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, unto the day in which he was received up from us, one of these to become with us a witness of his rising again.'
and Peter having stood up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and declared to them, 'Men, Jews! and all those dwelling in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and harken to my sayings,
and having risen, the younger men wound him up, and having carried forth, they buried him.
and the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, 'It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, do minister at tables;
which also they did, having sent unto the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
and having beckoned to them with the hand to be silent, he declared to them how the Lord brought him out of the prison, and he said, 'Declare to James and to the brethren these things;' and having gone forth, he went on to another place.
and there withstood them Elymas the magian -- for so is his name interpreted -- seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.
and having heard, the apostles Barnabas and Paul, having rent their garments, did spring into the multitude, crying
and having appointed to them by vote elders in every assembly, having prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
and the heart-knowing God did bare them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also to us,
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, chosen men out of themselves to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas -- Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren --
And from Miletus, having sent to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly,
'Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,
and on the morrow Paul and his company having gone forth, we came to Caesarea, and having entered into the house of Philip the evangelist -- who is of the seven -- we remained with him, and this one had four daughters, virgins, prophesying.
and on the morrow Paul was going in with us unto James, all the elders also came,
or he who is exhorting -- 'In the exhortation!' he who is sharing -- 'In simplicity!' he who is leading -- 'In diligence?' he who is doing kindness -- 'In cheerfulness.'
And I commend you to Phebe our sister -- being a ministrant of the assembly that is in Cenchrea --
salute Andronicus and Junias, my kindred, and my fellow-captives, who are of note among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me.
unto your shame I speak: so there is not among you one wise man, not even one, who shall be able to discern in the midst of his brethren!
Wherefore, my beloved, flee from the idolatry;
and every woman praying or prophesying with the head uncovered, doth dishonour her own head, for it is one and the same thing with her being shaven,
doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man indeed have long hair, a dishonour it is to him?
And some, indeed, did God set in the assembly, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, afterwards powers, afterwards gifts of healings, helpings, governings, divers kinds of tongues;
And some, indeed, did God set in the assembly, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, afterwards powers, afterwards gifts of healings, helpings, governings, divers kinds of tongues;
Paul, an apostle -- not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who did raise him out of the dead --
and other of the apostles I did not see, except James, the brother of the Lord.
for He who did work with Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, did work also in me in regard to the nations,
being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being chief corner -stone,
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit --
and He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as proclaimers of good news, and some as shepherds and teachers,
and He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as proclaimers of good news, and some as shepherds and teachers,
Paul and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministrants;
And we ask you, brethren, to know those labouring among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you,
Women -- in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.
An aged person thou mayest not rebuke, but be entreating as a father; younger persons as brethren;
The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching,
The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching,
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that the things lacking thou mayest arrange, and mayest set down in every city elders, as I did appoint to thee;
for it behoveth the overseer to be blameless, as God's steward, not self-pleased, nor irascible, not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Be mindful of those leading you, who did speak to you the word of God, whose faith -- considering the issue of the behaviour -- be imitating,
Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject, for these do watch for your souls, as about to give account, that with joy they may do this, and not sighing, for this is unprofitable to you.
And before all things, my brethren, do not swear, neither by the heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath, and let your Yes be Yes, and the No, No; that under judgment ye may not fall.
is any infirm among you? let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, having anointed him with oil, in the name of the Lord,
Elders who are among you, I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be revealed a partaker,
'But I have against thee a few things: That thou dost suffer the woman Jezebel, who is calling herself a prophetess, to teach, and to lead astray, my servants to commit whoredom, and idol-sacrifices to eat;
and the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.