The Scripture doctrine of the church
M7.L.P3.B.4.ii
Quote# 56 548
CHURCH ORGANIZATION DURING SECOND PERIOD. Presidents of presbyteries.
(3.)
In the meetings of the elderships of single congregations, and in the larger and more representative assemblies, as when " the presbyters of the
Church at Ephesus " met together for and action regarding the affairs of the
common
counsel
Christian
community
in that great city, or
and elders which were
when
" the apostles
Jerusalem came together to consider of the admission of the Gentiles, some one
of this matter "
at
must have acted as president,^ Every council or conference must have a chairman or president of some kind, whether appointed at each meeting, or for a longer
The analogy
terra, or for life.
of the synagogue elderships
would naturally
be followed in the Church in this as in other respects.^ apostolic injunction, " special honour "
those presbyters who, besides
Word and "
Word "
a
tions
met
to
enjoyed
congregation
teaching
By
given to
ruling well," laboured in the
its
eldership, as the
scribe
the
of
services
several
of several
or
Where
do in a village synagogue.
where representatives
gifts, or
be
presiding, as a rule, in the meetings
congregation, and of
Eabbi had been wont
to
This would naturally lead to such a
in teaching.
minister of the
of the
"
was
elders
of
congrega-
in conference, considerations of seniority, or
acknow-
ledged fitness for the work specially in hand, would determine
who
should
fill
the
chair.
Often
it
Scripture and of the Reformed Church, those elders
might seem best on who do not
publicly "labour Church equally -with the trained teacher or "minister of the Word." They have been chosen by their fellow-worshippers, in connection with solemn prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to take the oversight in the flock of God which is among them, to do a shepherd's work in guiding and tending the sheep and the lambs of Christ, to share in administering the government and discipline of the house of God. And they have been solemnly ordained and admitted to this office in the name of Christ the Head of the Church by the eldership of the congregation, the members of which have called them to it, recognising in them, as they in the
Word and
in teaching " hold a spiritual office in the
believe, the higher
Divine
Principles, pp. 114-119
call to this service for Christ.
See Dale, Congref/.
comp. Binnie, The Church, pp. 122-130. Bannerman, Church of Christ, ii. pp. 305-308. 1 Acts XV. 6 XX. 17, 28 1 Tim. iv. 14. * See above, Dr. Lightfoot remarks in connection with this point pp. 138-141. ;
that "the
'
;
;
threefold order' of the Christian ministry as a whole seems to have
no counterpart in the synagogue " {Philippians, 3rd ed. p. 205). It might be added with equal truth, that it seems to have no counterpart in the ajwstolic Church.
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1887
Quote# 56
M7.L.P3.B.4.ii
549
PKESIDEXTS OF PRESBYTERIES.
In times of
various grounds to have a standing president.
some Christian teacher of impressive personality, and of sound and tried judgment, might be felt on all sides to be the leader whom God had raised up for the Church, and who must preside in her counsels. A good difficulty or persecution,
may
instance of this
be found in the position held in the
Church at Jerusalem, in the second section of its history, by James the Lord's brother. Although not, as we have seen reason to conclude, one of the apostles, James had stood in a quite unique relation to He seems to have been the eldest Christ after the tlesh. of " the brethren of the Lord," the natural head and representative, according to Eastern ideas, of the family of Jesus.
As a
such, probably,
gifts
James was singled out by the Saviour
interview after the
special
and weight
His
Resurrection.^
for
spiritual
of character increased the reverence naturally
accorded in the Pentecostal Church to one whose relations to the Lord Jesus had been so close
and
The
sacred.
apostles
Jerusalem on missionary errands so that we find at one time Peter only in the city, and at a later date But James apparently none of the twelve remaining there. gradually
still
left
;
continued in the original seat of the
Church,
standing
be pillars " in
to
now
out it
alone
"
of
Hebrew Christian who seemed
those
at the time of Paul's first
Add
visits
to Jerusalem.
which
his " devoutness according to the
to
all
the unbelieving Jews, and which
this
is
and second
the special influence
law
"
gave him with
indicated by his
title of
;
"
James the Pdghteous " and it is easy to understand the prominence which James has in several passages in the second section of the Acts, and in two or three references made by Paul to the Church at Jerusalem.* Setting only the apostles aside, he was undoubtedly the most honoured and influential member of the Hebrew Christian community, the
man who
would, as a matter of course, be expected to
preside and take the lead in any meeting of importance in
connection with the ยป
1
Cor. XV.
7.
*
aflairs of
Acts
xii.
17
;
the Church.^ xv.
;
Gal.
i.
19
;
ii.
9,
12
;
1
Cor. ix.
