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The Catechism in Questions & Answers
- Introduction
- Contents
- 411. What do we understand by the term 'ministry'?
- 412. What is a spiritual ministry?
- 413. What is the source of the spiritual ministry?
- 414. Were there any references to the spiritual ministry in the Old Testament?
- 415. What do we mean by “authorisation” for a spiritual ministry?
- 416. What do we mean by “blessing” for a spiritual ministry?
- 417. What do we mean by “sanctification” for a spiritual ministry?
- 418. What do we mean when we talk about “ministrations” in the church of Jesus Christ?
- 419. What distinguishes ministrations in the church of Jesus Christ from the spiritual ministry?
- 420. Are ministrations also exercised without ordination in the New Apostolic Church?
- 421. Which ministry was instituted by Jesus Christ?
- 422. When did the activity of the Apostle ministry begin in the church?
- 423. What does the word 'Apostle' mean?
- 424. What commission did Jesus Christ give to the Apostles?
- 425. By what authority do the bearers of the Apostle ministry act?
- 426. What designations are there in the New Testament for the Apostle ministry?
- 427. What is meant by the term “the ministry of the new covenant”?
- 428. What is meant by the term “the ministry of the Spirit”?
- 429. What is meant by the term “the ministry of righteousness”?
- 430. What is meant by the term “the ministry of reconciliation”?
- 431. What is meant by the term “the ministry of the word”?
- 432. How else are the Apostles described?
- 433. What is another important characteristic of the Apostle ministry?
- 434. Who sent the Apostles?
- 435. What were the names of the first twelve Apostles?
- 436. Were there any other Apostles besides these during the beginnings of the church?
- 437. Was any of the Apostles given a special position?
- 438. How did this special position of Apostle Peter manifest itself after the ascension of the Lord?
- 439. What New Testament text describes the activity of the Apostles in the greatest detail?
- 440. According to the New Testament, who dispensed the gift of the Holy Spirit?
- 441. What were the other important tasks of the Apostles?
- 442. What expectation comprised the central point of apostolic proclamation already at that time?
- 443. What was the first ministry to come out of the Apostle ministry?
- 444. What follows from these actions of the Apostles?
- 445. Did other ministries proceed from the Apostle ministry?
- 446. How were the congregations cared for after the death of the early Apostles?
- 447. Did the Apostle ministry cease to exist after the death of the early Apostles?
- 448. How long did this interruption in the activity of Apostles last?
- 449. Why was the activity of the Apostles interrupted?
- 450. When was the Apostle ministry occupied again?
- 451. Is there any difference in spiritual authority between the Apostle ministry at the beginning and the Apostle ministry at the end of God’s work of redemption?
- 452. What ministerial levels and ministries are there in the New Apostolic Church?
- 453. What are the duties of the apostolate?
- 454. From where does the authority of the Apostle ministry derive?
- 455. What is the objective of the activity of the Apostles?
- 456. Has the Apostle ministry been given for the whole church of Christ?
- 457. What is the foundation of the Chief Apostle ministry?
- 458. Why is the Chief Apostle ministry also called the “ministry of the rock”?
- 459. What are the duties of the Chief Apostle?
- 460. What are the duties of the District Apostle?
- 461. Who is it that calls a minister to a spiritual ministry?
- 462. What is meant by the term 'ordination'?
- 463. How is the ordination performed?
- 464. What transpires during the ordination?
- 465. What duties are assumed at ordination?
- 466. How should a spiritual ministry be discharged?
- 467. When does the ministerial commission end?
- 468. What is the duty of all ministers?
- 469. What are the duties of the priestly ministers?
- 470. What is the task of the Deacons?
- 471. What is an appointment?
421. Which ministry was instituted by Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ only gave His church one ministry directly, namely the Apostle ministry. He authorised, blessed, and sanctified the Apostles and equipped them with the Holy Spirit: “‘As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (John 20: 21-23). He entrusted the dispensation of the sacraments to the Apostles. In this manner His sacrifice becomes accessible to human beings (cf. Matthew 28: 19-20).
The authority of the Apostles to “dispense the sacraments” refers to the fact that the Apostles have been commissioned by Jesus Christ to dispense the sacraments. Even if not all sacraments are dispensed by Apostles themselves, the sacraments nevertheless exist in relationship to the Apostle ministry (concerning this see also Question 424).