Apostles of Christ Jesus

You should think of us as servants of Christ, the ones God has trusted to do the work of making known his secret truths.

But it seems to me that God has given me and the other apostles the last place. We are like prisoners condemned to die, led in a parade for the whole world to see—not just people but angels too.

We have the right to bring a believing wife with us when we travel, don’t we? The other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter all do this.

And in the church God has given a place first to apostles, second to prophets, and third to teachers. Then God has given a place to those who do miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who can help others, those who are able to lead, and those who can speak in different kinds of languages.

Not all are apostles. Not all are prophets. Not all are teachers. Not all do miracles.

and that he appeared to Peter and then to the twelve apostles.

Then he appeared to James and later to all the apostles.

All the other apostles are greater than I am. I say this because I persecuted the church of God. That is why I am not even good enough to be called an apostle.

But, because of God’s grace, that is what I am. And his grace that he gave me was not wasted. I worked harder than all the other apostles. (But I was not really the one working. It was God’s grace that was with me.)

So then it is not important if I told you God’s message or if it was the other apostles who told you—we all tell people the same message, and this is what you believed.