Paul is not referenced as part of the apostles (12) in Acts 14:14.
What about Andronicus and Junias in Romans 16:7?
What about Silvanus and Timothy 1Thes 1:1, 1Thes 2:6?
What about James, the Lord’s brother in Gal 1:19?

Acts 3 & 4 – Apostles all have a focus on the gospel having the ingredient of repentance, and the
ingredient of the resurrection.
Acts 4 – A responsibility to distribute finances to the Church at large is started here.
Acts 6 – Prayer and ministry of the Word.
Acts 14 – The first mention of apostles responsibility to set in elders.
Acts 15 – Settled doctrinal issues (worked with elders to do so)
Acts 15 – Strengthen the churches.
Acts 18 – Travel to churches to strengthen them. (An apostle must be a traveling man)
** In several places apostles are referenced as making public proclamation of Christ and His Kingdom
Rom 1 – Call the Gentiles to the obedience of the faith.
1 Cor 3 – Address division in the churches, as well as a variety of other issues.
Lay foundation of Christ, build on it.
Minimal self focus, maximum God focus.
1 Cor 4 – Might have fathering approach and care for applicable churches.
1 Cor 5 – Will issue governmental directives if the local leadership does not handle issues
appropriately.
1 Cor 5 – Offers subjective instruction, often presents bigger picture at stake.
1 Cor 7 – Matters you wrote about (available to the churches for Q&A’s)
1 Cor 9 – No problem talking about support.
Slave of the Church, the reason for freedom.
** Strong emphasis on the destiny of the Church, and the progress of the Kingdom.
** Sends fellow workers (Apollos, Timothy, others)
5
1 Cor last chapter – Gives churches a sense of connectivity, of belonging to something bigger than
themselves by mentioning workers, other churches, commendations, reports, etc.
2 Cor 1 – Helper of the churches joy.
2 Cor 4 – Preach self as servants for the sake of the church. To love the Church of our Lord Jesus and
lay down his life for Her.
** Ongoing proclamation of the glorious Church
2 Cor 8 – Commended churches for giving. Also took local brethren for the work.
2 Cor 11 – Given authority for building up. Helps church see false workers. Daily concern for the
churches.
2 Cor 12 – Signs, wonders, miracles, patience, perseverance.
2 Cor 13 – Perseveres in confronting church about specific sins, and specific people in sin.
Gal – Keeps church on course in the Spirit, challenges walk in the flesh.
Gal 4 – Agonizes over church to see Christ formed in them.
Gal 6 – Conflict resolution directives.
Eph 2 – Foundation to be built upon, in conjunction with prophets.
Eph 3 – Put forth the revelation of the mystery of the gospel, of Christ, of God and His purpose.
Eph 4 – Strong focus on and call to unity.
Equipping, maturing, etc along with other Eph 4:11 ministries.
Ongoing focus on truth
Eph 6 – Keeps church informed as to his activities.
Phil 2 – Ongoing call to Church to love one another.
Col 1 – Willing to be afflicted for the sake of and service to the Church.
** Ongoing call to righteousness.
1Thess 1 – Ongoing focus on the pure gospel.
Does not want to burden church with his needs
2 Thess 1 – Freely warned church about brothers to avoid, to stay away from.
1 Tim 1 – Hands people over to Satan.
1 Tim 3 – Qualifies elders and deacons, sets and upholds standards.
1 Tim 4 – End time cautions, preparations, and warnings.
** Raises up sons in the faith
** Ongoing instructions about how things should run in God’s house.
** Instructions on governmental order.
** Hears accusations against elders.
2 Tim – raises up young apostles/leaders
Titus – Instructs leaders, challenges leaders, fellow workers. Instructs on how to deal with divisive men.
Phil – Can give orders, (prefers not to), instructs others in the faith.
Hebrews – relates with peoples struggles (like Christ the apostle), their temptations, infirmities, etc.
James – Call to do the Word.
2 Peter – Reminders of the Lord’s return, warning of false teachers, prophets, lawlessness, wickedness,
proper response to worlds trials.
1 John – Call to truth, walk above sin, walk in obedience, walk in love.
2 John – Instructions on how to separate real believers from false ones. Paul addresses this as well.
3 John – Most apostles have a focus on the second coming of Christ.

What about the number of history books that name apostles up until the formation of the Roman Catholic Church?

Could it be that the 12 while still apostles are set apart among the apostles for specific works? Could it be that we still need apostles today? Could it be that church planters and church denominational leaders are in fact doing this work and perhaps even called into apostleship and not even know it?

If you take the criteria you listed and place it on the 12 you will view Scripture much differently.

In addition we have 2 Cor. 8:16-24 where in v.24 we see the word messengers where the Greek word is apostoloi. In Phil 2:25 in regards to Epaphroditus messanger there is GR apostolos. Could it be more that the translators could not bring themselves to naming some unnamed people apostles? They are in fact the same.