16 Offices and Gifts in the Church

Offices and Gifts in the Church vAPOSTLE, άπόστολος

"one sent." The apostles must have had to do with the church in its early days: cf. Acts 15:1-41 Apostles are the first-named as set in the church. (1 Corinthians 12:28 : cf. also Ephesians 2:20.) vDeacon, διάκονος. The seven chosen in Acts 6:1-15 to care for the poor, and to "serve tables," probably take charge of the funds-though not there called " deacons," led to such persons being appointed in the church under that name. (Php 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13.) Those chosen must be morally qualified to " use the office well." vBishop, ‘[επἰσκοπος, from "to look over," an overseer. In Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:7 we find that moral qualifications are insisted upon: "a bishop must be blameless," though nothing is said of gift. In Acts 20:17-35 Paul sent for the elders of Ephesus, and to them he said, " Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed [or shepherd] the church of God;" for much evil was coming in. From this and from 1 Timothy 5:17 we learn that some at least were gifted to administer the word to the souls of the saints. The Lord Jesus is called the " Shepherd and Bishop " of souls. (1 Peter 2:25.) vElder, πρεσβύτερος,

"an elder," one advanced in life. It will be seen above in Acts 20:1-38 that in Ephesus the same persons are called elders and bishops, or overseers; and in Titus 1:1-16 we remark the same. Paul left Titus in Crete that he should ordain or choose "elders in every city,.... if any be blameless.... for a bishop must be blameless." (Vers. 5-7.) We also learn in 1 Timothy 5:17 that some elders ruled, or took the lead, and some labored in word and doctrine. In Paul’s first missionary journey he chose elders in every church. (Acts 14:23.) In Hebrews 13:1-25 the saints are exhorted to remember those who had had the rule over them (or were their leaders), who had spoken unto them the word of God; they were to imitate their faith, and consider the end of their conversation. The saints were also to obey the leaders then among them, for they watched for their souls. (Vers. 7, 17.) vProphet, πρόφήτης.

(1 Corinthians 12:28.) It is clear that in the early days of the church there were prophets who fore-told events. (Acts 11:27-28; Acts 21:9-11.) There was also another kind of prophesying, namely, speaking unto men " to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." In prophesying they edified the church. (1 Corinthians 14:3-4.) The word of God is brought home to heart and conscience by this gift (1 Corinthians 14:25), so that the soul of the hearer is brought into contact with God Himself through the word spoken. vTeacher, διδάσκαλος

(1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11.) These are not often named: there were some at Antioch. (Acts 13:1.) Paul was appointed "a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." (1 Timothy 2:7.) The Hebrew saints were chided because when they ought to have been teachers, they needed to be taught again the first principles-the A B C-of the oracles of God. (Hebrews 5:12.) James cautioned his brethren against being many teachers: they should receive the greater judgment, "for we all often offend." (Chapter 3:1.) vMiracles, Gifts of Healing. (1 Corinthians 12:28.) Gifts for the early church, but which have long since passed away. vHelp, ἀντίληψις (1 Corinthians 12:28.)

Paul refers to "every one that helpeth with us and laboreth." (1 Corinthians 16:16.) He also exhorted one to " help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life." (Php 4:3.) (Paul called Priscilla, Aquila, and Urbane his fellowlabourers, and not simply " helpers," Romans 16:3; Romans 16:9.) Surely there are many " helpers " in the church of God, who in various ways do acceptable work for the Lord. vGovernment, κθβέρνησις(1 Corinthians 12:28.) This gift seems to refer to ruling in the church: see Elders, above; cf. Romans 12:8. vDiversities of Tongues, (1 Corinthians 12:28.) These were common in the church at Corinth, Ephesus, &c., but ceased at an early date. vPastor, ποιμήν,

"a shepherd." (Ephesians 4:11.) This is the only place where pastors are named; but Peter was told to shepherd Christ’s sheep. (John 21:16.) The Lord is called the good Shepherd (John 10:11; John 10:14); the great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20); and the chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), an example to the pastors how to watch over and tend His sheep and lambs. vEvangelist, εὐαγγελιστής,

" a preacher of the gospel." (Ephesians 4:11.) Philip is the only one specially named as an evangelist. (Acts 21:8.) Timothy was told to do the work of an evangelist. (2 Timothy 4:5.) Paul was an evangelist, and constantly refers to his preaching the gospel, and indeed said, " Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel." (1 Corinthians 9:16.) There were doubtless many others. vMinister, διάκοωος,

"deacon," minister. Paul says he was made a minister of the gospel, and of the church. (Colossians 1:23; Colossians 1:25; Ephesians 3:7; cf. Acts 26:16.) He calls Tychicus a "faithful minister." (Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7.) Timotheus was a " minister of God." (1 Thessalonians 3:2.) Phoebe was " minister " of the church which is in Cenchrea. It does not appear that the word is used in the above and other passages in any official sense, but is applied to any who were true servants of Christ working for Him in the church. (The same word refers to magistrates in Romans 13:4.) vPreacher, κήρυξ"a herald." Paul said he was appointed a preacher, a herald. (1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11.) Noah was a herald of righteousness. (2 Peter 2:5.) vOffices (occupied by overseers and deacons) were local, whereas gifts are from the Lord, and are for the whole church. Thus a bishop or a deacon was such only in the local assembly where he resided; but an evangelist, a teacher, a pastor, are such for the whole church, and can exercise their gifts anywhere. This is God’s order: it is only man’s arrangements in Christendom that have made it otherwise.

Ephesians 4:1-32 teaches that the risen and ascended Head of the body is the source of all gifts. He gives: man does not appoint, nor come immediately. There are some apostles, some prophets: these are foundation gifts (cf. Ephesians 2:20), not intended to be continued, though in a secondary sense there may be prophets still, through whom the written word is sometimes ministered in soul-reaching power. There have been at any solemn crisis in the church’s history special servants raised up to recover apostolic foundations-Luther, for instance-and who in that sense have approached to apostolic service.

Evangelists are to bring in, as it were, recruits from the world. Pastors and teachers are closely connected, and are often perhaps found in the same person. The pastor has an aptitude to care for souls, entering into the details of their needs in this world; a teacher is one able to open up scripture, and to exhibit the mind of God from the word. The love of Christ for His church will never allow gifts to fail: they have the edification of the body for their object, and will be continued until the church is complete. (Ephesians 4:12-13.)

Apostles, or apostolic delegates, appointed to offices; but never ordained any one to preach the gospel, or to teach the saints, as is now done in Christendom. *

(*The apostles were appointed by Christ while in the flesh, and sent forth again from Him risen; but the gifts for the body are from the glorified Head.)

Sometimes the Holy Ghost was conferred through their laying on of hands, and in Timothy’s case the apostle conveyed to him also a gift of the Spirit, and even associated the elders with himself in the laying on of hands. (2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 4:14.) In all the instances of appointing to offices it is either Paul himself, or those authorized by him, that made the appointments. This is what we might have expected when we remember that to him was committed the gospel of the glory and the mystery of the church. Paul had no successor, nor had those to whom he gave authority any power to communicate it to others: so that all such pretension is entirely without scriptural warrant. Godly men may do the work of bishops, elders, and deacons without any appointment, as we read of some who addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints, and to whom the saints were exhorted to submit themselves. (1 Corinthians 16:16; see also Thess. 5:12.)