What does the bible say about the form of church government. Second, a sound biblical structure will make a church more likely to sustain its witness over many, many decades. Roman catholicism roman catholicism structure of the church. 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. We are focusing now on the structure and offices of the church.
Through the history of the church we have seen the development and constant reappearance of three basic patterns of church government. The lord was very clear in his word about how he wishes his church on earth to be organized and managed. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. When the deacons need to be picked, it is the laity that does it acts 6. The book of acts ascribes emotions and actions to the church. The roman catholic church may be the most wellknown of the episcopaltype churches. In the earliest accounts of the jerusalem church acts 18 the apostles essentially functioned as the first elders. Then the church scattered into other regions due to persecution brought on by saul.
Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier. The church in antioch recognizes the authority of the jerusalem leadership in the case of settling controversies such as this one. Second, the presbyterian or elder led model includes the church selecting elders who represent the church as decision makers. First, christ is the head of the church and its supreme authority ephesians 1. The one in charge is ultimately responsible for the activities and productivity of the group. Disagreements over this issue once split denominationsbut few 21stcentury christians have a solid understanding of the principles that determine their own church leadership. 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. 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. A basic overview of the structure for the book of acts. For example, the members of a church acting in concert, not any one person or group, made major decisions acts 6.
This form of church government functions with a single leader, often called a bishop. 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. 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. In other cases, the biblical evidence for congregationalism is less convincing, especially in acts. Church growth statements in the book of acts barnes bible charts 2. For example, i do not find it persuasive to take the description of barnabas being sent by a church in acts 11. Our remarks for this article will come from acts 4. When a church is approaching the time when it will move from the mission stage to a fully operational church ministry. 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. Koren the right principles of church government page 2 his kingdom by this word, when he said. Their work shows similarities to what christians face in non church related workplaces today. In acts we find two primary leadership offices the apostles and the elders.
Many believed the word of the gospel, repented, baptized, and added to the church 2. Roman catholicism structure of the church britannica. They had not ventured out as jesus had commanded in acts 1. It wont be long before the church will be persecuted acts 7ff. This illuminating collection presents and critiques four approaches. First, the episcopal model includes churches in which church leaders are appointed by the denomination. In the early church, it seems there was a plurality of elders, also called bishops or overseers. Our concern with biblical church governance desiring god.
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. The word church comes from the greek word ecclesia meaning a called out company or assembly which we render to mean church. Within these guidelines, four main models of church structure have developed. An interview with john macarthur selected scriptures duration. 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. 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. 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. The bible provides many clear guidelines regarding the manner in which local churches are to be led. 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. Others disbelieved and some began to actively oppose the ministry of the apostles. Episcopalianism, presbyterianism, singleelder congregationalism, and plural. Episcopalianism or prelacy is the rule of the church by monarchial bishops.
Five reasons the early church grew acts 4 forthright. 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. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. While jesus christ is the top authority of the church ephesians 1. In the new testament there are two greek words which are employed interchangeably for the office of elder cf. 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. 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. 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. No man in the new testament is ever referred to as the pastor of a church. In the bible, ecclesia is used to reference a mob acts 19. On sunday, march 1, i argued from the new testament that there were two ongoing offices in the new testament church for the management and care of the church.
In 1965 the roman catholic theologian mariejoseph le guillou defined the church in these terms. In acts 6, there is a great picture of how the service performed by deacons contributes to the church s unity. Different forms of church government moody church media. What does the bible say about the organizational structure. 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. Presbyterian or presbyteral polity is a method of church governance ecclesiastical polity typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. 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. When god cursed the nations of israel and judah, and sold them into captivity, the issue was government.
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. We are studying the new testament teaching about the church on sunday evenings. It is crucial that the operational structure be established in a way that is both biblical and practical. 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. Government structure in the new testament church 2 out of egypt the issue was government. 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. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. It is the elders who lead the church and are responsible for teaching the word and guiding, admonishing, and exhorting the people of god. The following is a ed excerpt from the entry church government in the encyclopedia of christian civilization ed. The authors provide six hermeneutical principles for historical narratives generally. The true gospel message is a message about government.
As said previously, this is not a perfect church, nor is it a fully mature church. 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. Three examples of mixed responses to the apostles can be seen in acts 14. With this meaning of the word ecclesia, it is used to reference groups of people. John whitley bibl 364b03 03062012 the book of acts gives a clear pattern for the proper structure of church government. In the first few chapters of acts we are told how the early church centered her ministries in the city of jerusalem.
People come to the book of acts for a variety of reasons. Does the bible provide a clear structure for church. Wayne im not so sure thats its as simple as hierarchy. Toward an understanding of church governance jerry gillis. The book of acts tells us on that day the god of heaven launched the church of christ. Some questions about church organization, together with biblical answers.
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