The Scripture doctrine of the church : historically and exegetically ...
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M7.L.P3.A2
Quote# 51
CHURCH ORGANIZATIOX DURING SECOND PERIOD.
530
to stated ordinances in the
thing
is
true with
department of
worship.-^
same
Tlie
respect to ordinances and appointments
relating to the spiritual oversight of the Church., its discipline,
the general administration of in
its affairs,
Careful provision
assemblies.
its
is
and orderly procedure
made
for the interests
Church life and action. General principles are laid down, especially by the apostle Paul, bearing upon this field, and capable of wide and varied application.
of this whole department of
"
God
"
but of peace, as in
is
God
not a
of confusion," all
he reminds the Corinthians,
the Churches of the saints."
"
Let
things be done in seemly form, and according to order."
beseech you, brethren,
—ye know — ye
all
" I
the household of Stephanas,
that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints,
SiaKovLav
et9
that
rol'i djLOLurpose" (Lindsay, Acts,
ii.
In Derbe, after they had been driven from Lystra by persecution, Paul and liarnabas "made many disciples." Acts xiii. H-52 .\iv. 1-21.
p. 58).
;
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
M7.L.P3.A2
Quote# 51
CHURCH ORGANIZATION DURING SECOND PERIOD.
532
They returned
stated in the narrative.
order that they
in
might "confirm the souls of the disciples," that they might give them suitable counsel and encouragement in vievs^ of the persecutions to vi^hich they were exposed, and especially that they might organize the Christian communities, in each centre where converts had been made, by the appointment of elders.
And when they had appointed for them elders in every Church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to
"
whom
the Lord, on
they had believed."
^
There could hardly be a more striking proof of the importance attached by Paul and his fellow-labourers to the right organization of the Churches of the
Gentiles,
and of
their
conviction that the steps which they took in this respect were in accordance with the
mind and
good of His people.
So
office of
will of Christ for the spiritual
far at least as regards this
primary
the eldership, the organization of the Church of Christ
was not a matter
on and the predilections
to be left to chance, or to develop itself
different lines, according to circumstances of the first converts in each locality.
Whether the founders
would ever be able to return to them It might second visit, was very doubtful.
of these infant societies again, after this
well be, as Paul said afterwards in similar circumstances to the elders of Ephesus, that " they
more."
^
all
should see his face no
But, for the maintenance and propagation of this
fundamental
of
office
and administration
oversight
Church, the presence of an apostle was unnecessary.
in "
the
These
were self-acting," ^ in the ChrisThey could take Jewish synagogue.
elderships, once established,
tian Church, as in the all
needful steps, with the concurrence of the
members
of the
congregation, to add to their number, or to form other elderships in congregations which might spring
up
in neighbour-
The blessing of around the mother Church. Christ, and all needful gifts of the Spirit, might be confidently looked for from Plim in connection with His own ordinances ing localities
for
government and pastoral care
exceptional ^
XiipornMrnTOLiTii
auroTs
Vi
Acts xiv. 21 Acts XX. 25-38.
vriffTiiuv, *
circumstances,
apart
TpirfivTipovs
in the Church, not, save in from these, nor if opporxar
ixxf.ririav,
rp^trivldfiivoi
fitra
ff.
'
Lindsay, Acts,
ii.
p. 59.
See above, pp. 134 S., 138
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
ff.
M7.L.P3.A2
Quote# 51 APPOINTMENT OF ELDERS.
533
tunities for obtaining them were wilfully neglected. It was only after, at much personal risk, Paul and Barnabas had secured the appointment of elders in each of the Churches which they had been the means of founding among the Gentiles, and after special and solemn services in connection
with their being set apart to
office, that the eldership and the under their charge were together, in their mutual relations, finally " commended to the Lord on whom they had
flock
believed."
Similar action
is,
by the general
in all likelihood, covered
expressions used in reference to subsequent tours of visitation
by Paul and his fellow-labourers among Christian communities which had been in existence for some time as when, after associating Silas with himself, " he went through Syria and ;
Cilicia,
confirming the Churches."
It is expressly included
in the apostle's instructions to Titus,
when
on a temporary
left
mission in a district where the Churches were as yet in an "
unorganized condition.
For
this cause
thee in Crete,
left I
that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting" (or " left undone," city, as I
It
is
A. V. marg.), " and appoint elders in every
gave thee charge." interesting
to
^
observe,
with
respect
to
the
first
organization of the Churches of Gentile Christendom, that, in
connection apparently with Paul's third visit to Lystra, the eldership or presbytery of that place,
pointed on his second
—which —
had been ap-
above noted,
solemnly set apart Timothy for special service as a fellow-worker with the apostle
in the field of the
visit, as
Gentile mission.
He was
a
young man, who had
well instructed in the Scriptures from his childhood, received the Gospel, along with older
probably on Paul's
first visit.
members
He was now
of his family,
" well reported of
by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium," having Christian work apparently at both places. In his ordination to office the action of laying on of hands was used,
done
'
Acts XV. 41
;
comp.
x\-i.
4
f.;
probably a Christian of Antiocb.
xix.
He
1,
etc.; Tit.
i.
5
;
iii.
was, at all events, one
12.
Titus was
who bad been
closely associated with the apostle during his earlier niissionarj' journe)*s,
knew well
the methods adopted by
him
in the orgauizatiou of
and "the Churches of
the Gentiles."
