Doctrines Concerning
The Church
D. That there are two scriptural offices of the local, New Testament church.
1. Pastor
Php 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:1Ti 3:1
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.They are referred to by three different terms that designate their duties:
a. Elder - The leader or president of the assembly
Act 15:13
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:Act 15:14
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.Act 15:15
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,Act 15:16
After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:Act 15:17
That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.Act 15:18
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.Act 15:19
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:Act 15:20
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.Act 15:21
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.Act 15:22
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:Act 15:23
And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:Act 15:24
Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:Act 15:25
It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,Act 15:26
Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Act 15:27
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.1Ti 5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.b. Bishop - The overseer or administrator of the assembly
Act 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.Tit 1:7
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;Tit 1:8
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;Tit 1:9
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.Tit 1:10
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.Tit 1:11
c. Pastor - The shepherd of the assembly
Act 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.Eph 4:11
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;1Pe 5:2
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;2. Deacon
Act 6:1
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.Act 6:2
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.Act 6:3
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.Act 6:4
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.Act 6:5
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:Act 6:6
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.Php 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:Deacons are servants of the church.
3. The Scriptural qualifications for the office of pastor and deacon
Act 6:1
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.Act 6:2
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.Act 6:3
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.Act 6:4
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.Act 6:5
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:Act 6:6
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
1Ti 3:1
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.1Ti 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;1Ti 3:3
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;1Ti 3:4
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;1Ti 3:5
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)1Ti 3:6
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.1Ti 3:7
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.1Ti 3:8
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;1Ti 3:9
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.1Ti 3:10
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.1Ti 3:11
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.1Ti 3:12
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.1Ti 3:13
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Tit 1:7
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;Tit 1:8
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;Tit 1:9
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Personal Opinion:
Well, here again, I look up all the references to Elder, Bishop, Pastor, Deacon and so little is said about soul-winning. In fact, nothing.
Only the Pastor, it seems, has the job of teaching.
The Deacons wait on tables, end of report.
Deacon Stephen and Deacon Philip turn out to be excellent soul winners but seem to have done it on their own time and through a spiritual gift of Evangelism not through their appointments as Deacons.
Even the things which Paul and the other Epistle writers instruct the flock directly or through the Pastors, as I say, the things all involve Holy Living, not outreach.
Outreach I must conclude is a
special gift. We sheep should be examples of purity of life style to
whom the Evangelists (people with the special gift of outreach) can
with pride point out to the unsaved.