Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, the apostles were gathered together with the women and Peter told them the need for someone to be appointed to take the place of Judas.
Acts 1:15-23 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection.
We see by this "requirement" Paul could not have been selected by them as an apostle.
According to Peter they needed to select one who had been with them from the time of the baptism of John through the time after the resurrection of Jesus when Jesus was taken up into heaven..
At the time after the resurrection of Jesus, Paul was persecuting those who called Jesus "Lord".
Even at the time Peter spoke of these requirements for apostle to replace Judas, Paul would not have qualified for Paul was, at that time, attempting to discover followers of Jesus to take them captive and imprison such. Acts 9
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Of the men with them at the time the replacement selection for apostle was made, we read the following.
Acts 1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24-26 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
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Matthias was the twelfth apostle, replacing Judas.
So where does Paul fit? He wasn't the twelfth apostle.
I believe Paul fits in the following:
Ephesians 4:7-13 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore HE saith, When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(Now that HE ascended, what is it but that HE also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? HE that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that HE might fill all things.)
And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Paul was the first of the NT apostles given to the church by Jesus after HE ascended, after the resurrection of Jesus.
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NT apostles have a special anointing from God to deal with scripture and to keep doctrines of Christ before the church. The apostles of God will fight against corrupt doctrines which are brought into the church.
Paul explains:
Acts 20:25-30 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE hath purchased with HIS own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
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At the time of Paul, men were already trying to come into the church and change the doctrines of Christ to another doctrine. This is antichrist.
Paul frequently warned Timothy to pay close attention to the doctrine, to hold fast to the doctrine that was of Christ because of the attempted perversions.
I Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
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Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
6-10 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
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II Thessalonians 2 ... antichrist coming into the churches, changing doctrine ...
(NASB) Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
(Antichrist would come into the church in the last days, overruling doctrine of Christ and setting up contrary doctrines which approved various sins in the congregation, pleasing men and approving men ... and the antichrist spirit would take his seat in the church acting as if he, himself was God as he cast aside the pure doctrines of Christ in the church.)
II Thessalonians 2:5-8 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only HE who now restrains will do so until HE is taken out of the way.
That which kept antichrist back was the Holy Scripture, "HE" The Word, was the restraint against antichrist.
As soon as men came in and changed portions of the Word to another doctrine, antichrist moved into the church and began to reign over the church.
We see this apostasy in the churches today as men have changed various scripture such as the following:
Matthew 5:32 (Jesus said) But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
- The man who divorced a faithful wife would be the cause of her adultery if she remarried after the divorce.
- The man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery
I Corinthians 7:10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
To move away from these scriptures is the apostasy in the church as we are witnessing in today's churches.
This is the end time apostasy that Paul said must happen before Jesus returned.
We are seeing it now.
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