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
M7.L.P3.A2
Quote# 51
CHURCH ORGANIZATIOX DURING SECOND PERIOD.
530
to stated ordinances in the
thing
is
true with
department of
worship.-^
same
Tlie
respect to ordinances and appointments
relating to the spiritual oversight of the Church., its discipline,
the general administration of in
its affairs,
Careful provision
assemblies.
its
is
and orderly procedure
made
for the interests
Church life and action. General principles are laid down, especially by the apostle Paul, bearing upon this field, and capable of wide and varied application.
of this whole department of
"
God
"
but of peace, as in
is
God
not a
of confusion," all
he reminds the Corinthians,
the Churches of the saints."
"
Let
things be done in seemly form, and according to order."
beseech you, brethren,
—ye know — ye
all
" I
the household of Stephanas,
that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints,
SiaKovLav
et9
that
rol'i djLOLurpose" (Lindsay, Acts,
ii.
In Derbe, after they had been driven from Lystra by persecution, Paul and liarnabas "made many disciples." Acts xiii. H-52 .\iv. 1-21.
p. 58).
;
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
M7.L.P3.A2
Quote# 51
CHURCH ORGANIZATION DURING SECOND PERIOD.
532
They returned
stated in the narrative.
order that they
in
might "confirm the souls of the disciples," that they might give them suitable counsel and encouragement in vievs^ of the persecutions to vi^hich they were exposed, and especially that they might organize the Christian communities, in each centre where converts had been made, by the appointment of elders.
And when they had appointed for them elders in every Church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to
"
whom
the Lord, on
they had believed."
^
There could hardly be a more striking proof of the importance attached by Paul and his fellow-labourers to the right organization of the Churches of the
Gentiles,
and of
their
conviction that the steps which they took in this respect were in accordance with the
mind and
good of His people.
So
office of
will of Christ for the spiritual
far at least as regards this
primary
the eldership, the organization of the Church of Christ
was not a matter
on and the predilections
to be left to chance, or to develop itself
different lines, according to circumstances of the first converts in each locality.
Whether the founders
would ever be able to return to them It might second visit, was very doubtful.
of these infant societies again, after this
well be, as Paul said afterwards in similar circumstances to the elders of Ephesus, that " they
more."
^
all
should see his face no
But, for the maintenance and propagation of this
fundamental
of
office
and administration
oversight
Church, the presence of an apostle was unnecessary.
in "
the
These
were self-acting," ^ in the ChrisThey could take Jewish synagogue.
elderships, once established,
tian Church, as in the all
needful steps, with the concurrence of the
members
of the
congregation, to add to their number, or to form other elderships in congregations which might spring
up
in neighbour-
The blessing of around the mother Church. Christ, and all needful gifts of the Spirit, might be confidently looked for from Plim in connection with His own ordinances ing localities
for
government and pastoral care
exceptional ^
XiipornMrnTOLiTii
auroTs
Vi
Acts xiv. 21 Acts XX. 25-38.
vriffTiiuv, *
circumstances,
apart
TpirfivTipovs
in the Church, not, save in from these, nor if opporxar
ixxf.ririav,
rp^trivldfiivoi
fitra
ff.
'
Lindsay, Acts,
ii.
p. 59.
See above, pp. 134 S., 138
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
ff.
M7.L.P3.A2
Quote# 51 APPOINTMENT OF ELDERS.
533
tunities for obtaining them were wilfully neglected. It was only after, at much personal risk, Paul and Barnabas had secured the appointment of elders in each of the Churches which they had been the means of founding among the Gentiles, and after special and solemn services in connection
with their being set apart to
office, that the eldership and the under their charge were together, in their mutual relations, finally " commended to the Lord on whom they had
flock
believed."
Similar action
is,
by the general
in all likelihood, covered
expressions used in reference to subsequent tours of visitation
by Paul and his fellow-labourers among Christian communities which had been in existence for some time as when, after associating Silas with himself, " he went through Syria and ;
Cilicia,
confirming the Churches."
It is expressly included
in the apostle's instructions to Titus,
when
on a temporary
left
mission in a district where the Churches were as yet in an "
unorganized condition.
For
this cause
thee in Crete,
left I
that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting" (or " left undone," city, as I
It
is
A. V. marg.), " and appoint elders in every
gave thee charge." interesting
to
^
observe,
with
respect
to
the
first
organization of the Churches of Gentile Christendom, that, in
connection apparently with Paul's third visit to Lystra, the eldership or presbytery of that place,
pointed on his second
—which —
had been ap-
above noted,
solemnly set apart Timothy for special service as a fellow-worker with the apostle
in the field of the
visit, as
Gentile mission.
He was
a
young man, who had
well instructed in the Scriptures from his childhood, received the Gospel, along with older
probably on Paul's
first visit.
members
He was now
of his family,
" well reported of
by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium," having Christian work apparently at both places. In his ordination to office the action of laying on of hands was used,
done
'
Acts XV. 41
;
comp.
x\-i.
4
f.;
probably a Christian of Antiocb.
xix.
He
1,
etc.; Tit.
i.
5
;
iii.
was, at all events, one
12.
Titus was
who bad been
closely associated with the apostle during his earlier niissionarj' journe)*s,
knew well
the methods adopted by
him
in the orgauizatiou of
and "the Churches of
the Gentiles."
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
