Given the description of the individual responsibility of Shepherds and the saints, there is no violation of local autonomy because there were no local churches in these towns (Remember the ekklesia is always in the singular in each town). But, even though brethren met in a variety of homes and not necessarily all together in…
Consider the following passages. 1. 1 Peter 5:5 reads, Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. In the same vein, Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands in…
These men, like the rest that are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-ff were appointed by God to be teachers. They were no more a less a part of the church organizations than apostles, prophets, and evangelists. Because they had a household with children who were subject to them, they were living in a city that knew…
The pastors, who were also given by God during these early years, were chosen and elected by apostles and/or evangelists for the purpose of teaching. The information for their selection was given to Timothy and Titus and the responsibility for their appointment was laid on them. There is no support in the Scriptures for some…
Preachers and evangelists of today do not compare to the examples of preachers in the New Testament. Paul leaves a clear example of work to provide for himself and others while still preaching the gospel. There is no example of the church support of Timothy or Titus, especially a salary from a local church. If…
The text reads, “For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal…
Applying the leadership of these shepherds to our time would be the same as applying apostles or prophets to our time. Neither were intended to be applied past that age. Their work was primarily to teach, protect, and care for the flock. These shepherds did not fulfill their role as shepherds only once or…
The phrase in Acts 14:23 translates, “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” We have given much attention in other posts regarding the improper translation of the word “church” for the Greek “ekklesia.” We will not repeat,…
The Bible teaches that the shepherds were to oversee souls, not congregations. Hebrews 13:17 reads, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no…
Becoming “lords over people’s faith,” is a position that not even the apostle Paul exercised (2 Cor. 1:24, cf. 2 Cor. 10:8). Even though the apostles could speak on behalf of Christ as ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20), they, still, were not lords. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was clear about his disapproval of this kind of…