The Practice Of The Early Church 1. 2

The Practice Of The Early Church

www.NTRF.org1

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EPISCOPAL

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PRESBYTERIAN

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CONGREGATIONAL

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Luke 22:24-27

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“People’s Republic of China”

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Test: Which person represents the church leader?

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Ekklesia

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Ekklesia“an assembly of the people convened at the public place of council for the purpose of deliberating.”

—Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Joseph Thayer,

Professor of New Testament criticism, Harvard Divinity School

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Ekklesia“assembly of a regularly summoned political body.”

— A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature

Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich, and Danker

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Ekklesia“clearly characterized as a political

phenomenon, repeated according to certain rules and within a certain framework. It was

the assembly of full citizens, functionally rooted in the constitution of the democracy, an

assembly in which fundamental political and judicial decisions were taken . . . the word

ekklesia, throughout the Greek and Hellenistic areas, always retained its reference to the

assembly of the polis . . . every citizen has the right to speak and to propose matters for

discussion . . .”

— New International Dictionary of New Testament TheologyColin Brown

Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary

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ESV Acts 19:23-25a

About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For

a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar

trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our

wealth . . .

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ESV Acts 19:26-27

this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger . . . that this trade of ours may come into

disrepute . . .”

ESV Acts 19:28

When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, "Great

is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

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ESV Acts 19: 29

. . . they rushed together into the theater . . .

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ESV Acts 19: 29

. . . they rushed together into the theater . . .

ESV Acts 19:32

Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly (ekklesia) was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come

together.

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ESV Acts 19:35-41

And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said , “Men of Ephesus . . . you

ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here

who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess . . . if you

seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular* assembly (ekklesia) . . . And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly (ekklesia).

* (“lawful” or “legal” in NAS & NIV )

“. . . on this rock I will build my ekklesia, and the gates of hell

shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and

whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

— Matthew 16:18-19, ESV 29

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the keys of the kingdom of heaven

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If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you,

you have gained your brother.

But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by

the evidence of two or three witnesses.

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.

And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

— Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV)

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Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

— ESV Matthew 18:18

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120)

and said . . .

And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also

called Justus, and Matthias.

— Acts 1:15, 23 (ESV)

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In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120)

and said . . .

And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also

called Justus, and Matthias.

— Acts 1:15, 23 (ESV)

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“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of

wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty . . . .”

And what they said pleased the whole gathering (plethos), and they

chose . . .— Acts 6:3, 5 (ESV)

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15:2 ~ Paul and Barnabas . . . were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question . . .

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15:4 ~ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church (ekklesia) and the apostles and the elders . . .

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15:6 ~ The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 41



15:6 ~ The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

15:7 ~ . . . much debate . . .

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15:12 ~ And all the assembly (plethos) fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul . . .

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15:12 ~ And all the assembly (plethos) fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul . . .

15:22-23 ~ Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church (ekklesia) , to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. (ESV)

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15:23 ~ The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings . . . (ESV)

15:23 ~ The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting . . . (KJV)

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Speaking of the Apostles:

“The fact that in the council’s decision-making they* are accorded no special

pre-eminence does not compel the conclusion that they did not exist. It is consistent with the non-authoritarian,

collegiate character of church leadership which Acts consistently depicts (1:13-26;

6:2ff; 8:14ff; 11:1ff; 13:1-4).”

*the apostles— Colin Brown

Dictionary of New Testament Theology, “Apostle”Vol. 1, p. 135

When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and

my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you

are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of

the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the

Lord.

— 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 (ESV) 47

When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?

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Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?

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Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?

And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

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Do you not know that we are to judge angels?

How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

— 1 Corinthians 6:1-3 (ESV)

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Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together

what is good.

Elihu’s advice to Job— Job 34:4 (NIV)

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But the wisdom from above is first pure, then

peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and

sincere.— James 3:17 (ESV)

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Consensus

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Consensus

General agreement or accord

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Consensus


An opinion or position reached by a group as a whole

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Consensus



consent

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Consensus



consent consensual

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

— Psalm 133:1

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— Psalm 133:1

I appeal to you brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

— 1 Corinthians 1:10

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— Psalm 133:1

I appeal to you brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

— 1 Corinthians 1:10

Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

— 2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)

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Make every effort to keep the

unity of peace. — Ephesians 4:3

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. . . make my joy complete by being like-

minded, having the same love, being one in spirit

and purpose.— Philippians 2:2

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Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one,

even as we are one. . .

