4.2. Apostolic Authority Was Limited
4.2. Apostolic Authority Was Limited
Because of the authority vested in the apostle as founder of churches — either by the apostle himself or as in the case of Epaphras, one of the apostle’s co-workers - there does not seem to be any other outside authority for the local churches. That is, apostles apparently did not assume authority in churches they had not founded. Paul’s considerably more restrained approach to the church in Rome in contrast to his other letters serves as evidence.
Moreover, even though there is a form of collegiality among the “apostles” and “elders,” Paul at least did not consider any one them to have authority over him, although he felt a kind of urgency that they all be in this thing together. Thus, there appears to have been a kind of loose plurality at the top level, with recognition of each other’s spheres and ministries as given by God (Gal 2:6-10).