I’d like to continue to reason with you concerning 1 Peter 5:2. That which is described as being “among him” were souls that were God’s heritage and his responsibility to shepherd. I use to make a big point of using 1 Peter 5:2 where Peter tells the overseers to “feed the flock of God which…
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…
Historically, the post-apostolic Christians adopted this pyramid rule into their lives by shifting toward the organizational patterns of their culture. Ignatius was the first figure instrumental toward this shift and toward the elevation of one elder (called “Bishop”) who had ultimate power like Jesus, while the others stood in the position of the apostles under…
It is the intention of this section to introduce that the emphasis of the text of scripture is on the oversight of souls (individuals) not the oversight of an organization as one would expect in a business corporation. Unfortunately, some translations use the word “ordained” which is used today in an ecclesiastical sense. In commenting…
All churches have leadership. It may be an eldership, a body of deacons, or some other leading board who make business decisions for their church. Once again, these decision-making boards are necessary for a church organization. The fact that no such ruling boards are found in the Scriptures supports that no such organization existed. Any…