Systematic Theology III The Doctrine of the Church The Offices of Elder and Deacon in the Local Church

Plural Elder Autonomous Perpetualism “The New Testament church is seen in transition. Patterns of church leadership developed as the first-century church matured. We can trace three steps in the process of ordaining leaders. Initially it was the apostles who selected and ordained elders (Acts 14:23). After that, elders were appointed by those who were close to the apostles and involved in their ministry. For example, Paul specifically charged Titus with the ordaining of elders (Titus 1:5). In the third phase, the elders themselves ordain other elders (1 Tim 4:14). Always the ultimate responsibility for appointing elders belonged to church leadership….Today there are no apostles, but the biblical pattern still holds. Church leaders – whether they be called elder, bishop, pastor, missionary, evangelist, apostolic representative, or whatever – should have the responsibility of identifying and ordaining other elders” (John MacArthur, as cited by McCune, pp. 231-32, n. 24). This is not the system that McCune favors.

Introduction: The Offices in the Local Church The Number of Offices in the Local Church “The local church of the New Testament has two permanent offices – overseer (or bishop) and deacon. There are no other offices mentioned. Overseer, as the name suggests, deals primarily with the oversight of the church; deacon (lit. servant), again as the name suggests, deals primarily with the service of the church” (McCune, p. 241). The Distinction between Offices and Spiritual Gifts in the Local Church “Gifts are special endowments bestowed sovereignly by God either providentially or miraculously. The local church cannot grant or confer such gifts; it may only recognize them and use them within its ministry (cf. 1 Cor 12:4-11)” (McCune, p. 242). Phil 1:1 is the only salutation to a local church in which the officers of “overseers and deacons” are mentioned. Ask what these are before you show them.

The NT Terminology for the Office of Overseer Episkopos – Overseer or bishop (Phil 1:1) Presbuteros – Elder (Titus 1:5) Poimen – Pastor, shepherd (Eph 4:11) Kerux – Preacher (1 Tim 2:7; 5:17) Didaskolos – Teacher (2 Tim 1:11) Five terms total; first three refer to the same office (Acts 20:17, 28).

The Functions of the Overseer/Elder/Pastor in the Local Church Elder (Presbuteros) Elders are older men in the congregation with the maturity and wisdom that comes with age. Their background comes from the OT (Num 11:16ff). Their function is to lead or preside over the church and teach (1 Tim 3:2, 4-5; 5:17; cf. 1 Thess 5:12). Overseer (Episkopos) This term also speaks of oversight in the local church (Titus 1:7; Acts 20:28; 1 Tim 3:2). Hebrews speaks of these men as “leaders” (Heb 13:7, 17, 24). Pastor/Shepherd (Poimen) Again, the background is the OT and the concept of God as Israel’s shepherd (Psa 23). It is used 12 times in the NT and translated once as “pastor” (Eph 4:11). “This function stresses the protection, guidance, provision, warning, encouraging, admonishing, feeding, and overall tending of the members of the local assembly by this office” (McCune, p. 245). Preacher (Kerux) “A kerux was a herald who was to deliver a message given to him” (McCune, p. 245). See 1 Tim 5:17; 2 Tim 4:2. Teacher (Didaskolos) The overseer is one who must be “able to teach” (1 Tim 3:2) and has that responsibility in the local church. There is no defined age in Scripture. Arguments for a minimum age of 30 include: this is the age Jesus began His public ministry; same for the Levites; Sanhedrin required a minimum age of 30.

The Gifted Men Given to the Local Church Ephesians 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; The Nature of the Gifted Men Apostle Qualifications of an Apostle Eyewitness of the resurrection of Christ (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Cor 9:1) A direct call. The Twelve were chosen by Christ Himself, Matthias by lot (administered by the eleven and directed by the Lord (Acts 1:23-26)), and Paul by Christ Himself (Rom 1:1). Possessed the “signs of a true apostle” (2 Cor 12:12) The Ministry of an Apostle The Apostles were an essential part of the foundation of the church. They possessed the gifting and authority to perform miracles, establish and direct local churches, and receive special revelation from God and write Scripture (Heb 2:3-4). Paul is the ultimate example in the NT of what an apostle did and the authority that he possessed.

The Gifted Men Given to the Local Church The Nature of the Gifted Men Prophet This office was also foundational in the church (Eph 2:20). “A New Testament prophet received direct revelation from God before the New Testament itself was formed” (McCune, p. 248). Evangelist “Evangelists seem to have been itinerant preachers, who were more like missionaries in the modern sense. The work involved taking the good news of God’s grace to those not reached before…Their work was followed up by others such as apostles or pastors and teachers” (McCune, p. 249). Pastors and Teachers These are two distinct roles that are closely related. Pastors must be able teach, but teachers may not necessarily be pastors.

The Gifted Men Given to the Local Church The Purpose(s) of the Gifted Men Given to the Local Church To build up the Body of Christ through the mutual ministry of its members (Eph 4:12). To promote unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph 4:13). To foster spiritual growth in the church’s members (Eph 4:14-16).

