Find a local congregation of the New Testament church that is organized exactly as the Bible says

The church we read about in the Bible was organized in a very simple way. A general pattern was to have 2 or more qualified men overseeing each local congregation or church. These men could be referred to as the "eldership". Each man must meet several high qualifications which the Bible lists in two passages. Elders are the spiritual leaders of a congregation. They also watch out for the souls of the members like a shepherd.

1. Christ is the head of every local church. There is no human head of the church.
2. The Bible is the only written creed for each local church, rather than a man-made written creed.
3. Each local church is autonomous and self-governing. No outside interference from others.
4. No organizational tie between local churches.
5. No organization larger than local churches.
6. The Bible uses Elder, Presbyter, Overseer, Bishop, Shepherd, Pastor interchangeably and they all refer to a single office in the church.
7. Local churches appoint their own plurality of elders using 1 Timothy 3, and Titus 1 as guidelines for the qualifications.
8. Elders have authority only over the members of the local church, not members from outside congregations.

1. Each term gives us a little more information about the function of the office: Christians are described as: priests, saints, children citizens, soldiers, etc. In the same way we have different descriptive terms for the eldership.
2. These terms are not honorary titles but descriptions of work to be done: a. It would be wrong to call someone "Elder Smith", or "Pastor Brown"
3. In the table below, you will notice four individual terms (elder, overseer, shepherd, steward) and one collective term (eldership: which is simply the plural of term elder).

1. People are taught false doctrine from their denominations, that the "office of Bishop" is a different office than the "office of Pastor" and the "office of Elder" and the "office of Steward". They are falsely taught that these are three distinct offices, rather than three descriptive terms that describe the same ONE office.
2. A failure to be shown that in scripture, these terms are used interchangeably, as seen in the chart above. The fact remains, that if these four terms all refer to the same office, then most denominational organizations make mush of the inspired pattern and are utterly false and to be rejected.
3. A failure to recognize that the English terms "Elder and Presbyter come from the same Greek word "Presbureros". That the English terms "Overseer and Bishop come from the same Greek word "Episcopos". And that the English terms "Shepherd and Pastor come from the same Greek word "Poimen". Part of the confusion is that one Bible translation will consistently translation the Greek word "Presbureros" as "Elder, while another translation will render the same Greek word "Presbureros" as Presbyter. We are find no fault with these translations, but people simply do not look closely enough to notice what is really going on between translations.
4. Each of the three Greek words are translated into two English words, where one of these English word is a true translation and the other is a meaningless man-made ecclesiastical, church term invented by various churches. To prove the point, when in everyday language do we ever use the words, Presbyter or Bishop or Pastor. They have no use or meaning outside of religion and their meaning is obscure. However meaning the words, Elder or Overseer or Shepherd are understood by all and are used in all areas of life. Another example of this is the word "Baptism", which comes from the Greek word "Baptizo" and is translated "immersion". If Bible translations only used the true translations of all these words, it would greatly reduce confusion as well as immediately prove that "Baptism" is immersion, not sprinkling.

1. Elder indicates an older man with wisdom that can only come from age and experience.
2. Overseer indicates a position of top authority, one who is in charge and makes all final decisions for the local congregation.
3. Shepherd is a metaphoric term that indicates the men are to show love, care, dedication and self sacrifice for the members as sheep. The men are not literally Shepherding sheep, but are doing so in a metaphoric sense that everyone immediately understands.
4. Steward indicates a man who can be trusted with great treasures. Of course the greatest of these treasures, are the souls of the local church members, over whom he is in charge. But it also indicates the fact that the men are also in charge of the churches financial assets, including church buildings and the weekly collection of money from the church on the first day of every week through freewill offerings.

1. Minister indicates one who serves as a servant.
2. Evangelist indicates one who spreads the good new of the seed of the Gospel everywhere.
3. Preacher indicates one who proclaims the message of God.

1. Overseer: Bishop, Episcopate, Bishopric, Diocese
2. Elder: Presbyter, Presbyterate
3. Shepherd: Pastor
4. Servant: Deacon, Diaconate

1. Applying "pastor" as a synonym for the pulpit preacher. All pastors are pulpit preachers, but not all preachers are pastors.
2. Applying "pastor" "Elder" or "Bishop" to any women. Women are forbidden to be such: 1 Tim 2:12
3. Applying "pastor" to any young man, any single man, or a married man who has no children, or a married man whose children are not faithful in Christ
4. Applying "evangelist" exclusively to pulpit preachers who preach in different churches every Sunday, while refusing to call a "located preacher" an "evangelist" because he preaches in the same church every Sunday. The terms, evangelist, preacher and minister are interchangeable terms and the Bible makes no distinction as to whether the minister is located or moving around from week to week.
5. Applying "elder" to any young man, as Mormon missionaries insist they be called as they go door to door. Such a term applied to a young man is a violation of common sense.

1. These qualifications are what all Christian's should strive to meet.
2. Most churches today will set human standards that ignore Bible directives

1. Elders must be men.
2. Elders must be married.
3. Elders must have children who are old enough to be believing Christians.
4. Elders must have PROVEN that they can keep their children under control WITHOUT REBELLION. [the big test is with teenagers]
5. Must be what "elder" implies: an older man of experience. Men under 40 years old are never called elderly. When 18 year old Mormon missionaries demand that a 70 year old man address them as "elder" when they knock on his door, it is as illogical as it is insulting! Calling anyone under 30 years of age and "elder" is a clear violation of what the word elder means!
6. Must have enough Bible knowledge to be able to refute false doctrine.

