11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

--- Ephesians 4:11

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28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

--- 1 Corinthians 12:28

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There are four classes of Apostles:

1. The Chief Apostle

2. Apostles of the Lamb

3. Foundational Apostles

4. Non-Foundational Apostles

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The Chief Apostle - The first class

1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

--- Hebrews 3:1

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The head of all apostles is the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ was the only Apostle sent directly by the God the Father. The Head of Christ apostleship was God Himself.

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16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

---- John 3:16-17

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16  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

--- John 13:16

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The word "sent" in John 3:17 is the Greek word apostello which means sent forth or to send forth. Christ as the Son was sent forth by God the Father. The word "sent" that is highlighted above in John 13:16 is the Greek word apotolos which mean a sent one. Christ was telling the His disciples that a sent one that is an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him. Christ the apostle was sent by the greater one the God the Father.

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Apostles of the Lamb - The second class

14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

--- Revelation 21:14

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The apostles of the Lamb are the second class of apostle. The apostles of the Lamb are foundational apostles. They were used to lay the foundational doctrine of the church. These class of apostle where the only apostle trained and sent directly Jesus Christ Himself. There are no longer any apostles of the Lamb, because all of them were directly sent by the Lord Himself.  Some of the apostles of the Lamb are Peter, James, John, Andrew and Paul. They are the eleven original apostles with Paul replacing Judas. The Apostles of the Lamb were taught directly by Jesus.

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13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

--- Acts 1:13

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13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

--- Acts 26:13-18

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Foundational Apostles - The third class

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

--- Ephesians 2:19-20

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The third class are the second class of foundational apostles. Like Jesus and the apostles of the Lamb these apostles were used to also lay the foundational doctrine of the church. Some of them are Silvanus, Barnabas and Luke. The third class of apostles were sent by the Holy Spirit but they were taught by the apostles of the Lamb. 

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1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

--- Acts 13:1-4

14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

--- Acts 14:14

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Before Barnabas and Paul were sent out as apostles by the Holy Spirit they were prophets and teachers. It was the Holy Spirit who made them apostles not themselves.

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Non-Foundational Apostles - The fourth class

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and  prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

--- Ephesians 3:5-6

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The last class of apostles include every apostle who has not included the first three classes of apostles. The are no foundational apostles today but there are non-foundational apostles on earth. There could be no foundational apostles today because the foundation of the church has already been laid. The bible is complete with both the old and new testament. These class of apostles are sent by the Holy Spirit.

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