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 at the baptism of John unto that same day that he was taken up from us - must one be ordained to bear witness with us of his resurrection."
But Peter stepped forth with the eleven, and lift up his voice, and said unto them, "Ye men of Jewry, and all ye that inhabit Jerusalem: be this known unto you, and with your ears hear my words.
And the young men rose up, and put him apart, and carried him out, and buried him.
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said, "It is not meet that we should leave the word of God and serve at the tables.
which thing they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
And he beckoned unto them with the hand to hold their peace, and told them by what means the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Go show these things unto James and to the brethren." And he departed and went into another place.
But the sorcerer Elymas - for so was his name by interpretation - withstood them, and sought to turn away the ruler from the faith.
But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul heard that, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying
And when they had ordained them elders by election in every congregation, after they had prayed and fasted, they commended them to God on whom they believed.
And God which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, and gave unto them the holy ghost, even as he did unto us;
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas, called also Barsabbas, and Silas, which were chief men among the brethren:
Wherefore from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the congregation.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, whereof the holy ghost hath made you overseers: to rule the congregation of God, which he hath purchased with his blood.
The next day, we that were of Paul's company, departed and came unto Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven deacons, and abode with him. The same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
And on the morrow, Paul went in with us unto James. And all the elders came together.
Let him that teacheth take heed to his doctrine; Let him that exhorteth give attendance to his exhortation; If any man give, let him do it with singleness; Let him that ruleth do it with diligence; If any man show mercy let him do it with cheerfulness.
I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a minister of the congregation of Cenchreae,
Salute Andronicus, and Junia, my cousins, which were prisoners with me also, which are well taken among the apostles, and were in Christ before me.
This I say to your shame. Is there utterly no wise man among you? What, not one at all? That can judge between brother and brother?
Wherefore my dear beloved, flee from worshipping of idols.
Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth bare-headed, dishonesteth her head. For it is even all one and the very same thing, even as though she were shaven.
Or else doth not nature teach you, that it is a shame for a man, if he have long hair:
And God hath also ordained in the congregation, first the apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, then them that do miracles; after that, the gifts of healing, helpers, governors, diversity of tongues.
And God hath also ordained in the congregation, first the apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, then them that do miracles; after that, the gifts of healing, helpers, governors, diversity of tongues.
Paul an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and by God the father which raised him from death,
No other of the apostles saw I, save James the Lord's brother.
For he that was mighty in Peter in the apostleship over the circumcision, the same was mighty in me among the gentiles -
and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets - Jesus Christ being the head cornerstone -
which mystery in times past was not opened unto the sons of men as it is now declared unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit:
And the very same, made some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Shepherds, some Teachers:
And the very same, made some Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, some Shepherds, some Teachers:
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ. To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
We beseech you brethren, that ye know them which labour among you, and have the oversight of you in the Lord,
Even so must their wives be honest, not evil speakers: but sober, and faithful in all things.
Rebuke not an elder: but exhort him as a father, and the younger men as brethren,
The elders that rule well are worthy of double honour, most specially they which labour in the word and in teaching.
The elders that rule well are worthy of double honour, most specially they which labour in the word and in teaching.
For this cause left I thee in Crete: that thou shouldest perform that which was lacking and shouldest ordain elders in every city as I appointed thee.
For a bishop must be faultless, as it becometh the minister of God; not stubborn, not angry, no drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre:
Remember them which have the oversight of you, which have declared unto you the word of God: consider the conversation of their living, the end of whose conversation see that ye look upon, and follow their faith.
Obey them that have the oversight of you, and submit yourselves to them, for they watch for your souls, even as they that must give accounts for them: that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. For that is an unprofitable thing for you.
But above all things, my brethren, swear not: neither by heaven, neither by earth, neither by any other oath. Let your yea be "yea," and your nay, "nay," lest ye fall into hypocrisy.
If any be diseased among you, let him call for the elders of the congregation, and let them pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord:
The elders which are among you I exhort, which am also an elder and a witness of the afflictions of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be opened:
Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, that thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which called herself a prophetess to teach and to deceive my servants, to make them commit fornication, and to eat meats offered up unto idols.
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the Lamb's twelve apostles.