Greetings from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted.

“Apostle” is a church word. The Easy-to-Read Version stays away from church words most of the time. But in some cases, it uses them.

Before it was a church word, apostle was a word used for business relationships, often in ancient maritime commerce. An apostle was someone who had the right papers, the proper authority, to do business on behalf of another. Later, Christians used this word to talk about someone who was sent as a representative, emissary, or ambassador of Jesus. Paul says that he is an apostle because it is what God wanted (“through the will of God”).

Today, you will find church leaders all over the world who refer to themselves as an apostle. For many Christians, the word apostle implies a high level of status and authority. Some people have the idea that there are levels of authority and somehow an apostle has more authority than a pastor or a priest.

That is all wrong. Paul’s introduction of himself is the opposite of how modern leaders use the word apostle. Paul is not showing his high status. He is showing his low status. He is not the one with authority. He represents the One with authority. He did not make himself an apostle; his ministry is God’s doing, not his own.

God has sent you out into the world also. You represent Him. What has He given you to do? Don’t let thoughts of status obstruct or bother you. You are your true self when you participate in God’s will. Be the representative, the ambassador, the emissary of Jesus that God made you to be.

By Daniel Rodriguez, Bible League International staff, Texas, U.S.