1. Elders in the New Testament were not always full time preachers: 1 Ti 5:17 "Let the ELDERS who rule well be considered worthy of double honor especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching."
2. Full time preachers in the New Testament were not always elders.
3. Apostle Paul was not an elder: no where in the Bible is Paul referred to as an elder. Paul wasn't married: 1 Cor 7:7, therefore was not even qualified: 1 Ti 3:2,4,5.
4. Peter on the other hand, was both a full time preacher and an elder. 1 Peter 5:1 "I [Peter] ... your "FELLOW elder"

1. "It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do." 1 Timothy 3:1
2. "Be on guard for yourselves and for ALL THE FLOCK, AMONG WHICH the Holy Spirit has made you OVERSEERS, to SHEPHERD the church of God which he purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28
3. " The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."" 1 Timothy 5:17-18

1. "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." Hebrews 13:17
2. " But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction," 1 Thessalonians 5:12
3. "Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints), that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors." 1 Corinthians 16:15-16

1. " The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."" 1 Timothy 5:17-18
2. ""Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house." Luke 10:7
3. "So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel." 1 Corinthians 9:14
4. "Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing." God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel." 1 Corinthians 9:6-14
5. "Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:14-19

1. Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for ALL THE FLOCK, AMONG WHICH the Holy Spirit has made you OVERSEERS, to SHEPHERD the church of God which he purchased with His own blood."
2. 1 Pet 5:1-3 "Therefore, I exhort the elders AMONG YOU ... shepherd the FLOCK OF GOD AMONG YOU ... proving to be examples to the flock"
3. 1 Pet 5:1 "I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow-elder"
4. Peter was an elder but he was not higher in rank that any other elder.
5. All elders in the eldership are of equal authority.

1. One bishop/elder is never over other bishop/elders in rank: all are equal.
2. One bishop/elder is never over more than one local church churches
3. The pyramid type organization is contrary to the Bible pattern and did not come to full development until 606 AD when pope Boniface III claimed to be the one man who ruled every local church world wide. This was 600 years too late to be the Bible pattern and represents a serious apostasy in organization.

1. "CHURCH OFFICERS: In the New Testament we find that in apostolic times, and for many years after, pastors and deacons only were known as permanent church officers. Others have been added at later times, for a variety of reasons." (The Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual)
2. "THE WIDER FELLOWSHIP OF BAPTISTS: Because churches are the only Christian organizations provided for in the New Testament, it may be said that they are the only ones really essential to the accomplishment of the purposes of Christ. Experience, however, has demonstrated that churches in fellowship with one another are able to fulfill the work of the gospel more effectively than churches alone." (The Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual)
3. What we observe in these two quotes from the Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual, is the following: First, they admit that new offices were added to the church many years after the Bible was completed. Second, they admit that local churches with no organizational tie between them, was the Bible pattern, but because of human wisdom, an organization was invented to tie local churches together on a global basis.

1. Tit 1:5 "For this reason, I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and APPOINT ELDERS IN EVERY CITY as I directed you."
2. Acts 14:23 "And when they had APPOINTED ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH, having prayed and fasted, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed."

1. JERUSALEM: Acts 15:4 "when they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the ELDERS" (Acts 15:2; 15:6; 15:22: 15:23; 16:4; 21:18)
2. EPHESUS: Acts 20:17,28 Paul "called to him the ELDERS OF THE CHURCH."
3. JUDEA: Acts 11:29,30 "sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul TO THE ELDERS"

1. Jas 5:14 "Is anyone sick? Let him call the ELDERS OF THE CHURCH."
2. 1 Pe 5:1-3 "Therefore, I exhort the ELDERS among you
3. 1 Ti 4:14 "the laying on of hands of the PRESBYTERY." (assembly of aged men)
4. 1 Ti 5:17 "Let the ELDERS who rule well be considered worthy of double honor

1. 1 Ti 3:1,2 "If any man aspires to the OFFICE OF OVERSEER
2. Tit 1:7 "for the OVERSEER must be above reproach"
3. 1 Ti 5:19 "Do not receive an accusation against an ELDER except..."
4. 2 Jn 1 "The ELDER to the chosen lady and her children"
5. 3 Jn 1 "The ELDER to the beloved Gaius whom I love in truth"

1. "When it was day, the Council [Presbuterion] of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber" (Luke 22:66)
2. "as also the high priest and all the Council [Presbuterion] of the elders can testify." (Acts 22:5)
3. "Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery [Presbuterion]. " (1 Timothy 4:14)

1. Pastor system (one man over church)
2. Unqualified men (Position worse than having no elders at all)
3. any organization larger than local church (world headquarters etc.)

1. a church without elders because no one qualified: Acts 14:1-3,6,8,21-23
2. a church with no elders, when qualified men could be appointed, "lacks": Tit 1:5

1. They all refer to the same thing
2. They are used interchangeably
3. The terms are not titles but teach us about the role, function and work
4. 4. It is wrong to view pastors elders and bishops as three different offices

1. Each church is self governing and autonomous
2. A bishop from one church can not oversee another church

1. Churches can scripturally exist either with or without elders

Find a local congregation of the New Testament church that is organized exactly as the Bible says

Steve Rudd

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