Chapter 10
The Authority of Twelve Jewish Men
Chapter Summary
It is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.
This chapter examines the unique authority and witness of the twelve apostles, exploring how their firsthand experience with Jesus formed the foundation of early Christian testimony. Their authority came not from position or education, but from direct experience with the risen Christ.
The author explores how authentic spiritual authority develops through intimate relationship with Christ rather than institutional appointment, and how the apostles' witness provides the standard for evaluating all subsequent religious claims and teachings.
Discussion Points
- What made the twelve apostles uniquely qualified as witnesses to Jesus?
- How does firsthand experience differ from secondhand religious knowledge?
- What role does personal witness play in authentic spiritual authority?
- How should we evaluate religious claims and teachings today?
- What's the difference between institutional and experiential authority?
- How does the apostolic witness provide a standard for faith?
- What makes someone a credible witness to spiritual truth?
- How do we distinguish between human tradition and apostolic teaching?
- What role should the apostolic foundation play in contemporary faith?
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