5.
from the history of the Reformed Church. "Cah-in was moderator of the presbytery of Geneva 83 long as he lived, '
Parallels could easily be given
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
M7.L.P3.B.4.ii
Quote# 56 550
On
CHUPvCH ORGANIZATION DURING SECOND PERIOD. the other hand, there
not the slightest evidence that
is
James the Lord's brother held any
position different in rank
or order from the other presbyters of the
Church at JeruIn the earliest passage bearing on the point, we find that the commission from Antioch for relief of the brethren in Jerusalem and Judaea is not addressed to James, nor even " to James and the elders who are with him," but simply " to the elders." It is to " the apostles and
salem with
whom
he acted.
elders at Jerusalem " that the appeal
regarding the apostles
is
made from Antioch
It is " the are " gathered together to con-
admission of Gentile converts. "
and the elders
who
Who
sider of this matter."
presided at the
council
is
not
James, as well as Peter, took a leading part in the
stated.
discussion
;
and
his
proposal was finally accepted
by
"
the
apostles and the elders, with the whole Church." But the official letter and " the decrees " run in the name of " the
and elders that were at Jerusalem," the president, whoever he may have been, not being referred to in the apostles
slightest degree.^
The
last reference
with Paul's
last
received by the
James
to
to
visit
in the Acts
Jerusalem.
brethren of the
generally, the apostle
Hebrew
in
is
After
connection
being warmly
Christian Church
reports regarding the Gentile mission
more formal meeting of the office-bearers. " On the day went in with us unto James and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed, one by one, the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And they, when they heard it, glorified God It and they said unto him," etc. seems clear that James presided in this meeting but it will
to a
following, Paul
;
;
;
be observed that the report
is
given not to James, but to the
elders in their collective capacity as a presbytery,
and that their
made on that footing. They explain the position of the Hebrew Christian Church, and propose that Paul should answer
is
man would take the chair while he was present. whom a similar mark of respect would have been con-
I)robably just because no other
After his death, Beza, to
ceded by his colleagues, declined
Cunningham, Works,
ii.
it,
as likely to lead to injurious results."
p. 236.
Acts xi. 30 xv. 2, 4-7, 1 3-23 ; xvi. 4. Bishop Lightfoot sums up the evidence on this point on the whole very fairly, PhUippians, 3rd ed. p. 195 f. 1
;
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
Quote# 56 548
CHURCH ORGANIZATION DURING SECOND PERIOD. Presidents of presbyteries.
(3.)
In the meetings of the elderships of single congregations, and in the larger and more representative assemblies, as when " the presbyters of the
Church at Ephesus " met together for and action regarding the affairs of the
common
counsel
Christian
community
in that great city, or
and elders which were
when
" the apostles
Jerusalem came together to consider of the admission of the Gentiles, some one
of this matter "
at
must have acted as president,^ Every council or conference must have a chairman or president of some kind, whether appointed at each meeting, or for a longer
The analogy
terra, or for life.
of the synagogue elderships
would naturally
be followed in the Church in this as in other respects.^ apostolic injunction, " special honour "
those presbyters who, besides
Word and "
Word "
a
tions
met
to
enjoyed
congregation
teaching
By
given to
ruling well," laboured in the
its
eldership, as the
scribe
the
of
services
several
of several
or
Where
do in a village synagogue.
where representatives
gifts, or
be
presiding, as a rule, in the meetings
congregation, and of
Eabbi had been wont
to
This would naturally lead to such a
in teaching.
minister of the
of the
"
was
elders
of
congrega-
in conference, considerations of seniority, or
acknow-
ledged fitness for the work specially in hand, would determine
who
should
fill
the
chair.
Often
it
Scripture and of the Reformed Church, those elders
might seem best on who do not
publicly "labour Church equally -with the trained teacher or "minister of the Word." They have been chosen by their fellow-worshippers, in connection with solemn prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to take the oversight in the flock of God which is among them, to do a shepherd's work in guiding and tending the sheep and the lambs of Christ, to share in administering the government and discipline of the house of God. And they have been solemnly ordained and admitted to this office in the name of Christ the Head of the Church by the eldership of the congregation, the members of which have called them to it, recognising in them, as they in the
Word and
in teaching " hold a spiritual office in the
believe, the higher
Divine
Principles, pp. 114-119
call to this service for Christ.
See Dale, Congref/.
comp. Binnie, The Church, pp. 122-130. Bannerman, Church of Christ, ii. pp. 305-308. 1 Acts XV. 6 XX. 17, 28 1 Tim. iv. 14. * See above, Dr. Lightfoot remarks in connection with this point pp. 138-141. ;
that "the
'
;
;
threefold order' of the Christian ministry as a whole seems to have
no counterpart in the synagogue " {Philippians, 3rd ed. p. 205). It might be added with equal truth, that it seems to have no counterpart in the ajwstolic Church.
