10 Types of Modern-Day Apostles

The Paul-type apostle is a modern-day apostle sent by the Lord with a burning vision to establish a family or families of churches. This vision will burn in his or her heart until it is fulfilled. The call is affirmed by other apostles and spiritual leaders in the body of Christ.

A Paul-type apostle is sometimes referred to as an overseeing apostle. The Lord brings others alongside this apostle to fill in what is lacking in his or her gifts so the vision can be fulfilled. Paul was called by God to build local churches among the Gentiles, but a team of apostles served with him.

The Lord has used thousands of Paul-type apostolic leaders to establish new families of churches in the body of Christ throughout the nations.

While Paul was called to the Gentiles, Peter was clearly called to minister to the Jews—those who grew up in institutional religion. The Peter-type apostle seems to be a modern-day apostle who is called to minister within the structure of institutional churches.

I have many friends who have a clear apostolic call to stay within their long-established denominations and bring change within these conventional structures. Although this has not been my personal call, I admire them for obeying the Lord and embracing a Peter-type apostolic call. Peter and Paul each clearly understood their respective fields of ministry and affirmed one another (see Galatians 2:7-9).

The Timothy-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who is affirmed and commissioned to help fulfill the vision received by the Paul- or Peter-type apostle. A Timothy-type apostle receives authority from the Lord and from the lead apostle who guides the team with whom he or she serves.

This apostle is sent out by the overseeing apostle with specific instructions and mandates that contribute to the main vision of the apostolic team. Both Timothy and Titus were sent by Paul to establish elders and oversee churches.

The Titus-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who is sent out by a Paul-type apostle to oversee a region. For example, Titus was sent by Paul to oversee the new churches on the island of Crete (see Titus 1:5).

Titus had apostolic authority to straighten out anything that needed to be corrected and to oversee this region. In some denominations, this gift is called a "district superintendent" or a "bishop." This person is fulfilling the role of a modern-day Titus-type apostle.

The James-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who has God-given spiritual authority in a city or a local area. Sometimes this type of apostle serves as a megachurch pastor. James was appointed by God to serve the church in Jerusalem (see Acts 15).

James could be compared to many of today’s megachurch pastors. He had apostolic authority in the city of Jerusalem. Whenever apostles or church leaders came to Jerusalem, they met with James and the elders (see Acts 12:17; 21:18).

"I am convinced that most, if not all megachurch pastors, have an apostolic gift from the Lord. This is why it is ludicrous for a pastor to attend a leaders’ conference at a megachurch and believe that if he just does everything the mega-church pastor does, he or she can also lead a megachurch."

The Apollos-type apostle is a modern-day apostle with a strong teaching gift. Apollos is called an apostle in the Scriptures and he served as an apostle who had a dynamic teaching ministry (see Acts 18:24-28; 1 Corinthians 4:6,9).

Apollos had been given apostolic authority for the ministry of teaching the Scriptures. There are many Apollos-type apostles in the body of Christ today; they are just not recognized as such. Pastor Bill Johnson is one example—an apostolic leader with a global teaching ministry who teaches the Scriptures with great authority.

The Luke-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who serves in the marketplace. Luke, a doctor, served on Paul’s apostolic team sent out to Antioch to plant churches worldwide. He was a model of a modern-day marketplace apostolic minister who serves in business, government, education, the arts, and media.

These crucial marketplace gifts need to be recognized by church leaders, commissioned, and released to serve in kingdom building outside conventional church buildings.

The Barnabas-type apostle is a modern-day networking apostle who is a true spiritual father or mother. Barnabas, an apostle in the early church, had grace from the Lord as a networker.

When many in the early church were afraid of Saul due to his history of persecuting believers, Barnabas saw potential in him. When Barnabas noticed a great need for an apostolic teacher in Antioch, he invited Saul to serve with the Antioch church. When the time was right, Barnabas was willing to step back and allow Saul to lead the team. He was a true spiritual father.

The Silas-type apostle serves in a supportive way as an assistant to a lead apostle. Both Timothy-type apostles and Silas-type apostles serve on apostolic teams with a lead apostle, but Silas seemed to be a key assistant to Paul.

When Barnabas decided not to join Paul on his second missionary journey, Silas was chosen as Paul's direct companion. While both Silas and Timothy served alongside Paul, Silas is consistently highlighted in scripture as a vital peer and helper in trial (see 1 Peter 5:12).

The John-type apostle is a modern-day apostle who can be characterized as an apostle of love. The greatest emphasis in the life of the apostle John was love. This type of apostolic father has great influence in the body of Christ, but may not fit into one of the other structural apostolic roles.

He or she is passionately committed to unity in the body of Christ and has an ability to cross denominational lines due to their God-given apostolic authority and gracious spirit.

An excellent modern-day example of a John-type apostle was Jack Hayford, who served as a vital "bridge-builder" helping to forge healthy bonds across all segments of the body of Christ.