The Authority of the Overseer/Elder/Pastor in the Local Church “First, pastoral authority is delegated by the local church under the headship and leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ” (McCune, p. 250). The Bible itself spells out what this authority entails (Matt 20:25-27; 1 Pet 5:1-3; Heb 13:7). “Second, pastoral authority is limited to the local church. That is, no New Testament overseer has ecclesiastical authority outside the local church of which he serves” (McCune, p. 250-51). McCune comes at this from a congregational rule perspective and sees the congregation as the one who has the right to give and take away pastoral authority. I disagree. Where is such a perspective in the NT?

The Number of Overseers/Elders/Pastors in the Local Church Many New Testament Churches Had a Plurality of Elders See Acts 20:17; Phil 1:1; James 5:14. There is Evidence of Single Eldership The Qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 McCune notes that “overseer” (v. 2) is singular while “deacons” (v. 8) is plural. The Angelos of Revelation 2 and 3 The seven messengers to whom Revelation is addressed are from seven different churches, one per church. Plurality of Elders Does Not Necessitate Equal Pastoral Authority “James emerges as the senior pastor of the church of Jerusalem, which had a plurality of elders” (McCune, p. 252). “In sum, the New Testament allows for more than one pastor but does not command it” (McCune, p. 253).

The Number of Overseers/Elders/Pastors in the Local Church There is Evidence of Single Eldership The Original Milieu of the Idea of Elders While it is likely that the concept of an elder in the church came from the elders of Israel who sat in the gate and dispensed wisdom and justice, this is not completely certain. McCune argues that this is not determinative for a plurality of elders in the church (pp. 254-55). Elders and Deacons “In an elder system of church polity and pastoral function, the deacons become somewhat of a problem. They are actually excess baggage to the elder rule. They are either deprecated altogether or are given an errand boy role in behalf of the elders” (McCune, p. 255). The Pastor/Shepherd and the Flock “Since the pastor and church relationship is patterned after the shepherd and flock relationship, it is natural and inevitable that the church/flock will look to one man as its pastor/shepherd. Even in churches with elder rule, there is admittedly one man to whom the church looks as the pastor, and that pastor is recognized community wide, if not nation-wide, as the pastor of that local church” (McCune, p. 256). Regarding Elders and Deacons, I respectfully disagree. He charges others with not addressing the role of deacons with any depth, but does not do it himself either. He seems to favor a single pastor and deacon setup over a plurality of elders (and deacons). He has some very strong things to say in this section and with which I disagree.

The Selection of the Pastor in the Local Church The Vote “The local church is congregational in government and democratic in polity. When the proper preliminary procedures for presenting a pastoral candidate to a local church have been taken, the church formally elects its pastor by a vote of the membership” (McCune, p. 256). No Transfer “A pastor cannot move his pastoral office from one local church to another simply by transferring his membership. In every case a pastor must be elected to the office by the local church he is to serve” (McCune, p. 257).

The Ordination of the Pastor in the Local Church The Meaning of Ordination “Ordination is the setting apart of a person divinely called to a work of special ministration in the [local] church. It does not involve the communications of power – it is simply a recognition of powers previously conferred by God and a consequent formalization, on the part of the church, to exercise the gifts already bestowed” (Strong, Systematic Theology, p. 918, as cited in McCune, p. 257). The Authority for Ordination It is the local church. “No ecclesiastical authority higher than the local church is recognized in the New Testament. This authority, however, has its limits; and since the church has no authority outside of its own body, the candidate for ordination should be a member of the ordaining church” (McCune, p. 258).

Summary All Ecclesiastical Authority Resides in the Local Church A Local Church is a Body Complete in Itself The Local Church May Ordain Only its Own Members

The Office of Deacon in the Local Church

The Probable Origin of the Office of Deacon Acts 6:1-6, for several reasons: A form of the word “deacon” (diakonos) is used twice in this passage, “the daily serving of food” and “to serve tables”. The seven men were set apart by the local church, suggesting a recognized office. The attention to it given by the author of Acts, Luke, suggests something that is new in the church. The qualifications in Acts 6:3 correspond generally to those spelled out for the office of deacon in 1 Tim 3:8-13.

The Function of the Deacon in the Local Church Deacons Assist Primarily in the Temporal and Social Needs of the Local Church This is what was happening in Acts 6, and there are corresponding needs in the church today. Deacons Assist also in the Spiritual Oversight of the Local Church Though subordinate in authority to elders, the qualifications in 1 Tim 3 indicate that they also handle spiritual matters. In the Early Church Certain Deacons Exercised Spiritual Gifts and Did Preaching Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Philip (Acts 8:5) are examples. The Number of Deacons This should be determined by the need of the congregation and the availability of qualified men. The Length of Service This is determined by the local church. Some favor a three year term, then waiting a year before serving again.

Deaconesses in the Local Church “The biblical evidence for the order of deaconess is essentially two-fold. First there apparently were deaconesses in the early church. Paul wrote to the Romans: ‘I commend to you our sister Phoebe; who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea’ (Rom 16:1). ‘Servant,’ here, is the same word (diakonon) translated deacon in other places… Second, the grammar of 1 Timothy 3:1-12 can be construed legitimately to indicate three positions (overseer, deacon, deaconess,) or at least to indicate an order that is different from the office of deacon” (McCune, p. 267). Disagree with him here.

Next Time: The Doctrine of the Church The Ordinances of Baptism and Communion in the Local Church