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 baptism of John to that same day that He was taken up from us, to become a witness with us of His resurrection.
But Peter, standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, Men, Jews, and all who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
And the younger ones arose, wound him up, and carrying him out, they buried him.
And the Twelve called near the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not pleasing to us, leaving the Word of God, to serve tables.
which they also did, sending to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
But, waving to them with his hand to be quiet, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go tell these things to James and to the brothers. And he departed and went into another place.
But Elymas the conjurer (for so his name is, if translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
But hearing this, the apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out
And having hand-picked elders for them in every church, and had prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord into whom they believed.
And God, who knows the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit even as to us.
Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men from them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas, whose last name was Barsabas; and Silas, chief men among the brothers.
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church.
Therefore take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He has purchased with His own blood.
And the next day those around him going out, Paul came to Caesarea. And entering the house of Philip the evangelist, he being of the seven, we stayed with him. And there were four virgin daughters to this one, who prophesied.
And on the next day Paul went with us to James. And all the elders were present.
or he who exhorts, in the encouragement; or he who shares, in simplicity; or he who takes the lead, in diligence; or he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness.
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
For I speak to your shame. Is it so that there is not a wise one among you, not even one in your midst who shall be able to judge between his brother?
Therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head; for that is even the same as if she were shaved.
Does not even nature itself teach you that if man has long hair, it is a shame to him?
And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages.
And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages.
Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),
But I saw no other of the apostles, except James the Lord's brother.
for He working in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision also worked in me to the nations.
and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.
And, brothers, we beseech you to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and who admonish you,
Even so their wives are to be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
Do not sharply rebuke an elder, but exhort as a father, and the younger ones as brothers,
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in Word and doctrine.
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in Word and doctrine.
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,
For an overseer must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not full of passion, not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy for ill gain;
Remember those leading you, who have spoken to you the Word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conduct:
Yield to those leading you, and be submissive, for they watch for your souls, as those who must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you.
But before all things, my brothers, do not swear; neither by the heaven nor by the earth, nor any other oath. But let your yes be yes, and your no, no, lest you fall into condemnation.
Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
I exhort the elders who are among you, I being also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.
But I have a few things against you because you allow that woman Jezebel to teach, she saying herself to be a prophetess, and to cause My servants to go astray, and to commit fornication, and to eat idol-sacrifices.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.