In Christian theology, Jesus Christ is recognized as the Head of the Church, a title that underscores His supreme authority and leadership over the body of believers. This concept is rooted in several New Testament passages, notably in Ephesians 1:22-23 , which states, "And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

The commissioning of the apostles by Christ is a pivotal event in the New Testament, marking the transition from His earthly ministry to the establishment of the Church. This commissioning is recorded in several key passages, each highlighting different aspects of the apostles' mission and authority.

The Great Commission

The most comprehensive account of the commissioning is found in Matthew 28:18-20 , commonly referred to as the Great Commission. Here, Jesus declares, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." This passage emphasizes the universal scope of the apostles' mission and the divine authority under which they operate.

Empowerment by the Holy Spirit

In Acts 1:8 , Jesus further instructs His apostles, saying, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This promise of the Holy Spirit's empowerment is crucial, as it equips the apostles to fulfill their mission with divine strength and guidance.

Authority to Forgive Sins

In John 20:21-23 , Jesus imparts a specific authority to His apostles: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld." This passage highlights the unique role of the apostles in the early Church, acting as representatives of Christ's authority on earth.

The Apostolic Foundation

The apostles, as commissioned by Christ, serve as the foundational leaders of the early Church. Ephesians 2:19-20 describes the Church as "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone." This imagery underscores the integral role of the apostles in establishing the Church's teachings and practices, guided by the headship of Christ.

The Role of Peter

Among the apostles, Peter is often highlighted for his leadership role. In Matthew 16:18-19 , Jesus tells Peter, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." This passage has been interpreted to signify Peter's unique authority and responsibility within the apostolic community.

Through these commissions and instructions, Christ, as the Head of the Church, establishes the apostles as His emissaries, tasked with spreading the Gospel and shepherding the early Christian communities. Their mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit, lays the groundwork for the growth and expansion of the Church throughout the world.Matthew 10:1,7
And when he had called to 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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 28:19
Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 20:21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be to you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

On the Attributes and Marks of the Church
... So every country is independent, and they have no chief head. ... A. The Church is apostolic
because it was founded by Christ on His Apostles and is governed by ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 12 on the attributes.htm

The Essential Unity of the Kingdom.
... depends, not merely upon having one Head and certain ... And wherever the Church spread,
however defective and ... same Kingdom, owning the Lord Jesus Christ as King. ...
/.../burbidge/the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter viii the essential unity.htm

Rise of the Apostolic Literature.
... of Christ, and the founding of the church; and the ... of the life and teaching of Christ
by perfectly ... as its distance from the fountain-head increases, till at ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 75 rise of the.htm

The Church of God.
... of the body according to their calling, all governed by the head and consecrated ...
These church officers are all called of God. ... They are commissioned by Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter vii the church of.htm

The Extension of the Church Throughout the World
... Antioch was seeking guidance of her Divine Head as to ... unblemished the deposit of
Truth which Christ left with ... Barnabas bore back to the Church in Antioch the ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter iii the extension of.htm

The Extraordinary Teachers of the Apostolic Church; and Its ...
... publicans, or when He had not where to lay His head. ... Teacher is the most illustrious
of Christ's ministers ... The primitive Church was pre-eminently a free society ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the extraordinary teachers.htm

The Unity of Revelation. 1 "Known unto God are all his Works from ...
... When Christ came, he separated the church from the ... the original one: "It shall bruise
thy head." A further ... to make a distinction between Christ's authority and ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvi the unity of.htm

Of the Primacy of the Romish See.
... The Prince of pastors, the chief Shepherd, the Head of the Church, could not procure
honour for a place ... Christ conferred the honour of primacy on Peter. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 6 of the primacy.htm

The Last Supper.
... on washing me, why not my hands and head as well as ... was needed among the disciples,
as in the Church now, a ... words and the similar terms used by Christ are an ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the last supper.htm

Arrangement and Furniture of the Church
... the Font the water poured upon the head of the ... of the Church, and of how our Church's
lineage and the ... to the Apostles, and through them to Christ Himself, "the ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/arrangement and furniture of the.htm

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