This is the difficulty of definitively deciding church structure on the 1st century church there are too many options and too much flexibility for american sensibilities. In the new testament there are two greek words which are employed interchangeably for the office of elder cf. When a church is approaching the time when it will move from the mission stage to a fully operational church ministry. It wont be long before the church will be persecuted acts 7ff. An interview with john macarthur selected scriptures duration.
Disagreements over this issue once split denominationsbut few 21stcentury christians have a solid understanding of the principles that determine their own church leadership. Or put another way, does the book of acts provide information that not only describes the primitive church but speaks as a norm to the church at all times. The roman catholic church may be the most wellknown of the episcopaltype churches. What does the bible say about the form of church government. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier. What does the bible say about the organizational structure. John whitley bibl 364b03 03062012 the book of acts gives a clear pattern for the proper structure of church government. Whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. The following is a ed excerpt from the entry church government in the encyclopedia of christian civilization ed. This illuminating collection presents and critiques four approaches. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply. Second, the presbyterian or elder led model includes the church selecting elders who represent the church as decision makers. Episcopalianism or prelacy is the rule of the church by monarchial bishops. Roman catholicism roman catholicism structure of the church.
In acts we find two primary leadership offices the apostles and the elders. Church structure church offices the pastor literally, shepherd is the human head of a church. With this meaning of the word ecclesia, it is used to reference groups of people. In other cases, the biblical evidence for congregationalism is less convincing, especially in acts. Within these guidelines, four main models of church structure have developed. Ludlowthe book of acts was written by luke after his gospel as the second part of a great twovolume work on jesus christ and the early christians. Others disbelieved and some began to actively oppose the ministry of the apostles. When god gave israel the law at mount sinai, the issue was government. A basic overview of the structure for the book of acts. If you look at acts, youll notice that the first section covers peter acts 112 and the second section covers paul acts 28. It is the elders who lead the church and are responsible for teaching the word and guiding, admonishing, and exhorting the people of god. Church growth in the book of acts a church of christ can and will grow spiritually and numerically when it is faithful to the word of god.
For example, i do not find it persuasive to take the description of barnabas being sent by a church in acts 11. The library of virginia was created by the general assembly in 1823 to organize, care for, and manage the states growing collection of books and official records. So then, regardless of the location of each church, it is quite apparent from the book of acts that the model was that of plural elders exercising authority over the local congregations. Acts this is the historical narrative of the birth of the church, and thus provides many opportunities to see how the leadership structure emerged in the early church of jerusalem and the blossoming church all throughout asia minor. Through the history of the church we have seen the development and constant reappearance of three basic patterns of church government. Many believed the word of the gospel, repented, baptized, and added to the church 2. In the bible, ecclesia is used to reference a mob acts 19. At the origin of the church, in acts 2, we observe the holy spirit being poured out on all who had faith in jesus, and we see a unity that. Today the library houses a vast collection of materials on virginia government, history, and culture. Church growth statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2. Their work shows similarities to what christians face in non church related workplaces today. At the moody church, we maintain a system somewhat similar to a presbyterianstyle of church leadership because we believe that this structure is biblically preferable. To prove this point, let us take a quick look at church growth in the book of acts, with a special view to the church in jerusalem.
Three examples of mixed responses to the apostles can be seen in acts 14. The one in charge is ultimately responsible for the activities and productivity of the group. Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy ghost, teaching them. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. They had not ventured out as jesus had commanded in acts 1. Different forms of church government moody church media. The book of acts tells us on that day the god of heaven launched the church of christ. The lord was very clear in his word about how he wishes his church on earth to be organized and managed. Our remarks for this article will come from acts 4. The book of acts ascribes emotions and actions to the church. People come to the book of acts for a variety of reasons. No man in the new testament is ever referred to as the pastor of a church.
The bible provides many clear guidelines regarding the manner in which local churches are to be led. Government structure in the new testament church 2 out of egypt the issue was government. Our concern with biblical church governance desiring god. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. First, christ is the head of the church and its supreme authority ephesians 1.
First, the episcopal model includes churches in which church leaders are appointed by the denomination. We are focusing now on the structure and offices of the church. In 1965 the roman catholic theologian mariejoseph le guillou defined the church in these terms. The acts of the apostles depicts the early church working hard to grow itself and serve others in the face of opposition, shortages of people and money, government bureaucracy church bureaucracy came later, internal strife, and even the forces of nature.
Using the terms elder and bishop interchangeably, the church government described and commissioned in the early church was marked by a plurality of elders titus 1. The true gospel message is a message about government. Then the church scattered into other regions due to persecution brought on by saul. In the earliest accounts of the jerusalem church acts 18 the apostles essentially functioned as the first elders. Book structure spanning roughly thirty years of early church history and covering dozens of unique stories, geographical locations, and complex theological realities, the book of acts is what john calvin called a kind of vast treasure calvin, the acts of the apostles. This form of church government functions with a single leader, often called a bishop. The authors provide six hermeneutical principles for historical narratives generally.
As said previously, this is not a perfect church, nor is it a fully mature church. Some questions about church organization, together with biblical answers. It is crucial that the operational structure be established in a way that is both biblical and practical. At the origin of the church, in acts 2, we observe the holy spirit being poured out on all who had faith in jesus, and we see a unity that emerges from those believers in the way as they all utilized their gifts, abilities, and time to serve one another and. Through the book of acts, youll notice that both apostles perform miracles through the power of the spirit, see visions, suffer, preach powerfully, and were imprisoned and later miraculously set free. When the deacons need to be picked, it is the laity that does it acts 6. Koren the right principles of church government page 2 his kingdom by this word, when he said. The word church comes from the greek word ecclesia meaning a called out company or assembly which we render to mean church. The progress of roman catholic theology can be seen in the contrast between this statement and the definition still current as late as 1960, which was substantially the one formulated by the jesuit. Groups of local churches are governed by a higher assembly of elders known. Toward an understanding of church governance jerry gillis. The modern church has many problems, and of its problems, many are due to the way we think of pastors and elders, of church government, of music in the church, of membership and its qualifications, of service, and similar considerations. When god cursed the nations of israel and judah, and sold them into captivity, the issue was government. Second, a sound biblical structure will make a church more likely to sustain its witness over many, many decades.
Baptists believe that all persons who are redeemed have come by grace to saving faith in christ, not by works, social status, or any other thing. For example, the members of a church acting in concert, not any one person or group, made major decisions acts 6. Five reasons the early church grew acts 4 forthright. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. In the early church, it seems there was a plurality of elders, also called bishops or overseers. While jesus christ is the top authority of the church ephesians 1. In the bible, god outlines authority structures that provide direction for the family, church, workplace, and government. We are studying the new testament teaching about the church on sunday evenings. Roman catholicism structure of the church britannica.
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