Emissaries
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Definition and Role:
Emissaries, in the biblical context, refer to individuals who are sent on a mission or as representatives, often carrying messages or performing tasks on behalf of a higher authority. The term is closely related to apostles, prophets, and messengers, who serve as intermediaries between God and His people or between leaders and their subjects.

Old Testament Context:
In the Old Testament, emissaries often appear as messengers sent by kings or leaders to convey messages, negotiate treaties, or deliver declarations. For example, in 2 Samuel 10:2-3, King David sends emissaries to express sympathy to Hanun, the son of Nahash, after his father's death. However, these emissaries are mistreated, leading to conflict. This incident highlights the importance and potential risks associated with the role of emissaries.

Prophets as Emissaries:
Prophets in the Old Testament can also be seen as emissaries of God. They are chosen to deliver God's messages to the people of Israel, calling them to repentance and obedience. For instance, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel serve as divine emissaries, communicating God's will and warnings to the nation. In Isaiah 6:8 , Isaiah responds to God's call, saying, "Here am I. Send me!" This illustrates the prophet's role as an emissary willing to carry God's message.

New Testament Context:
In the New Testament, the concept of emissaries is most prominently embodied in the apostles. The Greek word "apostolos" means "one who is sent," and the apostles are chosen by Jesus Christ to spread the Gospel and establish the early Church. In John 20:21 , Jesus says to His disciples, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you." This commissioning underscores their role as emissaries of Christ.

Paul as an Emissary:
The Apostle Paul is a notable example of an emissary in the New Testament. Formerly a persecutor of Christians, Paul is transformed by an encounter with the risen Christ and becomes a dedicated emissary to the Gentiles. In Acts 9:15 , the Lord tells Ananias about Paul, "Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel." Paul's missionary journeys and epistles are a testament to his role as an emissary spreading the Gospel.

Characteristics of Emissaries:
Biblical emissaries are characterized by their obedience, faithfulness, and dedication to their mission. They often face challenges, opposition, and persecution but remain committed to their calling. Emissaries are also marked by their authority, as they carry the message and power of the one who sent them. In Matthew 10:40 , Jesus tells His disciples, "Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me," highlighting the authority vested in His emissaries.

Conclusion:
Emissaries play a crucial role in the biblical narrative, serving as conduits for divine and royal messages. Whether as prophets, apostles, or messengers, they are integral to the unfolding of God's plan and the communication of His will to humanity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) Plural of Emissary.
Library

The Invasion of Scythia.
... Social instincts of man."Their universality."Moral sentiments of mankind."Religious
depravity."Advice of Artabanus."Emissaries sent forward."The ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter viii the invasion of.htm

Chapter vi.
... The contrary supposition is very improbable, namely, that miracles should be pretended
to by the followers of the apostles and first emissaries of the religion ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter vi.htm

Jesus Led Back from the Court of Herod to that of Pilate.
... let the persons of that part of the town see him in the state of ignominy to which
he was reduced, and in the second place to give their emissaries more time ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxi jesus led back.htm

Early History of American Lutheranism.
... God grant that this may long continue!" (G., 118.) Thus from the very beginning
the Swedish bishops encouraged and admonished their emissaries to fraternize ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/early history of american lutheranism.htm

The Teaching of Matthew 13 Proves that no Era of Millennial ...
... In every generation, from the time when our Lord walked the earth in the days of
His flesh until now, the emissaries of Satan and the cares and riches of the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/2 the teaching of matthew.htm

Introduction
... (iv) The ministers of Christ, 'seeing the multitude', must ascend the mount', because
there are so many emissaries of Satan who lie at the catch to subvert ...
/.../watson/the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/1 introduction.htm

Guelf and Ghibelline. (ii)
... Thus it is not astonishing that while Frederick was winning this success in Palestine
Pope Gregory was using papal emissaries, in the shape of the lately ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter xv guelf and ghibelline.htm

Prayer and vigilance
... By this means, only, is he enabled to defeat his inveterate enemy, the
devil, together with the Evil One's manifold emissaries. ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/xi prayer and vigilance.htm

Motives to the Oversight of the Flock
... you have said. You speak but once to a sinner, for ten or twenty times
that the emissaries of Satan speak to them. Moreover, how ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/section 3 motives to.htm

The Author to the Reader.
... men to Popery by rage and cruelty, (and yet what he may be permitted to do after
this manner, who can tell?) or by openly pleading in his emissaries, for this ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/the author to the reader.htm

Thesaurus
Emissaries (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Emissary. Multi-Version Concordance
Emissaries (1 Occurrence). 2 Samuel 15:10 And Absalom ...
/e/emissaries.htm - 6k

Emission (7 Occurrences)

/e/emission.htm - 8k

Gebal (3 Occurrences)
... Gebal afterward became independent, as is shown by the records of Ramses IX
(1442-1423 BC) and of Ramses XII, for its king retained the emissaries of the ...
/g/gebal.htm - 11k

Reigns (22 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 15:10 And Absalom sent emissaries into all the tribes of Israel, saying,
When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, ye shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron ...
/r/reigns.htm - 12k

Emins (1 Occurrence)

/e/emins.htm - 6k

Antiochians
... of Jerusalem. The emissaries of Antiochus followed him thither and commanded
him to offer sacrifices upon a heathen altar. He was ...
/a/antiochians.htm - 10k

Second (2060 Occurrences)
... The general consensus of opinion is that this opposition was of a Judaizing type,
organized and fostered by implacable anti-Pauline emissaries from Palestine ...
/s/second.htm - 96k

Joshua (211 Occurrences)
... the spies owed their lives to the quick inventiveness of Rahab (compare Hebrews
11:31), who concealed them on the roof of her house from the emissaries of the ...
/j/joshua.htm - 101k

Corinthians (3 Occurrences)
... The general consensus of opinion is that this opposition was of a Judaizing type,
organized and fostered by implacable anti-Pauline emissaries from Palestine ...
/c/corinthians.htm - 77k

Resources
What is the significance of the Babylonian Empire in biblical history? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Gad? | GotQuestions.org

What happened at the Council of Florence? | GotQuestions.org

Emissaries: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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