Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Philippians 1:1-2

Many who think of themselves as apostles or prophets (some consider themselves as both) think that Paul’s references to his apostleship gives them a license to do the same. Yet, unlike modern day apostles and prophets who promote themselves with such titles, Paul viewed himself as a servant of Christ, who was called to be an apostle.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God… ~ Romans 1:1

One’s calling (occupation in ministry) is not their identity. Our identity is who are are, and the sad truth is many modern day ministers do not identity themselves as servants of Christ, but they identify themselves with self promoting titles. I recently saw on a social media site a female minister introduce herself to the community as, “Senior, and electlady, Apostle…” in front of her name.

Paul’s calling as an apostle was not an ego thing, and when he opens his letter to the Philippians, he is simply Paul, a servant of Christ. When Paul referred to himself as an apostle, he was communicating that he was tasked with preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and had no ambition of making them Jewish proselytes. This meant serving the Gentiles for the sake of Christ.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:5

For Paul, a Jew previously steeped in Jewish customs and traditions, being a servant of Christ with an apostolic ministry to the Gentiles meant total dependance on Jesus. Paul’s view of himself as a servant to the Gentiles for Christ’s sake is much deeper than many of us have ever imagined. Paul viewed himself as a prisoner of Christ for the sake of the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1; 4:1). When Paul speaks of his calling as an apostle he isn’t speaking from a place of self exaltation as is common with modern day apostles, Paul is speaking from a place of indebtedness and servanthood.

Paul thought of himself as an apprehended or arrested servant of Christ (Philippians 3:12), and it is from this vantage point that Paul declared to the Gentiles that God had called him as an apostle to them.