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in

me, and I in you, that they also may be in us . . .

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may

become perfectly one . . .

— John 17:11, 20-23 (ESV)

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Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of

the one loaf.— 1 Corinthians 10:17 (NIV)

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And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip

the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the

unity of the faith . . .— Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV)

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Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you

the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their

faith.— Hebrews 13:7 (ESV)

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We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor

among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

and to esteem them very highly in love because of their

work. — 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (ESV)

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. . . not lording it over those entrusted to you, but

being examples to the flock.

— 1 Peter 5:3 (NIV)

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“We believe good men more fully and more readily than others. This is true generally whatever the question is, and absolutely true where exact certainty is impossible and opinions are

divided . . . his character may almost be called the most

effective means of persuasion he possesses.”

— Aristotle in Rhetoric 75

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“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it”

— Dwight D. Eisenhower

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping

watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage

to you.

— Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)77

hupakouo = “obey”

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Ephesians 6:1 (ESV) ~ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for

this is right.

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this is right.

Ephesians 6:5 (ESV) ~ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart,

as you would Christ . . . 80



this is right.

Ephesians 6:5 (ESV) ~ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart,

as you would Christ . . . 81

peitho

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peitho “to persuade, to convince”

(Hebrews 13:17)

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(Hebrews 13:17)

So they took his advice . . . — Acts 5:40 (ESV)

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(Hebrews 13:17)

So they took his advice . . . — Acts 5:40 (ESV)

Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him

who calls you.

— Galatians 5:7-8 (ESV)

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(Hebrews 13:17)

Middle/Passive Voice:

“allow yourselves to be persuaded”

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Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping

watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage

to you.

— Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)87

hupotasso = “submit”

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Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

— Romans 13:1 (ESV)

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Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

— Colossians 3:18 (ESV)

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Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. — Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

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Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as

supreme, or to governors . . . — I Peter 2:13-14 (ESV)

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Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as

supreme, or to governors . . . — I Peter 2:13-14 (ESV)

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hupeiko

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hupeiko

• Occurs only here in the entire New Testament.

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hupeiko


• Refers not to a structure (like the government) to which one submits, but to a process or battle after which one yields (surrenders).

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hupeiko



• Used outside the New Testament of combatants.

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hupeiko




• Thus, “surrender” or “yield.” 98

hupeiko




• Thus, “surrender” or “yield.”

• Submission still occurs, but the picture is one of serious discussion and dialog prior to one party giving way.

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“After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed

courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been

compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and

resources.”Robert E. Lee

General Order Number 9April 9, 1865

Appomattox Court House

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You younger men, likewise, be subject (hupotasso) to your

elders . . .

— 1 Peter 5:5 (NASV)

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— SUMMARY —

1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).

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— SUMMARY —

1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.

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— SUMMARY —

1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).

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— SUMMARY —

1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).4.Generally speaking, elders have the same authority as children and slaves (Lk 22:24-27).

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— SUMMARY —

1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).4.Generally speaking, elders have the same authority as children and slaves (Lk 22:24-27).5.Elders are to build consensus by persuasion, example, life-style, influence and teaching (Heb 13:7).

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— SUMMARY —

1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).4.Generally speaking, elders have the same authority as children and slaves (Lk 22:24-27).5.Elders are to build consensus by persuasion, example, life-style, influence and teaching (Heb 13:7).6.Elders are to be given special consideration in the consensus process (Heb 13:17).

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— SUMMARY —

1.Churches need local elders (elders, pastors, overseers).2.There is a lack of emphasis on elders in the NT.3.Elder-led congregational consensus is the NT norm (not majority rule, not elder rule). Authority resides in the church as a whole, not just its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).4.Generally speaking, elders have the same authority as children and slaves (Lk 22:24-27).5.Elders are to build consensus by persuasion, example, life-style, influence and teaching (Heb 13:7).6.Elders are to be given special consideration in the consensus process (Heb 13:17).7.Churches are to be more elder led than elder ruled (1Pe 5:1-3).

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Documents

The Practice Of The Early Church 1. 2