Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong's status as an apostle has been questioned, yet his title is one that many have accepted alongside other ministerial roles such as prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. He often referred to himself as Christ's apostle in sermons and writings, raising the need to validate such a claim through evidence. An apostle, from the Greek term apostolos, is defined as a delegate, envoy, or representative sent with a special message or commission, acting as the direct representative of the one who sent him. In the New Testament, Jesus, appointed and sent by the Father, serves as the pattern for apostles, ordaining twelve to represent Him with authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons. Other men, including Paul, Barnabas, and James, the Lord's brother, are also named as apostles, often set apart by the church under the Holy Spirit's direction for specific missions, bearing signs of their apostleship through visible fruits like preaching the gospel, healing, conversions, and raising congregations. Regarding Mr. Armstrong, he was ordained as an apostle by the Church of God, Seventh Day, Oregon Conference from the beginning. Christ Himself, as stated in Revelation 3:8, set before him an open door that no one could shut, indicating that Christ sent him forth. The signs of an apostle are evident in his life's work: preaching the true gospel of the Kingdom of God worldwide, healing, casting out demons, converting thousands, raising congregations, and distributing millions of publications like the Plain Truth and Good News to provide vision and hope. Through him, God restored true doctrines lost over centuries. Like apostles who came later, out of due time, Mr. Armstrong fulfilled his office as one ordained by the church, the body of which Christ is Head, and sent to accomplish a mission.

God gives some to be apostles, along with prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, in order to equip the saints for ministry and to build up the body of Christ. These roles continue until the entire body reaches the unity of the faith and the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. The arrangement protects believers from remaining spiritual children who are easily swayed by every wind of doctrine and the cunning deception of men. By declaring the whole counsel of God, those placed in these positions serve as a steadying influence that helps the church avoid radical shifts in belief. This structure reflects the order God has established rather than any human invention. Paul repeatedly refers to the authority granted to him and describes elders as overseers responsible for watching over the spiritual condition of the flock. The pastoral epistles show a servant of God instructing another of lesser authority on how to oversee congregations and other elders under them, comparing the overseer's role to ruling a household. Peter likewise directs elders to shepherd willingly as examples without lording over those entrusted to them. Hebrews 13 reinforces the same principle by calling believers to obey and submit to those who rule over them, noting that these leaders watch for souls and must give account. Such authority differs from the worldly exercise of lordship that Christ condemns. Rejecting the authority God has placed in the church equates to rejecting God Himself and leaves one vulnerable to deception. Anarchic impulses that despise rule produce confusion and chaos, whether in civil or religious settings, and stand in contrast to the faith that trusts God to work through the leaders He appoints.

Paul describes himself in the salutation as a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, a rare pairing of titles that underscores both humility and exalted rank. The term apostle denotes an official position at the top of the church hierarchy under Christ, signifying an authoritative messenger endowed with the full powers of the one who sent him. Paul clarifies that this authority operates according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth that accords with godliness, concentrating on building faith, imparting knowledge of the truth, and instructing in right conduct. His powers remain almost entirely spiritual, enabling him to preach, teach, and correct in love without extending to members' personal or business decisions. Paul repeatedly emphasizes that his apostolic commission derives directly from the commandment of God our Savior, an authorization he highlights to assure the Cretans that the instructions delivered through Titus originate from Jesus Christ Himself rather than personal initiative. This divine authority undergirds the epistle's structure, beginning with the salutation that establishes the ministry's function, proceeding to the qualifications for elders who must hold fast the faithful word, and extending to the handling of rebellious teachers. By affirming that Titus shares the same common faith, Paul conveys that Titus acts with his full backing, enabling the apostle's remote oversight to stabilize congregations and direct them toward the hope of eternal life.