Reference: Church Government
Hastings
1. The general development seems fairly clear, though its later stages fall beyond NT times. The Apostles were founders of churches, and therefore regulated and supervised the first arrangements; then were added sundry local and unlocal rulers; then the unlocal died out, and the local settled down into the three permanent classes of bishops, elders, and deacons. The chief disputed questions concern the origin of the local ministry, its relation to the other, and the time and manner in which it settled down under the government of (monarchical) bishops.
2. Twice over St. Paul gives something like a list of the chief persons of the Church. In 1Co 12:28 he counts up
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Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become.
But, taking his stand, Peter with the eleven lifted up his voice, and sounded out unto them - Ye men of Judaea, and all ye who are sojourning in Jerusalem! Let, this, unto you be known, and give ear unto my declarations; -
But the young men, rising up, wrapped him about, and, bearing him forth, buried him.
And the Twelve, calling near the throng of the disciples, said - It doth not seem, right, that, we, forsaking the word of God, should be ministering unto tables.
Which thing they also did, sending it unto the Elders, through the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
But, making a sign to them with his hand to hold their peace, he related to them how, the Lord, had brought, him, forth out of the prison; and he said - Carry tidings unto James and the brethren, as to these things. And, going out, he went his way unto some other place.
But Elymas the magician, - for so, when translated, is his name, - withstood them; seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
But the apostles Barnabas and Paul, hearing of it, rending asunder their own mantles, sprang forward amidst the multitude, crying aloud,
Moreover, appointing unto them by vote, in each assembly, elders, praying with fastings, they commended them unto the Lord on whom they had believed.
And, the heart-observing God, bare witness, - unto them, giving the Holy Spirit, just as, even unto us;
Then, seemed it good unto the Apostles and the Elders with the whole Assembly to send chosen men from among them unto Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, - even Judas who is called Barsabbas, and Silas, men taking a lead among the brethren:
But, from Miletus, he sent unto Ephesus, and called for the elders of the assembly.
Be taking heed unto yourselves, and unto all the little flock in which the Holy Spirit hath set, you, as overseers, - to be shepherding the assembly of God which he hath acquired through means of the blood of his own.
and, on the morrow departing, we came to Caesarea, and, entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was of the seven, we abode with him. Now - this man, had four virgin daughters, who used to prophesy.
And, on the next day, Paul went in with us unto James, and, all the elders, were present.
Or he that exhorteth, in his exhorting, he that imparteth, let it be with liberality, he that taketh a lead, with diligence, he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
And I commend to you Phoebe our sister, - being a minister alsoof the assembly which is in Cenchreae;
Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow-captives, who, indeed, are of note among the Apostles, who also before me had come to be in Christ.
With a view to shame you, am I speaking. So, is it possible that there is among you - not so much as one wise man, who shall be able to judge between his brethren, -
Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry, -
But, every woman, praying, or prophesying, with her head, unveiled, putteth to shame her head, - for it is, one and the same, with her having been shaven.
Doth not, even nature herself, teach you - that, if, a man, have long hair, it is a dishonour to him;
And God hath, indeed, set, certain, in the assembly, - first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that mighty works, then gifts of healings, helps, guidings, kinds of tongues.
And God hath, indeed, set, certain, in the assembly, - first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that mighty works, then gifts of healings, helps, guidings, kinds of tongues.
Paul, an apostle, - not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from among the dead,
But, other of the apostles, saw I none, save James the brother of the Lord: -
For, he that energised in Peter, into an apostleship to the circumcision, energised also in me, for the nations, -
Having been built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, there being, for chief corner stone, Jesus Christ himself, -
Which, in other generations, had not been made known unto the sons of men, as it hath, now, been revealed by his holy apostles and prophets, in Spirit; -
And, he, gave - some, indeed, to be apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, shepherds and teachers, -
And, he, gave - some, indeed, to be apostles, and some, prophets, and some, evangelists, and some, shepherds and teachers, -
Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, - unto all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministers: -
Now we request you, brethren, - to know them who are toiling among you, and presiding over you, in the Lord, and admonishing you;
Wives, in the same way, - dignified, not given to intrigue, sober, faithful in all things.
An elderly man, do not thou reprimand, but beseech him, as though he were thy father, - younger men, as brothers,
Let, the well presiding elders, of double honour, be accounted worthy, especially they who toil in discourse and teaching;
Let, the well presiding elders, of double honour, be accounted worthy, especially they who toil in discourse and teaching;
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that, the things remaining undone, thou mightest completely set in order, and mightest establish, in every city, elders, as, I, with thee arranged: -
For it is needful that the overseer be - unaccusable, as God's steward, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not ready to wound, not seeking gain by base means,
Be mindful of them who are guiding you, who, indeed, have spoken unto you, the word of God: the outgoing of whose behaviour, reviewing, be imitating, their faith.
Be yielding unto them who are guiding you, and submit yourselves; for they are watching over your souls, as having an account to render, that, with joy the same they may be doing, and not with sighing, - for, unprofitable unto you, were, this.
But, before all things, my brethren, do not swear, - either by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your Yea be yea, and your Nay nay, - lest, under judgment, ye fall.
Sick, is any among you? Let him call unto him the elders of the assembly, and let them pray for him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; -
Elders, therefore, among you, I exhort - I who am their co-elder and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also, in the glory about to be revealed, have, a share; -
Nevertheless, I have against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, she who calleth herself a prophetess, and is teaching and leading astray my own servants to commit lewdness and to eat idol-sacrifices;
and, the wall of the city, having twelve foundations, and, upon them, twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.