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1887
Quote# 56
M7.L.P3.B.4.ii
549
PKESIDEXTS OF PRESBYTERIES.
In times of
various grounds to have a standing president.
some Christian teacher of impressive personality, and of sound and tried judgment, might be felt on all sides to be the leader whom God had raised up for the Church, and who must preside in her counsels. A good difficulty or persecution,
may
instance of this
be found in the position held in the
Church at Jerusalem, in the second section of its history, by James the Lord's brother. Although not, as we have seen reason to conclude, one of the apostles, James had stood in a quite unique relation to He seems to have been the eldest Christ after the tlesh. of " the brethren of the Lord," the natural head and representative, according to Eastern ideas, of the family of Jesus.
As a
such, probably,
gifts
James was singled out by the Saviour
interview after the
special
and weight
His
Resurrection.^
for
spiritual
of character increased the reverence naturally
accorded in the Pentecostal Church to one whose relations to the Lord Jesus had been so close
and
The
sacred.
apostles
Jerusalem on missionary errands so that we find at one time Peter only in the city, and at a later date But James apparently none of the twelve remaining there. gradually
still
left
;
continued in the original seat of the
Church,
standing
be pillars " in
to
now
out it
alone
"
of
Hebrew Christian who seemed
those
at the time of Paul's first
Add
visits
to Jerusalem.
which
his " devoutness according to the
to
all
the unbelieving Jews, and which
this
is
and second
the special influence
law
"
gave him with
indicated by his
title of
;
"
James the Pdghteous " and it is easy to understand the prominence which James has in several passages in the second section of the Acts, and in two or three references made by Paul to the Church at Jerusalem.* Setting only the apostles aside, he was undoubtedly the most honoured and influential member of the Hebrew Christian community, the
man who
would, as a matter of course, be expected to
preside and take the lead in any meeting of importance in
connection with the ยป
1
Cor. XV.
7.
*
aflairs of
Acts
xii.
17
;
the Church.^ xv.
;
Gal.
i.
19
;
ii.
9,
12
;
1
Cor. ix.
5.
from the history of the Reformed Church. "Cah-in was moderator of the presbytery of Geneva 83 long as he lived, '
Parallels could easily be given
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
M7.L.P3.B.4.ii
Quote# 56 550
On
CHUPvCH ORGANIZATION DURING SECOND PERIOD. the other hand, there
not the slightest evidence that
is
James the Lord's brother held any
position different in rank
or order from the other presbyters of the
Church at JeruIn the earliest passage bearing on the point, we find that the commission from Antioch for relief of the brethren in Jerusalem and Judaea is not addressed to James, nor even " to James and the elders who are with him," but simply " to the elders." It is to " the apostles and
salem with
whom
he acted.
elders at Jerusalem " that the appeal
regarding the apostles
is
made from Antioch
It is " the are " gathered together to con-
admission of Gentile converts. "
and the elders
who
Who
sider of this matter."
presided at the
council
is
not
James, as well as Peter, took a leading part in the
stated.
discussion
;
and
his
proposal was finally accepted
by
"
the
apostles and the elders, with the whole Church." But the official letter and " the decrees " run in the name of " the
and elders that were at Jerusalem," the president, whoever he may have been, not being referred to in the apostles
slightest degree.^
The
last reference
with Paul's
last
received by the
James
to
to
visit
in the Acts
Jerusalem.
brethren of the
generally, the apostle
Hebrew
in
is
After
connection
being warmly
Christian Church
reports regarding the Gentile mission
more formal meeting of the office-bearers. " On the day went in with us unto James and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed, one by one, the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And they, when they heard it, glorified God It and they said unto him," etc. seems clear that James presided in this meeting but it will
to a
following, Paul
;
;
;
be observed that the report
is
given not to James, but to the
elders in their collective capacity as a presbytery,
and that their
made on that footing. They explain the position of the Hebrew Christian Church, and propose that Paul should answer
is
man would take the chair while he was present. whom a similar mark of respect would have been con-
I)robably just because no other
After his death, Beza, to
ceded by his colleagues, declined
Cunningham, Works,
ii.
it,
as likely to lead to injurious results."
p. 236.
Acts xi. 30 xv. 2, 4-7, 1 3-23 ; xvi. 4. Bishop Lightfoot sums up the evidence on this point on the whole very fairly, PhUippians, 3rd ed. p. 195 f. 1
;
Bannerman, Douglas, Scripture Doctrine of the Church, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1887.
