Elders from Outside the Local Assembly

[richard n koustas]

And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and [to] Iconium, and Antioch...And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Act 14:21-4

The order of events seems to be: the church planters returned to cities where they planted churches, found men within each of the local assemblies that met the qualification of elders (as per letters to Tim and Titus), ordained them, the commended them. Elders (plural) were selected from the local body of believers – not brought in from the outside. I realize that this is very early church history, but when did churches start looking outside the local assemblies for elders?

 

[canadyjd]

The order of events seems to be: the church planters returned to cities where they planted churches, found men within each of the local assemblies that met the qualification of elders (as per letters to Tim and Titus), ordained them, the commended them. Elders (plural) were selected from the local body of believers – not brought in from the outside. I realize that this is very early church history, but when did churches start looking outside the local assemblies for elders?

Very good observation. I suspect when the "church" became more organized (i.e. center of power in Rome) they began to push local assemblies to accept learned men that met the approval of the Bishop.

peace to youraying:

 

[Baptist_Pastor/Theologian]

The order of events seems to be: the church planters returned to cities where they planted churches, found men within each of the local assemblies that met the qualification of elders (as per letters to Tim and Titus), ordained them, the commended them. Elders (plural) were selected from the local body of believers – not brought in from the outside. I realize that this is very early church history, but when did churches start looking outside the local assemblies for elders?

Since the Reformation era... however it is not uncommon for someone to pastor in a city they grew up in therefore it would be similar in that case to the NT. In the NT they did not recognize a distinction in church communities within a city. There was the church in the general region of this particular city. It was as if there was one church, the universal church, and each local was a satellite location for the mother church. In principle that is true today, but we not have corporate structures that are not similar to the NT model. Most churches today are looking for a man with qualifications to pastor that go beyond character and calling, ie education and experience.

 

[El_Guero]

During the early church era . . . the Patristics . . . aka Church Fathers, were not always from their local congregation. Some were some were not.

The order of events seems to be: the church planters returned to cities where they planted churches, found men within each of the local assemblies that met the qualification of elders (as per letters to Tim and Titus), ordained them, the commended them. Elders (plural) were selected from the local body of believers – not brought in from the outside. I realize that this is very early church history, but when did churches start looking outside the local assemblies for elders?

Church Planting?

 

[Lacy Evans]

SHHMS

Super Hired Holy Man Syndrome!

lacy

 

[EdSutton]

SHHMS

Super Hired Holy Man Syndrome!

lacy

:thumbsup: I'm sure if I took a bit of time, I could come up with at least five jokes about this, but instead for now at least, I'll merely say, "Amen, Brother! Preach on!"

Ed

 

[Salty]

any new thoughts?