Paul's Eyewitness Status as a New Testament Apostle

Paul's status as a New Testament apostle is rooted in his claim of being directly appointed by Jesus Christ, as evident in his writings ^{[1, 2]}. In Romans 1:1 and Titus 1:1, Paul introduces himself as "a called apostle" and "an apostle of Jesus Christ," emphasizing his divine commission ^{[1, 2]}.

The nature of Paul's apostleship is a subject of discussion among early Christian interpreters. Tertullian, an early Church Father, notes that Paul professes to be "an apostle--not of men, nor by man, but by Jesus Christ," highlighting the divine authority behind his mission ^[5]. This understanding is echoed in the Reformed tradition, where John Calvin explains that Paul's apostleship is characterized by a "new and extraordinary kind of embassy" through which God fulfilled his promises in the person of Jesus Christ ^[6].

A key aspect of Paul's apostolic status is his claim to have seen Jesus Christ, which he uses to validate his authority. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, observes that Paul's apostleship was confirmed by his personal encounter with Christ and his ability to perform miracles ^[7]. This is in line with Charles Hodge's argument that the original apostles were distinguished by their supernatural gifts and credentials, including signs, wonders, and miracles ^[3].

The apostolic office, as described in the New Testament, was unique and not transmissible. Hodge notes that the office of the apostles was "from its nature incapable of being transmitted, and has not been continued" ^[4]. This understanding is reflected in Paul's own writings, where he emphasizes the extraordinary nature of his commission and the authority that accompanies it.

The question of Paul's eyewitness status is closely tied to his apostolic authority. As an apostle, Paul claims to have seen Jesus Christ, either directly or through a revelation. This eyewitness status is essential to his role as a witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, highlights the significance of Paul's apostleship being "by the will of God," emphasizing the divine origin of his authority ^[8].

The New Testament itself provides evidence of Paul's eyewitness status. In 1 Corinthians, Paul defends his apostleship against those who question his authority, citing his personal encounter with Jesus Christ and the signs and wonders that accompanied his ministry ^[9]. one commentary tradition by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown notes that Paul's call as "an apostle by the will of God" constitutes the ground of the authority he claims in Corinth ^[9].

The early Christian understanding of Paul's apostleship is also reflected in the writings of the Church Fathers. Tertullian's discussion of Paul's apostleship highlights the importance of his direct commission from Jesus Christ ^[5]. This patristic understanding is consistent with the Reformed and Presbyterian traditions, which emphasize the divine origin and authority of Paul's apostleship.

Sources

Romans “Romans 1:1 (LITV) — Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, separated to the gospel of God,”
Titus “Titus 1:1 (LITV) — Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of the elect of God and full knowledge of the truth according to godliness,”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 38: adherence to the true gospel, by success in preaching (Paul said to the Corinthians that they were the seal of his apostleship, 1 Cor. ix. 2 ); and by signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. Such were the gifts and qualifications and credentials of the original Apostles; and those who claimed the office without possessirig these gifts and credentials, were pronounced false apostles and messengers of Satan. When Paul claimed to be an apostle, he felt it necessary to prove, (1.) That he had been appointed not by m”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 38: The world has never seen or suffered a greater imposture than that weak, ignorant, and often immoral men, should claim the same authority to teach and rule that belonged to men to whom the truth was supernaturally revealed, who were confessedly infallible in its communication, and to whose divine mission God himself bore witness in signs and wonders, and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. The office of the Apostles as described in the New Testament, was, therefore, from its nature incapable of being transmitted, and has not in f”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. I.--INTRODUCTORY. THE APOSTLE PAUL HIMSELF NOT THE PREACHER OF A NEW GOD. CALLED BY JESUS CHRIST, ALTHOUGH AFTER THE OTHER APOSTLES, HIS MISSION WAS FROM THE CREATOR. STATES HOW. TH (part 2): He professes himself to be "an apostle"--to use his own, words--"not of men, nor by man, but by Jesus Christ."(10) Of course, any one may make a profession concerning himself; but his profession is only rendered valid by the authority of a second person. One man signs, another countersigns;(11) one man appends his seal, another registers in the public records.(12”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 45: light through the Gospel,” ( 2 Tim. 1:10 ). Paul does not mean by these words that the Fathers were plunged in the darkness of death before the Son of God became incarnate; but he claims for the Gospel the honourable distinction of being a new and extraordinary kind of embassy, by which God fulfilled what he had promised, these promises being realised in the person of the Son. For though believers have at all times experienced the truth of Paul’s declaration, that “all the promises of God in him are yea and amen,” inasmuch as these”
Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ,.... The apostle puts his name to this epistle, by which he was known in the Gentile world, as he usually does in all his epistles; and styles himself "an apostle", as he was, having seen Christ in person, and received his commission, doctrine, and qualifications immediately from him, with a power of doing miracles to confirm the truth of his mission. This he chose to make mention of, partly because the false teachers everywhere insinuated that he was not an apostle; and partly to give the greater sanction and authority, and command”
2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 1:1: Paul an apostle - St. Paul at once shows his office, the authority on which he held it, and the end for which it was given him. He was an apostle - an extraordinary ambassador from heaven. He had his apostleship by the will of God - according to the counsel and design of God's infinite wisdom and goodness. And he was appointed that he might proclaim that eternal life which God had in view for mankind by the incarnation of his Son Jesus Christ, and which was the end of all the promises he had made to men, and the commandments he had delivered to all his prophets si”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 1 (introduction): THE INSCRIPTION; THANKSGIVING FOR THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH; REPROOF OF PARTY DIVISIONS: HIS OWN METHOD OF PREACHING ONLY CHRIST. (1Co. 1:1-31) called to be--Found in some, not in others, of the oldest manuscripts Possibly inserted from Rom 1:1; but as likely to be genuine. Translate, literally, "a called apostle" [CONYBEARE and HOWSON]. through the will of God--not because of my own merit. Thus Paul's call as "an apostle by the will of God," while constituting the ground of the authority he claims in the Corint”

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