Elders in the NT Church

[richard n koustas]

gb93433:

I wasn't questioning whether or not there were "house churches", i was looking for references for "one leader each"

 

[drfuss]

At first the apostles were in charge if there was one in the local church. That is why Paul devotes some parts of his letters to demonstrate that he was an apostle. If there was no apostle in the local church, then a group of elders with various gifts were in charge. Pastor was not a position, but a ministry to new christians who need a lot of attention. Teachers and prophets (preachers) ministered to the whole church. Today the position of pastor is in charge of it all. Who knows? This may be Gods will for the church today.

 

[EdSutton]

I coulda' swore that my Bible referred to 'pastor' as a gift. 'Course, my copy is over 10 years old!
Ed

 

[gb93433]

Originally posted by richard n koustas:
gb93433:

I wasn't questioning whether or not there were "house churches", i was looking for references for "one leader each"

Every church starts with one leader. Most house churches would have only been about 20 people or less. No need for more than one pastor with a church that size.

 

[rlvaughn]

Originally posted by EdSutton:
I coulda' swore that my Bible referred to 'pastor' as a gift. 'Course, my copy is over 10 years old! Ed

Ephesians 4:8-12 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 

[EdSutton]

Thanks rl, I just wanted to make sure that was still there. After reading about the office of pastor, senior pastor, etc. from some I thought maybe that had been changed, and no one told me. Heh! Heh! Now if maybe you can find where Scripture says that there is a pastor in every church, as some have claimed, we'll all be on the same page. No wait, I've got a better idea. I'll go buy me a couple of new inexpensive Bibles, say an ESV or HCSB, or some other version, or even look at BibleGateway on line, and maybe I can find out when that part was put in, as well. Hey, I just found a verse- in fact I'll quote it for some.
It's Phillipians 1:1 -
"Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops[a] and deacons: "

To use my nephew's favorite quote, "Unbelievable!"
It is amazing. How rude of Paul! Maybe there were some personal problems, or something! Paul could call attention to every member, the BISHOPS, and the DEACONS, and still leave out the church's most important person of all, the Senior Pasto...!
Ed

 

[richard n koustas]

"Unbelievable!"
It is amazing. How rude of Paul! Maybe there were some personal problems, or something! Paul could call attention to every member, the BISHOPS, and the DEACONS, and still leave out the church's most important person of all, the Senior Pasto...!

Ed:

a couple years ago i was attending a men's bible study on phillipians. one of the men asked that very same question on the first verse. "what about the pastor?". i thot every one knew that the new testiment churches were set up with 'elders' (plural).