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The Form and Function of a New Testament Church
Introduction:
I grew up believing what I was taught or what I
assumed. My mind was changed as I began to
encounter the Word of God. For example, issues such
as the doctrine of election, the sovereignty of God
and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Bible must
mold and shape our thinking as Christians. This is
true also with regard to the form and function of a
New Testament Church. I begin today with the
leadership of a New Testament Church.
The
Raw Data:
NAS95 – all instances of Christian references to
elder(s), pastors, overseer(s) in the NT
17X
- elder/elders - Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2, 4, 6, 22,
23; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18; 1Tim. 4:14; 5:17, 19; Titus
1:5; James 5:14; 1Pet. 5:1
Acts
14:23 And when they had ordained elders in every
church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended
them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Acts
20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and
called the elders of the church.
1Tim
4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was
given you through prophecy, with the laying on of
the hands of the presbytery.
Titus
1:5 For this cause I left you in Crete, that you
should set in order the things that are lacking, and
ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you:
5X
- Overseer/overseers (same word as “bishop”) - Acts
20:28; Phil. 1:1; 1Tim. 3:1-2; Titus 1:7; 1Pet 5:2
Acts
20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to
all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he
has purchased with his own blood.
Phil
1:1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ,
to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at
Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
1Tim3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desires
the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A
bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one
wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to
hospitality, apt to teach;
Titus
1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward
of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given
to wine, not violent, not given to dishonest gain;
1Pet
5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you,
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for dishonest gain, but of a ready
mind;
1X
- Pastors - Eph 4:11
Eph
4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers;
Here
are the three terms related to the modern
designation of “pastor”:
-
elder
(17X in NT) - Literally the word means "older
man". However, pastors are "elders", not in
regard to their age, but their position. Thus,
“elder” refers primarily to the
office
in the church.
-
overseer
or bishop (5X in NT) - The basic word means "to
watch over" or "to protect". It refers to the
responsibility of the elders for the
souls of God's people (referring to Jesus, it is
translated "Guardian" or “Overseer” in 1 Pet
2:25).
-
shepherd
or pastor (1X in NT) - A symbolic reference to
the FUNCTION of one who leads, cares and
protects the "sheep", i.e., the congregation of
God's people.
Acts
20:17, 28 and 1Pet 5:1-2 demonstrate that these
terms are
INTERCHANGABLE in the NT [in the sense of
referring to the same church office].
The Ephesian elders
of verse 17 are the overseers of verse 28 whose
function is to "shepherd" the church of God. Peter
tells the “elders” to “shepherd” the congregation
serving as “overseers”.
Acts
20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and
called the elders of the church.
Acts
20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to
all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he
has purchased with his own blood.
1Pet
5:1-2 The elders who are among you I exhort, who am
also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of
Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall
be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly; not for dishonest gain,
but of a ready mind;
What
is the function of “elders/overseers/pastors” in a
New Testament church?
-
Teach
biblical truths, Acts 6:4; Eph 4:11; 1Tim 3:2;
5:17
Acts
6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to
prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
1Tim 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one
wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to
hospitality, apt to teach;
5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of
double honor, especially they who labor in the word
and doctrine.
-
Equip
- means to mend a broken part so that it is
functional, Eph 4:11-12
Eph
4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets;
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for
the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ:
-
Pray
as a ministry for the church body, Acts 6:4; Jas
5:14
Acts
6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to
prayer,
Jas
5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the
elders of the church; and let them pray over him,
-
Oversee
- one responsible for, one who cares for,
guardian, keeper, 1 Pet 5:2, etc.
1Pet
5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you,
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for dishonest gain, but of a ready
mind;
-
Lead
- literally, to set over or appoint with
authority; to preside, rule, superintend,
manage, direct, lead; NIV = "direct the affairs
of the church", 1Thess 5:12b; 1Tim 5:17
1Thess
5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who
labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and
admonish you;
1Tim
5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy
of double honor,
-
Govern
- to lead the way; also to preside, rule, as a
political leader or chief officer, Heb 13:7, 17
Heb
13:7 Remember them who have the rule over you, who
have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith
follow, considering the end of their manner of life.
17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they
that must give account,
-
Shepherd
- lead, care, protect, feed, guide, etc., Acts
20:28
Acts
20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to
all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he
has purchased with his own blood.
-
Stand
guard
- lit. = to keep awake, thus, to watch over
carefully, for their spiritual benefit, Heb
13:17
Heb
13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and
submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as
they that must give account,
-
Admonish
– to warn or give counsel about dangerous
consequences, 1Thess 5:12b
1Thess
5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who
labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and
admonish you;
-
Manage
– to be a steward of God’s household; one in
charge of running a household, Titus 1:7
Titus
1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward
of God;
The
congregation elects its own elders and
entrusts the leadership of the church (WHOSE
FUNCTIONS ARE defined Scripturally) into their
hands.
How can a church
body have the confidence to entrust themselves to
their elected leaders?
The answer comes
from three areas: the elders must be
-
Men of
outstanding Christian character, 1 Tim 3:1-7;
Tit 1:5-8
-
Men who are
doctrinally sound, Titus 1:9
-
Men whose lives
are examples to all Christians, Heb 13:7; 1 Pet
5:3.
Heb
13:7 Remember them who have the rule over you, who
have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith
follow, considering the end of their manner of life.
1Pet
5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you,
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
willingly; not for dishonest gain, but of a ready
mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage,
but being examples to the flock.
OF
COURSE, THE ELDERS ARE NOT PERFECT, BUT IF THEY MEET
THE SCRIPTURAL QUALIFICATIONS, THE
CONGREGATION CAN ENTRUST THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
CHURCH TO THEM. ELECTING OF LEADERSHIP AND EXERCISE
OF LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF TRUST. |
