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1. Paul claims to be an apostle in the sense that he is one among a select group of persons called out and appointed to establish the gospel. As an apostle he was – to use his own metaphor – -- a planter. He sowed the seed of the gospel, which others could help tend, though only God could give the growth. Or, again, Paul thinks of this apostolic role as a parental role – -- whence his references to his readers as his "children" and to himself as their "father" or even as their mother (Gal 4:19).

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