; or as we know, 13 or 14 “books” of the New Testament (depending on your attribution of the book of Hebrews).

I don’t think Paul set out to write his contribution to “The Bible” when he penned his epistles, though the authoritative nature of his writings (IThess. 2:13) was never in question even from the Apostle Peter (IIPet. 3:15-16), as the collection of prophetic writings which would become the Bible were compiled decades/centuries later. It is my observation that Paul addressed his letters and epistles to their intended recipients without considering necessarily any wider circulation. An exception to this would be found in the epistle to the Colossians where Paul advised them to exchange epistles with the neighboring church at Laodicea (Col. 4:16).

Incorporate in the written Word of God, among the New Covenant doctrine sent from heaven vehicled through the writings (or dictations) of Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles (IThess. 2:13, IITim. 3:16), is also personal admonitions, solicitous appeals, specific and localized chastisements, godly advice and friendly salutations. Also, the world knows Paul as the great Apostle; the church at Corinth, however, knew him also as an intimate fatherly pastor (Side note: Today the term “Pastor” is misused to describe the primary leader of a local church. The biblically correct term for that office, however, would be “Bishop”, with the term “Pastor”, as well as four other ministerial gifts Eph. 4:7-11, describing the spiritual quality and nature, utterance and empowerment of a specific ministerial gift), with Paul addressing, loving, chastising and caring for them (Corinthians) on a very personal and intimate level. Whether seemingly mundane (“…Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.” IITim. 4:20) or majestic (ICor. ch. 13), all is instructive, all is profitable.

In addition to his epistles, Paul’s conversion experience, ministerial adventures, and persecutions are documented in the Book of Acts (The Acts of the Apostles), which is believed to be the clerical work of Luke, a physician (Col. 4:14) and author of his own namesake gospel. Then, whether it was during his encounter with Jesus while approaching Damascus or his conversion experience there (Acts ch. 9), or perhaps his early days in Arabia not conferring with flesh and blood (Gal 1:15-17). Maybe once launched out of Antioch (Acts 13:1-3), his powerful and miraculous ministry blossoming and the Gentiles then receiving what the “Jew first” again rejected (Acts 13:44-51, Rom. 1:16). Or perhaps it was an amalgamation of all these things. Whatever the case, somewhere along the line Paul became aware of a certain significance, with regard to the Gentiles, concerning his ministry:

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:” Rom. 11:13

Bible readers are aware of the elevated role that the water-walking, transfigure-witnessing, Gethsemane sword-swinging, Christ denying apostle Peter played in the development of the Gospel story and the formulation of the church immediately thereafter; the Bible records his part, his epistles living on. Peter was not just one among twelve, he wasn’t even one among three (w/ brothers James and John, often referred to as Jesus’ inner circle or inner three). Selected by Jesus himself, Simon Peter emerged as the primary apostle as “…Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matt. 16:17-19. He then “loosing” salvation on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), then on to the Gentiles (Acts 10), he opening that door, Paul walking through it.

Concerning his apostleship and office of ministry and work among the Gentiles, neither was Paul just one of the many, he was in fact THE apostle of the Gentiles, though there were other apostles. It is not just that the book of Acts records his conversion and pioneering ministry, or that the majority of the Bible’s New Testament is comprised of his epistles, his ministry to this day bearing fruit. Consider the following scripture segment; “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (8) (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles) (9) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.” Gal. 2:7-9.

On another occasion recorded immediately after the above reference, Paul’s leadership and authority among the Gentiles was again made manifest as he openly confronted the apostle Peter concerning Peter’s errant deference to Judaism and the concision. Gal. 2:11-14 “(11) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. (12) For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. (13)  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. (14) But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”.

These scripture passages along with our above references indicate that as Peter was to the Jews, so Paul, with Peter’s endorsement (Gal. 2:9) was/is to the Gentiles.

The twelve disciples selected by Jesus were called apostles (Luke 6:13). Along with Jesus (Heb. 3:1), Paul, and “The Twelve”, there are references to others who are indirectly inferred to be apostles in the Bible (Barnabas- Acts 14:4/14 and ICor. 9:5-6, James, the Lord’s brother- Gal.1:19, Timothy and Silas- IThess. 2:6, Apollos- ICor. 4:9, and potentially others). The definition of the term “apostle” and the function of this authoritive and powerful gift in the church is a subject of ongoing study and practice. Students will be familiar with the very general “to be sent” definition. Recurring defining themes for the term “apostle” also indicate leadership and eminence in authority and power, the introduction and preaching of the gospel to previously unreached populations, multi-gifted and highly visible, anointed and enabled with supernatural demonstration of the miraculous (IICor. 12:12), with success in God not necessarily translating to worldly affairs (ICor. 4:9-13, Matt. 8:20), etc. Then invariably discussion will transition to the identity and role of the apostle in the modern-day church; “Are their modern-day apostles?”… “Who is an apostle?” etc.

I have been blessed by God to have been around and influenced by some very significant and powerful men of God. As far as I know none of them have claimed to be an apostle per se (though others have ascribed this honor to them), choosing rather I suppose to let their works do their talking for them (Jam. 2:18). However, I know for a fact that there is at least one very prominent, well-known and powerful apostle who’s influence and authority today, like it was in Bible days, prevails above all others. This apostle’s name would be Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, all gentiles, even today’s gentiles.

The Apostle Paul has certainly long past from this life; the general consensus of historians having him martyred in Rome somewhere between 60-70AD. However, through the providence of God, his works (letters/epistles) remain. And it is these letters that formulate the majority of the New Testament of your Bible, the infallible Word of God. Through these, sure foundation is laid and preserved and by them the church is guided.

And the Apostle Paul continues in his calling as The Apostle of (todays) Gentiles.

GS