34.The functions of Elders

The functions of Elders in Owen’s own 1667Short Catechism Owen’s famous Short Catechism was published in 1667. About this, his later editor Goold very truthfully wrote: "Certain principles laid down in Owen’s Catechism, in regard to the Ruling Elder for example, are thought to bear some traces of affinity with Presbyterianism.... There might be ground for supposing that, on terms suggested by the Catechism, a coalition might be effected between the two denominations." See Owen’s Works, XV:446. Here, Goold was quite right. For, after dealing with the duties of Pastors alias Ministers of the Word and Sacraments "to preach the Word" and "to administer all the ordinances"

Owen, in that same Catechism, had gone on to ask (XV:499f): "Wherein principalh tly dothe authority of the Eldersof the Church consist?" He answers by citing: "Acts 20:28; Heb 13:7; Heb 13:17; 1Pe 1:2; 1Co 12:28; 1Ti 3:5; Col 4:17; 2Co 10:4-81Ti 4:11; Tit 2:15; 1Pe 5:2-5." Then he adds some very telling words.

"The means whereby the Lord Christ communicates this power unto men," explains Owen (as clearly as one might possibly wish), "is by His Law and Constitution...exercised in His Church...by such and such persons.... Mat 16:19; Mat 18:17-20.... The way, then, whereby the Elders of the Church do come to participate of the power and authority which Christ hath appointed to be exercised in His Church is by their and the Church’s due observance of the rules and laws given by Him for their election and setting apart unto that Office. Heb 5:4:5; Acts 14:23."

Significantly, precisely that last text records the appointment of Elders specifically by representatives of the Presbytery (after their prior election by the Congregation but only at the instance of the Presbytery’s Leaders of the Apostolic Church as such). Acts 13:1-5; Acts 14:23-27; Acts 6:1-6.

Owen says (XV:501f) "The reason therefore why the consent of the Church is required unto the authoritative acting of the Elders therein is not because from thence any authority doth accrue unto them anew which virtually and radically they had not before, but because by the rule of the Gospel this is required to the orderly acting of their power.... If it be asked ’What then shall the Elders do in case the Church refuse to consent unto such acts as are indeed according to rule and warranted by the institution of Christ?’ it is answered, that they are....

"1. Diligently to instruct them from the Word in their duty....

2. To declare unto them the danger of their dissent....

3. To wait patiently for the...giving [of] light and obedience unto the Church; and 4. In case of the Church’s continuance in any failure of duty, to seek for advice and counsel from the Elders and brethren of other Churches."

Then, Owen further asks (XV:528f): "Wherein consists the duty of any Church of Christ towards other Churches?" Dr. Owen’s answer includes also the following duties:

"communicating supplies...Acts 11:29-30"; "receiving with love and readiness the members of them into fellowship...Rom 16:1-3 John 8-9"; and "making use of their counsel...Acts 15:2; Acts 15:6." The above-mentioned Acts 11:29 records donations being sent to the Elders of the Jerusalem Presbytery superintending many thousands of Christians within that region. And Rom 16:1f commends Phoebe, from the Cenchrea Congregation in the Presbytery of

Corinth, to the various House-Congregations within the Presbytery of Rome (Rom 16:5-15). Indeed, the above-mentioned text Acts 15:2-6 records the beginning of the deliberations of the General Assembly in Jerusalem, in answer to its receipt of the reference from the Presbytery of Antioch. This is to be found just prior to its formulation of binding decrees to be kept by "the Churches" in all of "the cities" of Antioch and Cilicia and Syria where Congregations had been established. Acts 13:1; Acts 4:23-27; Acts 15:1-41; Acts 16:4-5.

Owen states (XV:530) "it follows that in case any Church [singular]...do give offence unto other Churches [plural], those other Churches may require an account from them; admonish them of their faults; and withhold communion from them in case they persist in the error of their way.... Hence also it follows that those that are rightly and justly censured  in any Church [singular] ought to be rejected by all Churches [plural] whatever...because of their mutual communion.... In case there had been any difficulty or doubt in the procedure of the Church [singular], they would have taken the advice of these Churches [plural] with whom they were obliged to consult.