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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from his baptism by John down to the day on which he was taken up from us, one should join us a witness to his resurrection."
Then Peter, with the Eleven, stood up and addresses them in a loud voice. "Men of Judea and dwellers in Jerusalem, have no doubt about this matter, but listen to what I say.
Then the Twelve called the general body of the disciples together, and said to them. "It is not fitting for us to leave off preaching the Word of God, and minister at tables.
This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
He motioned to them to keep quiet, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell all this to James," he said, "and to the brothers," and away he went to another place.
But Elymas, "the sorcerer," for that is the translation of his name, opposed them, and tried to divert the proconsul from the faith.
But when the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, heard of it, they rent their garments and rushed out among the crowd, shouting and crying.
They chose elders for them in every church, after prayer and fasting, and commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
"And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us;
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church to come to him;
Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, and be shepherds of the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood.
On the morrow we started for Caesarea, where we went into the house of Philip, the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied,
On the following day we went with Paul to call on James, and all the elders were present.
Let the teacher give himself to his teaching; and he who exhorts others to his exhortation. He who gives, let him do it in singleness of mind. He who rules, let him rule with diligence; and he who shows mercy must be cheerful.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a minister of the church at Cenchrae.
and Andronicus and Junia, my kinsfolk and fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, and who became Christians before I did.
I say this to shame you. Is it so that there is not among you a single wise man, capable of deciding between a man and his brother?
So then, my beloved, continually flee from idolatry.
but every woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head (her husband). for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.
Nor does nature itself teach you that it is a disgrace to a man to have long hair,
And God has appointed those in the church to be first of all apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers. then workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, users of various kinds of "tongues."
And God has appointed those in the church to be first of all apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers. then workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, users of various kinds of "tongues."
Paul, an apostle sent not from men nor by any man, but by Jesus Christ and by God the Father who raised him from the dead;
I saw no other apostle except James, the Lord's brother.
(for he who has equipped Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised, equipped me also for the apostleship to the Gentiles),
You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.
which was not disclosed to the sons of men in former generations, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets,
It is he who made some men apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
It is he who made some men apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, and to the elders and deacons.
I entreat you, brothers, to acknowledge those who are toiling among you and are your leaders in the Lord, and give you counsel.
Deaconesses likewise must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Do not reprimand an aged man, but continue pleading with him as if he were your father. Treat the young men as brothers,
Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have the task of preaching and teaching.
Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have the task of preaching and teaching.
I left you in Crete for this reason, that you might set right the things left unfinished, and appoint presbyters in every city as I had instructed you;
For indeed a presiding officer, as God's steward, ought to be blameless, not self-willed or quick-tempered, not a drunkard or violent, or greedy of filthy lucre;
Remember your leaders, the men who spoke the message of God to you; consider the issue of their lives, and imitate their faith.
Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who must give account; that they may do thus with joy and not with lamentation, for this would be unprofitable to you.
Again, above all things, my brothers, swear not at all, neither by the heavens, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath. Let your "yes" be "yes," and your "no," "no," so you will not fall under condemnation.
Is any in good spirits? Let him sing unto his harp. Is any one of you ill? Let him send for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, after anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
Now to you who are presbyters I make this appeal; for I am myself a presbyter, and was a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed.
But I have this against you, that you are tolerating that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she is teaching and leading my slaves astray, leading them to practise immorality, and to eat food which has been sacrificed to idols.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.