Apostleship

In the Urantia Book

The apostolate, unlike the less rigorous path of the simple disciples, is the commission that Jesus gave to those who wish to give everything in the service of the kingdom

• The apostleship, originally a requirement only for the twelve, Jesus did not restrict it only to them. A group of some seventy later disciples can also be considered apostles, and anyone willing to agree to pay the price was accepted by Jesus as an apostle. 163:2.11
• the hard requirements made by Jesus to apostles: 140:3.1 140:6.9-13 140:8.16 142:7.2 (163:2.6,11) 163:3.3 165:4.5 165:5.2 171:2
• * live as those who have tasted the glories of a better life and have been sent back to earth as ambassadors of the Sovereign of that new and better world.
• * return good for evil.
• * mercy always shall determine judgements
• * Be willing, then, to take up the responsibilities and follow him.
• * Do your good deeds in secret
• * When you pray, go apart by yourselves and use not vain repetitions and meaningless phrases
• * be not given to fasting with a sad countenance to be seen by men
• * lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth; lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven
• * be not anxious for your lives; much less be concerned with what you shall eat or what you shall drink
• * Seek first the kingdom of God
• He never taught his followers to avoid earthly possessions, only his twelve apostles 140:8.16
• Jesus never taught that it was wrong to have wealth. He required only the twelve and the seventy to dedicate all of their worldly possessions to the common cause. 163:2.11
• You who would follow after me must be willing to pay the price of wholehearted dedication to the doing of my Father’s will. If you would be my disciples, you must be willing to forsake father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, even your life. 171:2.2

Bible parallels

Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.

• Jesus begins ordination sermon 140:3.1 — Mt 5:2; Lk 6:20. *You are ambassadors*: 2 Co 5:20. *Citizens of heaven*: Heb 11:16. *More is required of you*: Lk 12:48.
• Eye for eye, tooth for tooth 140:6.9 — Ex 21:24; Lv 24:20; Dt 19:21; Mt 5:38.
• Return good for evil 140:6.9 — Mt 5:38-42. *Greater demand on the apostles*: Lk 14:25-72; Jn 6:60-69.
• Danger of riches 165:4.5 — Mt 19:23-24; Mk 10:23-25; Lk 18:24-25.
• Treasure in heaven 165:4.5 — Mt 6:19-21; Lk 12:33-34.
• Be not anxious about things 165:5.2 — Mt 6:31.
• God provides 165:5.2 — Mt 6:25-27; Lk 12:22-26.

See also

• disciples

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