What is the New Apostolic Church?

Definition and Overview

The New Apostolic Church is a religious body that traces its heritage to movements in the mid-nineteenth century seeking to restore what they identified as the original apostolic ministry in the church. It teaches that modern-day apostles are appointed by God to lead congregations around the world, emphasizing a continuation of apostolic authority beyond the first century. While it upholds core Christian tenets, it has specific practices and doctrinal emphases that set it apart from many established Protestant traditions.

Historical Development

During the 1830s and 1840s, a group known as the Catholic Apostolic Church emerged in Great Britain, led by individuals who believed that God was restoring the office of apostle to oversee the universal Church. By the mid-1860s, internal debates led to schisms; in some regions—particularly in Germany—a new branch formed that eventually became known as the New Apostolic Church. Historical records in Hamburg and surrounding areas document how early congregations were established through evangelistic outreach and the claim of newly appointed apostles.

Early leaders taught that the apostolic ministry, believed by many to have ceased with the original Apostles (cf. Ephesians 2:19–20), had been reestablished to help prepare believers for the return of Christ. Over the years, the New Apostolic Church spread from Europe to other continents, establishing local congregations and a structured hierarchy of leadership.

Core Doctrinal Emphases

1. Modern-Day Apostles: Central to this denomination’s identity is its conviction that living apostles stand in spiritual continuity with the original apostles, guiding the faithful with authority sometimes compared to that of the first-century Church. This teaching is supported within the church by referencing passages that highlight the importance of leadership gifts, such as Ephesians 4:11: “And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets...,” interpreted as remaining in force for today.

2. Holy Sealing: Adherents practice what they term “Holy Sealing,” viewed as a sacrament imparting the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of an apostle’s hands. While Scripture indicates that the Holy Spirit is received by faith (cf. Ephesians 1:13), the New Apostolic Church uniquely understands this rite as essential for full membership in the body of true believers.

3. Sacramental Life: Baptism and Holy Communion are observed. Baptism typically involves water as a sign of cleansing, while Holy Communion is administered regularly in worship services. The church often teaches that communion confers grace tied specifically to the presence of living apostolic authority.

4. Expectation of Christ’s Return: Similar to many Christian bodies, the New Apostolic Church holds a strong eschatological hope for the Second Coming. It teaches a literal, imminent return of Jesus, carefully tying its apostolic structure to the preparation of believers for this event. Passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 are emphasized in sermons and church literature.

Worship and Practices

Worship services typically follow a liturgical structure that includes hymn singing, prayers, a sermon (often delivered by an apostle or one delegated by an apostle), the celebration of Holy Communion, and congregational fellowship. Fellowship gatherings often stress unity—a reflection of the church’s belief in the apostolic bond that unites local congregations regionally and globally.

Services can include testimony from members about answered prayers, healings, and other spiritual experiences. Some local congregations share anecdotal examples in church publications of individuals reporting divine intervention or healing, attributing such events to the active work of the Holy Spirit among them.

Leadership and Hierarchy

Apostles occupy the highest tier of authority, followed by bishops, district elders, and local ministers. Organizationally, the church is led by a Chief Apostle, who is seen as the principal spiritual authority. This structure is meant to mirror what the New Apostolic Church interprets as the biblical pattern of apostolic leadership in passages like 2 Corinthians 12:12: “The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.”

Critics from other Christian traditions point to texts describing the original apostles as “the foundation” of the Church (Ephesians 2:20), arguing that the foundational era does not continue perpetually. The New Apostolic Church responds with its interpretation that the apostolic ministry is continuous until the return of Christ, seeing in Scripture indications of ongoing leadership roles appointed by God.

Points of Divergence from Other Traditions

1. Concept of Ongoing Apostleship: While many Christian traditions emphasize that the work of the earliest apostles established the doctrinal foundation of the Church, the New Apostolic Church teaches that such authority endures in a literal, personal office of apostle.

2. Holy Sealing: This practice is less commonly found outside of certain modern apostolic groups. By regarding it as a necessary sacrament, the church offers a distinctive interpretation of passages such as Acts 8:14–17, which it uses to support the laying on of hands by contemporary apostles.

3. Understanding of Church Authority: The claim that a central apostolic figure, along with a global council of apostles, can decisively interpret scriptural and doctrinal matters is unique within the broader Christian landscape.

Interaction with Broader Christian Community

Some local congregations of the New Apostolic Church maintain cooperative relationships with neighboring Christian assemblies through joint charitable activities or occasional shared community events. However, in other regions, theological and ecclesiological differences can limit interaction. Many evangelical Protestants and other Christians continue to question the concept of ongoing apostolic offices, noting that Scripture calls believers to compare teachings against the Bible as the ultimate standard (cf. Acts 17:11).

Historic and Archaeological Context Supporting Scripture

While the New Apostolic Church aligns with mainstream Christianity in affirming the reliability of Scripture, a variety of modern discoveries also lend general evidence for the historicity of biblical doctrines and teachings embraced by believers worldwide:

• The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947 near Qumran, confirm the textual consistency of Old Testament books, showing remarkable fidelity to ancient manuscripts.

• Archaeological discoveries in Jerusalem and throughout the Levant, such as the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2), align with New Testament descriptions, strengthening confidence in biblical reliability.

• Researchers in fields of geology, paleontology, and biblical chronology sometimes reference global flood accounts in numerous cultures, linking them to the narrative in Genesis 6–9. Proponents of a young earth approach cite genealogical details (e.g., Genesis 5 and 11) as key to a shortened timeline.

The New Apostolic Church, alongside other Christian organizations, often references such findings to advocate for the Bible’s trustworthiness and to affirm the existence of an eternal, creating God.

Conclusion

The New Apostolic Church identifies itself with a restored apostolic ministry, placing unique emphasis on contemporary apostles, Holy Sealing, and a structured leadership under a Chief Apostle. It upholds widely recognized Christian doctrines about God’s triune nature, Christ’s sacrificial work, and the hope of the resurrection, while maintaining teachings on modern-day apostolic authority that distinguish it from most Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox expressions.

Whether one agrees with its distinctives or not, understanding the New Apostolic Church involves examining both its roots in nineteenth-century movements and its position that God continues to call apostles as spiritual leaders for today’s church. Key to evaluating its claims is the scriptural witness, which remains the starting point for those examining matters of faith (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16).