The Organization of the Church

1. The Organization of the Church New Testament

2. Not Found In The New Testament • Hierarchy • Organization chart • Titles

3. Found In The New Testament • One Head – Jesus Christ • Eph 1:22-23 • Eph 5:22-24 • Organizational plan or pattern for the local church – a simple one in Phil 1:1 • Roles or functions with various names as identifiers • Some names, like elder and deacon, are also used in non-church-organization ways • Translations will use different words for the same function • This leaves many confused

4. Reverend Cardinal High Priest Member Prophet We will start with a view of the confusion (This list is not exhaustive, and some terms may not be found in all translations of the Bible.) Elder Shepherd Preacher Apostle Chief Priest Deacon Presbytery Rector Assembly Number Servant Teacher Pope Saint Evangelist Monsignor Bishop Pastor Flock Overseer Minister Church Priest Faithful Congregation

5. 1st pass at clarification or improved understanding is to remove the terms that are not in the Bible. (Not in the Bible as these terms are used in today's terminology. Some words are versions of common words used in the bible.)

6. Reverend ruler, leader Cardinal High Priest Member Prophet Elder Shepherd Preacher Apostle Deacon Chief Priest Presbytery Rector Number Servant Teacher Assembly Pope Saint Evangelist Monsignor French: mon seigneur, meaning "my lord" Bishop Pastor Flock Overseer Minister Church Priest Faithful Congregation

7. 2nd pass at clarification or improved understanding is to remove the terms that are not used in reference to the New Testament Church, even if found in the New Testament.

8. High Priest Member Prophet Elder Shepherd Preacher Apostle Chief Priest Deacon Presbytery John 11:49 Hebrews 5:5-6 Number Servant Teacher Assembly John 11:47 Saint Evangelist Bishop Pastor Flock Overseer Minister Church Priest Faithful Congregation

9. Of these that are left on our list, all are valid terms associated with the organization of the New Testament Church. • However, not all are used in “religious circles” in a scriptural way. • Some, like the following, are used for the wrong role • Priest • Pastor • Elder • Others are used in a seemingly correct manner, but actually used incorrectly to establish a hierarchy (Bishop).

10. Phil 1:1 • NASU: Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: • NKJV & KJV: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: • ASV: to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: • NIV: To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: • YLT: to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministrants;

11. Three Roles Mentioned • Saints – all members of the church • Overseer or bishop – leadership or protector • Deacon – specific servants for a local church We will look at each of these in order.

12. Priest Elder Prophet Faithful Saint Member Bishop Deacon Evangelist Flock Shepherd Overseer Apostle Minister Church Presbytery Preacher Pastor Number Servant Teacher Assembly Congregation Saint Priest

13. Some of these are translated from the same Greek word but have been translated differently. • Let’s look at examples from one translation - NASB. • All are describing a group of people with a common bond – Acts 2:47

14. Elder Prophet Bishop Deacon Evangelist Shepherd Acts 4:32 Overseer Apostle Minister 1Cor 12:12-13 Acts 5:14 Col 1:2 Pastor Presbytery Preacher Heb 12:23 Eph 3:10 Servant Teacher 1 Peter 2:5 Rev 1:5-6 Congregation 1Pet 5:2-3 Lead by Elders Member Number Faithful Assembly Church Eph 4:11-12 Flock Saint Priest

15. This is all that is required to have an acceptable, functioning, scriptural church, • But with the other two roles mentioned in Phil 1:1, God’s final plan for the church is complete and in order – Titus 1:5. • Now for the second function mentioned in Phil 1:1, the leadership

16. Elder Bishop Minister Shepherd Evangelist Pastor Prophet Teacher Presbytery Preacher Deacon Apostle Servant Overseer Congregation Member Number Faithful Assembly Church Flock Saint Priest

17. There are 3 different words used for the leadership, each with two typical translations • The scriptures . . .

18. Phil 1:1 Prophet Minister Evangelist Acts 20:28 Eph 4:11 Teacher Acts 20:17 Preacher Deacon Apostle Servant Bishop Shepherd Elder Overseer Pastor Presbytery Congregation Member Number Faithful Assembly Church Flock Priest Saint

19. Acts 20:28 relates overseer or bishop to shepherd or pastor • Acts 20:17 refers to these same people as elders • Acts 14:21-23 – each congregation to have their own elders • 1Pet 5:1-3 - Elders have oversight over one congregation, the one of which they are among – Acts 20:28

20. Elders have qualification • I Tim 3:1-7 • Titus 1:6-9 • Role models & examples • Primary function is to guard the flock from false teachers and maintain a sound church • Acts 20:28 • Titus 1:9-11

21. Deacon Teacher Minister Evangelist Prophet Same word as Deacon Apostle Servant Preacher Bishop Shepherd Elder Overseer Pastor Presbytery Phil 1:1 1Tim 3:8,10 Same word as Deacon Congregation Member Number Faithful Assembly Church Flock Saint Priest

22. The words used for Deacon and Minister are the same. • Can be applied to the function of a Deacon. • Can also be applied to the Christian. Heb 6:10 • Duties of the Deacon are not listed, but examples are in Acts 6:1-5 of men called upon to serve the congregation • Qualifications listed in 1 Tim 3:8-13

23. Prophet Teacher Evangelist Apostle Preacher Deacon Minister Servant Bishop Shepherd Elder Overseer Pastor Presbytery Congregation Member Number Faithful Assembly Church Flock Saint Priest

24. Eph 4:11-13 • Identifies another group of people, although not necessarily a part of the organization of the church. • Terms are consistent across translations • These are the means to build up the church – 2 Tim 3:16

25. Prophets & Apostles ceased near the end of the 1st century with the passing of the Apostles and the end of miracles • Edification passed from the inspired individual to the inspired scriptures • 1 Cor 13:8-10 • Acts 8:4-6, 14-17

26. Apostle Evangelist Preacher Teacher Prophet Deacon Minister Servant Bishop Shepherd Elder Acts 15:35 Rom 10:14 To herald, proclaim Overseer Pastor Presbytery Congregation Acts 21:8 Preacher of the gospel Member Number Faithful Assembly Church Flock Priest Saint

27. Teacher Evangelist Preacher Deacon Minister Servant Bishop Shepherd Elder Overseer Pastor Presbytery Congregation Member Number Faithful Assembly Church Flock Saint Priest

28. With this we have the structure of the New Testament church. • But we are not finished. • Any sound structure needs a good foundation • Apostles & Prophets • Eph 2:20 • The corner stone of the church is Jesus Christ. • Eph 2:21 – a resulting building that is the Lord’s temple

29. Teacher Evangelist Preacher Deacon Minister Servant Bishop Shepherd Elder Overseer Pastor Presbytery Congregation Member Number Faithful Assembly Church Saint Priest Flock Apostles & Prophets Jesus Christ

30. Now our structure is complete, and is built with the plans God gave us in his inspired word. • There is another plan or pattern equally important that He also gave us.

31. The pattern we see for an individual’s salvation includes the following: • Hear the word of God – Rom 10:17 • Believe the word of God and confess Jesus to be the Son of God – Romans 10:9-10 • Repent of your sins and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins – Acts 2:38 • Live a godly life – Titus 2:11

32. If the church you are a member of . . . • Has 21 year old elders • Has a hierarchy of leaders outside your congregation • Has elders or bishops with oversight of several congregations • Claims to have those performing miracles • Or any number of things not aligned with the simple organization of Phil 1:1 . . .it is time to reconsider the congregation you are associated with.